The English writer Agatha Christie left an impressive portfolio of 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections that are still devoured by bookworms, especially fans of the crime, mystery, and thriller genres. Her most iconic fictional characters include the elderly Miss Marple, the dynamic duo Tommy and Tuppence, and Hercule Poirot. The latter is a compassionate, cultured, elegant, well-traveled, and eccentric Belgian sleuth who retired from his local police force and moved to London, where he runs a private detective agency with the help of his longtime friend, Captain Hastings, and his pragmatic secretary, Miss Lemon.
Poirot has been reimagined and portrayed on stage, television, the radio, and the big screen by over 40 actors, six of whom particularly stood out: Austin Trevor, Tony Randall, Albert Finney, Peter Ustinov, David Suchet, and Kenneth Branagh. Suchet, a method actor through and through, played the detective in the acclaimed ITV series Agatha Christie’s Poirot, which spanned 70 episodes and aired from 1989 to 2013; he is considered by many to be the most convincing and faithful portrayal of Poirot to date.
“He was hardly more than five feet four inches but carried himself with great dignity. His head was exactly the shape of an egg, and he always perched it a little on one side. His mustache was very stiff and military. The neatness of his attire was almost incredible; I believe a speck of dust would have caused him more pain than a bullet wound. Yet this quaint dandified little man who, I was sorry to see, now limped badly, had been in his time one of the most celebrated members of the Belgian police.”
- Hastings describing Poirot in The Mysterious Affair at Styles
From Alibi, released in 1931, to A Haunting in Venice, premiering in September 2023, here are all the movies featuring Hercule Poirot.
16 Appointment with Death (1988)
"A big, ruddy-cheeked man with a light, twinkling presence, Ustinov’s flamboyant on-screen persona belied a man of immense erudition, learning and humanity. From Oscar-winning actor to playwright, raconteur, writer, and wit, from diplomat, campaigner, humanitarian, and Hercule Poirot, the late Sir Peter Ustinov was a towering presence on the cultural landscape for most of the 20th century."
- Sotheby's
Produced and directed by Michael Winner and based on the 1938 novel of the same name, Appointment with Death is the last of six movies starring Peter Ustinov as Poirot, opposite Lauren Bacall, Carrie Fisher, and Piper Laurie. The murder mystery involves the tyrannical Mrs. Boynton, a former prison wardress who is killed at an archeological dig in the Middle East, and the suspects include her adult stepchildren. The film didn’t fare well at the box office and was branded by the press as “bland” and “a little soporific.”
15 Alibi (1931)
Adapted from the 1928 play by Michael Morton, which itself was based on the 1926 Agatha Christie novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Ailibi was directed by Leslie S. Hiscott. It starred Austin Trevor as Hercule Poirot, Franklin Dyall as Sir Roger Ackroyd, Elizabeth Allan as Ursula Browne, and J.H. Roberts as Dr. Sheppard. Centering on an apparent suicide case in the countryside, this film was considered groundbreaking in terms of ambient sounds because it was an early talkie.
14 The Alphabet Murders (1965)
Directed by Frank Tashlin and featuring Tony Randall as the lead and a cameo by Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple, The Alphabet Murders is a comedic adaptation of Christie’s novel The A.B.C. Murders, which explores serial homicides targeting people in alphabetical order, as per their full names’ initials: a circus clown named Albert Aachen, a bowling instructor called Betty Barnard, and so on. Anita Eckberg (La Dolce Vita) plays Amanda Beatrice Cross (A.B.C.), the troubled patient of the psychiatrist Dr. Duncan Doncaster who throws herself into the River Thames.
Per The New Yorker, “Tashlin transforms a casino’s glossy formalities into a theater of horror, though his subject isn’t bloody murder but its irresistibly macabre, media-friendly allure—the power of such tales to liberate creative energy and lend the oppressive dullness of daily life an invigorating jolt.”
13 Black Coffee (1931)
During a private function, Sir Amory, a famous but generally disliked scientist, is found dead, and his research papers missing. Poirot (Trevor) must investigate the cause of death and find the culprit. This is the basic plot for Leslie S. Hiscott’s Black Coffee, which was adapted from Christie’s 1930 play and featured Adrianne Allen, Richard Cooper, and Elizabeth Allan.
