Which is the best screen version of Sherlock Holmes?

This position names the BBC's Sherlock the best screen version of Sherlock Holmes, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes and Martin Freeman as Watson. Created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, it argues the show drew a vast fanbase and wide critical acclaim.

This position names Guy Ritchie's 2009 Sherlock Holmes — starring Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson — as the best screen version. It argues that this reinvention is the most exciting and action-packed of the many adaptations of Conan Doyle's detective.

Arthur Wontner as Holmes and Ian Fleming as Watson (replaced by Ian Hunter for The Sign of Four)

This position names CBS's Elementary the best screen version of Sherlock Holmes, starring Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes and Lucy Liu as a reimagined Joan Watson. It argues the show's longevity—the longest-running on-screen Sherlock—is testament to its enduring quality.

Robert Stephens as Sherlock Holmes. Directed by Billy Wilder.

Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. John Watson.

This position names the 1984 Granada TV series as the best screen Sherlock Holmes, starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes with David Burke, later Edward Hardwicke, as Watson. It argues Brett remains the most beloved on-screen portrayal of the detective.

Ian McKellen as a retired Sherlock Holmes. Directed by Bill Condon.