Kenneth Branagh Hercule Poirot Movies Ranked Following A Haunting in Venice
Kenneth Branagh has just released A Haunting in Venice, his third big-screen adaptation of Agatha Christie’s popular detective character, Hercule Poirot. Interestingly, this new story is based on Hallowe’en Party, the final book in Christie’s series. Does that mean Branagh has officially hung up the mantle and is done doing Hercule Poirot movies?
Not particularly. There are 30 more books to be mined, which means we’ll likely continue to see the character as long as the production costs remain low and the box office receipts are lucrative. So, dig in because the following list, ranking the trilogy of films from worst to best, will likely expand quite a bit in the coming years. As a fan of Poirot, I’m all for it.
In Death on the Nile, Hercule Poirot investigates a murder during a luxurious cruise on the Nile River, where a wealthy heiress is found dead. As Poirot delves into the complex web of relationships among the passengers, he uncovers hidden motives and dark secrets, ultimately revealing the identity of the murderer.
Yet there’s something off about Branagh’s second go-around as Poirot. Maybe it’s the synthetic, digital look or bland performances from the all-star cast, but the mystery never grabs you the way it did in Murder on the Orient Express. The sluggish pace doesn’t help.
That said, Branagh delights as the detective, delivering a solid performance that keeps the pic from stalling completely. Plus, Gal Gadot is a sight to behold. Her acting chops may leave something to be desired, but Branagh frames his star like John Huston shot Katharine Hepburn. The story is strong enough to hold your attention, but it might’ve benefited from a trim or two, which is why it’s at the bottom of our list of Kenneth Branagh
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