12 Le Coffret De Laque (1932)
The Lacquered Box is the French and comedic adaptation of the previous story, directed by Jean Kemm and featuring Gaston Dupray as the lead, René Alexandre, Harry Arbell, and Danielle Darrieux, a rising star at the time who would go on to appear in over 100 films. Le Coffret de Laque has a 7.0 rating on IMDB.
11 Thirteen at Dinner (1985)
Based on the novel Lord Edgware Dies and helmed by Lou Antonio, the plot of the made-for-television movie Thirteen at Dinner revolves around an actress named Jane Wilkinson, who is suspected of killing her soon-to-be divorced husband, Lord Edgware, as well as her impersonator and lookalike, Carlotta Adams. The film stars Ustinov as Poirot, Faye Dunaway as Jane/Carlotta, Jonathan Cecil as Arthur Hastings, Diane Keen as Jenny Driver, Bill Nighy as Ronald Marsh, and, ironically, David Suchet as the begrudging Inspector Japp.
Japp: Poirot - buzz off like a good chap, will you? I've got bigger fish to fry.
Poirot: In a good bouillabaisse, the little fish are often tastier than the big ones.
Japp: What are you talking about?
Poirot: Add poison, however, and the whole soup is polluted. Then the size of the fish is immaterial.
10 Lord Edgware Dies (1934)
The previous story's very first movie adaptation, Lord Edgware Dies, was directed by Henry Edwards and starred Austin Trevor, Jane Carr, and John Turnbull. It is considered more compelling and believable than its predecessor, mainly because it was produced in the same era as the source material and remained faithful to it. As one Redditor puts it, “In many ways, my perception of 1930s Britain and Europe were shaped by Christie's books and their adaptations, but watching a film featuring her characters and set in her world lends an added touch of authenticity that's quite thrilling.”
9 Murder in Three Acts (1986)
Adapted from Christie’s 1934 novel Three Act Tragedy, Gary Nelson’s Murder in Three Acts is another made-for-TV Poirot mystery, featuring Ustinov, Jonathan Cecil, Tony Curtis, and Emma Samms. While at a retired movie star’s dinner party in Acapulco, Mexico, Poirot and his friend Hastings witness the poisoning of two guests: Reverend Stephen Babbington and Dr. Strange, a nerve specialist. The detective must then figure out the connection between the two victims to find the murderer.
8 Dead Man’s Folly (1986)
Directed by Clive Donner, the television movie Dead Man’s Folly is based on the 1956 novel of the same name and stars Ustinov, Jean Stapleton as Ariadne Oliver, and Constance Cummings as Amy Folliat. Ariadne is a dedicated mystery author who invites her friends Poirot and Hastings to a murder hunt game at her Devon manor. The weekend event takes a tragic turn when the 14-year-old girl playing the victim actually turns up dead, another corpse is fished from a nearby lake, and the lady of the house herself disappears.
“You know, every wine, even a small wine, has its own personality, with its own secret past and its own promises of pleasure in the future. And so those of us who have been witnesses of death as we have - for them, this is a manifestation of life.”
- Poirot
7 Death on the Nile (2022)
There are two movie versions of Christie’s 1937 novel Death on the Nile: John Gillermin’s in 1978 and Kenneth Branagh’s in 2022. The plot follows Poirot who, while vacationing in Egypt, finds himself investigating the murder of a young heiress. The 2022, CGI-packed adaptation features a star-studded cast that includes Branagh as Poirot, Gal Gadot as Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle, Annette Bening as Euphemia, Rose Leslie as Louise Bourget, Emma Mackey as Jacqueline de Bellefort, and Dawn French as Mrs. Bowers. Though this recent version fared well at the box office, it is generally considered less compelling than its predecessor and received mixed reviews. As The Guardian puts it, “It’s demonstrative and showy, all flowing champagne, mirthless, tinkling laughter, and sexless, grimly gymnastic grappling on the dancefloor. The camera whirls giddily, dizzy from the sparkle and spectacle, but not quite able to conceal the fact that this is an empty bauble of a movie.”
