Few writers have gripped the imagination of the world quite like Agatha Christie. Her tangled webs of murder, misdirection, and moral reckoning have spawned a global legacy that reaches far beyond the printed page. As the Queen of Crime, Christie didn’t just write mysteries—she created atmospheres, iconic characters, and timeless questions about guilt, justice, and the curious flaws of human nature.
It’s no wonder then that filmmakers and television producers continue to return to her stories, again and again, drawn by the rich settings, fiendish plots, and the unforgettable presence of characters like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Each adaptation brings with it a fresh interpretation: some are lush period pieces faithful to the text, while others reframe her stories through modern eyes, adding layers of style, darkness, or psychological nuance. In this evolving landscape, the best Christie adaptations are those that capture the heart of her storytelling—even as they change the trappings around it.
This article celebrates fifteen of the most outstanding screen adaptations of Christie’s work. Whether they adhere religiously to the source material or reinvent it for a new age, these productions all honor the enduring brilliance of her mystery-making. From iconic performances to striking visual design, from cozy intrigue to chilling suspense, they each stand as a testament to why Agatha Christie remains the most adapted novelist in history
1. Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Sidney Lumet’s Murder on the Orient Express remains a gold standard in Christie adaptations, balancing star power with storytelling elegance. Albert Finney’s Hercule Poirot is eccentric and razor-sharp, perfectly at home in the film’s lush 1930s setting. The cast reads like a roll call of Hollywood royalty—Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery—each delivering a memorable performance. The film revels in its period detail, from velvet-lined train compartments to the clink of silver spoons. Lumet masterfully builds suspense within the confines of the train, proving that a single location can still pulse with danger. The final scene, revealing a shocking collective guilt, is both poignant and haunting. This adaptation doesn’t just follow Christie—it honors her.
2. Death on the Nile (1978)
With sweeping views of Egyptian ruins and the Nile’s shimmering surface, Death on the Nile (1978) offers pure visual escapism along with a tightly plotted whodunit. Peter Ustinov steps into Poirot’s shoes with a lighter, more affable touch, infusing charm into every monologue and mustache twitch. The ensemble cast, including Maggie Smith and Bette Davis, brings a rich theatricality that matches the film’s lavish scale. As secrets unravel aboard the paddle steamer Karnak, Christie’s themes of jealousy and vengeance play out with melodramatic flair. Director John Guillermin uses the grand setting to magnify the tragedy of the story. The murder’s emotional fallout hits harder than expected, elevating the film beyond simple genre fare. This is Christie turned operatic, and it sings.
3. Evil Under the Sun (1982)
Returning with Peter Ustinov as Poirot, Evil Under the Sun trades Nile elegance for Mediterranean luxury, offering viewers another sun-soaked mystery. The film unfolds at a posh island resort, where brittle witticisms and buried tensions shimmer beneath the surface. Ustinov’s detective is again more amiable than austere, allowing moments of sly humor to balance the darker themes. The cast includes Diana Rigg and James Mason, lending gravitas and glamour. The mystery builds with the languid pace of a summer holiday, then tightens like a noose as the murder unfolds. Scenic beauty contrasts with human ugliness, a hallmark Christie tension. By the time Poirot reveals the killer, the sun has darkened—but the story glows.
4. Appointment with Death (1988)
Appointment with Death may be the least celebrated of Ustinov’s Poirot outings, but it has its own rugged allure. Shot on location in the Middle East, the film uses Jordanian ruins to conjure an otherworldly, almost mythic atmosphere. The plot centers around a cruel matriarch whose murder unleashes long-held resentments, a classic Christie setup. Ustinov’s performance is slower here, more measured, reflecting Poirot’s age and weariness. The supporting cast—Lauren Bacall among them—adds flair even as the film meanders at times. Though not as tightly scripted as its predecessors, it remains visually rich and thematically layered. For those seeking a lesser-known gem, this dusty tale of buried trauma rewards a patient viewer.
5. A Haunting in Venice (2023)
Set in a crumbling Venetian palazzo, the film evokes dread with flickering candles, stormy nights, and whispered secrets. Branagh’s Poirot, now retired, is drawn into a séance gone wrong—an eerie twist that blends supernatural suggestion with rational investigation. The tone is somber, introspective, and unusually intimate. As bodies fall and tensions rise, the film explores grief and faith through a more psychological lens. The mystery remains classic in structure, but the execution feels like Christie by way of Edgar Allan Poe. It’s a bold, atmospheric experiment that still respects the author’s core themes.
