10 films and TV series about Sherlock Holmes for true scholars

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

You will be surprised how diverse the great detective's screen incarnations are.

TV series about Sherlock Holmes

1. Sherlock

• Great Britain, USA, 2010-2017.
• Detective, thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 4 seasons.
• IMDb: 9, 1.

The heroes of the works of Conan Doyle are transferred to the XXI century. Sherlock Holmes lives in London on Baker Street, solves client cases and helps the police find criminals. One day, a colleague introduces the hero to John Watson, a doctor and veteran of the Afghan war. Sherlock invites a new acquaintance to rent an apartment together. Soon, John helps the detective investigate the death of a woman. So they become partners, and then real friends.

The series by Mark Gatiss and Stephen Moffat has become one of the most popular television projects of our century, Jeremy Brett: The Real Sherlock Holmes. He won the hearts of the audience with exciting stories, interesting directorial moves and vivid characters.

Sherlock Holmes was played by Benedict Cumberbatch. Notably, he was the only actor to audition for the role. After his tests, the creators of the show realized: Cumberbatch is so organic in the role of a detective that it makes no sense to offer this image to someone else.

2. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

• Great Britain, 1984-1994.
• Detective, crime, drama.
• Duration: 41 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 7.

Sherlock Holmes is the world's only consulting detective. He not only takes on the affairs of private persons, but also helps the police in investigations. Sherlock's broad outlook, deductive method, and the ability to spot little things allow Sherlock to solve the most intricate crimes. In his work, he is assisted by Dr. John Watson, with whom he lives in an apartment on Baker Street.

Each of the 41 episodes of the series is a screen version of a short story or novel by Arthur Conan Doyle. The main role is played by Jeremy Brett. The actor openly admitted that Sherlock was not his role. However, he tried to get used to the role and managed to bring humor to the character of the detective. Thanks to his skillful play, his Sherlock has become one of the best on-screen incarnations of the great detective.

3. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson

• USSR, 1980-1986.
• Thriller, detective.
• Duration: 5 films (11 episodes).
• IMDb: 8, 6.

John Watson returns to London after serving in Afghanistan. He settles at 221B on Baker Street, which is watched over by the elderly Mrs. Hudson. Here John meets an eccentric neighbor, Sherlock Holmes. At first, Watson treats him with distrust and apprehension. Later, the hero gets to know Sherlock better and becomes his companion in investigations.

The Soviet "Sherlock Holmes" quickly fell in love with viewers. After the release of the first film, the creators received many letters asking for a sequel. So the show went on screens for six years.

The project received a positive response not only in Russia, but also in the UK. Critics noted Vasily Livanov and Vitaly Solomin: The Russian Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson that the characters and plots are very close to the literary source, and this cannot be said about many Western counterparts. The leading actor Vasily Livanov even received the Order of the British Empire. And his wax figure is on display at the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London.

4. Elementary

• USA, 2012–2019.
• Drama, crime, detective.
• Duration: 7 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

After the death of his beloved Sherlock Holmes became addicted to drugs. The hero's father hires surgeon Joan Watson as Sherlock's sobriety curator: she helps the detective undergo rehabilitation. Over time, the professional relationship between the characters is replaced by friendship. Joan becomes a student of Sherlock, and later - his colleague. Together, they help NYPD solve complex cases.

Before the premiere, critics were skeptical about the show, because two years earlier, the popular "Sherlock" from the BBC appeared on the screens. However, after the show was released, many noted its innovative approach and uniqueness.

The peculiarity of the project is that the creators turned Watson into a female character. Thus, the authors sought to emphasize that men and women can be colleagues and friends and at the same time not enter into a love relationship.

Sherlock Holmes films

1. Sherlock Holmes

• USA, Germany, UK, Australia, 2009.
• Action, adventure, thriller, drama, comedy, crime, detective.
• Duration: 128 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Sherlock Holmes and John Watson investigate the murder of five women. As a result, they go on the trail of the warlock Lord Blackwood. The villain is executed by hanging. However, rumors soon spread throughout the city that Blackwood was resurrected. The detective takes on this strange case.

Although based on motives from the novels of Conan Doyle, the film is based on the original plot. It was directed by Guy Ritchie. In the tape, you can see many of his favorite techniques: from slow-motion shooting to the general brutal mood of the picture.

