Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Nothing escapes him.
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.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 23 December 2009 |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Mystery |
| Director | Guy Ritchie |
| Starring | Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Rachel McAdams |
| Runtime | 129 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 6.2/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 69% · Metacritic 57/100 · TMDB users 7.2/10 |
| Budget | $90 million |
| Box office | $524 million worldwide |
Where to watch Sherlock Holmes
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What kind of watch this is
Guy Ritchie directs this 129-minute action-adventure with the pacing of a car chase and the tension of a locked room. Robert Downey Jr. plays Holmes not as a distant genius, but as a bruised, physical man who hits people before he solves them. Jude Law’s Watson is the straight man, though "straight" might be generous given the amount of getting hit. The film treats the detective as a weapon rather than a scholar. It is loud, kinetic, and surprisingly tactile. If you prefer your mysteries to smell like gunpowder and engine oil, this is the one.
What the critics said
Critics were divided on whether Guy Ritchie’s chaotic style suited a detective story. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 69% Tomatometer score as of November 2022, while the average user rating sits at 6.2/10 as of October 2021. Metacritic lands at 57 out of 100 as of June 2025, which it categorizes as mixed or average. Roger Ebert gave it three stars, citing strong characters and visuals. A. O. Scott was less impressed, calling it "a series of poses and stunts." The film benefits from a strong performance by Robert Downey Jr.
How it did with audiences
Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes cost $90 million and made $524 million worldwide. That is a healthy return, though not the kind of numbers that make a director feel like a genius. In the US, it took in $209 million. Its first weekend pulled in an estimated $62.4 million, landing second to Avatar. It also set a one-day Christmas sales record.
On TMDB, users rate it 7.2. For a caper that spends its runtime chasing a wizard, that is a respectable score. It was the 8th highest-grossing film of 2009.
What came next for the cast
Robert Downey Jr. arrived from Iron Man. Jude Law came off Gattaca and A.I. Rachel McAdams had just done The Notebook and Mean Girls. Mark Strong was in Stardust and Sunshine. The credits do not claim Holmes caused any of this. They simply show what happened next.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Sherlock Holmes.
Sources
- Sherlock Holmes on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q200396 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Sherlock Holmes (2009 film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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