Watch order guide · Sherlock Holmes

How to watch the Sherlock Holmes movies in order

Updated October 21, 2026 · 19 min read · 26 titles · 242 hours

Sherlock Holmes adaptations don't connect, so pick a version and watch it in release order. Start with Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes (2009) and A Game of Shadows (2011), or the BBC's Sherlock (2010 to 2017) with Benedict Cumberbatch, which includes the Victorian special The Abominable Bride. For the classic eras, Basil Rathbone's The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) and Jeremy Brett's Granada series (1984 to 1994), the most faithful to Conan Doyle, are the essentials. The three Enola Holmes films follow Sherlock's younger sister, and Mr. Holmes (2015) shows him at 93.

Titles

26

Films

19

Series

7

Watch time

242 hours

Box office

$1.04 billion

Avg IMDb

6.9

Sherlock Holmes movies in release order

Here is every Sherlock Holmes title in the order it came out, 1939 to 2026: 19 films and 7 series. Optional entries are marked; you can skip them on a first watch.

Sherlock Holmes timeline: movies in chronological order

The same titles in story order, by when they take place, with the year or era each one is set in.

Release or chronological: which order is best?

Release order and story order disagree on 25 titles here. In release order you start with The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939); in story order you start with Young Sherlock Holmes, set in Boarding school in London, which came out 46 years later.

First time through, watch in release order. That is how the twists, returning characters and callbacks were built to land, and later entries assume you have seen the earlier ones. On a rewatch, try story order. It turns Sherlock Holmes into one continuous story and makes the prequels play as setup instead of backstory.

Sherlock Holmes also runs 19 separate continuities: Basil Rathbone, Hammer, Billy Wilder, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, Murder by Decree, Jeremy Brett, Young Sherlock Holmes, The Great Mouse Detective, Without a Clue, Guy Ritchie, BBC Sherlock, Elementary, Mr. Holmes, Holmes & Watson, Enola Holmes, The Irregulars, Watson, Sherlock & Daughter, and Young Sherlock. Each has its own line on the timeline, so you can watch them on their own without breaking the main story.

Where to start

Every Sherlock Holmes movie, explained

One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.

No. 01 · 1939 · Film · 1h 20m · 10th in story order

The Hound of the Baskervilles

When a nobleman is threatened by a family curse on his newly inherited estate, detective Sherlock Holmes is hired to investigate.

Why it matters: Basil Rathbone's first Holmes and the first film set in Victorian times.

Starring

Richard Greene, Basil Rathbone, and Wendy Barrie

Director

Sidney Lanfield

Scores

IMDb 7.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 91%

No. 02 · 1939 · Film · 1h 25m · 15th in story order

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Having once again avoided criminal conviction, Professor Moriarity develops a murderous plan to “finish off” his last major nemesis, Sherlock Holmes, by making him fail to prevent the perfect crime. Does it involve a family curse, the crown jewels of England, or something else…

Why it matters: Rathbone against Moriarty; the last of his films set in the 1890s.

Starring

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, and Ida Lupino

Director

Alfred L. Werker

Scores

IMDb 7.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 80%

No. 03 · 1942 · Film · 1h 5m · 21st in story order · optional

Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror

England, at the start of World War Two. Mysterious wireless broadcasts, apparently from Nazi Germany are heard over the BBC. They warn of acts of terror in England, just before they take place. Baffled, the Defense Committee call in Sherlock Holmes.

Why it matters: Rathbone's Holmes moves to wartime London; Universal's first.

Starring

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, and Evelyn Ankers

Director

John Rawlins

Scores

IMDb 6.4

No. 04 · 1944 · Film · 1h 14m · 22nd in story order · optional

The Scarlet Claw

When a woman is found dead with her throat torn out, the local villagers blame a supernatural monster. But Sherlock Holmes, who gets drawn into the case from nearby Quebec, suspects a human murderer.

Why it matters: Often called the best of Rathbone's Universal films.

Starring

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, and Gerald Hamer

Director

Roy William Neill

Scores

IMDb 7.1

No. 05 · 1959 · Film · 1h 27m · 11th in story order

The Hound of the Baskervilles

When a nobleman is threatened by a family curse on his newly inherited estate, detective Sherlock Holmes is hired to investigate.

Why it matters: Hammer's colour Hound, with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

Starring

Peter Cushing, André Morell, and Christopher Lee

Director

Terence Fisher

Scores

IMDb 6.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 95%

No. 06 · 1970 · Film · 2h 5m

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

When a bored Sherlock eagerly takes the case of Gabrielle Valladon following an attempt on her life, the search for her missing husband leads to Loch Ness and the legendary monster.

Why it matters: Billy Wilder's affectionate look at the man behind Watson's stories.