A striking feature of the film was the music written by the famous composer Hans Zimmer.

2. Without a single piece of evidence

• Great Britain, 1988.
• Comedy, crime, detective.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

In this story, the genius is not Sherlock Holmes, but his faithful assistant. Dr. Watson is proficient in deduction and can easily help Scotland Yard solve crimes. He creates stories about these investigations, in which he attributes his exploits to a fictional character named Sherlock Holmes. This non-existent detective is becoming very popular, and the public is demanding to show them Holmes. Then Watson hires the actor Reginald Kinkade for this role - a stupid drunkard and womanizer.

The main roles in the film were played by Oscar-winning actors: Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley. Both took Without a Clue seriously to their looks, despite the tape's playful mood. This British comedy will surely appeal to lovers of parody and farce.

3. Mr. Holmes

• UK, USA, 2015.
• Drama, detective.
• Duration: 103 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

Sherlock Holmes, 93, retired long ago. He lives on a farm and raises bees, and also tries to reclaim his fading memory. The detective is unhappy with the way Watson described his latest case - the investigation into the death of a young woman. Therefore, the detective decides to create his own version of the story, and for this he intensively remembers the details.

The peculiarity of the film is that the creators made Sherlock Holmes more human. We see him not as a soulless intellectual, but as a weak old man who realizes the value of human relations.

The main character was played by Ian McKellen, who became world famous for his role as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Before filming, the actor took a course in beekeeping in order to look convincing in the role of a beekeeper.

4. Sherlock Holmes and the silk stocking case

• UK, USA, 2004.
• Drama, crime, detective.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

The body of a young girl strangled by a nylon stocking is found in the Thames. Scotland Yard is convinced that this is a prostitute who has suffered from a client. However, Sherlock immediately recognizes the deceased as an aristocrat and decides to investigate the case. Soon, another girl is found murdered in the same way. It becomes clear: the maniac is operating. At this time, a thick fog descends on London, which helps the criminal to successfully hide.

The film is based on an original storyline created by screenwriter Allan Cabitt. There are only a few lines in the script taken from the works of Conan Doyle.

The picture attracts attention with bright British actors, including Rupert Everett and Michael Fassbender.

5. Young Sherlock Holmes

• USA, 1985.
• Fantasy, thriller, detective, adventure.
• Duration: 109 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

Young John Watson arrives at college where he meets Sherlock. The guy has a sharp mind and fights well with swords. Suddenly, terrible events begin to occur in the institution. Three elderly employees are killed one after another under strange circumstances. The young men undertake to find out who is behind these deaths. And the answer will definitely surprise them.

The film was directed by Barry Levinson (Rain Man) and was written by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Home Alone). The latter wrote the original script, relying only on the motives of the works of Conan Doyle. According to The New York Times. IMAGINE SHERLOCK AS A BOY … of Columbus himself, it was important for the creators to show how Sherlock became cold and calculating. They also wanted to explain why the hero remained alone.

The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. And for good reason: the first character completely created by computer graphics appeared in the tape.

6. Enola Holmes

• UK, 2020.
• Adventure, detective, crime.
• Duration: 123 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

Enola Holmes's mom disappears on the eve of her daughter's 16th birthday. The elder brothers Sherlock and Mycroft come to help the girl. Enola was brought up in a completely different way from society. Therefore, Mycroft intends to send his sister to a boarding school to make a real lady out of her. The heroine refuses to obey and runs away to look for her mother alone.

The cast of the film is intriguing. The lead role is played by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. Despite her young age, the girl also became the producer of the film. Sherlock was played by Henry Cavill (The Witcher), and the missing woman was played by Helena Bonham Carter.

The film is based on the book by Nancy Springer, the author of a series of novels about Enola Holmes. The Hollywood Reporter scandal erupted around this adaptation. Conan Doyle Estate Sues Netflix Over Coming Movie About Sherlock Holmes' Sister. Conan Doyle's heirs have filed a lawsuit over the image of Sherlock. He is depicted as a sympathetic - and according to the plaintiffs, such a detective appears only in those works that did not manage to become public domain. As a result, the claim was dismissed.