Murder on the Orient Express is a 2017 directed by with a screenplay by , based on the 1934 by. The film stars Branagh as , with , , , , , , , , , and in supporting roles. The film is the fourth screen adaptation of Christie's novel, following the , version, and a 2010 episode of the television series. The plot follows Poirot, a world-renowned detective, as he seeks to solve a murder on the in the 1930s. Murder on the Orient Express had its world premiere on November 2, 2017 at in London, and was released in theatres in the United Kingdom on November 3, 2017, and in the United States on November 10, 2017, by. A sequel, titled Death on the Nile, is scheduled for a release on October 2, 2020. In 1934, famous Belgian detective solves a theft at the in Jerusalem. The — who seeks balance in life, and considers his case-solving ability to see a lie amid truth to be a curse — wants to rest in , but must return to London for another case. His friend Bouc, nephew of the director of the -route service, arranges a bunk for him aboard the train. Unscrupulous businessman Edward Ratchett offers to hire Poirot as his bodyguard during the three-day journey, having received threatening letters from an unknown party, but Poirot refuses. That night, Poirot hears strange noises coming from Ratchett's compartment, and later sees someone in a red running down the hallway. An avalanche derails the train's engine, stranding the passengers. The next morning, Poirot discovers Ratchett was murdered during the night after having been stabbed a dozen times. Poirot and Bouc investigate the other passengers as repairs begin. Evidence indicates that Ratchett was murdered by one person, and Caroline Hubbard, a fellow passenger, claims that a man had been in her compartment in the night. Poirot discovers a partially burned note connecting Ratchett to the kidnapping of Daisy Armstrong, a child who was abducted from her bedroom and held for ransom. Although her family paid the ransom, Daisy was murdered anyway. Hubbard is suddenly stabbed in the back; she survives but cannot identify the culprit. Poirot discovers many of the passengers have direct connections to the Armstrong family and uncovers their hidden pasts. While interviewing governess Mary Debenham, Poirot is shot in the shoulder by Doctor John Arbuthnot, who claims responsibility for the murder, but Bouc stops him from killing Poirot. Poirot realizes that Arbuthnot never meant to kill him — a decorated army sniper and medical doctor could not have missed making a fatal shot at close range. Poirot confronts the suspects outside the train, offering two theories of how Cassetti died. The first is simple but does not meet all of the facts: A murderer disguised as a conductor boarded the train at a previous stop, murdered Cassetti, and fled at the stop as the train left. The second is more complex: With every single suspect connected in some way to the Armstrongs, Susanne, or her trial, they all had a motive against Cassetti. Poirot predicts that they acted together. Hubbard confirms the latter, admitting that she planned the murder and had recruited everyone else to help her. Mary wore the kimono, and Arbuthnot stabbed Hubbard at her direction without endangering her life, to convince Poirot of a lone killer. Poirot challenges the passengers and Michel to shoot him with a confiscated gun since he is the only one who can expose their plot; Bouc can lie, but Poirot, obsessed with truth and balance, cannot. Hubbard grabs the gun and attempts suicide, but it is not loaded; Poirot wanted to see how the suspects would react, and Hubbard's reaction confirms that they are not killers at heart. With the train back on track, Poirot concludes that justice is impossible in this case, as Cassetti deserved death; for the first time, Poirot will have to live with a lie and imbalance. He presents the lone killer theory to the police, allowing the others to leave on the train. As he disembarks, a messenger asks him to investigate a. Poirot accepts the case. On June 16, 2015, it was reported Fox was in talks with to direct. On November 20, 2015, it was announced that Branagh would both direct the film and star in the role of detective. Caroline Hubbard However, it was later reported that Jolie had passed on the role and that , among others, was in consideration for the role. In August 2016, joined the cast. In September 2016, , , , , , , and joined the cast. In October 2016, , and joined the cast. In November 2016, joined the cast. In December 2016, joined the cast. In January 2017, and joined the cast with the latter replacing Pena, who had dropped out of the project. It used some of the same cameras as 's , which Branagh had acted in shortly before the production. The two were among the very few to be shot on 65 mm film since Branagh's in 1996, and the only ones released in 2017. A first look at the film and cast was released on May 3, 2017, in an exclusive article by. Murder on the Orient Express was released in the United Kingdom on November 3, 2017 and in the United States on November 10, 2017, by. The film was released on digital HD on February 20, 2018, and on , and on February 27, 2018. Critical response On , the film has an approval rating of 57%, based on 247 reviews, with an of 6. In May 2017, Branagh expressed interest in further installments if the film were successful. On November 20, 2017, 20th Century Fox announced that a sequel, based on the 1937 novel , was in active development, with , screenwriter of the first film, returning to write the screenplay. Branagh will again be both director and star. However, in June 2018, the film was pushed back to December 20, 2019. On October 16, 2018 the film was pushed back to October 2, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017. Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Phoenix Film Critics Society. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Archived from on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