Starring

Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely, and Geneviève Page

Director

Billy Wilder

Box office

$2 million on a $10 million budget

Scores

IMDb 7 · Rotten Tomatoes 87%

No. 07 · 1976 · Film · 1h 53m · 14th in story order · optional

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution

Concerned about his friend's cocaine use, Dr. Watson tricks Sherlock Holmes into travelling to Vienna, where Holmes enters the care of Sigmund Freud. Freud attempts to solve the mysteries of Holmes' subconscious, while Holmes devotes himself to solving a mystery involving the kidnapping of Lola Deveraux.

Why it matters: Watson takes Holmes to Sigmund Freud to cure his cocaine habit.

Starring

Alan Arkin, Vanessa Redgrave, and Robert Duvall

Director

Herbert Ross

Scores

IMDb 6.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 78%

No. 08 · 1979 · Film · 2h 4m · 9th in story order · optional

Murder by Decree

Sherlock Holmes is drawn into the case of Jack the Ripper, who is killing prostitutes in London's East End. Assisted by Dr. Watson, and using information provided by a renowned psychic, Robert Lees, Holmes finds that the murders may have their roots in a Royal indiscretion and that a cover-up is being managed by politicians at the highest level, all of whom happen to be Masons.

Why it matters: Christopher Plummer's Holmes hunts Jack the Ripper.

Starring

Christopher Plummer, James Mason, and David Hemmings

Director

Bob Clark

Scores

IMDb 6.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 81%

No. 09 · 1984 · Series · 37h 59m · 5th in story order

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes, along with his friend Dr. Watson, uses his abilities to take on cases by private clients and those that the Scotland Yard are unable to solve.

Why it matters: Jeremy Brett in 41 episodes; the most faithful Holmes on screen.

Starring

Jeremy Brett, Rosalie Williams, and Edward Hardwicke

Creator

John Hawkesworth

Scores

IMDb 8.7

Episodes

41 across 7 seasons

No. 10 · 1985 · Film · 1h 49m · 1st in story order

Young Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson meet as boys in an English Boarding school. Holmes is known for his deductive ability even as a youth, amazing his classmates with his abilities. When they discover a plot to murder a series of British business men by an Egyptian cult, they move to stop it.

Why it matters: Holmes and Watson meet as schoolboys; Barry Levinson directs.

Starring

Nicholas Rowe, Alan Cox, and Sophie Ward

Director

Barry Levinson

Box office

$64 million on a $18 million budget

Scores

IMDb 6.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 70%

No. 11 · 1986 · Film · 1h 14m · 18th in story order · optional

The Great Mouse Detective

When the diabolical Professor Ratigan kidnaps London's master toymaker, the brilliant master of disguise Basil of Baker Street and his trusted sidekick Dawson try to elude the ultimate trap and foil the perfect crime.

Why it matters: Disney's Basil of Baker Street; a Holmes homage for kids.

Starring

Barrie Ingham, Vincent Price, and Val Bettin

Director

Ron Clements, Burny Mattinson, David Michener, and John Musker

Box office

$39 million on a $14 million budget

Scores

IMDb 7.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 79%

No. 12 · 1988 · Film · 1h 47m · 20th in story order · optional

Without a Clue

Sherlock Holmes is as dashing as ever, but with a little secret: Dr. Watson is the brains behind the operation. When Reginald Kincaid, the actor he has hired to play Holmes becomes insufferable, Watson fires him and tries to go out on his own, but finds that he has done too good a job building Holmes up in the public's mind.

Why it matters: A comedy where Watson is the genius and Holmes a hired actor.

Starring

Michael Caine, Ben Kingsley, and Jeffrey Jones

Director

Thom Eberhardt

Box office

$9 million

Scores

IMDb 6.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 62%

No. 13 · 2009 · Film · 2h 9m · 12th in story order

Sherlock Holmes

Eccentric consulting detective Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson battle to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy England.

Why it matters: Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law; the place to start with Ritchie.

Starring

Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams

Director

Guy Ritchie

Box office

$524 million on a $90 million budget

Scores

IMDb 7.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 69%

No. 14 · 2010 · Series · 17h 46m · 24th in story order

Sherlock

A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London.

Why it matters: Cumberbatch and Freeman in modern London; four series and a special.

Starring

Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, and Una Stubbs

Creator

Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat

Scores

IMDb 9 · Rotten Tomatoes 78%

Episodes

12 across 4 seasons

No. 15 · 2011 · Film · 2h 9m · 13th in story order

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

There is a new criminal mastermind at large (Professor Moriarty) and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil and lack of conscience may give him an advantage over the detective.

Why it matters: Ritchie's sequel: Moriarty and the Reichenbach Falls.

