The best Sherlock Holmes movies and TV shows
The top 3 according to 226 votes from people: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984) · Sherlock (2010) · Elementary (2012). (Updated Aug 31, 2025.)
From Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett to Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr.: the Sherlock Holmes adaptations ranked highest by the Deseret News and TheGamer.
Top 12
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1
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984)
Granada TV: Jeremy Brett, the most faithful Holmes for many fans.
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2
Sherlock (2010)
BBC: Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman in modern-day London.
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3
Elementary (2012)
Jonny Lee Miller's Holmes and Lucy Liu's Watson in New York.
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4
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
Barry Levinson: Holmes and Watson meet at boarding school.
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5
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)
Hammer Films: Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee on the moors.
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6
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)
Billy Wilder's melancholy, witty take on the detective.
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7
Mr. Holmes (2015)
Ian McKellen as a 93-year-old Holmes with a failing memory.
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8
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Guy Ritchie: Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as an action-hero duo.
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9
Enola Holmes (2020)
Netflix: Sherlock's younger sister, with Henry Cavill as Sherlock.
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10
House (2004)
Hugh Laurie's diagnostician, a Holmes in a hospital.
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11
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)
Basil Rathbone's Holmes, beginning his long run of films.
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12
Murder by Decree (1979)
Christopher Plummer's Holmes on the trail of Jack the Ripper.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 12… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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13
The House of Fear (1945)
Basil Rathbone in a Scottish mansion of mysterious deaths.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (1)
Elementary above Sherlock?? Bold. I respect it though, Jonny Lee Miller was great