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Adventure comedy

Holmes & Watson (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Holmes & Watson (2018) movie poster

Holmes & Watson is a 2018 adventure comedy directed by Etan Cohen, starring Will Ferrell as Sherlock Holmes, John C. Reilly and Ralph Fiennes. It brings to the screen characters from The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $40.5 million worldwide on a $42 million budget. Critics gave it 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 3.9/10.

IMDb rating
3.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
10%
worldwide gross
$40.5M
Echo Score
34
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Holmes & Watson (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Director
Etan Cohen
Genres
Adventure , Mystery , Comedy , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$42M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Holmes & Watson About?

The premise of Holmes & Watson without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

When the Queen's life is threatened, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson investigate a complex plot within the palace. It appears Moriarty is involved, but as they delve deeper, they uncover surprising twists and turns. The iconic duo must use all their skills to outwit a dangerous adversary and expose a web of deceit, where appearances can be deceiving and loyalties are tested.

Holmes & Watson Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • judge
  • england
  • professor moriarty character
  • kiss
  • first kiss
  • younger version of character
  • boarding school
  • saving a life
  • clue
  • animated sequence
  • bomb
  • male corset
+38 more
  • trial
  • explosion
  • fake mustache
  • moving mustache
  • prologue
  • scene during opening credits
  • queen victoria character
  • dr. john watson character
  • turtle
  • first day at school
  • blindfold
  • donkey
  • prank
  • year 1867
  • written by director
  • reference to shakespeare's romeo and juliet
  • inspector lestrade character
  • onion
  • buckingham palace
  • surprise birthday party
  • poison
  • telegraph
  • stabbed in the back
  • stabbed to death
  • wyoming
  • worst picture razzie winner
  • rms titanic
  • humiliation
  • disgrace
  • sigmund freud character
  • mark twain character
  • charlie chaplin character
  • harry houdini character
  • reference to mahatma gandhi
  • legendary character
  • school bullying
  • autopsy
  • birthday cake
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Cast & crew

Holmes & Watson Cast & Characters

Will Ferrell leads the cast as Sherlock Holmes, with John C. Reilly as Dr. Watson and Ralph Fiennes as Professor James Moriarty. Directed by Etan Cohen; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Holmes & Watson

· 8 more
From the director

More from Etan Cohen

More films directed by Etan Cohen, best-rated first: Get Hard and My Wife Is Retarded.

Full filmography
Ratings

Holmes & Watson Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Holmes & Watson 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 3.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 34/100, strongest in character & emotion (45) and weakest in story & flow (25).

34 /100

Holmes & Watson Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Holmes & Watson struggles with uneven humor and uninspired execution across its key elements. Most commentary notes the film’s reliance on a handful of repeated jokes and a lack of narrative inventiveness, leading to a tedious viewing experience. Although a small group of viewers praise its anarchic energy and comic interplay, these moments fail to overcome the pervasive flat pacing and weak structure. Ultimately, the film is unable to deliver consistent engagement or meaningful comedic impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 25

    In terms of art and craft, the film's visual execution offers little distinction. Critics point to lethargic pacing and uninspired editing that emphasize repeated gags rather than visual variety. User feedback does not highlight any memorable production design or cinematographic flair, and the modest reveal of props is undermined by flat staging. Overall, the technical presentation feels perfunctory and fails to elevate the material.

  • Character & Emotion 45

    In terms of character and emotion, the film presents uneven performances that hinder emotional investment. Many reviewers describe the lead duo's interplay as forced, citing a lack of genuine chemistry and caricatured portrayals. However, some viewers admire Ferrell’s comic timing and O’Reilly’s affectionate take on Watson, noting occasional spontaneous moments of energy. Despite these sparks, character depth remains superficial and underdeveloped.

  • Story & Flow 25

    In terms of story and flow, the film relies heavily on a few recurring gags that undercut narrative momentum and undermine engagement. Critics note a thin plot that offers minimal coherence or inventive twists, while several users echo frustration with weak scripting and pacing. Although occasional humorous beats emerge, they are insufficient to overcome the film’s overall lack of narrative substance.

  • Sensory Experience 30

    In terms of sensory experience, the film offers limited auditory or visual distinction. The score and sound design are largely unremarkable, receiving little mention in reviews, while the visual style leans on generic staging and uninspired editing transitions. A few viewers highlight precise timing in sound cues, but these moments are overshadowed by the overall lack of stylistic cohesion. The sensory elements fail to enrich the comedy.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    When it comes to rewatch factor, opinions diverge sharply, but negative sentiment predominates. Critics discourage repeat viewings due to tedious humor, while a minority of fans describe discovering new laughs on subsequent watches. Some users believe the film could gain a cult following, yet the prevailing consensus is that the inconsistent comedic quality undermines lasting appeal. Overall, few viewers consider it highly rewatchable.

