Shubhabrata Dutta
For decades, detective stories have reigned in our minds as thrilling experiences, complex in understanding yet attractive. Films have used this fact and adapted novels to help us quench our thirst. Needless to say, English author Agatha Christie’s detective novels are the go-to spots for such adaptations. Here, we bring you the best Agatha Christie movies available for streaming on Hulu, Prime, and Max.
6. Ten Little Indians (1959)
Directed by Paul Bogart, ‘Ten Little Indians’ is based on the author’s 1939 novel. It was made as a TV movie of around an hour. If you want to be transported to that particular era of filmmaking via an Agatha Christie story, this one serves the purpose just fine. However, you have to be content with the visual quality. However, it does a good job of condensing the novel.
The film follows ten strangers who arrive by invitation to a remote island only to find themselves getting killed one at a time by a mysterious killer. It is up to Detective William Henry Blore to track down the person. Can he? The cast of ‘Ten Little Indians’ includes Nina Foch, Romney Brent, Kenneth Haigh, Peter Bathurst, Barry Jones, Chandler Cowles and Valerie French. You can watch the film on Prime.
5. Evil Under the Sun (1982)
Directed by Guy Hamilton, the film’s events are set at the summer palace turned hotel of the King of Tyrania, currently owned by Daphne Castle (Maggie Smith). When the corpse of a woman named Arlena Marshall (Diana Rigg) is discovered on the moor, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov), who has been hired by an insurance company to look into a case of a fake diamond belonging to millionaire Sir Horace Blatt (Colin Blakely), thinks that the two cases are connected. Horace had gifted the diamond to Arlena, who supposedly returned it after their breakup. Arlena was disliked by many people at the hotel, including Christine (Jane Birkin), the wife of Patrick (Nicholas Clay) with whom Arlena was flirting, Arlena’s stepdaughter Linda (Emily Hone), Arlena’s husband Kenneth (Denis Quilley), a writer named Brewster (Roddy McDowall) who has written Arlena’s biography which she refused to sign, and theatrical producers Odell (James Mason) and Myra Gardener (Sylvia Miles). It is up to Poirot to figure out who killed Arlena and why. Another classic Agatha Christie adaptation, ‘Evil Under the Sun’ is based on her 1941 novel of the same name. You can watch it on Prime.
4. The Mirror Crack’d (1980)
Directed by Guy Hamilton, this film is based on Agatha Christie’s 1962 Miss Marple novel ‘The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side.’ It follows consulting detective Miss Jane Marple (Dame Angela Lansbury), who investigates the death of Heather Babcock (Maureen Bennett), the townswoman of the village of St Mary Mead, at a reception. A film production was about to take place in the village, starring rival actresses Marina Rudd (Dame Elizabeth Taylor) and Lola Brewster (Kim Novak). Babcock died of poisoning after having a cocktail that was made for Marina, of whom Babcock was a big fan. Naturally, people believe that the poison was intended for Marina. But Marple is not one to guess and look for clues that ascertain her guess. Instead, she analyzes the clues and makes a conclusion. The suspects are many, including Brewster and even Marina’s husband, Jason Rudd (Rock Hudson), who is having an affair with Ella Zielinsky (Geraldine Chaplin), a production assistant. To find out who the culprit is, you can watch this classic on Prime.
3. Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
The first film in Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot film franchise, ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ follows Branagh’s Poirot, who is requested by businessman Edward Ratchett to protect him as they head to London onboard the Orient Express. After the train’s engine is derailed due to an avalanche and the passengers are forced to wait until a new engine arrives, Ratchett’s dead body is discovered. Now, Poirot has to find out who among the passengers is the killer while being careful not to let the killer get too close or claim another victim. As he gathers evidence, a shocking truth dawns on him, one that proves that the killer is omnipresent. Co-starring Tom Bateman, Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, and Judi Dench, ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ is a compelling adaptation of Christie’s eponymous novel, one that carries the charm of the original story while giving it a modern stylized rendition. You can watch the film on Prime.
2. Death on the Nile (2022)
Based on the 1937 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie, ‘Death on the Nile’ is the second installment of the Agatha Christie film adaptations helmed by Kenneth Branagh. The film stars Branagh as the famed detective Hercule Poirot, who finds himself onboard the S.S. Karnak cruising through the Nile. He is there as a guest of heiress Linnet Ridgeway (Gal Gadot) and her newly wedded husband, Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer). There are other guests, too, including Simon’s ex-fiancée Jackie de Bellefort (Emma Mackey), who has been stalking the couple and has managed to board the vessel. Eventually, when Linnet is found dead, the suspicion falls on Jackie. However, Poirot knows better than making judgments based on perceptions and pre-stated facts. Linnet was an heiress, and there is no telling who among the guests (played by a talented cast, including Annette Bening, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, and Rose Leslie) would gain what from her death. To join Poirot in his investigation, you can watch ‘Death on the Nile’ on Prime.
1. A Haunting in Venice (2023)
‘A Haunting in Venice’ is the third installment of Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot film franchise and brings Poirot to a séance in a palazzo in Venice. As interested as he is in being an audience, he soon becomes the center of the “drama” after people start dying in inexplicable ways. As he investigates the matter, he realizes that the murders have a connection to the palazzo’s horrific past. He will have to work fast if he wants to get to the bottom of it all without getting himself killed. Co-starring Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, and Kyle Allen, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ does full justice to the overall feel of the franchise, presenting us with a vintage wine in a new attractive bottle. You can watch the film on Prime.
The following movie is available on Tubi:
7 (Bonus)- Appointment with Death (1988)
Another Hercule Poirot adaptation, this film is based on Agatha Christie’s 1938 novel of the same name. Directed by Michael Winner, ‘Appointment with Death’ follows the Belgian detective (Peter Ustinov) as he investigates the murder of widowed dominating stepmother Emily Boynton (Piper Laurie) in Jerusalem. She was disliked by her three children, Raymond (John Terlesky), Lennox (Nicholas Guest), and Carol (Valerie Richards,) as she wanted to destroy their father’ will, wherein he left a hefty amount of money for each of the siblings. This naturally makes them the suspects.
Also within the circle of Poirot’s suspicion, we have MP Lady Westholme (Lauren Bacall), family lawyer Jefferson Cope (David Soul), who was being blackmailed by Emily to destroy the will, and Lennox’s wife Nadine (Carrie Fisher). To find out who the killer is, you can watch the film on Tubi.
Read More: Best Agatha Christie Style Movies and Shows on Netflix
You must be logged in to post a comment.