Enola Holmes 3 is now streaming on Netflix. Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown), now an established detective, prepares to marry Lord Tewkesbury in a lavish ceremony on the Mediterranean island of Malta — until Sherlock Holmes mysteriously disappears, throwing the celebrations into chaos and pulling her back into detective mode. The verdict: it’s a breezy, good-looking watch, but the weakest entry in the series. Here’s the full breakdown. Empire
At a Glance
| Streaming on | Netflix |
| Release date | June 29, 2026 |
| Director | Philip Barantini (Adolescence) |
| Screenplay | Jack Thorne |
| Cast | Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Louis Partridge, Himesh Patel, Sharon Duncan-Brewster |
| Runtime | Approx. 110 minutes |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| InfoBrave score | ⭐⭐⭐ / 5 |
What Is Enola Holmes 3 About?
Set shortly after the events of the second film, Enola is now a successful detective with the respect of even her legendary brother Sherlock. She is preparing to marry Lord Tewkesbury in Malta when Sherlock mysteriously vanishes. Realizing her brother would never disappear without deliberately leaving clues behind, Enola postpones the wedding and launches an investigation — one that eventually leads her back to Moriarty, whose return puts the entire Holmes family in danger. Empire
Moriarty is searching for a cache of gold that Sherlock apparently knows about, having previously told Enola it was little more than a myth surrounding a cave in Malta near where the Holmes family once stayed. Flickering Myth
The film juggles two stories at once — the kidnapping mystery and Enola’s internal conflict about whether marriage means giving up the independent life she has fought so hard to build. It’s an ambitious combination that works better in theory than in practice.
What Works: The Cast, the Setting, and the Chemistry
The best things about Enola Holmes 3 are the same things that have always made this franchise work.
Millie Bobby Brown has carried this franchise on her shoulders since 2020, turning Sherlock Holmes’ overlooked younger sister into one of Netflix’s most dependable recurring characters. She remains the reason to watch — warm, funny, and genuinely compelling even when the script lets her down. Rotten Tomatoes
Working in Enola Holmes 3’s favor right from the jump is the fact that Millie Bobby Brown and Louis Partridge’s chemistry remains as effortless here as it has been from that first film six years ago. A particularly lovely oceanside sequence between the pair — a moment of reconnection amid the chaos of everything around them — is so sincerely romantic and beautifully played that it’s almost a shame when it ends and the overarching plot kicks back in.
Sharon Duncan-Brewster absolutely owns the role of Moriarty and gets some truly awesome fight scenes as Enola and Moriarty battle it out. She’s a genuine scene-stealer and one of the film’s most welcome surprises. Flickering Myth
The Malta setting is a genuine highlight. Light on story but lavishly designed with a romantic Maltese backdrop, the latest Holmes whodunit gifts us another compulsively watchable escapade. The cinematography makes excellent use of Malta’s coastal landscapes, historic streets, and grand architecture, giving the film a fresh visual identity beyond Victorian London. SciFiPulseEmpire
What Doesn’t Work: A Weaker Mystery and a Sidelined Sherlock
Here’s where Enola Holmes 3 stumbles.
Henry Cavill’s Sherlock gets sidelined for a significant chunk of the runtime given the kidnapping premise, which makes narrative sense but also robs the film of one of its most enjoyable dynamics — the sibling banter that gave the earlier movies so much of their charm. When he finally reenters the story, his screentime feels rationed rather than earned. Rotten Tomatoes
The action, adventure, intelligence, and speed all come down, as the replacement players don’t kick as much ass or add to the skill set of Enola like her own extended family has in the past. Comic Basics
Nearly everything about Enola Holmes 3 comes across as everyone involved fulfilling a contract — sometimes appearing for brief moments before being sidelined or showing up randomly, inside a narrative that’s not fully engaging with its central dilemma of whether or not marriage is right for the young detective. The fourth-wall breaking is significantly cut down on, there are fewer visual flourishes, and the writing itself regarding the detective putting together the pieces isn’t nearly as sharp. Roger Ebert
The mystery itself felt rather straightforward. The biggest stumbling block was the coded notebook Sherlock leaves behind for Enola to decipher — but even that is solved fairly quickly. From there, the resolution comes through a series of convenient coincidences. Flickering Myth
The Director Switch: Does It Show?
