---
title: "Sherlock Holmes"
year: 2009
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/sherlock-holmes"
fi1m_id: "sherlock-holmes"
imdb_id: "tt0988045"
tmdb_id: 10528
wikidata_id: "Q200396"
fi1m_score: 65
critics_score: 60
critics_reviews: 14
published: "2026-10-05T11:17:27.689719+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T11:17:39.139621+00:00"
region: "RS"
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 (2009)

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

## Identity

Sherlock Holmes

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/sherlock-holmes
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** sherlock-holmes
- **IMDb ID:** tt0988045
- **TMDB ID:** 10528
- **Wikidata ID:** Q200396
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988045/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/10528, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200396

**Fi1m score: 65** · Critics 60 from 14 reviews

*In a sentence:* The detective would rather fight than deduce, and honestly so would the film

> Guy Ritchie turns Conan Doyle’s detective into a bare-knuckle boxer with a chemistry set, and for long stretches it is good fun, mostly because Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law bicker so well. The mystery underneath them is thin, and the film knows it.

## Synopsis

London, in the reign of Victoria. Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) break up a ritual murder in a crypt and hand its author, Lord Henry Blackwood (Mark Strong), to Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan). Blackwood is hanged and Watson certifies him dead. Back at Baker Street, Holmes sulks without a case, shoots at the wallpaper and experiments on the dog, while Watson tries to pack up and marry Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly). Then Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), the one woman who ever got the better of Holmes, arrives with a job from a client she will not name, and Blackwood’s tomb is found broken open from the inside, with a witness swearing he walked out of it.

## Review

Guy Ritchie’s *Sherlock Holmes* takes the detective out of the armchair and puts him in a boxing cellar, a slaughterhouse and a shipyard, and the surprise is how much of that works. Robert Downey Jr. plays Holmes as a man who cannot stop noticing things and would rather hit somebody than explain them, and Jude Law’s Watson is the only person in London who can stand to share a room with him. It is a good double act in want of a case worth their time. The case the script gives them is not that, and it keeps a likeable film from being more than likeable.

Downey plays Holmes between cases as a wreck: unshaven, firing a revolver at the wallpaper, experimenting on Watson’s dog, unable to bear an afternoon without a problem. Law makes Watson competent, armed and tired, a doctor who has decided to marry Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly) and move out of Baker Street and who keeps not quite managing it. Their scenes are written as one long quarrel and played as a marriage. We laughed a good deal, and most of it was Law, who can show a man’s whole weariness with a friend he loves in one look across a restaurant table while Holmes insults his fiancée.

Ritchie’s signature is the fight that is solved before it starts. Holmes narrates in voice-over the blows he intends to land, each one shown slow and close while Downey murmurs about cracked ribs and ringing ears; then James Herbert cuts the same fight at full speed in about three seconds. The first time, in the boxing cellar, we grinned; it is a neat way to show thinking as something a body does. By the third time it has become a trick, and the film reaches for it when it has run out of other ideas. The larger set pieces, including a brawl with a giant called Dredger (Robert Maillet) that ends with a ship coming off its blocks, have plenty of noise and not much geography, so we were never sure who was standing where.

Philippe Rousselot shoots the city in browns and greys under a fog that never lifts, with daylight arriving through dirty glass. Sarah Greenwood’s production design is the film’s steadiest pleasure: Baker Street rooms heaped with bottles and papers, a slaughterhouse with a working bandsaw, and a Tower Bridge still half built, all girders and chains, which the film has the sense to save for last. Hans Zimmer’s score runs on a piano that sounds as if it had been left out in the rain, with a sawing fiddle over the top. It is cheeky and quick, and it suits Ritchie’s film rather better than it suits Holmes.

The case is this. Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), hanged for a string of ritual killings, is seen walking out of his own tomb, and London panics. Strong plays him with a stillness that is more frightening than anything he is asked to do, and he is asked to do a secret society, a plan to take the country, and a great deal of standing in dark rooms. The three credited writers, Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg, build a mystery that nobody but Holmes could solve and then have him explain it, at length, in the closing minutes. A good Holmes story makes us feel slow; this one has simply not shown us the pieces. By the ninety-minute mark we were no longer curious, only waiting for the explanation we knew was coming.

Rachel McAdams’s Irene Adler is introduced as the one woman who ever beat Holmes and is then given a run of frocks and a man in the shadows to report to. McAdams is game and never once dangerous. Eddie Marsan’s Lestrade is good value, a policeman who gave up understanding Holmes years ago and settled for using him. Geraldine James gets three lines as Mrs. Hudson and builds a landlady out of them.

