Movie · 2022 · Mystery, Crime, Thriller · 2h 7m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 1.3/10 (650.7K ratings)
Murder was just the beginning.
Overview
Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot's Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple's idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short.
Ratings
Curator score: 1.3/10
IMDb: 6.3/10
Letterboxd: 2.71/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 62%
Metacritic: 52
TMDB: 6.4/10
Director
Kenneth Branagh
Production
Genre Films, 20th Century Studios, Scott Free Productions, Mark Gordon Pictures
Cast
Kenneth Branagh, Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, Letitia Wright, Michael Rouse, Alaa Safi, Orlando Seale, Charlie Anson, Danny Hughes, Sam Mac, James Schofield
Where to watch
Hulu, fuboTV
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, old-school whodunit with big production values and a strong central detective, but the film is uneven in tone, occasionally stiff, and more admired for its setting and costumes than its suspense. If you enjoy polished mystery mechanics and star-driven period intrigue, it can be entertaining; if you want sharp dialogue or a truly twisty puzzle, it may feel undercooked.
Best for
Agatha Christie-style mysteries
period-set ensemble whodunits
viewers who like lavish production design and costumes
fans of detective characters with theatrical flair
Skip if
you want a tightly paced thriller
you’re looking for subtle or naturalistic performances
you dislike campy or overly polished studio mysteries
you’ve already seen and prefer the earlier Branagh Poirot films
Overview
This is a handsome, big-budget whodunit that understands the pleasures of locked-room suspicion, exotic locations, and a detective who treats deduction like performance art. The Nile setting gives the film a sense of travelogue glamour, and the ensemble structure keeps the murder mystery moving through shifting alliances and resentments.
Worth noting
The problem is that the movie often feels more assembled than alive. It leans heavily on spectacle, makeup, and period sheen, while the emotional stakes and dialogue can feel blunt or overemphatic. The mystery itself is serviceable, but the film’s rhythm is uneven, and some of the casting choices became distractions for many viewers.
Bottom line
Still, there’s a certain comfort in its old-fashioned design: a closed circle of suspects, elegant deceit, and a detective who relishes the reveal. It works best as a glossy diversion rather than a great mystery, and that’s probably the right way to approach it.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Nathan Flynn (2.5★) · 7186 likes
wtf was that Gal Gadot Cleopatra scene?
MarMar (2.5★) · 6281 likes
Every piece of dialogue that comes out of Gal Gadot's mouth sounds like she's trying to promote an ad for a Superbowl commercial.
Bryan Espitia (3★) · 6062 likes
“Simple, you’ll grow a mustache.”
There’s no way anything else this year tops this movie’s dead-serious mustache origin story prologue.
bill griff (2.5★) · 4594 likes
If the world’s greatest detective is a guest at your wedding maybe just maybe don’t go through with murdering someone??
Trace Thurman (3.5★) · 3296 likes
There are not one, but TWO scenes of straight couples simulating doggy style fucking in this movie.
1963 · Comedy, Mystery, Romance · 1h 53m · NR · Curator 8.5/10 (289K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Pure Flix, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Bloodstream
A glamorous, twisty mystery-romance with elegance, danger, and a lighter touch.
2011 · Drama, Romance · 1h 38m · R · Curator 7.5/10 (17.7K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, OVID, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Not a mystery, but a lush period drama about obsession and emotional damage, for viewers drawn to melodrama.