Enola Holmes 3 Review: Third Time’s the Charm

With a consistent bouncy energy, likeable characters and chemistry, Enola Holmes 3 succeeds as a fun action adventure rather than as a mystery.

Enola Homes (Millie Bobby Brown, of The Electric State) is about to be married to her beloved lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge, of Argylle). However, she has far more pressing concerns than changing her last name for the marriage. Her famous brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill, of In the Grey) has gone missing, and it is up to her to find out what happened to him, along with companions like Tewkesbury and Sherlock’s assistant Watson (Himesh Patel, of The Assessment).

Enola Holmes 3’s premise is quite simple, as is its mystery. In fact, Sherlockians should be warned: this mystery film lacks the complicated,  mesmerizing twists typical of the genre. Many clues and reveals in the movie are either very linear and in plain sight, or too hardly noticeable for the audience to feel like they are playing a fair game with the writer. However, if you are watching the third film in the franchise, odds are you are familiar with the previous two films, and also the fact that this series was never focused too hard on being a serious mystery. What the series was mainly about, and what this sequel succeeds in doing, is creating likeable characters that have good chemistry to drive a simple yet fun adventure story.

Almost everyone in this film is effortlessly watchable. Millie Bobby Brown and Louis Partridge continue their romantic performances from before, and every time they share a scene they exude pure young charm that I couldn’t help but smile a little awkwardly at, like I was third wheeling between two married friends of mine. Watson brings new chemistry with both Enola and Tewkesbury, and Enola’s mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter, of One Life) pops in with her quirky energy to shake up those relationships. When the characters are so likeable and relatable, the film will get you immersed in whatever story it wants to tell, however simple it may be.

Another thing I’ve always appreciated about the series, and still appreciate in Enola Holmes 3, is how despite being a spinoff film and a female-driven film, it never feels the need to build its narrative on disrespect. The movie isn’t set on tearing down Sherlock; while there isn’t much of Sherlock here, he still gets to show he is a good-hearted, capable character. The men aren’t portrayed as overly antagonistic or prejudiced, but instead are treated as individuals, some good and some bad. This contributes to the likeable energy and chemistry mentioned before.

Furthermore, while the plot of Enola Holmes 3 is perhaps too simple as a mystery, as an adventure it is very kinetic and enjoyable. There’s even a bit of historical commentary thrown in that feels fitting considering the setting. It adds an extra layer to both the characters’ motivations and growth, which is a welcome addition as it makes the already charming performances even more fun to watch.

One strike against this film, however, is that not all of its characters feel fleshed out or necessary. Newcomer Mikiel Mizzi (Joe Azzopardi, of Jurassic World: Dominion) feels like an afterthought even though he technically joins the main cast. And while I found the main villain’s performance delightfully hammy, there isn’t much depth to them despite showing some glimmers of potential, making them more of a static evil for Enola to overcome. However, even the film itself seems to be aware of that, as it makes a running gag out of Mikiel introducing himself the same way to everyone, or how the villain is more focused on just being a fun evil bad guy that chews the scenery with relish. Ultimately, these flaws are noticeable, but harmless.

Harmless fun really is the best way to describe Enola Holmes 3. It knows it isn’t too deep, and it doesn’t try to force itself to be. It is a film that understands that good, likeable characters and a solid plot are sometimes all that’s needed for the audience to enjoy themselves. Would I remember it particularly fondly? Probably not. But I’ll have little trouble going back to it for a movie night.

Enola Holmes 3 will be available to stream globally on Netflix on July 1, 2026. Read our review of the first movie in the series.