6 Murder on the Orient Express (2001)
Based on Christie’s acclaimed 1934 novel, Murder on the Orient Express follows Poirot as he returns to England aboard a lavish train and finds himself interviewing 12 passengers for the murder of Mr. Ratchett, an American business magnate of ill repute. This is a lesser-known, contemporary, made-for-television adaptation that is directed by Carl Schenkel and features Alfred Molina as Poirot.
5 Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
The 2017 Murder on the Orient Express, which Kenneth Branagh directs and stars in, opposite Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daisy Ridley, was nominated for seven awards, including Best Make-up and Hairstyling and Best Production design, but it received none.
According to The Montclarion, “While Branagh brought a new perspective and relevancy to Christie’s classic novel, the director’s choices to substantially deviate from the source material work in the film’s detriment rather than its favor. Those interested in experiencing the story for the first time should instead opt for Lumet’s 1974 adaptation.”
4 A Haunting in Venice (2023)
Branagh's latest role as Poirot is in the 2023 A Haunting in Venice, opposite Kyle Allen as Maxime Gerard, Camille Cottin as Olga Seminoff, Jamie Dornan as Dr. Leslie Ferrier, Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver, Michelle Yeoh as Joyce Reynolds, and Ali Khan as Nicholas Holland. Based on Christie's 1969 novel Hallowe'en Party, this is a supernatural thriller that takes place in Venice, Italy, rather than its original UK setting. The plot follows the now-retired detective as he investigates a murder that occurs during a séance held at a reportedly haunted palazzo.
Emma Clarendon writes in Love London, Love Culture, “The film certainly comes across as filled with plenty of mystery and spookiness. Having not been impressed by Branagh’s previous takes on Poirot stories, I’m definitely more intrigued this time around – perhaps because it is a lesser-known story, which means he can truly make it his own and thrill a modern-day film audience.”
3 Evil Under the Sun (1982)
Based on the 1941 novel of the same name and starring Ustinov as Poirot, Guy Hamilton’s Evil Under the Sun features British-French fashion icon, actress, and singer Jane Birkin as Christine Redfern, Maggie Smith as Daphne Castle, Diana Rigg as Arlena Stuart Marshall, and Colin Blakely as Sir Horace Blatt. This time, Poirot is asked to investigate a murder and a fake diamond ring on a fictional island for jetsetters in the Adriatic Sea.
Christine Redfern: I'm better now. In fact, I'm determined to enjoy myself. It's so blissful here, so tranquil, so far from all violence and trouble.
Poirot: Yes, you are right, Madame; the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and yet you forget that everywhere, there is evil under the sun.
2 Death on the Nile (1978)
As stated earlier, John Guillermin’s Death on the Nile is considered to be the best version of Christie’s 1937 book. Besides Ustinov, it features an impressive female cast that includes Maggie Smith as Miss Bowers, Angela Lansbury as Salome Otterbourne, Olivia Hussey as Rosalie Otterbourne, Mia Farrow as Jacqueline de Bellefort, and Bette Davis as Marie Van Schuyler. Reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes describe the film as “Bright and leisurely, like a vacation, and the notes of humor are enough to keep things from getting too heavy,” and “Lovely to look at and easy to enjoy.”
1 Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
"A splendidly entertaining movie of the sort that isn’t made anymore. It’s a classical whodunit, with all the clues planted and all of them visible, and it’s peopled with a large and expensive collection of stars."
- Roger Ebert
Directed by Sidney Lumet and featuring Albert Finney as Poirot, Murder on the Orient Express stars Hollywood Golden Age legends Lauren Bacall and Ingrid Bergman, as well as Sean Connery, Anthony Perkins, Jacqueline Bisset, and Jean-Pierre Cassel. Despite a constricted budget of $1.4 million, the movie earned $36 million in North America alone. It secured Bergman an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress; Finney, a Best Actor nod at the Evening Standard British Film Awards; and composer Richard Rodney Bennett, the Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music. This faithful adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express ranked second in the Top Ten Films, as selected in the 1974 National Board of Review Awards, right behind Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation.
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