---
title: "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows"
year: 2011
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows"
fi1m_id: "sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows"
imdb_id: "tt1515091"
tmdb_id: 58574
wikidata_id: "Q243643"
fi1m_score: 58
critics_score: 56
critics_reviews: 23
published: "2026-10-05T12:19:02.602343+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T12:19:03.065592+00:00"
region: "IS"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

Directed by Guy Ritchie · 2h 09m · Action, Adventure, Mystery

## Identity

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows
- **IMDb ID:** tt1515091
- **TMDB ID:** 58574
- **Wikidata ID:** Q243643
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1515091/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/58574, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243643

**Fi1m score: 58** · Critics 56 from 23 reviews

*In a sentence:* Guy Ritchie has found the slow-motion button and sat on it

> Guy Ritchie’s sequel is louder, faster and a good deal thinner than the first. Jared Harris makes a fine, soft-spoken Moriarty and Sarah Greenwood’s sets are a pleasure, but the action is cut into slow-motion porridge and the mystery has gone missing.

## Synopsis

London. Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) is tailing Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) as she delivers a package to a Doctor Hoffmanstahl (Wolf Kahler), and the package turns out to be a bomb. Behind a run of bombings blamed on anarchists, Holmes sees one hand: Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris), a celebrated mathematician who lectures to full halls and has written a book. Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) has a stag night to get through and a wedding to Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly) the next morning, so the case is Holmes’s alone. The next clue sits with a gypsy fortune teller, Madam Simza Heron (Noomi Rapace), whose brother has vanished, and Holmes’s brother Mycroft (Stephen Fry) works for the government and knows more than he says.

## Review

Guy Ritchie’s second Holmes film takes Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law out of London and sends them across Europe after Professor Moriarty, a voice in the shadows last time and now, in the person of Jared Harris, a man with a face and a university chair. Bigger map, bigger villain, bigger bangs. Two of the three come off. It is faster and louder than [*Sherlock Holmes*](https://film.one/film/sherlock-holmes) (2009), it has the better villain by a distance, and it has less in it to think about, which is an odd thing for a detective story to give away.

Harris is the reason to go. He plays Moriarty quietly, a tidy man in a tidy coat who never raises his voice, and leaves the twitching to Downey. Their first meeting, in Moriarty’s book-lined rooms over the signing of a book, is the best scene in the film: two men being courteous about the fact that each means to destroy the other. Downey’s Holmes is as it was, a mumbling contraption of tics, and Law is still the one who makes him bearable, rolling his eyes and occasionally hitting him. Watson’s stag night, at a club where Holmes has not got round to inviting anyone, is funny in the way the first film was funny.

Ritchie’s trick of having Holmes plan a fight in slow motion before throwing a punch is back, and so is the feeling that it was funnier once. The big new set piece is a flight through a pine forest under artillery fire. Philippe Rousselot drains the colour until the trees are grey and the shell bursts are the only warm thing in the frame, and James Herbert cuts by slowing time almost to a stop and then letting it snap forward. Splinters hang in the air. For the first minute we were impressed. By the third we were counting slow-motion shots instead of following who was running where, and when it was over our shoulders were up round our ears from the noise rather than from any fear for the people in it. Hans Zimmer’s score, a hammering thing with gypsy fiddle laid over the top, treats every scene as a chase.

Sarah Greenwood’s sets are the steadiest pleasure. Mycroft’s house is clocks and brass, a munitions works is a cathedral of iron with furnaces where the windows should be, and a castle above a gorge looks like a place built so that people could fall from it. Jenny Beavan enjoys Holmes’s disguises, including a suit printed to match the armchair he is sitting in, a gag that got the loudest laugh of our evening and lasts ten seconds. Stephen Fry’s Mycroft wanders his house without his clothes on, which is the sort of joke the script reaches for when it has run out of lines for him.

The women fare worst. Noomi Rapace, given a fortune teller with a missing brother and a knife, spends the film being led from place to place while men talk over her head. Rachel McAdams gets a few minutes. Kelly Reilly gets a train. Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney’s screenplay knows roughly what the plot is and tells us in bursts, a bombing here, an assassination there, a summit at the end, with Holmes explaining in flashback how he knew. The deductions no longer arrive as reasoning we might have followed but as replays of things we were not shown. We stopped trying to get ahead of him, because there was nothing to get ahead with.

Conan Doyle’s Holmes noticed things. Ritchie’s hits things and then tells you he noticed them. The first film got away with it because the mystery had a shape and the London had a smell. The quiet scenes between Downey and Harris show what this one might have been: two clever men, one room, no explosions. There are perhaps four of them in 129 minutes.

See it for Harris, and for Downey and Law pulling faces at each other on a train. Watch it at home if you can, where the volume is in your hands and the forest can be taken at a run. It carries a 12A, and nothing in it will frighten anyone over about nine. The noise might.

*Fi1m score 58, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews split almost evenly three ways, and the critics’ score settles in the middle as a result. Where there is agreement, it is on the cast. Most critics enjoy the sparring between Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law, and Jared Harris’s Moriarty is singled out again and again as the film’s best asset: poised, suave, quietly menacing. Those who like the film call it faster and funnier than the original, confident enough in its own silliness to carry an evening.

