Revered for her thrilling murder mysteries and twisty tales, Agatha Christie is one of the most successful authors of the 20th century. The gifted English writer wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short stories, many of which revolve around her two most iconic characters: the quirky and mustached Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and amateur sleuth Miss Jane Marple. According to the Guinness World Records, Christie’s extensive list of works has led her to become the best-selling fiction writer of all time, with her novels having sold more than two billion copies. On the silver screen, more than 30 feature films have been adapted from her works, many of which are outstanding cinematic triumphs.

Update September 19, 2023: This list has been updated by Yosra Ben lagha following the release of A Haunting in Venice.

Audiences everywhere can’t get enough of a juicy murder mystery, gravitating towards exciting whodunit movies that feature eccentric and intriguing characters. Christie’s novels are the perfect subject source for such pictures, from star-studded popular flicks like Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express to more underrated staples like Murder Under the Sun. With her newly released mystery movie A Haunting In Venice, Agatha Christie is in the spotlight once again; here are some of her best movies.

15 The Mirror Crack'd (1980)

The 1980 British mystery film The Mirror Crack'd
Columbia-Warner Distributors

The esteemed Angela Lansbury took on the role of amateur detective miss Jane Marple in the 1980 British mystery drama The Mirror Crack’d, which follows the notorious sleuth as she investigates the murder of a local woman who was poisoned, with a visiting movie star likely to have been the intended victim.

Related: Why Murder Mystery Movies Have Become So Popular

Touting a star-studded cast of Hollywood big names like Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, and Rock Hudson, the Agatha Christie adaptation features the two legendary actresses as bitter cinema rivals who have come to film a picture in Marple’s English village of St Mary Mead, seemingly terrorized by a mysterious threat. Lansbury shines as the astute detective, projecting warmth and compassion with the character while demonstrating her trademark wit and superb inquisitive nature; many attribute the film as a precursor to her later role as Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote.

14 Crooked House (2017)

The 2017 mystery film Crooked House
Vertical Entertainment 

Gilles Paquet-Brenner directed the 2017 mystery film Crooked House, based on the twisted Agatha Christie tale that centers on private investigator Charles Hayward as he is tasked with discovering who murdered the wealthy grandfather of his former lover, traveling to the family’s sprawling estate to examine the crime.

The thrilling whodunit picture brilliantly captures the essence of the beloved Christie novel and is packed full of playful wit, dark humor, dramatic flair and faithfulness to its original source material. The eccentric characters and outstanding performance by Max Irons as Hayward help make the adaptation a knockout. Vulture commended the modern murder mystery movie in their review, writing, “Crooked House knows what its job is: to set up a tangled web of colorful characters, throw a few red herrings, set off its dynamite, and make its exit while the smoke is still in the air.”

13 Evil Under the Sun (1982)

The 1982 British mystery film Evil Under the Sun
Columbia-EMI-Warner Distributors 

Following Agatha Christie’s longest-running character and most iconic detective, Hercule Poirot, the 1982 British mystery Evil Under the Sun stars Peter Ustinov as the revered Belgian sleuth, chronicling his journey to a glamorous island resort as he investigates both a millionaire’s fake diamonds and the murder of a famous actress. The film is the second time Ustinov took on the adored role, having previously portrayed the character in the critically-acclaimed 1978 picture Death on the Nile.

When discussing his thoughts on the quirky detective, Ustinov stated, “I find Poirot a very engaging character, although he’s quite awful, really. I should hate to know him. He’s very vain, self-contained and finicky…he’s very much in love with himself. He has probably been quite true to himself. I don’t think he’s ever cheated on himself.” The actor’s knockout performance as Poirot helped garner critical acclaim for Evil Under the Sun, leading to the actor portraying the character four more times.

12 Murder at the Gallop (1963)

Margaret Rutherford in Murder at the Gallop
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

1963’s Murder at the Gallop was a sequel to 1961’s Murder, She Said, as well as a loose adaptation of the 1953 novel After the Funeral by Christie, in which the director George Pollock replaced Hercule Poirot with Miss Marple to keep making Marple movies starring the great English actress Margaret Rutherford.

