Here are the top 10 best Sherlock Holmes adaptations

Arthur Conan Doyle is one of the most beloved British crime authors of the 19th century. He stole the hearts of the nation when he launched his first story, A Study in Scarlet, which first appeared in print in 1887. He went on to write 56 short stories in the iconic Sherlock Holmes series.

His work has since become a cultural fixture in literature, inspiring more than 250 TV and film adaptations. But with so many adaptations, it can be hard to know where to start. With Guy Ritchie's prequel spin-off series Young Sherlock just days away, we've compiled 10 recommendations of the best films and TV shows inspired by the fictional London detective.

Launched in 2021, the Netflix series ran for just one season as a supernatural crime drama inspired by the Sherlock Holmes franchise. It follows a group of troubled street teens, named The Irregulars, led by Bea and her psychic sister Jessie, who are manipulated by Dr Watson and the elusive Sherlock Holmes into solving paranormal crimes.

Developed by Drama Republic, the group discovers the dark magic that threatens the city, meaning the found family of misfits must work together through personal traumas to evade supernatural threats and save London. For fans looking for a supernatural twist on the beloved crime dramas, look no further.

Everyone loves a good Disney movie, and The Great Mouse Detective brings some childlike magic to the story of Sherlock Holmes. This 1986 animated adaptation of Eve Titus' children's book, Basil of Baker Street, the film is written and directed by John Musker, Dave Michener, Ron Clements, and Burny Mattison.

In this adaptation, Basil is the Sherlock Holmes of the mouse world. Titus named her version of Holmes Basil after the actor Basil Rathborne, who played the titular character in multiple film adaptations. But in this version, the film's villain really shines. Professor Ratigan and his climactic fight against Basil inside Big Ben was praised by critics at the time, with Time Out magazine branding it "breathtaking". If you're hoping to get your children invested in the Holmes myserys, this is the perfect place to start.

The 2004 medical classic, House, ran for eight seasons until it came to an end in 2012. Although this isn't a direct adaptation of any particular Sherlock Holmes story, the show's creators wanted to ensure the links to the crime series were strong. Because of this, they named the leading characters Dr. Gregory House and Dr. James Wilson as their nod to Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.

Like Holmes, House uses his deductive reasoning and medical background to diagnose the most impossible cases with the support of his medical team. The long-running show was beloved by viewers and critics alike and received many awards, including the 2006 Golden Globe for Best Actor.

The 2022 mystery film, starring Millie Bobby Brown as the leading lady, is the Netflix film franchise that follows the teenage sister of Sherlock Holmes. Like her brother, Enola is resourceful, intelligent, and just as capable of cracking difficult cases terrorising London. In this film, Enola travels to London in search of her missing mother and finds herself caught up in a seemingly impossible mystery that threatens the country.

Bobby Brown also shares the screen with Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, Sam Claflin as Mycroft, and Helena Bonham Carter as the missing matriarch. This is well worth a watch if you're in need of a crime drama fix.

Guy Ritchie's adaptation of Sherlock Holmes certainly brings the high drama you expect from the detective's work. Holmes, played by Robert Downey Jr, and Watson, portrayed by Jude Law. become something like action heroes. The film's producer, Lionel Wigram, explains that Conan Doyle's stories often described fight scenes offscreen, but in this film franchise, the pair reassured fans, "we're putting those fights onscreen."

Sherlock Holmes was one of the highest-grossing films of 2009, and landed Robert Downey Jr a Golden Globe for his performance. Two years later, Ritchie returned with a second instalment, titled Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and it is set to make a well-deserved return later this year with a prequel series on Amazon Prime, titled Young Sherlock. Make sure you're all caught up with his work before bingeing the spring crime series.

The 2015 film Mr Holmes is based on Mitch Cullin's novel A Slight Trick of the Mind, which follows Sherlock Holmes after he retires. Starring Sir Ian McKellen as the 93-year-old detective, as he looks back at his final case and tries to remember the details as his memory begins to fade.

The film gives viewers a completely different look at the fictional character in almost the exact opposite direction from Guy Ritchie's adaptation. It focuses on the nuances of the famed detective and offers a more poignant, thoughtful drama than the high-action you get from the 2009 film franchise. For viewers looking to explore the life of the detective in his twilight years, this is the best place to start.

CBS's contemporary adaptation of Sherlock Holmes stars Jonny Lee Miller as the popular detective. The critically acclaimed series made history as the most episodes of television or film based on the fictional detective, spawning seven seasons between 2012 and 2019.

During its tenure, it won multiple awards, with Lucy Liu's excellent portrayal of Dr Joan Watson being particularly praised for her gender-bent version of the detective's sidekick. For those looking for a more modern take on the crime classic, this is a good option.

Based on the 1902 novel by the same name, Hammer Film Productions released The Hound of the Baskervilles, starring Peter Cushing as the leading detective, supported by André Morrell as Dr Watson. Both Cushing and Morell were praised for their portrayals of the literary characters, with Time Out London branding the film "the best Sherlock Holmes film ever made, and one of Hammer's finest movies". For viewers looking for a timeless classic, look no further.

The beloved television series ran for 10 years between 1984 and 1994 and adapted a staggering 43 of Conan Doyle's stories. These adaptations are widely considered the most faithful to Conan Doyle's work, with Jeremy Brett's performance as Sherlock Holmes and David Burke as Watson both receiving praise for staying true to the author's vision.

Another famous face who graced the cast was none other than future Dr Watson, Jude Lae, who had a guest role in the series as the servant, Joe Barnes.

Out of the hundreds of adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss' 2010 series adaptation still remains our personal favourite. The show ran for four series, spanning 13 episodes and a Christmas special. Set in modern-day Britain, Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson. Meanwhile, Irish hunk Andrew Scott steps into the mighty Moriarty.

The Independent hailed the series a "triumph" despite being less faithful to the text. Viewers across the globe fell in love with the BBC series and catapulted the careers of the leading men, whilst also adding some colour to our favourite detective duo. If you're looking to get started, this is the first one to watch.