The reservations cluster around Guy Ritchie’s direction. Several reviews complain of repetitive slow-motion action, a muddled plot and a frantic, cluttered opening, and Noomi Rapace’s underwritten character is a frequent target. The spread is wide, running from warm recommendations at IndieWire and Total Film to near-total dismissal at The New Yorker. Slant stands apart in finding Harris wasted as a generic villain, and Digital Spy is one of the few to enjoy the slow motion rather than resent it.

## Straight answers

**Is Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows worth watching?**

*Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows* is a mixed bag, worth an evening only for those who enjoyed the first film and want more of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law bickering, and we scored it 58. Jared Harris makes a fine, quiet Moriarty, but the action is cut into slow-motion porridge and the mystery has gone missing. Watch it at home, where the volume is in your hands.

**How long is Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and what is it rated?**

*Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows* runs 2h 09m. It is an action and adventure film.

**Where can I watch Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows in Iceland?**

*Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from kr 4. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and is it suitable for children?**

*Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows* carries a 12A certificate, and nothing in it will frighten anyone over about nine. There are bombings, a shoot-out through a pine forest under artillery fire and a great deal of punching, but it is comic-book violence shot in slow motion rather than anything that lingers. The noise is the likeliest thing to trouble a younger child.

**How does Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows compare to Without a Clue?**

*Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows* is a loud action adventure, while [*Without a Clue*](https://film.one/film/without-a-clue) is a quieter detective farce in which Michael Caine plays an actor hired to pose as Holmes and Ben Kingsley's Watson does the work. Neither has a plot worth following closely, so both rest on their leads. We think the older film is the warmer company; the Ritchie film has the better villain and far more explosions.

**What should I watch after Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows?**

After *Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows*, try [*Without a Clue*](https://film.one/film/without-a-clue) (1988, Fi1m 64): Michael Caine as a hired actor playing Holmes while Ben Kingsley’s Watson does the work. Then [*Kiss Kiss Bang Bang*](https://film.one/film/kiss-kiss-bang-bang) (2005, Fi1m 79): Downey at his quickest, bickering with Val Kilmer through a murder plot that keeps its wits; and [*Sherlock*](https://film.one/film/sherlock-holmes) (2010, Fi1m 65): Moffat and Gatiss’s modern-dress series, where the deductions still happen in front of you.

