A murderer strikes on board the luxury Nile steamer Karnak – and Hercule Poirot faces his most baffling case.
Overview
As Hercule Poirot enjoys a luxurious cruise down the Nile, a newlywed heiress is found murdered on board and every elegant passenger becomes a prime suspect.
Ratings
Curator score: 5.2/10
IMDb: 7.3/10
Letterboxd: 3.63/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Metacritic: 59
TMDB: 7.1/10
Director
John Guillermin
Production
Mersham Productions, EMI Films
Cast
Peter Ustinov, Jane Birkin, Lois Chiles, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Jon Finch, Olivia Hussey, I.S. Johar, George Kennedy, Angela Lansbury, Simon MacCorkindale, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Jack Warden, Harry Andrews, Sam Wanamaker, Celia Imrie, Saeed Jaffrey, Barbara Hicks, François Guillaume
Where to watch
fuboTV
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, old-school starry whodunit with strong period atmosphere, elegant production design, and a playful Poirot performance. It runs a bit long and the tonal balance can feel uneven, but the ensemble, setting, and classic reveal structure make it rewarding for mystery fans.
Best for
Agatha Christie fans
All-star ensemble mysteries
Slow-burn period crime stories
Viewers who enjoy glamorous 1970s productions
Fans of theatrical clue-gathering and final-reveal endings
Skip if
You want a tight, modern-paced thriller
You dislike broad or campy ensemble acting
You prefer mysteries that feel gritty or realistic
You are impatient with long setup before the murder
Overview
Death on the Nile is a lavish, slightly unruly whodunit that thrives on atmosphere as much as puzzle-solving. The Egyptian locations, costume work, and Jack Cardiff’s photography give it a sun-drenched elegance that feels distinctly of its era, while the plot keeps shifting suspicion from one passenger to another with satisfying precision.
Worth noting
Peter Ustinov’s Poirot is warmer and looser than some other screen versions, which suits the film’s more relaxed, almost holiday-cruise rhythm. The supporting cast is the real attraction: the movie leans into personality clashes, vanity, and romantic resentment, letting each suspect make a memorable impression before the final accounting.
Bottom line
It is not the most disciplined Christie adaptation, and the running time can be felt, but it remains an appealing example of the classic big-cast mystery. If you like your crime stories polished, talky, and a little decadent, this one still delivers.
Top Letterboxd reviews
luvi (3.5★) · 1134 likes
Ok so Maggie Smith in suits constantly bickering with Bette Davis, Angela Lansbury as a perennially drunk romance writer obsessed with sex, Mia Farrow as mostly herself but with a british accent. I mean even without Agatha's genius... Absolute goals
eely (3.5★) · 887 likes
I want whatever maggie smith and bette davis had going on in this movie.
Jordan Beaumont Anderson (5★) · 832 likes
He really has it all figured out. Just walk into peoples' rooms, eat their breakfast, rummage through their stuff, accuse them of murder, and walk out like a stone-cold badass.
Because nobody fucks with Hercule Poirot.
Niko Ramses (3★) · 480 likes
I appreciate how Detective Poirot spends a majority of Death on the Nile's runtime by correcting passengers of the boat that he was Belgian, implying that not even he would like to be associated with the French.
nora (3★) · 361 likes
screamed every time bette davis or maggie smith appeared in a new outfit, they are vibing so hard in this movie!!!! and idk this jon finch person but he's hot