TL;DR: Enola Holmes is the rare "girl power" franchise that actually sticks the landing. It’s fast-paced, funny, and replaces the "damsel in distress" trope with a girl who can literally fight her way out of a corset. It’s a massive win for parents of kids aged 10+ who are tired of mindless "brain rot" and want a lead character who uses her brain (and some jujitsu) to solve problems.
Quick Links:
- Watch it: Enola Holmes on Netflix
- Read it: The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer
- The "Original": Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
- If they loved the lead: Stranger Things
If you’ve spent any time on Netflix lately, you’ve seen Millie Bobby Brown’s face everywhere. Most of our kids know her as Eleven from Stranger Things, but in Enola Holmes, she’s playing the teenage sister of the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes.
The setup is simple: Enola’s mother (played by the legendary Helena Bonham Carter) disappears, leaving Enola in the "care" of her brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft. Mycroft is, to put it bluntly, a total tool. He wants to send her to a finishing school to learn how to be a "proper lady"—which in 1884 meant wearing a literal birdcage under your skirt and keeping your mouth shut. Enola, having been raised by her mother to read every book in the library and practice combat in the living room, says "hard pass" and runs away to London to find her mom.
There’s a reason this movie blew up. It’s not just the mystery; it’s the vibe.
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: Enola talks directly to the camera. It feels like she’s FaceTiming the audience. For a generation raised on YouTubers and TikTokers who talk directly to their followers, this feels incredibly natural and engaging.
- Millie Bobby Brown: Let’s be real, she has "main character energy" that kids find magnetic. She’s funny, she’s awkward, and she’s not a polished, perfect Disney princess.
- The "Underdog" Factor: Every kid feels like their parents or older siblings are trying to control their lives. Watching Enola outsmart Sherlock Holmes—the smartest guy in the room—is pure wish fulfillment.
We talk a lot about "brain rot" content—those 30-second loops of nonsense that leave kids overstimulated and under-focused. Enola Holmes is the opposite. It’s "active" viewing. The mystery is actually clever, and it encourages kids to pay attention to clues, historical context, and character motivation.
It also sparks a much-needed conversation about autonomy. In a world where our kids’ digital lives are often tracked, monitored, and curated, Enola’s struggle for independence resonates. It’s a great jumping-off point to talk about why we have rules, which rules are for safety, and which rules are just "because I said so."
The sequel actually manages to be better than the first. It tackles the Matchgirls' Strike of 1888, a real historical event where young women fought against deadly working conditions. It moves the story from "girl finds her mom" to "girl finds her place in a movement." If your daughter (or son!) comes away from this asking about labor rights or Victorian history, you’ve just won the parenting lottery.
Screenwise community data shows that while the movie is rated PG-13, a huge percentage of parents with kids as young as 9 or 10 are watching this together.
- Violence: There is some "period-typical" violence. Think fistfights, some swordplay, and a few scenes where Enola is in genuine peril. It’s more "action-adventure" than "scary," but if your kid is sensitive to physical altercations, maybe pre-watch the fight in the tea shop.
- Themes: It deals with abandonment and sexism. Mycroft is genuinely emotionally cold, which might be upsetting for younger kids who view family as a safe haven.
- The "Romance": There’s a sweet, very chaste "will-they-won't-they" with a young Lord. It’s very "middle school crush" and totally appropriate.
If the movie hooks them, get the books by Nancy Springer. They are fantastic "bridge" books for kids who are moving out of middle-grade fiction but aren't quite ready for the heavy themes of YA.
If your family has already binged both movies and is looking for that same "smart, rebellious, and fun" energy, here are our top Screenwise recommendations:
If they liked the "outsider solving a mystery" aspect of Enola, Wednesday is the natural next step. It’s a bit darker and more "Goth," but it carries that same fiercely independent spirit. Read our guide on Wednesday vs. Enola Holmes
The OG girl detective. While some of the older books feel a bit dated, the newer Nancy Drew iterations (and the classic Nancy Drew Mystery Stories) keep the puzzle-solving alive.
Another Netflix hit that subverts fairy tale tropes. It’s a bit more "fantasy" than Enola’s grounded Victorian London, but it deals with similar themes of friendship and defying expectations.
For the older crowd (13+), this book series (and now show) is the modern-day version of a teen girl taking a mystery into her own hands because the adults are failing.
Don’t let the credits roll and just walk away. Use the "Enola Effect" to have some real conversations:
- On Independence: "Enola’s mom raised her to be her own person. What are some things you feel like you’re ready to do on your own, even if they’re a little scary?"
- On Social Norms: "Mycroft thought Enola needed to be 'refined.' What are some things people expect you to do today just because you're a girl/boy that you think are silly?" (This is a great way to talk about "Ohio" memes or weird social pressures at school).
- On Digital Privacy: Enola uses ciphers and hidden messages to communicate. This is a perfect segue into talking about encryption, why we use passwords, and the importance of having a "private" life that isn't broadcasted to everyone.
Enola Holmes is a high-quality, intentional piece of media. It’s not "brain rot." It’s a movie that respects its audience’s intelligence. It’s feminist without being a lecture, and it’s historical without being a snooze-fest.
If your kid wants to spend two hours in Victorian London with a girl who refuses to wear a corset and insists on solving her own problems, let them. Better yet, grab some popcorn and watch it with them. You might find yourself cheering when she finally sticks it to Mycroft.
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Next Steps:
- Check the Screenwise Media Page for Enola Holmes to see what other parents in your community are saying.
- If your kid is obsessed with the "cipher" aspect, check out Scratch to see if they want to learn how to code their own secret messages.
- Download the Enola Holmes Mysteries on Epic! for their next car ride.