← Back to results
Murder on the Orient Express
2017 114 min United States of America PG-13 12+
★6.4
Mystery, Drama, Crime
Director: Kenneth Branagh
🎭 Based on
«Murder on the Orient Express»
byAgatha Christie
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Genius Belgian detective Hercule Poirot investigates the murder of an American tycoon aboard the Orient Express train.
Budget:
$55M
US Gross:
$102.83M
Worldwide:
$352.8M
Starring
Kenneth Branagh
Actor
Penélope Cruz
Actor
Willem Dafoe
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2018
— Best Thriller
Key opinion
Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express is a polarizing blend of high-end visual craftsmanship and narrative inconsistency. While many viewers praise the lavish production design and cinematography, critics and fans alike frequently find the character depth and tonal shifts inferior to previous iterations of the iconic detective.
| Production | The production design and period-accurate costume work successfully recreate a lush, immersive 1930s atmosphere. | |
| Acting | The film features a star-studded cast, yet the ensemble is frequently underutilized, with many actors reduced to superficial roles due to time constraints. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography and visual flourishes are technically impressive, though some viewers find the reliance on CGI backdrops and aggressive camera movements distracting. | |
| Acting | Kenneth Branagh’s portrayal of Poirot is a point of contention; supporters appreciate his attempt at emotional nuance, while traditionalists view the characterization and physical appearance as disrespectful to the source material. | |
| Pacing | The narrative structure is divisive, as audiences are split between those who enjoy the modernized, action-oriented pacing and those who feel it sacrifices Christie's precise, intellectual mystery for hollow spectacle. | |
| Adaptation | The adaptation’s fidelity to the source is widely criticized for injecting unnecessary character revisions, tonal inconsistencies, and perceived modern ideological themes. |