Sherlock Holmes

Play trailer

2:26

Sherlock Holmes

PG-13

2009

2h 8m

Action

Adventure

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

249 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

When a string of brutal murders terrorizes London, it doesn't take long for legendary detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his crime-solving partner, Dr. Watson (Jude Law), to find the killer, Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). A devotee of the dark arts, Blackwood has a bigger scheme in mind, and his execution plays right into his plans. The game is afoot when Blackwood seems to rise from the grave, plunging Holmes and Watson into the world of the occult and strange technologies.

Critics Consensus

Guy Ritchie's directorial style might not be quite the best fit for an update on the legendary detective, but Sherlock Holmes benefits from the elementary appeal of a strong performance by Robert Downey, Jr.

Read Critics Reviews

Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

04/17/2019

2/5

Watch it, by all means, for a dazzling visual feast, but be warned, this Sherlock is more show than tell.

Go to Full Review

Ed Koch

The Atlantic

01/16/2018

The Victorian sets are terrific and the performances of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, both consummate actors with a special style, are excellent. Nevertheless, their performances are not enough to compensate for a less than stellar script.

Go to Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

09/11/2017

B

As for the film itself, in true Guy Ritchie style is was all over the place with the craziness. But if you can set aside your image of Boyle's Sherlock, you may enjoy this a little more.

Go to Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

04/28/2025

4/5

The film lets character elements breathe before enshrouding Sherlock Holmes in a rather rote mystery. Even amid herky-jerky rushes of headlong exposition, Robert Downey, Jr. keeps the proceedings humming at a good clip with amusing performative nuance.

Go to Full Review

Elliott Cuff

Loud and Clear Reviews

03/20/2025

3.5/5

Sherlock Holmes remains a strong calling card for Ritchie, as well as an under-appreciated chapter in the respective careers of its star-studded cast.

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

08/28/2023

3/4

Ritchie [has] slapped the viewer across the face to get their attention, and in the process changed the character for a less attentive audience.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Sumiran M

@Sumiran 2d

As someone who loves mystery movies, I really enjoyed this movie. The best part was watching how Sherlock connects small clues and solves problems in unexpected ways. Every twist kept me curious about what would happen next. The mix of mystery, action, and humor made it entertaining from start to finish. It's the kind of movie that keeps you thinking and makes the journey of solving the case just as exciting as the answer itself.

See more

Andrea R

@RT67447108 May 26

Loved this movie and couldn't wait for the sequel!

See more

Yuri B.

@RyuBlack May 12

Just a fantastic film done by two great actors... have been a RDJ fan for years now.

See more

Charlie S

@RT60494889 Mar 26

Sherlock is always a winning character, you just have to know what to do with him, and they knew! There are some points of absurdity in some of its themes, but the chemistry between the characters, even the secondary ones, is great. The development of what’s going on is also good, but it doesn’t let the audience figure things out. And even though Sherlock is a master of exposition, even in the books, this movie relies on it a bit too much.

See more

Rich L.

@turnerfan77 Mar 11

Robert Downey Jr’s 2009 Sherlock Holmes is one I don’t watch very often but when I do revisit it I always have a good time. RDJ’s take on the Holmes character definitely makes this a fun movie. Jude Law is a great costar that plays off of RDJ almost perfectly. The mystery of the movie is a solid one and the subplot of setting up the next story is sprinkled through out is a nice touch to build anticipation for the sequel. The action sequences are well done as is the cinematography too. This is a very enjoyable film that I definitely recommend. By The Numbers breakdown: Cast-10 Acting-8 Trailer-7 Ending-8 Story-8 Visuals-8 Direction-8 Sound-7 Genre-9 Sub Genre-9 The Faces For Radio score - 82

See more

iamnotanumber41 T

@Iamnotanumber41 Mar 11

Great acting, great sets and a fun story. I was never a Sherlock Holmes fan but this take on the character definitely entertained. I wish they would have made a third instalment in this series.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Guy Ritchie

Director

Robert Downey Jr.

Sherlock Holmes

Jude Law

Dr. John Watson

Rachel McAdams

Irene Adler

Mark Strong

Blackwood

Eddie Marsan

Inspector Lestrade

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

60%

77%

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Watchlist

Quantum of Solace

63%

58%

Quantum of Solace

Watchlist

Skyfall

92%

86%

Skyfall

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Skyfall

Casino Royale

94%

90%

Casino Royale

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Casino Royale

XXX: State of the Union

17%

32%

XXX: State of the Union

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The 10 Best Movies Ever Released on Christmas Day

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Sherlock Holmes and An Education

Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar, Sherlock, and Alvin Team Up To Break Records

Sherlock Holmes: Trailer 1

2:26

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

When a string of brutal murders terrorizes London, it doesn't take long for legendary detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his crime-solving partner, Dr. Watson (Jude Law), to find the killer, Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). A devotee of the dark arts, Blackwood has a bigger scheme in mind, and his execution plays right into his plans. The game is afoot when Blackwood seems to rise from the grave, plunging Holmes and Watson into the world of the occult and strange technologies.

Director: Guy Ritchie
Producer: Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey, Dan Lin
Screenwriter: Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham, Simon Kinberg
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Silver Pictures, Wigram Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Action|A Scene of Suggestive Material|Intense Sequences of Violence|Startling Images)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 20, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $209.0M
Runtime: 2h 8m