Top Cast
Genius Belgian detective Hercule Poirot investigates the murder of an American tycoon aboard the Orient Express train.
Critic Consensus
Critical reception for this adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel is lukewarm, with most scores clustering around 60. Critics most consistently praised Kenneth Branagh's commanding central performance as Poirot and the film's striking visual craft, including its 65mm cinematography and period detail. Common criticisms include the ensemble cast being underutilized in favor of Branagh's dominance, insufficient character development, and a sense that the adaptation feels unnecessary when held against its source material and prior versions.
12 reviews · 9 positive · 1 mixed
AI-generated summary of 12 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyCritic Reviews (12)
"The film is all about Kenneth Branagh, his improvisations, and his morality take on a place and time far removed from the present."Read full review ↗
"It's a bloated but underwhelming adaptation that feels as creaky as the train's wheels. Such a shame."Read full review ↗
"Broken souls are mended, old wounds are healed and order has been restored to the world; the Orient Express, is back on track. As the train finally arrives at its destination - thematically, and literally - Hercule Poirot is summoned to his next adventure. For our sake, let's hope we're invited for the ride."Read full review ↗
"Overall, despite the glitches and avalanches, thanks to a stellar cast and gripping source material, this mysterious train journey is worth taking. Does it have a twist in the end? You have to watch the movie to know that."Read full review ↗
"Murder On The Orient Express is one memorable attempt of presenting Agatha Christie's vision to the millennials who probably are unaware of her classic mystery novels. Watch it for a good workout of your brain and some very good performances."Read full review ↗
"The good people walking in with fresh, unhampered eyes are bound to be entertained by Branagh's antics and the story itself, whereas weary aficionados of literature and cinema are bound to leave their halls moderately entertained at a version whose existence seems unnecessary."Read full review ↗
"The movie's attention to period detail is striking. Haris Zambarloukos' cinematography is absolutely breathtaking. The decision to shoot on a 65mm film proves to be the right one in the end. Also, the special effects immensely add to the overall appeal of the movie. Here is a film that has all the right ingredients but the recipe somewhere needed a little more fine-tuning."Read full review ↗
"Please do not compare it to Sidney Lumet's 1974 version and you will actually be able to enjoy it"Read full review ↗
"If it were not for the talent involved, the reworking would descend into a good-looking journey of done-to-death red herrings. But, in their discerning presence and shrewd nuances, it offers an intrigue worthy of Poirot's investigation and our time."Read full review ↗
"Too much time is spent creating those stunning visuals as the majestic train embarks on its voyage from Istanbul, when that could be time spent on flushing out the medley of characters that jumped on board for the ride. That said, the experimental camerawork and the scenic itinerary at least offer some redeeming moments."Read full review ↗
"The film's revisionist touches are all too perfunctory; there is now a black British man and a Mexican in the mix. By the end, you wonder, why fix what isn't broken? The answer is explicitly given—like many things in the film—in the last scene, where a policeman in a quiet station tells Poirot about a possible case on the Nile."Read full review ↗
"The Who's Who In The Cast Of 'Murder On The Orient Express' Don't Matter Much Because They Have Very Little To Do Other Than Get Paraded/Interrogated As Suspects. So It's Brannagh Who Hogs The Show From The Word Go. His Role Is Well Rounded"Read full review ↗
Cast & Crew
Cast
- Kenneth Branagh · Hercule Poirot
- Tom Bateman · Mr. Bouc
- Michelle Pfeiffer · Caroline Hubbard
- Johnny Depp · Samuel Ratchett
- Josh Gad · Hector MacQueen
- Willem Dafoe · Gerhard Hardman
- Judi Dench · Princess Natalia Dragomiroff
- Derek Jacobi · Edward Masterman
- Leslie Odom Jr. · Dr. Arbuthnot
- Daisy Ridley · Mary Debenham
- Penélope Cruz · Pilar Estravados
- Olivia Colman · Hildegarde Schmidt
- Lucy Boynton · Countess Elena Andrenyi
- Marwan Kenzari · Pierre Michel
- Manuel Garcia-Rulfo · Biniamino Marquez
- Sergei Polunin · Count Rudolph Andrenyi
- Miranda Raison · Sonia Armstrong
- Ridley Scott
- Mark Gordon
- Simon Kinberg
Director
Screenplay
Music
Cinematography
Editing
Details
- Release Date
- 24 November 2017
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Language
- English
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