A Haunting In Venice is the latest in the ongoing series of movies which sees Kenneth Branagh reimagine the novels of Agatha Christie for the big screen. The prolific English novelist wrote world-famous detective novels and is remembered for the characters Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. With a screenplay from Michael Green, the little-known Agatha Christie novel Hallowe’en Party has been adapted into this supernatural mystery thriller.
The movie features an incredible ensemble cast that features the likes of Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh, Kelly Reilly, Jamie Dornan, and of course, Kenneth Branagh in the starring role as detective Hercule Poirot. While no movie connects directly to the storylines in A Haunting In Venice, this list covers the best movies to watch before if you want to be up on all your Agatha Christie murder mysteries.
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
This is the movie that began the latest round of Agatha Christie adaptations. Murder on the Orient Express features Kenneth Branagh in the iconic role of Hercule Poirot for the first time. He features in an all-star cast that includes Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Leslie Odom Jr. Michelle Pfeiffer, and Judie Dench. The movie is an adaptation of one of the most famous Agatha Christie novels and features a murder in a train compartment.
An American businessman is dead. Stabbed multiple times, the victim is left in his train compartment with the door locked from the inside. Suddenly, a killer is loose on the train, and Detective Hercule Poirot must discover the murderer before they take another life.
Death on the Nile (2022)
Death on the Nile is the direct prequel to A Haunting In Venice. The movie is once again directed by Kenneth Branagh who stars as the Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. Branagh brings together a star-studded ensemble for this movie led by actress Gal Gadot. Annette Bening, Russel Brand, Ali Fazal, Arnie Hammer, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Letitia Wright, and Sophie Okonedo all feature in the movie.
Traveling up the Nile River on a steamer, Hercule Poirot is taking a vacation. But when he and the other passengers discover that a murder has taken place, the famous detective is called into action. Cross-examining all passengers, Poirot must identify the killer using whatever clues they have unwittingly left behind.
Knives Out (2019)
A modern take on the whodunit genre sees director Rian Johnson make a stylish and comedic murder mystery. The movie is a homage to the Agatha Christie movie adaptations of the 1970s. Knives Out stars Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, a famous private detective who is called in to solve a murder. The cast includes Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lakeith Stanfield, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, and Michael Shannon among others.
Crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is dead and the circumstances around the death seem more than suspicious. With the Thrombey family gathering to learn more, Detective Benoit Blanc is called to the scene. He soon discovers that nothing is simple about the Thrombey family and that to discover the truth about the death, he will need to be able to tell who is lying and why.
Knives Out: Glass Onion (2022)
The sequel to the first Knives Out movie brings an entirely new mystery for detective Benoit Blanc to solve. The homage to Agatha Christie continues here as filmmaker Rian Johnson takes his main detective character and brings him into an entirely new setting. The movie boasts a brilliant set of performances from Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, and Kathryn Hahn.
Tech billionaire Miles Bron brings together a set of his old friends and colleagues to join him on his private Greek island. Showing up alongside the guests is detective Benoit Blanc whose surprise addition foretells a murder case that changes everything.
See How They Run (2022)
Another great homage to Agatha Christie comes in the form of this Tom George-directed comedy murder mystery. The movie even makes direct reference to Agatha Christie and is set in the early 1950s. Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Ruth Wilson, and David Oyelowo all-star in this twist on the typical murder mystery.
The successful play, The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie looks all set to be adapted into a big movie until one member of the cast is murdered. A jaded inspector and a hopeful assistant investigate the case to try to understand who would have a vested interest in taking down the production. In the process, they travel through the shady world of underground theater.
Crooked House (2017)
This Agatha Christie adaptation is lesser known and unique. It does not rely on the star power of famous characters Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot. Instead, it boldly adapts a little-known Agatha Christie novel and pulls together a great cast with French director Gilles Paquet-Brenner behind the camera. The movie stars Glenn Close, Terrence Stamp, Julian Sands, Christian McKay, Gillian Anderson and Christina Hendricks.
Grandfather and family patriarch Aristide Leonides has been poisoned. Set in the aftermath of World War II, all members of the family are suspects but none more so than his young widow. Granddaughter Sophia takes the investigation of the murder to her fiance Charles Hayward, assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard.
Don't forget the classic Agatha Christie adaptations!
This list covers modern movies to watch before A Haunting In Venice, but for fans of the murder mystery genre, there is a selection of classic Agatha Christie adaptations that have to be noted.
Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple in the 1960s
The 1961 comedy murder mystery, Murder, She Said sees Margaret Rutherford star as the famous Miss Marple. She went on to star in the role for the films Murder at the Gallop, Murder Most Foul, and Murder Ahoy! These famous Christie adaptations are essential if you want to see how the murder mystery movie tropes were born with an unforgettable performance from Margaret Rutherford.
Outings for Hercule Poirot in the 1970s
It would be remiss to not mention Sidney Lumet’s legendary Murder on the Orient Express (1974) with Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, and Vanessa Redgrave. The 1978 follow-up Death on the Nile sees Peter Ustinov star as Hercule Poirot alongside Angela Lansbury, and Bette Davis in another landmark adaptation.
A Haunting In Venice is the first on-screen adaptation of this Agatha Christie novel. It will be released in theaters on September 15th, 2023.