In the film, Rutherford’s Miss Marple witnesses a wealthy old man dying frightened to death by a cat and thinks that one of his four relatives has been greedy enough to kill for money. More fun than serious, Murder at the Gallop enhances Christie's suspense with humor. Rutherford is a joy to watch.

11 Murder in Three Acts (1968)

The whole cast of Murder In Three Acts
Warner Bros. 

Murder in Three Acts is a 1968 adaptation of Agatha Christie's mystery book Three Act Tragedy, directed by Gary Nelson, who brilliantly portrays two shocking murders at a party in Acapulco, Mexico. The party guests include an American actor, Charles Cartwright, a clergyman named Babbington, a writer, Janet Crisp and other characters who unite in a seemingly normal, ordinary, fun party. However, wherever Poirot is, trouble always seems to follow. He is depicted as the usual clue-sniffing detective that we are used to, impatient to unveil the truth. With no help from his assistant Hastings, Poirot slowly but surely uncovers the enigma behind the poisoning of the two victims.

Related: Top 10 Hercule Poirot Actors, Ranked

The cinematic version was faithful, for the most part, to the novel except for the location which changed from London to Acapulco. The director saw fit to spice the story up with a location less gloomy than London. He chose Mexico, where a murder is even less likely to happen. The murderer hunt in this movie is not less nerve-racking and absolutely entertaining than most of Agatha Christie's other adaptations.

10 Murder Most Foul (1952)

A murder scene in Murder Most Foul

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Murder Most Foul is loosely based on Agatha Christie's novel Mrs McGinty's Dead. It stars Margaret Rutherford, winner of two top acting honors, the Hollywood Academy Award, and the British Film Academy Trophy, as Miss Jane Marple, Agatha Christie's most delightful and witty female amateur detective who made it her mission to uncover the mystery behind the horrible murder of an actress. She joins a theatrical group specialized in death scenes, and as she is moving closer to the truth, another actor is found dead. The unknown criminal turns his attention to Miss Marple, who is digging in a dark, dense, and scary territory.

The viewer is given the double trouble of being concerned with uncovering the identity of the killer and with Miss Marple's safety, which is on the line with the evil murderer still on the loose. Miss Marple is one of Agatha Christie's most charismatic characters who adds a personal touch to the unresolved mysteries.

9 Seven Dials Mystery (1981)

The cast of Seven Dials Mystery
London Weekend Television (LWT)

Another addictive Agatha Christie film adaptation is Seven Dials Mystery. It tells the story of young aristocrat Lady Eileen (Cheryl Campbell), known as Bundle, as her life is turned upside down when Mr. Wade, with whom she had a close relationship, is found dead in his sleep. As she sets out to resolve his mysterious passing, she finds another of her friends dying on the side of the road. He tells her something that leads the investigation into a path of uncovering a secret society called Seven Dials and a hidden formula related to the murders. Unlike most of her film adaptations, Seven Dials Mystery has a personal feel. It feels like a family drama in which the detective, victim, and killer belong to the same group.

8 The Passing Of Mr. Quin (1928)

Clifford Heatherley.in The Passing of Mr. Quin
Argosy Films

The crime mystery The Passing Of Mr. Quin is loosely based on a part of Agatha Christie's short story collection called The Mysterious Mr. Quin. When Professor Appleby is poisoned, many suspects stand accused: his wife, Derek Capel, their neighbor, and Vera, the housemaid and the victim's mistress. Mr. Quin's abusive treatment of his wife make viewers a bit less sympathetic to his murder, but the secrets that surround the villainous incident are bound to come to light, as is the case in all of Agatha Christie's novels and movie adaptation. The sensational melodramatic tone of the movie, however, gives the story more edge and increases the mystery surrounding the professor's untimely death.