6. And Then There Were None (2015)
BBC’s And Then There Were None (2015) is a masterclass in tone and tension, stripping Christie’s story to its bleak, existential bones. The miniseries refuses to soften its blows—characters are complex, unlikeable, and marked by guilt that festers. Shot in desaturated hues with haunting minimalism, it captures the isolation of the island and the inescapability of fate. The cast, including Charles Dance and Aidan Turner, delivers emotionally raw performances. Unlike earlier adaptations, this one restores Christie’s original ending, heightening the tragic fatalism. Every moment drips with foreboding, turning a whodunit into a reckoning. It is arguably the finest visual distillation of Christie’s darkest story.
7. The ABC Murders (2018)
The ABC Murders casts John Malkovich as a weathered, almost broken Poirot, far removed from his polished predecessors. This adaptation reimagines the famed detective as a refugee in 1930s England, haunted by personal trauma and an increasingly hostile society. The tone is grim, with stylized violence and themes of xenophobia and decay. Visually, it leans into noir: shadows loom, and every corner hides secrets. The killer’s psychological games cut deep, leaving Poirot more emotionally exposed than ever. Some viewers found the shift in tone disorienting, but others praised its emotional risk-taking. It’s Christie by way of psychological thriller—uneasy, unexpected, and thought-provoking.
8. Ordeal by Innocence (2018)
Stylish and divisive, Ordeal by Innocence reworks the original plot significantly, challenging viewers’ expectations. A family shattered by a mother’s murder is further unmoored when an alibi surfaces years later, reopening every wound. The series introduces a cold, fractured world where trust is dead and everyone lies. The acting is taut, with Bill Nighy and Anna Chancellor anchoring the emotional chaos. Its 1950s setting is all mid-century glamour cloaking emotional violence. The changes to Christie’s plot angered purists, but the series’ artistry is hard to deny. It’s not classic Christie—it’s something darker, sleeker, and undeniably watchable.
9. The Pale Horse (2020)
The Pale Horse ventures far from Christie’s usual terrain, embracing occult overtones and modern dread. Its plot—centered on death lists and mysterious witches—is adapted with loose faithfulness and stylish ambiguity. Set in a 1960s haze, the film blurs the line between reality and hallucination. Rufus Sewell plays the protagonist with a twitchy edge, unsure if he’s losing his mind or being cursed. The cinematography leans hard into mood, evoking paranoia more than puzzle-solving. While not to everyone’s taste, the film experiments boldly with Christie’s material. It’s less whodunit, more descent into madness.
10. Agatha Christie’s Poirot (1989–2013)
David Suchet’s Agatha Christie’s Poirot remains the definitive screen interpretation of the little Belgian detective. Over 70 episodes across 25 years, Suchet evolves Poirot from fussy eccentric to profound moralist. The production values rise over time, culminating in cinematic final seasons that rival any prestige drama. Suchet’s attention to character detail—his gait, speech, psychology—is unmatched. Faithful to the stories and often quoting Christie verbatim, the series is a love letter to her genius. Each episode is a polished gem, balancing mystery with character study. For many, this is Christie.
11. Miss Marple (BBC, 1984–1992)
Joan Hickson’s Miss Marple is widely regarded as the most faithful portrayal of Christie’s sharp-eyed spinster sleuth. Quiet but relentless, Hickson’s Marple sees through the masks of civility to the rot beneath. The series maintains a traditional visual style, with understated elegance and rural charm. Each mystery unfolds methodically, letting character dynamics breathe. The casting is impeccable, and the pacing patient—perfect for the contemplative tone. Christie herself reportedly hoped Hickson would one day play Marple, and it’s easy to see why. This is adaptation as preservation.
12. Agatha Christie’s Marple (ITV, 2004–2013)
ITV’s Agatha Christie’s Marple reinvents the stories with modern storytelling flourishes and a rotating lead actress. Geraldine McEwan brought a mischievous twinkle to the role, while Julia McKenzie gave Marple a gentler, more grounded aura. The adaptations sometimes stray from the original plots, introducing new characters or rearranging events. Visually sumptuous, with high production values and lavish sets, the series often feels like prestige drama wrapped around a cozy core. Not all purists approve of its liberties, but it brought Marple to a new generation. The mysteries remain engaging, even when the structure shifts. At its best, the series captures the cleverness and compassion at the heart of Christie’s work.
13. Witness for the Prosecution (2016 miniseries)
BBC’s Witness for the Prosecution is a raw, intense retelling of Christie’s famous courtroom story. Set in a smoky post-WWI London, the two-part drama delves deep into class, trauma, and manipulation. Andrea Riseborough is magnetic as the enigmatic femme fatale, and Toby Jones brings tortured humanity to the defense lawyer. The moral ambiguity is thick, with no easy answers. Visually, it’s muted and atmospheric, like a bruised painting. The adaptation builds to a devastating twist, just as Christie intended—but adds psychological depth not seen in earlier versions. It’s less puzzle, more punch to the gut.
Leave a comment