| In 1891 London, Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) | | | | outwit him. She offers him a sum of money to pursue |
| and Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) race to prevent a | | | | a case of a missing red-haired midget by the name of |
| human sacrifice ritual conducted by Lord Blackwood | | | | Reardon. Holmes disguises himself to find the identity |
| (Mark Strong). Holmes and Watson stop the | | | | of Adler's employer, but can only surmise him as a |
| sacrifice just in time and neutralize Lord Blackwood, | | | | professor. Three days after Blackwood's execution, |
| after which the police, led by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie | | | | his tomb is found demolished and an eyewitness has |
| Marsan), arrive and arrest him. | | | | seen Blackwood walking away from it. Holmes, |
| Blackwood's execution occurs three months later, | | | | Watson, and Lestrade find Blackwood's coffin contains |
| during which Holmes has become bored without a | | | | the body of the red-haired midget. Holmes follows |
| new case. Watson prepares to leave 221B Baker | | | | clues from a pocketwatch on the body to the midget's |
| Street to establish his own business, and he intends to | | | | home, where they discover several chemistry |
| marry Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly). Blackwood requests | | | | experiments. They narrowly avoid capture by three |
| Holmes' presence on the day of his execution, and | | | | thugs that have arrived to destroy the evidence in the |
| warns him that three more deaths will occur after his | | | | home, but subsequently are arrested for property |
| execution that will change the very nature of their | | | | damage. Watson is released on bail by Miss Morstan, |
| world. Later, Blackwood is executed by hanging, | | | | while Holmes is taken to the Temple of the Four |
| declared dead by Watson himself. | | | | Orders, an occult-dabbling secret society. Their leaders |
| Holmes is re-acquainted with Irene Adler (Rachel | | | | reveal Blackwood was a former member, and plead |
| McAdams), the only person who has managed to | | | | for Holmes to help stop him. |