Benedict Cumberbatch's The Roses: A 2026 Look at the Dark Comedy

Benedict Cumberbatch has never been the kind of actor who settles for one lane. Over the past two decades, he has moved from stage to television to film, from detective work to superhero multiverses, and from historical tragedy to absurd comedy. In 2026, one of his most interesting recent roles is Theo in The Roses, a dark comedy that first hit theaters on August 29, 2025, and has since become a favorite topic among fans of sharp, uncomfortable laughs.

Long before he was crouching behind kitchen counters or trading barbs with Olivia Colman, Cumberbatch captured international attention as the razor-sharp detective Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series Sherlock (2010–2017). That performance earned him a Primetime Emmy Award and cemented his reputation as a singular talent. On the big screen, he has been equally restless. He earned Oscar nominations for playing codebreaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game (2014) and a brooding rancher in The Power of the Dog (2021). He also delivered memorable turns in celebrated period dramas such as Atonement, 12 Years a Slave, and 1917.

Then there are the blockbusters. Cumberbatch voiced Smaug in The Hobbit trilogy, played Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness, and became Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That mix of prestige and pop culture makes The Roses feel like a deliberate pivot: a smaller, nastier, funnier movie that lets him flex a different set of muscles.

The Roses comes from veteran comedy director Jay Roach, with a script by two-time Oscar nominee Tony McNamara (The Favourite, Poor Things). It is based on the popular 1981 novel The War of the Roses by Warren Adler, and it is also a remake of the 1989 film of the same title. The cast is stacked: Benedict Cumberbatch, Oscar winner Olivia Colman, Emmy winners Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon, Oscar winner Allison Janney, Doctor Who's Ncuti Gatwa, Belinda Bromilow, Sunita Mani, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao, Hala Finley, and Akie Kotabe.

Ahead of its theatrical release on August 29, The Roses debuted with a solid 66% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. At the time of its debut, the movie had 47 reviews, so the score was subject to change as more were published. It did not yet have an audience score, though one would start to take shape shortly after release. That 66% means the reviews were mostly positive.

For instance, in ScreenRant's review, Rachel Labonte wrote, 'I could watch Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch's comedic chemistry all day in this twisted divorce story... Though the dark humor won't be for everyone, The Roses is an entertaining ride that will devastate you just as much as it makes you laugh.' Other reviews largely praised Cumberbatch and Colman's comedic chemistry, witty banter, and darkly funny exploration of love, marriage, and resentment. Many critics considered it an effective reimagining of The War of the Roses, while a few felt it was too tame and lacked the real bite of the original. Still, The Roses was largely celebrated by critics.

By 2026, The Roses is no longer a fresh theatrical release, but it remains a fascinating entry in Cumberbatch's filmography. It arrived at a moment when audiences were used to seeing him as a wizard, a detective, or a historical genius. Here, he is simply a husband locked in a domestic war that spirals into something both hilarious and cruel. Olivia Colman matches him beat for beat, and their chemistry is the engine that keeps the movie humming even when the tone turns vicious.

The film's 66% Rotten Tomatoes score suggests it is not a universal critical darling, but it is far from a misfire. It is the kind of mid-budget, star-driven comedy-drama that has become rarer in the 2020s, and its willingness to mix laughs with devastation gives it a distinctive edge. For Cumberbatch, it is another example of why he remains one of Britain's most versatile and compelling actors. Whether he is solving crimes, bending time, or fighting with his on-screen wife over a kitchen counter, he keeps finding new ways to surprise. 😂💔