Hercule Poirot - Watch Order: Classic Era
The golden age of Poirot cinema began with Albert Finney's tour-de-force performance in the 1974 Murder on the Orient Express, which established the template for lavish, star-studded Christie adaptations. Peter Ustinov then took over the role, bringing his own charm to three theatrical features that maintained the same luxurious production values and ensemble cast approach.
While these films feature different actors as Poirot, they share a cohesive classical Hollywood style and represent the peak of Christie's cinematic popularity. Each mystery stands alone, making this an ideal watch order for experiencing the most celebrated era of Poirot on film.
Murder on the Orient Express
In 1935, when his train is stopped by deep snow, detective Hercule Poirot is called on to solve a murder that occurred in his car the night before.
Evil Under the Sun
An opulent beach resort provides a scenic background to this amusing whodunit as Poirot attempts to uncover the nefarious evildoer behind the strangling of a notorious stage star.
Appointment with Death
Emily Boynton, the stepmother to three children, blackmails the family lawyer into destroying a second will of her late husband that would have freed the children from her dominating influence. She takes herself, the children, and her daughter-in-law on holiday to Europe and the Holy Land. At a dig, Emily is found dead and Hercule Poirot investigates.
Other Film Series
Bryan Edgar Wallace
A series of German crime thrillers produced by CCC Filmkunst in the 1960s-70s, marketed under the name of Edgar Wallace's son Bryan, featuring standalone mysteries with gothic atmosphere and masked killers.
Edgar Wallace
German crime thriller series from 1959-1972 that created a distinctive subgenre of atmospheric gothic mysteries, featuring recurring cast and iconic villains.
Millennium
Film adaptations of Stieg Larsson's bestselling novels featuring journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander, spanning Swedish and Hollywood productions with different casts and continuities.
Philip Marlowe
Film adaptations spanning eight decades featuring Raymond Chandler's iconic private detective Philip Marlowe, with different actors and interpretations across multiple eras.
Saw
A horror franchise centered on the elaborate death traps and moral philosophy of serial killer John Kramer, known as Jigsaw.
Scream
A meta-horror franchise following Sidney Prescott and others as they face various Ghostface killers, known for its self-aware commentary on slasher film tropes.