The game is officially back afoot, but the reception is noticeably cooler this time around. Netflix debuted Enola Holmes 3 globally on July 1, shifting the detective franchise away from its traditional Victorian London roots and thrusting its heroine into the Mediterranean. The long-awaited sequel brings Millie Bobby Brown back to the titular role, but the third installment is already facing a tougher crowd than its predecessors.
Critical consensus is settling into a decidedly mixed territory. The new film currently holds a 69% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, officially breaking the franchise’s previously unblemished streak of widespread critical acclaim. The drop in Rotten Tomatoes score reflects a noticeable shift in tone, even as the sequel attempts to expand the cinematic universe.
Behind the camera, Philip Barantini took over directorial duties from original franchise helmer Harry Bradbeer. Barantini immediately moves the chess pieces out of England. The plot centers on Enola grappling with her impending marriage to Lord Tewkesbury, played again by Louis Partridge. That wedding is promptly derailed when Henry Cavill’s Sherlock Holmes is kidnapped, dragging the entire cast to Malta for a rescue mission.
The production leaned heavily into new blood alongside returning favorites. Himesh Patel formally joins the ensemble as Dr. John Watson, while Sharon Duncan-Brewster steps in as Moriarty—a performance a Forbes review labeled as “cartoonish.” Helena Bonham Carter also returns as Eudoria. Thematically, the script continues the property’s focus on social commentary, directly addressing British colonial looting and human equality.
Brown maintains a tight grip on the property’s creative direction. She continues to serve as an executive producer, sharing the credit this time with her husband, Jake Bongiovi. The film remains available to stream worldwide right now.