Plot

Holmes & Watson Plot Summary

What happens in Holmes & Watson from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In England, 1867, a young Sherlock Holmes (Hector Bateman-Harden) finds himself dropped off at a boarding school by his mother. Soon after his arrival, he becomes the target of relentless bullying from his classmates. Despite their initial attempts to befriend him, which lead to a humiliating incident involving a donkey, Sherlock decides to shut off his emotions entirely and devote his life to crime-solving. He resolves from that day forward to use his intelligence to expose the misdeeds of his peers. It’s during this time that he encounters young John Watson (Codie-Lei Eastick), setting the stage for a lifelong friendship.

Full summary

The whole story of Holmes & Watson, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Holmes & Watson Box Office & Budget

Holmes & Watson grossed $40.5 million worldwide on a $42 million budget, 96% of what it cost. $30.6 million came from the US and Canada and $9.9 million (24%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$40.5M

96% of its budget back

US & Canada
$30.6M
International
$9.9M
Budget
$42M
US & Canada 76% Rest of the world 24%
Videos

Holmes & Watson Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

HOLMES AND WATSON - Official Trailer (HD)
  • Trailer Holmes and Watson: Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Holmes & Watson?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the year setting for the beginning of the movie?

Cars

Cars in Holmes & Watson

31 cars on screen, including the 2005 Chevrolet Aveo and the 2006 Chevrolet Super Carry.

All 31 cars
  • 2005 Chevrolet Aveo in Holmes & Watson 2005 Chevrolet Aveo Minor role
  • 2006 Chevrolet Super Carry in Holmes & Watson 2006 Chevrolet Super Carry Minor role
  • 2015 Dodge Journey in Holmes & Watson 2015 Dodge Journey Minor role
  • 1977 Renault 12 in Holmes & Watson 1977 Renault 12 Minor role
Details

Holmes & Watson Also Known As

29 alternative titles, including “Holmes and Watson” and “福尔摩斯&华生”.

Also known as
  • Holmes and Watson
  • 福尔摩斯&华生
  • Holmes y Watson
  • Holmes & Watson: 2 (de)menti al servizio della regina
  • Holmes & Watson - 2 de menti al servizio della regina
  • Holmes and Watson 2 dementi al servizio della regina
  • Холмс і Ватсон
  • Holmes & Watson: Weapons of Mass Deduction
  • Холмс и Ватсон
  • Холмс и Уотсън
  • Holmes és Watson
  • הולמס & ווטסון
+17 more
  • Σέρλοκ Χολμς & Δρ. Γουότσον
  • 홈즈 & 왓슨
  • Холмс и Вотсон
  • Holmes i Watson
  • Holmes e Watson
  • Holmes și Watson
  • 福尔摩斯与华生
  • Šerlokas Holmsas ir daktaras Vatsonas
  • Holmes ja Watson
  • 福爾摩濕與滑生
  • Holmes et Watson
  • Šerloks Holmss un doktors Vatsons
  • 俺たちホームズ&ワトソン
  • Holmes in Watson
  • होम्स और वॉट्सन
  • شارلوك هولمز والدكتور واطسون
  • โฮล์มส์ แอนด์ วัตสัน

Seen Holmes & Watson?

FAQ

Holmes & Watson FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Holmes & Watson, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Holmes & Watson?

Holmes & Watson runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

When was Holmes & Watson released?

Holmes & Watson was released on December 25, 2018.

Who directed Holmes & Watson?

Holmes & Watson was directed by Etan Cohen.

More films by Etan Cohen

Who is in the cast of Holmes & Watson?

Holmes & Watson stars Will Ferrell as Sherlock Holmes, John C. Reilly as Dr. Watson and Ralph Fiennes as Professor James Moriarty, among 12 credited actors.

How much did Holmes & Watson make at the box office?

Holmes & Watson grossed $40.5 million worldwide ($30.6 million domestic, $9.9 million international) on a budget of $42 million.

How is Holmes & Watson rated?

Holmes & Watson has 3.9/10 on IMDb, 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, 43% on TMDB and 1.6/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Holmes & Watson have a post-credit scene?

No. Holmes & Watson has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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