Conan Doyle’s Holmes boxed and took cocaine, so Ritchie is not inventing much. What has gone missing is the pleasure of being shown a thing and then shown what it meant; Ritchie is better at the moments before and after a deduction than at the deduction itself. See it for the pair, at home on a wet evening, where its 129 minutes feel about right and the fog looks less expensive. Do not try to solve it. The film has not given you the pieces, and it does not appear to mind.

*Fi1m score 65, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics come down mildly in favour, and the praise lands in the same two places. Robert Downey Jr’s twitchy, restless Holmes is the asset nearly everyone names, with several reviews calling his double act with Jude Law the reason the film works at all. The grimy, crowded Victorian London is the other point of agreement: the production design and cinematography are admired even by those who dislike the rest, and one or two also note the score.

The reservations cluster on the balance between action and deduction. Many feel the set pieces crowd out the detective work, the mystery is thin, and the script sags or plods; Total Film finds the climax a letdown and the Los Angeles Times thinks Rachel McAdams is miscast. The spread is wide. Nearly half the reviews are mixed, and two dissent outright: The Guardian dismisses it as dull, muddled hack work, while The Hollywood Reporter calls it noisy and overstuffed.

## Straight answers

**Is Sherlock Holmes worth watching?**

*Sherlock Holmes* is worth watching for anyone who wants a loud, funny Victorian action film rather than a mystery, and we scored it 65. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law bicker like an old married couple and carry it between them. The case itself is thin and is explained rather than solved, so do not expect to work it out ahead of Holmes.

**How long is Sherlock Holmes, and what is it rated?**

*Sherlock Holmes* runs 2h 09m. It is an action and adventure film.

**Where can I watch Sherlock Holmes in Serbia?**

*Sherlock Holmes* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from din 2.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Sherlock Holmes, and is it suitable for children?**

*Sherlock Holmes* is a 12A, with bare-knuckle boxing, a ritual murder broken up in a crypt, a slaughterhouse set piece with a working bandsaw, and a villain who appears to walk out of his own tomb. The violence is quick and cut for comedy more than pain, and nothing lingers. It suits most children of secondary-school age; younger ones may find the crypt and Mark Strong's stillness unsettling.

**How does Sherlock Holmes compare to Sherlock Holmes?**

*Sherlock Holmes* is the fighter and the modern-dress television series it is most often set beside is the thinker: Ritchie's film is better at the moments before and after a deduction than at the deduction itself, while the series, at least in its first run, does the reasoning Ritchie skips. Choose the film for Downey and Law's quarrelling and the set pieces; choose the series if you want to be shown the clues and feel slow.

**What should I watch after Sherlock Holmes?**

After *Sherlock Holmes*, try [*Sherlock*](https://film.one/film/sherlock-holmes) (2010, Fi1m 65): The modern-dress series that does the deduction Ritchie skips, at least in its first run. Then [*Without a Clue*](https://film.one/film/without-a-clue) (1988, Fi1m 64): Michael Caine as a fraud Holmes, Ben Kingsley as the brains; the double act played for farce.