Starring

Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Noomi Rapace

Director

Guy Ritchie

Box office

$335 million on a $125 million budget

Scores

IMDb 7.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 60%

No. 16 · 2012 · Series · 109h 26m · 25th in story order

Elementary

A modern-day drama about a crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD's most impossible cases. Following his fall from grace in London and a stint in rehab, eccentric Sherlock escapes to Manhattan where his wealthy father forces him to live with his worst nightmare - a sober companion, Dr. Watson.

Why it matters: Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in New York, over seven seasons.

Starring

Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu, and Jon Michael Hill

Creator

Robert Doherty

Scores

IMDb 7.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 96%

Episodes

154 across 7 seasons

No. 17 · 2015 · Film · 1h 44m · 23rd in story order

Mr. Holmes

In 1947, long-retired and near the end of his life, Sherlock Holmes grapples with an unreliable memory and must rely on his housekeeper's son as he revisits the still-unsolved case that led to his retirement.

Why it matters: Ian McKellen as a retired Holmes trying to recall his last case.

Starring

Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, and Milo Parker

Director

Bill Condon

Box office

$29 million on a $11 million budget

Scores

IMDb 6.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 88%

No. 18 · 2016 · Film · 1h 30m · 16th in story order

Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves in 1890s London in this holiday special.

Why it matters: BBC Sherlock's Victorian special; watch it after series 3.

Starring

Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, and Una Stubbs

Director

Douglas Mackinnon

Scores

IMDb 7.7

No. 19 · 2018 · Film · 1h 30m · 3rd in story order · optional

Holmes & Watson

Detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson join forces to investigate a mysterious murder at Buckingham Palace. It seems like an open-and-shut case as all signs point to Professor James Moriarty, the criminal mastermind and longtime nemesis of the crime-solving duo. When new twists and clues begin to emerge, the world's greatest sleuth and his trusted assistant must now use their legendary wits and ingenious methods to catch the killer as they only have four days before the queen becomes the next victim.

Why it matters: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly's spoof.

Starring

Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, and Rebecca Hall

Director

Etan Cohen

Box office

$41 million on a $42 million budget

Scores

IMDb 4 · Rotten Tomatoes 10%

No. 20 · 2020 · Film · 2h 4m · 4th in story order

Enola Holmes

While searching for her missing mother, intrepid teen Enola Holmes uses her sleuthing skills to outsmart big brother Sherlock and help a runaway lord.

Why it matters: Millie Bobby Brown as Sherlock's sister, with Henry Cavill as Sherlock.

Starring

Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, and Sam Claflin

Director

Harry Bradbeer

Scores

IMDb 6.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 91%

No. 21 · 2021 · Series · 7h 8m · 19th in story order · optional

The Irregulars

In Victorian London, a gang of troubled street teens are manipulated into solving crimes for the sinister Doctor Watson and his mysterious business partner, the elusive Sherlock Holmes. As the crimes take on a horrifying supernatural edge and a dark power emerges, it'll be up to the Irregulars to come together to save not only London but the entire world.

Why it matters: Watson's street gang against the supernatural; one season.

Starring

Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Royce Pierreson, and McKell David

Creator

Tom Bidwell

Scores

IMDb 6.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 80%

Episodes

8

No. 22 · 2022 · Film · 2h 11m · 7th in story order

Enola Holmes 2

Enola takes on her first official case as a detective, but to solve the mystery of a missing girl, she'll need help from friends — and brother Sherlock.

Why it matters: Enola opens her own agency; Moriarty appears.

Starring

Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, and David Thewlis

Director

Harry Bradbeer

Scores

IMDb 6.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 93%

No. 23 · 2025 · Series · 23h 41m · 26th in story order · optional

Watson

A year after the death of his friend and partner Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty, Dr. John Watson resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. However, he soon finds that his old life is not done with him yet.

Why it matters: Watson opens a clinic in Pittsburgh a year after Holmes's apparent death; two seasons.

Starring

Morris Chestnut, Eve Harlow, and Peter Mark Kendall

Creator

Craig Sweeny

Scores

IMDb 5.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 53%

Episodes

33 across 2 seasons

No. 24 · 2025 · Series · 5h 53m · 17th in story order · optional

Sherlock & Daughter

Sherlock Holmes faces a sinister case risking friends' lives. American Amelia joins, seeking her father after her mother's murder. Despite differences, they solve a conspiracy and her mother's case.

Why it matters: In 1896, Holmes teams up with a young woman who may be his daughter.

Starring

David Thewlis, Blu Hunt, and Ardal O'Hanlon

Creator

Brendan Foley

Scores

IMDb 7 · Rotten Tomatoes 77%

Episodes

8

No. 25 · 2026 · Series · 8h 5m · 2nd in story order

Young Sherlock

Sherlock Holmes is a disgraced young man, raw and unfiltered, when he finds himself wrapped up in a murder case that threatens his liberty. His first ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy that changes his life forever.

Why it matters: Guy Ritchie's series: Sherlock at 19, accused of murder at Oxford.

