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IMDbPro

Sherlock Holmes

  • 20092009
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
640K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,448
298
Jude Law, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Strong, and Rachel McAdams in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Detective Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) and his stalwart partner Watson (Law) engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.
Play trailer2:32
18 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionAdventureMystery
Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
640K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,448
298
    • Guy Ritchie
  • Writers
    • Michael Robert Johnson(screenplay)
    • Anthony Peckham(screenplay)
    • Simon Kinberg(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert Downey Jr.
    • Jude Law
    • Rachel McAdams
    • Guy Ritchie
  • Writers
    • Michael Robert Johnson(screenplay)
    • Anthony Peckham(screenplay)
    • Simon Kinberg(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert Downey Jr.
    • Jude Law
    • Rachel McAdams
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 760User reviews
    • 417Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars

    Videos18

    Sherlock Holmes -- Trailer #2
    Trailer 2:32
    Watch Sherlock Holmes -- Trailer #2
    Sherlock Holmes
    Trailer 2:23
    Watch Sherlock Holmes
    What to Watch If You Love "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier"
    Clip 2:29
    Watch What to Watch If You Love "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier"
    A Guide to the Films of Guy Ritchie
    Clip 1:44
    Watch A Guide to the Films of Guy Ritchie
    Sherlock Holmes
    Clip 1:18
    Watch Sherlock Holmes
    Sherlock Holmes
    Clip 1:09
    Watch Sherlock Holmes
    Sherlock Holmes
    Clip 0:59
    Watch Sherlock Holmes
    Sherlock Holmes
    Clip 1:31
    Watch Sherlock Holmes
    Sherlock Holmes
    Clip 1:09
    Watch Sherlock Holmes
    Sherlock Holmes
    Clip 1:10
    Watch Sherlock Holmes
    Sherlock Holmes
    Clip 1:08
    Watch Sherlock Holmes
    Sherlock Holmes
    Clip 1:20
    Watch Sherlock Holmes

    Photos217

    Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    Jude Law in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    Guy Ritchie in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    Rachel McAdams in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    Rachel McAdams in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    Guy Ritchie in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    Robert Downey Jr. and Rachel McAdams in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    Mark Strong and Amanda Grace Johnson in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    Jude Law and Kelly Reilly in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    Robert Downey Jr. and David Garrick in Sherlock Holmes (2009)
    Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Strong in Sherlock Holmes (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Downey Jr.
    Robert Downey Jr.
    • Sherlock Holmes
    Jude Law
    Jude Law
    • Dr. John Watson
    Rachel McAdams
    Rachel McAdams
    • Irene Adler
    Mark Strong
    Mark Strong
    • Lord Henry Blackwood
    Eddie Marsan
    Eddie Marsan
    • Inspector Lestrade
    Robert Maillet
    Robert Maillet
    • Dredger
    Geraldine James
    Geraldine James
    • Mrs. Hudson
    Kelly Reilly
    Kelly Reilly
    • Mary Morstan
    William Houston
    William Houston
    • Constable Clark
    Hans Matheson
    Hans Matheson
    • Lord Coward
    James Fox
    James Fox
    • Sir Thomas Rotheram
    William Hope
    William Hope
    • Ambassador Standish
    Clive Russell
    Clive Russell
    • Captain Tanner
    Oran Gurel
    • Reordan
    David Garrick
    David Garrick
    • McMurdo
    Ky Discala
    Ky Discala
    • Maid
    • (as Kylie Hutchinson)
    Andrew Brooke
    Andrew Brooke
    • Guard Captain
    Tom Watt
    • Carriage Driver
      • Guy Ritchie
    • Writers
      • Michael Robert Johnson(screenplay) (screen story)
      • Anthony Peckham(screenplay)
      • Simon Kinberg(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Robert Downey Jr. Through the Years

    Robert Downey Jr. Through the Years

    Take a look back at Robert Downey Jr.'s movie career in photos.
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Watson's line to Holmes, "You know that what you're drinking is for eye surgery?", is an obscure reference to Holmes' cocaine usage. At the time, cocaine was used as a topical anesthetic for eye surgery. In the stories, Holmes injects cocaine.
    • Goofs
      When Irene escapes from the sewers beneath Parliament with the poison, she emerges at Tower Bridge, about two and a half miles away, within 30 seconds.
    • Quotes

      Irene Adler: Why are you always so suspicious?

      Sherlock Holmes: Should I answer chronologically or alphabetically?