### Reviews we read (14)

- **Evening Standard**, The Standard (78/100, inferred): The critic finds the film erratic but hugely enjoyable, praising its affectionate take on Holmes and Victorian London. They single out the Downey Jr–Law double act and the film’s vivid atmosphere, while noting that the script feels baggy. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/elementary-but-splendidly-droll-in-sherlock-holmes-my-dear-mr-ritchie-7417921.html)
- **The AV Club**, Keith Phipps (B): Phipps finds the film a highly entertaining, propulsive blockbuster that makes a distinctive and convincing Holmes of Robert Downey Jr. He especially praises Downey’s twitchy performance and the sequences that slow down to show Holmes plotting. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/sherlock-holmes-1798207664)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (3/4): Ebert finds the film an entertaining, energetic take on Sherlock Holmes. He particularly praises the chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sherlock-holmes-2009)
- **Empire**, William Thomas (70/100, inferred): Thomas finds the film an entertaining, promising reintroduction, though it works better as a setup than as a satisfying standalone story. He especially praises the lively Holmes–Watson partnership, while noting that the plot can feel simplistic and plodding. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sherlock-holmes-review/)
- **Screen Daily**, Tim Grierson (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review of the 2009 film, but the review text is behind a paywall. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint are unavailable. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/sherlock-holmes/5009018.article)
- **Slant Magazine**, Ryan Stewart (2.5/4): The review sees the modernization as welcome but finds the film’s relentless action often overwhelms its likable characters. It praises the gritty, immersive Victorian London while wishing for more of Holmes and Watson’s comic interplay. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/sherlock-holmes/)
- **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (3/5): The review frames this take on Sherlock Holmes as a tension between Guy Ritchie's directing and screenwriting. Its standfirst suggests that the divide may undermine the film, though the available text is truncated. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/sherlock-holmes)
- **Total Film**, Matt Mueller (3/5): Mueller finds the film’s brio infectious, though its action sometimes overwhelms the detective work. He praises Downey Jr.’s lively take on Holmes and the film’s production design, while calling the Tower Bridge climax a letdown. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/sherlock-holmes-review/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (50/100, inferred): Turan finds the film solid but not spectacular, ultimately weighed down by trying to serve too many purposes. He praises Downey Jr.’s energetic performance and Ritchie’s brisk style, while criticizing the generic action sequences and miscast Rachel McAdams. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-25-la-et-sherlock-holmes25-2009dec25-story.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Kirk Honeycutt (25/100, inferred): Honeycutt finds the film a noisy, overstuffed reinvention that sacrifices suspense and character for fast-paced action. He praises the grimy London setting and polished cinematography, while noting that McAdams and Reilly bring spark to thinly written roles. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/sherlock-holmes-film-review-93807/)
- **The Guardian**, Catherine Shoard (15/100, inferred): Shoard finds the film muddled, dull and lacking confidence, dismissing it as high-end hack work. She singles out the Holmes–Watson bromance as a hollow modernization that quickly grows dull. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/dec/15/sherlock-holmes-film-review)
- **HeyUGuys**, Jon Lyus (75/100, inferred): The critic enjoys the film and considers the DVD a good opportunity to revisit it, though the DVD extras are limited. They praise the engaging pairing of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, as well as the film’s score and production detail. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/sherlock-holmes-dvd-review/)
- **Eye for Film**, Stephen Carty (70/100, inferred): Carty finds Ritchie’s contemporary, action-led take better than expected, though not quite what devoted Holmes fans want. He praises the Holmes–Watson dynamic and the production, while noting that the mystery is weak. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/sherlock-holmes-film-review-by-stephen-carty)
- **Den of Geek**, Simon Brew (3/5): Brew finds the film uneven, with a weak first half and showy direction, but ultimately an enjoyable watch. He singles out Robert Downey Jr.’s charm and performance as the film’s strongest asset. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/sherlock-holmes-review-2/)

## Details

- **Director:** Guy Ritchie
- **Director:** Guy Ritchie
- **Screenplay:** Anthony Peckham, Simon Kinberg, Michael Robert Johnson
- **Cinematography:** Philippe Rousselot
- **Editor:** James Herbert
- **Music:** Hans Zimmer
- **Production design:** Sarah Greenwood
- **Producer:** Susan Downey, Dan Lin, Joel Silver
- **Cast:** Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes; Jude Law as Dr. John Watson; Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler; Mark Strong as Lord Henry Blackwood; Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade; Robert Maillet as Dredger; Geraldine James as Mrs. Hudson; Kelly Reilly as Mary Morstan
- **Runtime:** 2h 09m
- **First release (the UK):** 14 December 2009
- **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Mystery
- **Budget:** $90 million
- **Box office:** $524 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBQfbc1t_I8

## Where to watch in Serbia

- Amazon Prime Video: rent din 2.99, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy din 7.99, uhd

*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, 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.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2010: Best Original Score (nominated); Best Production Design (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes* (1970): Billy Wilder’s melancholy Holmes, where the jokes hurt and the case actually matters.
- *Sherlock* (2010), Fi1m 65: The modern-dress series that does the deduction Ritchie skips, at least in its first run. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/sherlock-holmes.md)
- *The Hound of the Baskervilles* (1959): Hammer’s Holmes, with Peter Cushing and a moor that looks properly dangerous.
- *Without a Clue* (1988), Fi1m 64: Michael Caine as a fraud Holmes, Ben Kingsley as the brains; the double act played for farce. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/without-a-clue.md)
- *Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame* (2010): Tsui Hark’s Tang-dynasty sleuth fights more than he thinks too, and with more wit.

---
© 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