Yes — noticeably. With a new director and a change of scenery, Enola Holmes 3 tries to replace the spunk and snark of the supporting players in Part 2 with an inconsistent helping of a more measured and stoic Watson and the occasional drop-in from her mother with considerably less explosiveness and spontaneity. Comic Basics
Having brought us one of the darkest, boldest, and most talked-about things to hit screens in 2025 — one-shot child-killer series Adolescence — it came as something of a surprise when Netflix announced that director-writer duo Philip Barantini and Jack Thorne’s next team-up would be the newest Enola Holmes movie. While Enola Holmes 3 never threatens to be anything as groundbreaking as Adolescence, this third installment in the adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ sleuthing younger sister is far from elementary.
That’s a generous take. The truth is that Barantini’s style — raw, contained, intimate — doesn’t map naturally onto a sun-drenched period adventure, and the tonal mismatch shows in stretches where the film loses energy precisely when it should be building momentum.
Is ‘Enola Holmes 3’ Worth Watching?
If you enjoyed the first two films, yes — with adjusted expectations. Fans of the popular Enola Holmes series will be delighted with the third entry. This one has the same high spirits as the earlier chapters and hints at a fourth in the works. Binged
The film is fun and engaging, but it lacks mystery. The cast’s chemistry and commitment keep the film consistently engaging, even when the mystery itself occasionally struggles to match their efforts. Empire
If you’re new to the series, start with Enola Holmes 1 — it’s a sharper, more confident film, and you’ll enjoy this one more with the character history behind you.
The final word: Enola Holmes 3 is a perfectly watchable Netflix Friday-night movie. It looks great, the cast is game, and Millie Bobby Brown remains a genuine screen presence. But it doesn’t match its predecessors as a mystery, and the franchise’s signature spark — the wit, the fourth-wall breaks, the sharp puzzle-solving — is noticeably dimmer this time around.
To my mind, this is the weakest entry in the Enola Holmes film series, which is a shame because all of the actors do their absolute best to carry it. Flickering Myth
Watch it if: You’re a fan of the series, want something light and visually gorgeous for the weekend, or love Brown and Partridge’s chemistry.
Skip it if: You’re looking for a genuinely challenging mystery or the sharp wit of the first two films.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Enola Holmes 3 on Netflix?
Yes. Enola Holmes 3 began streaming on Netflix on June 29, 2026, and is available globally on the platform now.
Do I need to watch Enola Holmes 1 and 2 first?
It helps significantly. Enola Holmes 3 picks up directly after the second film and relies on character relationships and backstory built across both previous entries. New viewers can follow the plot, but the emotional payoff is much greater if you’ve seen the earlier films.
Is Enola Holmes 3 better or worse than the first two?
Most critics and audiences agree it’s the weakest entry. The mystery is less inventive, Sherlock is largely sidelined, and the signature fourth-wall-breaking energy is dialed back. The Malta setting, Brown and Partridge’s chemistry, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster’s Moriarty are genuine highlights.
Who plays Moriarty in Enola Holmes 3?
Moriarty is played by Sharon Duncan-Brewster, who reprises the role from Enola Holmes 2. She delivers one of the film’s most memorable performances and gets several standout fight sequences.
Is Enola Holmes 3 suitable for kids?
Yes. The film is rated PG-13 and contains action sequences and mild peril but nothing graphic. It’s a family-friendly adventure suitable for older children and teens and up, consistent with the tone of the previous two films.
Will there be an Enola Holmes 4?
This one has the same high spirits as the earlier chapters and hints at a fourth in the works. Netflix has not made a formal announcement, but the ending leaves the door clearly open for a continuation. Binged
Enola Holmes 3 is streaming on Netflix now.
