Sherlock Holmes watch order

Sherlock Holmes movies in order, release and chronological. Updated October 20, 2026.

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.

How to watch the Sherlock Holmes movies in order: the full guide

All 26 films and series in the Sherlock Holmes franchise, in release order and in chronological (story) order. The first in release order is The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939); the first in chronological order is Young Sherlock Holmes (set in Boarding school in London).

Release order

The Hound of the Baskervilles (Movie, 1939): Basil Rathbone's first Holmes and the first film set in Victorian times.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Movie, 1939): Rathbone against Moriarty; the last of his films set in the 1890s.
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (Movie, 1942): Rathbone's Holmes moves to wartime London; Universal's first.
The Scarlet Claw (Movie, 1944): Often called the best of Rathbone's Universal films.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (Movie, 1959): Hammer's colour Hound, with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (Movie, 1970): Billy Wilder's affectionate look at the man behind Watson's stories.
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (Movie, 1976): Watson takes Holmes to Sigmund Freud to cure his cocaine habit.
Murder by Decree (Movie, 1979): Christopher Plummer's Holmes hunts Jack the Ripper.
Sherlock Holmes (Series, 1984): Jeremy Brett in 41 episodes; the most faithful Holmes on screen.
Young Sherlock Holmes (Movie, 1985): Holmes and Watson meet as schoolboys; Barry Levinson directs.
The Great Mouse Detective (Movie, 1986): Disney's Basil of Baker Street; a Holmes homage for kids.
Without a Clue (Movie, 1988): A comedy where Watson is the genius and Holmes a hired actor.
Sherlock Holmes (Movie, 2009): Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law; the place to start with Ritchie.
Sherlock (Series, 2010): Cumberbatch and Freeman in modern London; four series and a special.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Movie, 2011): Ritchie's sequel: Moriarty and the Reichenbach Falls.
Elementary (Series, 2012): Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in New York, over seven seasons.
Mr. Holmes (Movie, 2015): Ian McKellen as a retired Holmes trying to recall his last case.
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (Movie, 2016): BBC Sherlock's Victorian special; watch it after series 3.
Holmes & Watson (Movie, 2018): Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly's spoof.
Enola Holmes (Movie, 2020): Millie Bobby Brown as Sherlock's sister, with Henry Cavill as Sherlock.
The Irregulars (Series, 2021): Watson's street gang against the supernatural; one season.
Enola Holmes 2 (Movie, 2022): Enola opens her own agency; Moriarty appears.
Watson (Series, 2025): Watson opens a clinic in Pittsburgh a year after Holmes's apparent death; two seasons.
Sherlock & Daughter (Series, 2025): In 1896, Holmes teams up with a young woman who may be his daughter.
Young Sherlock (Series, 2026): Guy Ritchie's series: Sherlock at 19, accused of murder at Oxford.
Enola Holmes 3 (Movie, 2026): Enola's wedding in Malta, where Sherlock goes missing.

Chronological order

Young Sherlock Holmes (set in Boarding school in London): Holmes and Watson meet as schoolboys; Barry Levinson directs.
Young Sherlock (set in Oxford, age 19): Guy Ritchie's series: Sherlock at 19, accused of murder at Oxford.
Holmes & Watson (set in A threat at Buckingham Palace): Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly's spoof.
Enola Holmes (set in Enola turns 16): Millie Bobby Brown as Sherlock's sister, with Henry Cavill as Sherlock.
Sherlock Holmes (set in Conan Doyle's stories): Jeremy Brett in 41 episodes; the most faithful Holmes on screen.
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (set in 1887, Loch Ness): Billy Wilder's affectionate look at the man behind Watson's stories.
Enola Holmes 2 (set in The 1888 match girls' strike): Enola opens her own agency; Moriarty appears.
Enola Holmes 3 (set in Malta, Enola's wedding): Enola's wedding in Malta, where Sherlock goes missing.
Murder by Decree (set in 1888, the Ripper murders): Christopher Plummer's Holmes hunts Jack the Ripper.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (set in Dartmoor, 1889): Basil Rathbone's first Holmes and the first film set in Victorian times.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (set in Dartmoor): Hammer's colour Hound, with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.
Sherlock Holmes (set in London, 1890): Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law; the place to start with Ritchie.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (set in Europe, 1891): Ritchie's sequel: Moriarty and the Reichenbach Falls.
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (set in Vienna, with Sigmund Freud): Watson takes Holmes to Sigmund Freud to cure his cocaine habit.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (set in 1894, the Crown Jewels): Rathbone against Moriarty; the last of his films set in the 1890s.
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (set in 1895, in Sherlock's mind): BBC Sherlock's Victorian special; watch it after series 3.
Sherlock & Daughter (set in 1896): In 1896, Holmes teams up with a young woman who may be his daughter.
The Great Mouse Detective (set in London, 1897): Disney's Basil of Baker Street; a Holmes homage for kids.
The Irregulars (set in Baker Street's street kids): Watson's street gang against the supernatural; one season.
Without a Clue (set in Watson is the real detective): A comedy where Watson is the genius and Holmes a hired actor.
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (set in Wartime London): Rathbone's Holmes moves to wartime London; Universal's first.
The Scarlet Claw (set in A Canadian village): Often called the best of Rathbone's Universal films.
Mr. Holmes (set in Sussex, 1947, age 93): Ian McKellen as a retired Holmes trying to recall his last case.
Sherlock (set in Present-day London): Cumberbatch and Freeman in modern London; four series and a special.
Elementary (set in Present-day New York): Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in New York, over seven seasons.
Watson (set in Pittsburgh, after Reichenbach): Watson opens a clinic in Pittsburgh a year after Holmes's apparent death; two seasons.

Common questions

What order should I watch the Sherlock Holmes movies in?

How many Sherlock Holmes movies and shows are there?

There are 26 titles in the Sherlock Holmes franchise: 19 films and 7 series, released from 1939 to 2026.

How long does it take to watch all the Sherlock Holmes movies?

About 242 hours for all 26 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (16 titles) take about 195 hours.

What is the first Sherlock Holmes title in chronological order?

Young Sherlock Holmes, set in Boarding school in London. In release order the first is The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939).

Which Sherlock Holmes titles can I skip?

Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror, The Scarlet Claw, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, Murder by Decree, The Great Mouse Detective, Without a Clue, Holmes & Watson, The Irregulars, Watson, and Sherlock & Daughter. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.