Starring

Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Dónal Finn, and Natascha McElhone

Creator

Matthew Parkhill

Scores

IMDb 7.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 84%

Episodes

11 across 2 seasons

No. 26 · 2026 · Film · 1h 49m · 8th in story order

Enola Holmes 3

Adventure follows detective Enola Holmes to Malta, where her plans to tie the knot unravel when Sherlock's disappearance plunges her into a perilous case.

Why it matters: Enola's wedding in Malta, where Sherlock goes missing.

Starring

Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, and Helena Bonham Carter

Director

Philip Barantini

Scores

IMDb 5.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 65%

Sherlock Holmes box office and budgets

The 8 Sherlock Holmes films with reported numbers have grossed $1.04 billion worldwide on about $310 million in combined budgets, roughly 3.3 times what they cost. The biggest is Sherlock Holmes at $524 million, 50% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows ($335 million) and Young Sherlock Holmes ($64 million).

Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Sherlock Holmes, which made 5.8 times its $90 million budget. The weakest was The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes at 15% of its $10 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.

The best and worst rated Sherlock Holmes movies

Across 26 rated titles, Sherlock Holmes averages 6.9 on IMDb. The top of the list is Sherlock at 9, then Sherlock Holmes (8.7) and Elementary (7.9). At the bottom: Holmes & Watson (4) and Enola Holmes 3 (5.7). Money and quality don't line up perfectly: the highest grosser, Sherlock Holmes, is only the 5th best rated.

1. Sherlock9 · RT 78%
2. Sherlock Holmes8.7
3. Elementary7.9 · RT 96%
4. Sherlock: The Abominable Bride7.7
5. Sherlock Holmes7.5 · RT 69%
6. Young Sherlock7.5 · RT 84%
7. The Hound of the Baskervilles7.4 · RT 91%
8. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows7.4 · RT 60%
9. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes7.2 · RT 80%
10. The Scarlet Claw7.1

Who appears in the most Sherlock Holmes movies

Basil Rathbone leads with 5 appearances as Sherlock Holmes, ahead of Nigel Bruce (4) and Millie Bobby Brown (3). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.

Sherlock Holmes directors and creators

28 filmmakers have directed or created Sherlock Holmes; Guy Ritchie has the most, with 2.

• Guy RitchieSherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
• Harry BradbeerEnola Holmes (2020) and Enola Holmes 2 (2022)
• Sidney LanfieldThe Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)
• Alfred L. WerkerThe Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)
• John RawlinsSherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942)
• Roy William NeillThe Scarlet Claw (1944)
• Terence FisherThe Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)
• Billy WilderThe Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)
• Herbert RossThe Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976)
• Bob ClarkMurder by Decree (1979)
• John HawkesworthSherlock Holmes (1984)
• Barry LevinsonYoung Sherlock Holmes (1985)
• Ron ClementsThe Great Mouse Detective (1986)
• Burny MattinsonThe Great Mouse Detective (1986)
• David MichenerThe Great Mouse Detective (1986)
• John MuskerThe Great Mouse Detective (1986)

How long it takes to watch every Sherlock Holmes movie

All 26 titles add up to 242 hours: 32 hours of film and 210 hours of series, counting every episode. That is about 122 two-hour evenings, or 25 days of ten-hour binges. The essentials cut it to 195 hours. The longest film is Enola Holmes 2 at 2h 11m.

Which Sherlock Holmes movies can you skip?

10 titles can go without losing the main story. They are side stories, spin-offs or entries the later films ignore. Dropping them saves 47 hours.

• Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror1942 · Film · 1h 5m · optionalRathbone's Holmes moves to wartime London; Universal's first.
• The Scarlet Claw1944 · Film · 1h 14m · optionalOften called the best of Rathbone's Universal films.
• The Seven-Per-Cent Solution1976 · Film · 1h 53m · optionalWatson takes Holmes to Sigmund Freud to cure his cocaine habit.
• Murder by Decree1979 · Film · 2h 4m · optionalChristopher Plummer's Holmes hunts Jack the Ripper.
• The Great Mouse Detective1986 · Film · 1h 14m · optionalDisney's Basil of Baker Street; a Holmes homage for kids.
• Without a Clue1988 · Film · 1h 47m · optionalA comedy where Watson is the genius and Holmes a hired actor.
• Holmes & Watson2018 · Film · 1h 30m · optionalWill Ferrell and John C. Reilly's spoof.
• The Irregulars2021 · Series · 7h 8m · optionalWatson's street gang against the supernatural; one season.
• Watson2025 · Series · 23h 41m · optionalWatson opens a clinic in Pittsburgh a year after Holmes's apparent death; two seasons.
• Sherlock & Daughter2025 · Series · 5h 53m · optionalIn 1896, Holmes teams up with a young woman who may be his daughter.

Common questions

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