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Sleuth

Sleuth

Obey the rules.

200788 minRMidcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Director
Kenneth Branagh
Starring
Michael Caine, Jude Law, Harold Pinter, Carmel O'Sullivan

Locked in a high-tech English manor, bound in a deadly duel of wits, Andrew Wyke and Milo Tindle come together as English gentlemen to discuss the matter of Wyke's wife: the woman both are sleeping with.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Sleuth?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Sleuth to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Sleuth?

Sleuth earns 6 badges, led by Standout acting and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Sleuth worth watching?

Sleuth's Midcredits score is the 55th percentile of all films, from 45K ratings across 6 sources. 54% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

55th percentile

Better received than 55% of films

56th percentile among Crime52nd percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)50th
Approval (how many liked it)58th

61 /100

50th percentile of all films

51st percentile among Crime49th percentile among 2000s

Critics 49 · Audience 63

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.6 — solid but not unanimous.

54% liked it

58th percentile of all films

58th percentile among Crime55th percentile among 2000s
54% rated it 7–1046% rated it 1–6

Critics 37% · Audience 51%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 5 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

90th percentile

45K ratings across platforms

87th percentile among Crime84th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 20% in 30 days

Box office

Opening weekend$50K
Domestic gross$343K
Worldwide gross$4.9M

68th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps acknowledge the strengths of Caine and Law's performances and the stylized production, but find the story and tone inconsistent.

Fans praised

  • Caine and Law's charged, witty chemistry carries the film
  • Pinter's dialogue is sharp and full of verbal sparring
  • Production design and cinematography create a cold, stylish atmosphere

Detractors panned

  • Predictable plot with no real surprises
  • Overly reliant on visual effects and style over substance
  • Tedious pacing despite short runtime

What stands out

Acting85

Caine and Law's dynamic, witty performances are widely praised

Dialogue75

Pinter's script is noted for wit and sharpness, though some find it sparse

Atmosphere70

Cold, stark, and stylish atmosphere adds to the tense tone

Tension60

Builds tension but fails to deliver a satisfying payoff for many

Characters55

Lack of sympathy or depth for either character noted by many

Originality55

Divided on how fresh the adaptation feels; some see it as a clever reworking, others as unnecessary

Plot and story45

Predictable and derivative for some, while others find it engagingly twisty

Pacing45

Short runtime but still feels tedious to some

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 11 points higher than men.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 22 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 9 points apart
  • Critics vs users 5 points apart

Watch experience

What is Sleuth like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Dark and unsettling: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you can give it your full attention, and you want something dark that stays with you.

It is intense, has a few laughs and leaves you unsettled. Skip it when you can only half-watch or you want every question answered.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Your full attention and a taste for open questions.

What it feels like

Dark and unsettling.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseThrillingMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Dry humor
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Cold and cerebral · 4% of films: Detached and precise; keeps the viewer at arm's length.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Single location · 5% of films: Confined to essentially one place throughout.
ToneThe film maintains a cold, tense atmosphere with a knowing, sardonic edge as the two characters engage in a psychological duel.
The rideThe film maintains a constant undercurrent of tension, with the psychological game escalating toward a charged climax.
StructureThe story unfolds in three acts, all set within the confines of a single high-tech mansion.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Unsettled.

The answer rests on this: UnsettlingThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's clever deceptions and ambiguous conclusion linger, leaving the viewer unsettled and pondering the nature of the game.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MysteryEnigma
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7% (this title): Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2% (this title)
  • No archetype 22%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Enigma: The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).

7% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe film revolves around a cat-and-mouse game of deception and revenge between two men, where the truth is constantly in doubt.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfPower
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 2% (this title) · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% (this title) · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9% (this title)
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Power

Power · 2% of filmsRevenge · 4% of filmsDeception · 9% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film revolves around a battle of wits and psychological control between two men, each seeking to dominate the other.
StanceThe film examines the nature of power and control without endorsing either character, leaving the audience to judge their actions.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Patrick Doyle
Settinga high-tech mansion in the British countryside
MusicThe score underscores the psychological tension with a sleek, modern orchestral palette.

Content guide

Is Sleuth okay for kids?

R

Sleuth is rated R: “Rated R for strong language” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (37/100), sexual content at mild (21/100), language at severe (85/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (44/100) and frightening material at moderate (48/100). Its drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank. Overall it is heavier than 33% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 7 other countries
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany12
  • FranceU
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea15
  • Greece13
  • Sweden11
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 58% of all filmsHeavier than 33% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 17%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 14%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 81%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (7 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Sleuth have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Sleuth?

Cast

3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor; Kenneth Branagh won the Venice for this film.

Michael Caine
as Andrew Wyke
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jude Law
as Milo Tindle
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Harold Pinter
as Man on T.V.
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Carmel O'Sullivan
as Maggie
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Kenneth Branagh
as Other Man on T.V.
Venice win: Venice award — for this roleTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Sleuth?

Movies like Sleuth include Sleuth (1972), The Servant (1963) and Interview (2007). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films by Kenneth Branagh, and most are puzzle films.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Sleuth?

3K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: chamber drama. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.