Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)

65% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(9,967 ratings)

Also released under the title Young Sherlock Holmes and the Pyramid of Fear, this film follows the adventures of young John Watson (Alan Cox) when he is shipped off to boarding school and meets up with the brilliantly bizarre Sherlock Holmes (Nicolas Rowe). The two boys strike up a friendship and… More Also released under the title Young Sherlock Holmes and the Pyramid of Fear, this film follows the adventures of young John Watson (Alan Cox) when he is shipped off to boarding school and meets up with the brilliantly bizarre Sherlock Holmes (Nicolas Rowe). The two boys strike up a friendship and promptly become involved in the investigation of a number of mysterious murders. When their curiosity gets them into trouble with a dangerous religious cult, Watson and Holmes must struggle to avoid capture while attempting to notify the authorities. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Barry Levinson
Written By: Chris Columbus
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Horror, Kids & Family, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Dec 1, 1985 Wide
On DVD: Dec 2, 2003
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

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...
Joly Herman, Common Sense Media
Exquisite idea, mediocre result, but OK for older kids.
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Exquisite idea, mediocre result, but OK for older kids.
Joshua Vasquez, Slant Magazine
Now that the film is back in the stores, perhaps it can be rediscovered. Too bad that's all one can positively say about this feature-less DVD.
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.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Squanders its start as a charming character study.
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide
Paramount's DVD for Young Sherlock Holmes is definitely elementary.
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide
Like a peacock showing its bright colours. Sadly, it's all about show, not substance.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Reveals that Holmes' true love is tortured to death in a big-budget extravaganza that provided the bastard sire for Jar Jar Binks.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Big, silly, loud, nicely designed, and occasionally enjoyable.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
By the time Young Sherlock Holmes clangs to a close, the assets of the film are buried beneath an avalanche of unnecessary bells and whistles.
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.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
definitely worth a better reception than it's received over the years.

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Described as "fan-fiction" by my Sherlock Holmes book fan brother, and by me as "a good kids movie". Yes, the film makes it perfectly clear, twice, that this story is not part of any of the books about Holmes, or anything written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at all.… More
Described as "fan-fiction" by my Sherlock Holmes book fan brother, and by me as "a good kids movie". Yes, the film makes it perfectly clear, twice, that this story is not part of any of the books about Holmes, or anything written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at all. But that doesn't make it a horrible movie. It has some good action scenes, and it's structured as a normal kids mystery movie with both foreseen and unforeseen twists at the end. I'm not saying it was a good movie either, though. It has its share of boring talky scenes, but at least they made me laugh sometimes. Overall, it's an okay movie, not too bad, but not good either.
Robert C

Not nearly as interesting and fun as I remembered it.
Greg S

A schoolboy Sherlock, with a fussy young Watson in tow, investigates a series of murders by an occult group who use a hallucinogenic drug to justify the film's special effects budget. Good, overlooked Spielberg-produced adventure for kids, and the aforementioned hallucination… More
A schoolboy Sherlock, with a fussy young Watson in tow, investigates a series of murders by an occult group who use a hallucinogenic drug to justify the film's special effects budget. Good, overlooked Spielberg-produced adventure for kids, and the aforementioned hallucination scenes are well-done and creepy.
Dean !

A great all too little known film from '86. Set in Sherlock Holmes school days setting the story background as he becomes the worlds most famous detective. I remember seeing this at the cinema and is just the sort of film full of action and adventure everyone should love. Steven… More
A great all too little known film from '86. Set in Sherlock Holmes school days setting the story background as he becomes the worlds most famous detective. I remember seeing this at the cinema and is just the sort of film full of action and adventure everyone should love. Steven Spielberg was involved in the production and it shows. This film has a feel to it like the Mummy and Indiana Jones films. It also has some very good SFX for the time. If you have missed this film then you are missing out, track it down!
xGary X

Decent reinvention of the classic detective, seeing him solve his first crime as a schoolboy. It ups the action side of things to appeal to fans of The Goonies and it's ilk, and features some surreal hallucinatory moments and unfriendly natives that reflect the more… More
Decent reinvention of the classic detective, seeing him solve his first crime as a schoolboy. It ups the action side of things to appeal to fans of The Goonies and it's ilk, and features some surreal hallucinatory moments and unfriendly natives that reflect the more sensationalist facets of Conan Doyle's original stories. All in all a fun, atmospheric swashbuckler for kids.
Tom E

This is a very good Pre-quel to the other Sherlock Holmes stories -- I'm sorry we haven't seen more of the Cox boy -- He was a first rate actor in this
Jason S

A great adventure following a young detective on his first real case.
Todd S

I am by no means a fan of Sherlock Holmes, but being that this was a collaboration between Spielberg, Columbus, & Levinson, I had to give it a shot. They make it clear from the beginning that everything is speculation, nothing comes from the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and that… More
I am by no means a fan of Sherlock Holmes, but being that this was a collaboration between Spielberg, Columbus, & Levinson, I had to give it a shot. They make it clear from the beginning that everything is speculation, nothing comes from the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and that the whole premise of the movie is as a tribute, one I think he would have been very happy with. The story is a classic Holmes mystery and showing them as kids instead of well established investigators gave the story a whole new life. It's a fresh perspective on Sherlock Holmes that I really enjoyed.
Sunil J

Pretty dark and interesting. I love Sherlock Holmes.
Marion R

This is awesome! I love this movie
Jim W

Sherlock Holmes meets Watson at college. Soon after they meet, they are working together to solve a mystery. This is a charming movie with a good story. It almost even plays like a Harry Potter movie "without the magic" eventhough it was made years before a Potter book was… More
Sherlock Holmes meets Watson at college. Soon after they meet, they are working together to solve a mystery. This is a charming movie with a good story. It almost even plays like a Harry Potter movie "without the magic" eventhough it was made years before a Potter book was even written.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Nicolas Rowe as Sherlock Holmes

            Alan Cox as John H. Watson

            Sophie Ward as Elizabeth

            Anthony Higgins as Rathe

            Susan Fleetwood as Mrs. Dribb

            Freddie Jones as Cragwitch

            Nigel Stock as Waxflatter

            Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Lestrade

            Earl Rhodes as Dudley

            Brian Oulton as Master Snelgrove

            Patrick Newell as Bentley Bobster

            Donald Eccles as The Reverend Duncan Nesbitt

            Matthew Blaksted as Dudley's Friend

            Michael Hordern as Older Watson

            Jonathan Lacey as Dudley's Friend

            George Malpas as School Porter

            John Scott Martin as Cemetery Caretaker

            Nancy Nevinson as Hotel Receptionist

            Nadim Sawalha as Egyptian Tavern Owner

            Walter Sparrow as Ethan Engle

            Ralph Tabakin as Policeman in Shop Window

            Lockwood West as Curio Shop Owner

            Vivienne Chandler as Mrs. Holmes

            Roger Brierley as Mr. Holmes

            Michael Cule as Policeman with Lestrade

            Willoughby Goddard as School Reverend

            Matthew Ryan as Dudley's Friend

            Nicholas Rowe
            
See full cast