### Reviews we read (23)

- **IndieWire**, Todd Gilchrist (B+): Gilchrist calls the film a solid, engaging sequel that rewards fans without simply repeating the original. He praises its top-notch action and the chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, while noting that the story takes too long to find focus. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-an-engaging-entertaining-sequel-brimming-with-charisma-top-notch-action-114143/)
- **The Guardian**, Xan Brooks (80/100, inferred): Brooks finds the film a lively, infectious escapist adventure, despite its loose debt to Holmes canon. He praises the energetic chemistry between Downey Jr’s Holmes and Harris’s Moriarty, especially their charged rivalry. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/dec/13/sherlock-holmes-game-shadows-review)
- **Total Film**, Neil Smith (4/5): The critic calls it a faster, funnier, higher-grade sequel that delivers entertaining blockbuster action. He praises Jared Harris’s compelling Moriarty and the film’s brisk pace, while faulting its weak female characters and occasionally off-target moments. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-review/)
- **Empire**, Ian Nathan (75/100, inferred): Nathan finds the sequel confident, entertaining and self-aware, praising its energetic fun without demanding more seriousness or complexity. He especially singles out Jared Harris’s poised Moriarty, while criticizing Noomi Rapace’s underwritten character. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sherlock-holmes-game-shadows-review/)
- **Variety**, Brian Lowry (75/100, inferred): Lowry finds this sequel more rewarding than its predecessor, despite its noisy, over-stimulated approach. He singles out Jared Harris’s suave, menacing Moriarty and the quieter scenes between Holmes and his adversary for praise. [Read](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-1117946719/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (70/100, inferred): Sharkey finds the sequel brighter and entertaining, though its plotting and repeated effects weaken it. She praises the performances of Downey and Law, along with the film’s richly detailed production design and costumes. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-dec-16-la-et-sherlock-holmes-20111216-story.html)
- **Screen Daily**, Mark Adams (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but its text is hidden behind a paywall. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint are unavailable. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/-sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows/5035564.article)
- **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The page content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint is available in the supplied text. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/movies/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-review.html)
- **Radio Times**, Brian Pendreigh (3/5): Pendreigh finds the film more comic-book spectacle than Conan Doyle, but still entertaining. He singles out Robert Downey Jr’s charm and comic timing as its main strengths. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-fajr40/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows/)
- **The AV Club**, Keith Phipps (C): Phipps judges the sequel a busy, ultimately boring misfire that falls short of the first film. He faults its uninvolving plot, gratuitous stylistic flourishes, and unsatisfying anticlimax. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-1798170859)
- **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (2/5): The review gives the film a modest two-star rating. The available description frames it as an inevitable follow-up to the 2009 reboot. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-1)
- **Slant Magazine**, Nick Schager (1.5/4): Schager finds the sequel a tedious, muddled disappointment. He criticizes its overused slow-motion effects and notes that Jared Harris is wasted as a generic villain. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (38/100, inferred): McCarthy finds the film an overworked, uneven entertainment whose detours often drag, though it eventually delivers a decent climax. He praises the sparring between Downey and Law, while criticizing the repetitive slow-motion action and Rapace’s underused role. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/sherlock-holmes-a-game-shadows-271523/)
- **Evening Standard** (25/100, inferred): The critic dismisses the film as a brainless, travestied action franchise, though it may work as silly holiday entertainment. They praise Robert Downey Jr.’s volatile, watchable presence, while criticizing the visual gimmick used to represent Holmes’s intelligence. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-review-7428077.html)
- **Vulture**, David Edelstein (20/100, inferred): Edelstein dismisses the sequel as overblown, inelegant, and cluttered, with muddled action and a weak performance from Downey Jr. He singles out Jared Harris’s chilling, understated Moriarty as the main reason to watch. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2011/12/movie-review-the-maximum-clutter-of-sherlock-holmes-game-of-shadows.html)
- **The New Yorker** (10/100, inferred): The critic dismisses the film as a failure that undermines Holmes’s deductive reasoning. They also fault Ritchie’s overuse of slow motion for disrupting the action. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-2)
- **The Playlist** (79/100, inferred): The headline characterizes the sequel as engaging and entertaining. It singles out the film’s charisma and top-notch action for praise. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-an-engaging-entertaining-sequel-brimming-with-charisma-top-notch-action-20111209/)
- **Den of Geek**, Rachel Bowles (3 out of 5): Bowles finds it a solid, entertaining film, but says it does not move meaningfully beyond its predecessor. She praises the Holmes–Moriarty scenes and the central detective story, while criticizing the frenetic opening and Rapace’s underused role. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-review/)
- **Digital Spy**, Stella Papamichael (3/5): The critic finds the sequel energetic but let down by a muddled, poorly thought-through plot. The exhilarating slow-motion action is a highlight, though Holmes is less interesting this time around. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a355369/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-review/)
- **NME**, Owen Nicholls (60/100, inferred): Nicholls finds the film entertaining but held back by an unconvincing plot and weaker character appeal. He praises the playful chemistry between Holmes and Watson, singling out their affectionate looks and physical comedy. [Read](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-film-review-781811)
- **Paste**, Jeremy Mathews (6.0/10): Mathews finds the sequel enjoyable in much the same ways as its predecessor, but ultimately tiresome and middling. He praises Downey Jr. and Law’s comic chemistry while criticizing the underused women and tedious, muddled action. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/sherlock-holmes/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows)
- **Eye for Film**, Donald Munro (55/100, inferred): Munro finds the film entertaining but weighed down by pacing problems and a lack of substance. He praises its over-the-top visuals and stunts, which he says work best on the big screen. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-film-review-by-donald-munro)
- **HeyUGuys**, Jon Lyus (2/5): Lyus finds the sequel disappointing, saying it quickly runs out of steam and its set-pieces feel disconnected. He singles out Noomi Rapace’s underused character as a particularly glaring weakness. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows-blu-ray-review/)

## Details

- **Director:** Guy Ritchie
- **Director:** Guy Ritchie
- **Screenplay:** Kieran Mulroney, Michele Mulroney
- **Cinematography:** Philippe Rousselot
- **Editor:** James Herbert
- **Music:** Hans Zimmer
- **Production design:** Sarah Greenwood
- **Costume design:** Jenny Beavan
- **Producer:** Joel Silver, Susan Downey, Dan Lin
- **Cast:** Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes; Jude Law as Dr. John Watson; Noomi Rapace as Madam Simza Heron; Jared Harris as Professor James Moriarty; Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler; Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade; Kelly Reilly as Mary Morstan; Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes
- **Runtime:** 2h 09m
- **First release (Thailand):** 22 November 2011
- **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Mystery
- **Budget:** $125 million
- **Box office:** $335 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amE1MxxRUFI

## Where to watch in Iceland

- Amazon Prime Video: rent kr 4, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy kr 11, hd

*Checked 2026-10-05.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes* (1970): Billy Wilder’s melancholy, witty Holmes, with a Mycroft who genuinely frightens his brother
- *Without a Clue* (1988), Fi1m 64: Michael Caine as a hired actor playing Holmes while Ben Kingsley’s Watson does the work — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/without-a-clue.md)
- *Kiss Kiss Bang Bang* (2005), Fi1m 79: Downey at his quickest, bickering with Val Kilmer through a murder plot that keeps its wits — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/kiss-kiss-bang-bang.md)
- *The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson* (1979): The Soviet television Holmes: patient, faithful and oddly cosy, with a superb Watson
- *Sherlock* (2010), Fi1m 65: Moffat and Gatiss’s modern-dress series, where the deductions still happen in front of you — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/sherlock-holmes.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/sherlock-holmes-a-game-of-shadows