Looking for the correct Murder on the Orient Express movies in order? Good news — this is one of the rare franchises where release order and chronological order are exactly the same, so there’s no confusing timeline to untangle. Kenneth Branagh’s take on Agatha Christie’s legendary detective Hercule Poirot began with this train-set mystery in 2017 and has since grossed hundreds of millions worldwide, earning a new generation of fans for one of literature’s most iconic sleuths. Each film is a self-contained case, but watching them in sequence lets you track Poirot’s evolving worldview across the trilogy. Here’s your quick-answer table before we break down every film.
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Quick Answer: Murder on the Orient Express Movies in Order
| # | Film | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murder on the Orient Express | 2017 | Kenneth Branagh |
| 2 | Death on the Nile | 2022 | Kenneth Branagh |
| 3 | A Haunting in Venice | 2023 | Kenneth Branagh |
Since release order and story order match perfectly here, you can watch straight down this list with zero risk of spoilers or timeline confusion.
Murder on the Orient Express Movies in Order: The Complete Watch Guide
1. Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
When a passenger turns up dead aboard a snowbound luxury train, Poirot finds himself trapped with a car full of suspects — and a case that challenges everything he believes about justice. Kenneth Branagh directed and starred in the film, reviving a story previously adapted in 1974, with an ensemble cast including Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, and Johnny Depp. The film ends by teasing Poirot’s next assignment: a death on the Nile. It sets the tone — lavish sets, starry casts, moral ambiguity — for everything that follows.
2. Death on the Nile (2022)
Poirot’s holiday cruise down the Nile turns deadly when a newlywed heiress is murdered aboard the steamer, forcing him to confront jealousy, obsession, and old grudges among the guests. Branagh added a black-and-white prologue showing a young Poirot during World War I, giving longtime fans new insight into why he grew his famous mustache. Delayed multiple times due to scheduling and a 2021 pandemic-era release shift, the film still expanded the franchise’s visual scale. It closes with Poirot quietly withdrawing from society, setting up his reclusive state in the next film.
3. A Haunting in Venice (2023)
Now retired and living in self-imposed exile, Poirot is coaxed into attending a séance at a supposedly haunted Venetian palazzo — and, naturally, a murder follows. Loosely based on Christie’s lesser-known novel Hallowe’en Party, the film leaned into genuine horror-movie atmosphere, a first for the franchise, and earned some of the trilogy’s best reviews. It out-performed Death on the Nile at the box office relative to its budget. The film leaves Poirot’s future open, fueling ongoing speculation about a fourth installment.
Do You Need to Watch Murder on the Orient Express Before A Haunting in Venice?
No — not strictly. Each film is a standalone mystery with its own suspects and murder, so you can jump straight to any entry without missing plot-critical information. That said, watching in order is still the best experience, since character details (Poirot’s backstory, his post-war disillusionment, his retirement) build cumulatively across the trilogy.
Minimum viable watch order:
- If you only have time for one: Murder on the Orient Express (2017) — the franchise starter and most iconic case
- If you have time for two: add A Haunting in Venice (2023) — the most acclaimed and atmospheric entry
- For the full arc: watch all three in release order for the complete emotional throughline
How Many Murder on the Orient Express Movies Are There?
There are three films in Kenneth Branagh’s modern Poirot series, starting with Murder on the Orient Express (2017) through A Haunting in Venice (2023). There are no theatrical spinoffs or shorts, though earlier standalone adaptations (like the 1974 version) exist outside this continuity.
All Murder on the Orient Express Movies in Order by Release Date
1. Murder on the Orient Express — November 10, 2017
2. Death on the Nile — February 11, 2022
3. A Haunting in Venice — September 15, 2023
What’s Next for the Franchise?
As of early 2026, no fourth Branagh-directed Poirot film has been officially greenlit or dated, though producers have repeatedly said the door remains open as long as Branagh and screenwriter Michael Green stay interested. Rumors have pointed toward an adaptation of Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd as a possible next case, but nothing is confirmed. Given the trilogy’s strong box office and awards attention, another entry feels likely eventually — just don’t expect an announcement imminently. We’ll update this guide the moment anything official drops.
FAQ
Is Death on the Nile a sequel to Murder on the Orient Express?
Yes, in the sense that it follows the same detective and continues his personal arc, but the murder cases themselves are entirely unconnected — you don’t need prior context to follow the plot.
What order should I watch the Poirot movies in?
Release order works perfectly here: Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Death on the Nile (2022), then A Haunting in Venice (2023), since chronological and release order are identical.
Is there a fourth Murder on the Orient Express movie coming?
Not officially. A follow-up has been discussed by producers and Kenneth Branagh, but no title, cast, or release date has been confirmed as of 2026.
Do I need to read the Agatha Christie books first?
No — the films are fully self-contained adaptations, though fans of the novels will notice some character and plot changes made for the screen.
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