Agatha Christie, famous for her thrilling murder mystery novels, is often called the Queen of Mystery and the Queen of Crime. Many of her stories have been made into movies and TV shows. Now, a film adaptation of one of her most popular mysteries, starring the detective Hercule Poirot and directed by Kenneth Branagh, is becoming available on a new streaming service.
Starting August 1st, you’ll be able to watch the 2017 film on HBO Max in the US. The movie stars Kenneth Branagh as the famous detective Hercule Poirot and features a fantastic cast. It was a big success in theaters, earning $353 million worldwide on a $55 million budget.
What Is Murder on the Orient Express About?
Murder on the Orient Express centers around the famous detective Hercule Poirot, who finds his journey to London on the luxurious Orient Express disrupted by a shocking crime. A passenger is discovered murdered in his cabin, pulling Poirot into a complex investigation.
The mystery begins when Hercule Poirot learns the murder victim, Mr. Ratchett, had actually approached him for help before he died, revealing he’d been receiving threats. Poirot initially refused to assist him, but now, with a killer among the passengers, he must use his famous intellect to solve the case.
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express was originally published on January 1st, 1934. It has been adapted for the screen several times, including a 1974 film starring Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot, and a television movie in 2001 featuring Alfred Molina in the role. The most recent adaptation, released in 2017, stars and was directed by Kenneth Branagh and features a large ensemble cast.
Kenneth Branagh’s 2017 film, Murder on the Orient Express, featured a star-studded cast including Johnny Depp as the murder victim, Edward Ratchett. The movie also showcased performances by Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Marwan Kenzari, Olivia Colman, Lucy Boynton, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Sergei Polunin, and Tom Bateman.
Murder on the Orient Express Received Mixed Reviews from Critics
Despite featuring a famous cast and being based on a well-loved book, the movie Murder on the Orient Express didn’t receive great reviews. Critics gave it a score of 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences rated it at 54%. It currently has a 6.5 rating on IMDb from over 300,000 viewers.
In a review for the Dallas Morning News, Britton Peele described Murder on the Orient Express as an enjoyable and relaxing crime story, though not groundbreaking. Henry Stewart of Slant Magazine noted that the film altered Hercule Poirot’s final choice to better suit American audiences.
I’ve always been captivated by Murder on the Orient Express, especially its incredibly surprising and talked-about conclusion – it really is one of Agatha Christie’s most famous works! While some critics were divided when it first came out, Kenneth Branagh’s movie version really resonated with audiences. And now that it’s readily available to stream, I think even more people will discover (or rediscover!) this brilliant story.
2026-07-26 19:08