    • Crazy credits
      The credit for costume designer is shown over a frame from the scene in which Holmes is handcuffed to Irene's bed, not wearing any clothes at all.
    • Alternate versions
      In most television broadcasts and many home media releases, Jared Harris replaces the uncredited Andrew Jack as the voice of Professor Moriarty in order to maintain consistency with Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011).
    • Connections
      Edited into Live from Studio Five: Episode #1.66 (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      German Dance No. 10 in D Major
      from "Twelve German Dances"

      Written by Ludwig van Beethoven (as Ludwig Van Beethoven)

      Arranged by Rick Wentworth

      Performed by The Isobel Griffiths Ensemble

      Courtesy of Pathé Productions Limited

    User reviews760

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Downey Jr. helps "Holmes" entertain in a livelier, more modern way
    The grandfather of the mystery genre -- and film's most adapted character -- is none other than the great detective Sherlock Holmes, so if one were to apply Holmes' own deductive reasoning skills, a modern reinvention was a matter of time. English Director Guy Ritchie ("Snatch," "RocknRolla") applies his witty and gritty crime thriller style to the first mainstream 21st Century version of Holmes, one that will likely appeal to a younger crowd and those less familiar with previous incarnations of the iconic sleuth.

    The reason is the new "Holmes" is much less concerned with the quality of the mystery and more focused on breathing a new quirkiness and style into the character and his top-notch detective work. The script hopes you'll be hooked on the reveal of how Holmes figures everything out and not so much the crime/mystery itself. In other words our new "Holmes" is about creating an entertaining diversion in the form of clever logic, high-brow humor and old-school science -- it uses mystery conventions but to a showier end. Wisely, Warner Bros. has trusted the responsibility of delivering this amusement to one of the best and hottest comedians out there in Robert Downey Jr.

    Downey Jr. continues to impress in his turn as Holmes, managing to employ his same wit and charms while creating a unique character that makes you feel as if you're watching Holmes, not RDJ with yet another accent. This Holmes is not merely a wise detective of old, but the quirky type, suggesting some insanity behind the genius. RDJ makes him much more colorful and entertaining and takes attention away from an okay storyline.

    The mystery surrounds Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), who appears to have supernatural abilities derived from an ancient magic. He creates terror in London appearing to have risen from the grave and committed a couple murders. Holmes and his dear friend Dr. Watson (Jude Law) are on the verge of ending their partnership because Watson has plans to settle down and marry when the crafty Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) gets them deep into the Blackwood case.

    The supernatural angle didn't work well for the latest Indiana Jones film and it doesn't exactly do well here. "Sherlock Holmes" Ver. 2009 is a little more Dan Brown "Angels & Demons" and a little less "Se7en." This is fine for those who can look to Holmes for a more mainstream romp than what an older crowd might hope to be a rigorous exercise in fine mystery and logic. Again, the fewer the expectations, the better.

    As for the lean and mean Guy Ritchie depiction of Holmes, it's not entirely unfounded. The script creatively draws the connection between Holmes' intellectual prowess and how he might use it in a physical bout. It adds another dimension and ups the entertainment factor of the character. It might feel like it's giving a character steroids to put on more of a show, but the appeal would be too narrow if Holmes were straight-laced. Credit, however, has to go to Downey Jr. for making this vision work. His banter with Watson and ability to use classic Holmes logic to a comic effect is infinitely enjoyable.

    It does take a bit of settling in to understand exactly what direction this new Holmes is going in, but it works thanks to RDJ and picks up as the mystery thickens and Holmes' limits are tested. McAdams' character lacks enough strength to stay memorable and as much as I like Strong, his character lacks dimension too. But the rebirth of Holmes will be a nice Holiday escape for the modern audience and those willing to keep an open mind. It's not your grandfather's "Sherlock Holmes" but can you think of any reason why it should be?

    ~Steven C

    Visit my site at moviemusereviews.com
    helpful•30
    22
    • Movie_Muse_Reviews
    • Dec 25, 2009

    FAQ20

    • What is the name of the Bulldog that played Gladstone?
    • What is "Sherlock Holmes" about?
    • Is "Sherlock Holmes" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 25, 2009 (United States)
      • United States
      • Germany
      • United Kingdom
      • Australia
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Warner Bros. (Japan)
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Brompton Cemetery, Fulham Road, West Brompton, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Village Roadshow Pictures
      • Silver Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 8 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • DTS

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