Every Kenneth Branagh Hercule Poirot Movie, Ranked

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Hercule Poirot, the famous detective created by Agatha Christie, remains incredibly popular. Because of this, his stories have been turned into movies and shows many times. Kenneth Branagh is the most recent actor to play Poirot, appearing in and directing the films Murder on the Orient Express and A Haunting in Venice.

Agatha Christie’s stories are popular on film, but the recent movies starring Kenneth Branagh as Poirot have had a mixed reception. While one film was more successful than the others, many fans have been divided by changes made to the original books and some of the casting decisions.

Death on the Nile Has an Interesting Premise, but It’s the Weakest of the Three

The 2022 film Death on the Nile is generally considered the least successful of the recent Poirot adaptations. Directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh as the iconic detective, the movie boasts a large cast including Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Gal Gadot, and Armie Hammer, and is based on Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel of the same title.

The movie centers on detective Poirot and a newly married, wealthy couple: Linnet, played by Gal Gadot, and Simon, played by Armie Hammer. Their romance is complicated because Simon was previously engaged to Linnet’s friend, Jacqueline, who is portrayed by Emma Mackey. After Simon leaves Jacqueline for Linnet, Jacqueline begins to relentlessly pursue and follow the couple as they travel through Egypt.

Jacqueline’s constant presence quickly made the couple, especially Linnet, very uneasy. They eventually turned to Poirot for assistance, but he wouldn’t officially take their case. Instead, he spoke to Jacqueline on his own, hoping to convince her to stop following them. Unfortunately, the situation worsened when Jacqueline shot Simon in the leg, and then Linnet was killed.

The 2022 film version of Death on the Nile doesn’t get to the most exciting part of the story for over an hour, making it feel slow and more like a romantic drama than a thrilling murder mystery. For the first half of the movie, we mostly follow Linnet, Simon, and their wedding party as they travel around Egypt, with very little focus on the actual mystery or any murders.

After Linnet is discovered dead, the movie’s pacing feels rushed. Characters start dying unexpectedly, and it seems like the film could have used its lengthy runtime more effectively.

Viewers weren’t happy with the numerous alterations to the story. Several characters from Agatha Christie’s original book were cut entirely, like Colonel Race, who appears in many of her novels. Others, such as Salomé and Marie Van Schuyler, had their histories and storylines completely changed in the film. However, the most significant change was made to the background story of the detective Hercule Poirot.

I was really surprised and intrigued by the backstory they gave Poirot in Death on the Nile! They showed him as a young soldier in World War I, and we actually see him get hurt during a mission. It was cool to learn about his fiancée, Katherine, too. She was just a picture in Murder on the Orient Express, but Death on the Nile really fleshes out their relationship – it’s a whole story they created just for this movie, which I thought was a nice touch.

This particular story arc tends to divide fans, mainly because the details of his time in Belgium are vague in the original books – it’s a largely unexplored part of his history. Although some viewers didn’t appreciate this alteration, the biggest problem with Death on the Nile is its inconsistent rhythm; it starts slowly and then feels rushed towards the conclusion.

Murder on the Orient Express Was a Solid Debut Featuring a Star-Studded Cast

I’ve always been captivated by Agatha Christie, and Murder on the Orient Express is definitely one of her masterpieces! It’s no surprise Kenneth Branagh decided to bring this story to life as the first film in his series about Poirot. Originally published back in 1934, the novel takes you right onto the famous Orient Express – a real train that actually used to travel all across Europe, and the setting for this thrilling mystery following Poirot.

What makes Murder on the Orient Express so appealing is its use of familiar mystery elements. The story features a limited group of suspects, all trapped together in a single location – a train halted by a snowstorm. When a passenger is found stabbed to death in his cabin, the famous detective Poirot takes on the case to find the killer.

The 2017 film Murder on the Orient Express retells the classic story with a cast full of famous actors, including Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daisy Ridley. This approach is similar to the earlier version, which also featured a remarkable cast like Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, and Albert Finney as Poirot.

While Kenneth Branagh’s take on Agatha Christie’s story didn’t receive the same acclaim as the 1974 film, it stands out for staying relatively close to the original novel. However, some felt this new version of Murder on the Orient Express prioritized impressive sets, visuals, and its star-studded cast over the mystery itself. It remains the most faithful adaptation in the current Poirot film series.

While not necessarily a standout film, Murder on the Orient Express avoids the divisiveness of its follow-up, Death on the Nile. Unlike Death on the Nile, which felt sprawling due to its Egyptian locations, Murder on the Orient Express benefits from its more contained and focused setting.

The movie Murder on the Orient Express quickly presents its central mystery, successfully grabbing the viewer’s attention. However, instead of building suspense through careful clue placement and puzzle-solving, the film features an action-packed chase sequence that feels inconsistent with the character of Poirot and detracts from the intricate mystery.

A Haunting in Venice Is the Best of the Three, and Also the Most Different from Its Source Material

While inspired by Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party, A Haunting in Venice takes significant liberties with the original story and setting – a departure from adaptations like Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. However, if you’re looking for a compelling mystery film, A Haunting in Venice stands out as the strongest offering.

In Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party, crime writer Ariadne Oliver is at a children’s Halloween party when a young guest, 13-year-old Joyce Reynolds, claims to have seen a murder. Tragically, Joyce is later found drowned during the party’s apple-bobbing game, prompting Mrs. Oliver to ask her friend, Poirot, to investigate.

This film introduces Ariadne Oliver, portrayed by Tina Fey, who asks Hercule Poirot to attend a séance. The séance is held at the home of Rowena Drake, a woman hoping to connect with her deceased daughter.

In the film, the murder victim is Joyce Reynolds, portrayed as a psychic medium rather than a young girl. Before her death, Joyce held a séance and communicated with Rowena’s daughter, Alice, telling Rowena that Alice was murdered, not a suicide. Before discovering Joyce’s body, Poirot narrowly escaped an attack on his own life.

Even the way Joyce dies is different in A Haunting in Venice; instead of drowning, she’s impaled on a statue. Earlier in the film, Poirot nearly drowns while trying to bob for apples – a direct reference to the original story. Despite these changes, A Haunting in Venice manages to build more suspense and keep audiences engaged until the very end.

The movie is as intriguing as it is scary, building suspense with its horror elements. Even if you’re familiar with the original Agatha Christie story, this adaptation offers plenty of unexpected twists—more so than earlier versions.

While not a flawless mystery, this film is a significant step up from previous installments. It features a strong cast including Jamie Dornan, Camille Cottin, and Kelly Reilly, along with Kenneth Branagh, Tina Fey, and Michelle Yeoh. Let’s hope the next film builds on the improvements made in A Haunting in Venice and delivers an even more compelling story.

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2025-12-12 19:09