Young Sherlock Holmes

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Young Sherlock Holmes

PG-13

1985

1h 49m

Mystery & Thriller

Adventure

Action

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A teenage Sherlock Holmes (Nicholas Rowe) meets and befriends his future sidekick, the bemused and bespectacled John Watson (Alan Cox). During their first semester of boarding school, a series of deaths occur on campus. Intrigued by the crime, Holmes looks into it and soon comes to suspect a poisonous hallucinogen. And then, in the midst of their investigation, Holmes and Watson stumble on a bizarre cult with a penchant for human sacrifice -- after which they must struggle to escape.

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Critics Consensus

Young Sherlock Holmes is a charming, if unnecessarily flashy, take on the master sleuth.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

... it's a perfectly agreeable family entertainment, a craftsmanlike fantasia on Conan Doyle.

Jan 4, 2018

Full Review

Joshua Vasquez

Slant Magazine

There is something about Holmes's elegant, haunting, and whisperingly melancholic distance, his analytical remove from the world, that inspires a desire for glimpses of the baroque corridors of labyrinthine interiors.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 5, 2003

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

If these story elements seem typical of Conan Doyle, there is also a lot in this movie that can be traced directly to the work of Steven Spielberg, the executive producer.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Mel Valentin

eFilmCritic.com

Rated: 4/5

Oct 14, 2010

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MaryAnn Johanson

Flick Filosopher

This is the origin story for the world's first consulting detective that Conan Doyle was never considerate enough to write for us...

Mar 23, 2010

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

The idea to center on Holmes and Watson as young men is good and original but the execution is rather poor and Levinson's direction is impersonal.

Rated: C+

Jun 30, 2005

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Tyler G

Holmes comes across as extremely annoying to the point it is a hard watch.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 49 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $18,100,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

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Garrett B

Though mostly remembered for its landmark achievement of CGI, it is a very underrated mystery thriller with some dazzling practical effects.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/10/25

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H. Coy A

Honestly, I was 5 when this movie first came out. It will be one of my all time favorite movies. The action, the history, the well Sherlock being Sherlock, but it was a great movie then and it is a movie that when I want a bit of the nostalgia I will watch and at times, I still can see 5 year old me sitting on the follow transfixed to the screen. Especially, any scene in the Pyramid...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/28/24

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the real gems of '85. Wonderful performances, groundbreaking special effects, and a fantastic musical score by composer Bruce Broughton. A tribute worthy of the singular Sherlock Holmes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/06/24

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Michael W

I absolutely love this movie! Innocent and exciting and pure entertainment for the entire family from young to old. Imaginative, lighthearted and spellbinding. Fabulous depiction of Victorian England.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/31/23

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Barry Levinson

Director

Nicholas Rowe

Sherlock Holmes

Alan Cox

John Watson

Sophie Ward

Elizabeth Hardy

Anthony Higgins

Rathe

Susan Fleetwood

Mrs. Dribb

Young Sherlock Holmes: Official Clip - This is Not Real

2:11

Young Sherlock Holmes: Official Clip - Cold Revenge

2:02

Young Sherlock Holmes: Official Clip - Holmes' New Hat

1:49

Young Sherlock Holmes: Official Clip - Attack on Waxflatter

1:19

Young Sherlock Holmes: Official Clip - Fencing Lessons

1:34

Young Sherlock Holmes: Official Clip - The Adventure of a Lifetime

2:06

Young Sherlock Holmes: Official Clip - Watson Meets Holmes

2:13

Young Sherlock Holmes: Official Clip - The Stained Glass Knight

2:03

Young Sherlock Holmes: Official Clip - The Cult of Eh-tar

1:54

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Synopsis

A teenage Sherlock Holmes (Nicholas Rowe) meets and befriends his future sidekick, the bemused and bespectacled John Watson (Alan Cox). During their first semester of boarding school, a series of deaths occur on campus. Intrigued by the crime, Holmes looks into it and soon comes to suspect a poisonous hallucinogen. And then, in the midst of their investigation, Holmes and Watson stumble on a bizarre cult with a penchant for human sacrifice -- after which they must struggle to escape.

Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: Henry Winkler, Mark Johnson
Screenwriter: Chris Columbus
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Amblin Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Adventure, Action, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.1M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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