7 Endless Night (1972)

The 1972 British horror-mystery film Endless Night
British Lion Films

Based on the Lady of Crime’s later novel, the 1972 British horror-mystery film Endless Night is a somewhat different kind of thriller. In this moody psychological tale that flirts with the supernatural, a young couple, Ellie (Hayley Mills) and Michael (Hywel Bennett), feel threatened after building a dream house on a supposedly cursed land.

Endless Night is an unusual but gripping Christie mystery that seems to have been forgotten in time. "The thing about Endless Night is, it intrigues the way a good psychological thriller should. Watch it through once and you'll feel the need to re-watch it straight away. Before you know it, you'll have watched it three or four times just to see if the pieces fit together better with every viewing", The Irish News wrote.

6 Murder, She Said (1961)

The 1961 comedy/murder mystery film Murder, She Said
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Based on Agatha Christie’s 4.50 from Paddington, the 1961 comedy murder mystery Murder, She Said stars Margaret Rutherford as Miss Jane Marple, depicting the amateur detective as she witnesses the strangling of a young woman on a passing train. When the police dismiss her claims, the savvy and determined Marple decides to conduct an investigation all on her own.

Related: These Are Some of the Funniest Cop Comedies, Ranked

The interpretation departs from Christie’s trademark suspense and instead adopts a more whimsical and light-hearted approach, and though the author was not keen on the liberties taken, critics lauded the picture for its inventive storytelling, charming humor, and fresh take on the subject. Rutherford portrayed the character as a commanding and eccentric force that refuses to be deterred in her quest for justice, with the BBC writing, "Stealing every scene that she's in, the indomitable Rutherford plays Miss Marple with a zesty deal that papers over the film's unlikely plot."

5 And Then There Were None (1945)

The 1945 film adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1939 mystery novel And Then There Were None
20th Century Fox

The great René Clair directed the 1945 mystery drama And Then There Were None, which tells the fascinating story of 10 strangers who gather at a grand manor on an isolated island by a mysterious host, only to find themselves being terrifyingly murdered one by one. As the guests try to keep level-headed, they grow increasingly suspicious of one another and come to the stunning realization that there is, in fact a killer amongst them.

Featuring the talent of silver screen stars like Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, and Louis Hayward, the adaptation was met to widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with reviewers praising the thrilling suspense, outstanding performances of Fitzgerald and Huston and sharp script. The New York Times raved about And Then There Were None, having said, “René Clair has produced an exciting film and has directed a splendid cast in it with humor and a light macabre touch. The temptation to the horrifying is intelligently dismissed." One of the best Agatha Christie novels (despite its horribly racist original title), And Then There Were None has been adapted several times, with one of the most recent and best being a 2015 British miniseries, though Clair's 1945 version remains the essential adaptation.

4 A Haunting In Venice (2023)

A Haunting in Venice cast
20th Century Studios

A Haunting in Venice is the Agatha Christie movie adaptation that truly puts her favorite character, Detective Poirot, through the wringer with a sneaky, twisted story capable of challenging anyone. Set in post-World War II Venice, the movie focuses on a Seance hosted by a woman named Rowena Drake, who hires a medium and psychic called Joyce Reynolds to help communicate with her dead daughter. Because of his a secular, science-oriented mind, Poirot calls the medium a hoax and intends to leave the silly spectacle. However, soon enough, the medium is found dead outside the house. To make things even more complicated, this murder is followed by another. In the Haunted Palazzo, a place already busy with the so-called tormented souls of murdered little children from the past, the bodies keep piling up, and the detective has to struggle to solve an out-of-the-ordinary case.

This might be one of the best cinematic adaptations of Agatha Christie's works because, in the course of unraveling the true culprit, the viewer is made to consider whether the unseen world of ghosts, the dead, and God really exists. It keeps Poirot and the viewers guessing until the very end.

3 Death on the Nile (1978)

The 1978 British mystery film Death on the Nile
EMI Distributors

Based on one of Agatha Christie’s most popular and admired novels, the 1978 British mystery Death on the Nile follows the mustached, offbeat Belgian detective Hercule Poirot as he embarks on a luxurious cruise down the Nile, only to be called into action once again when a newlywed heiress is murdered. The renowned investigator must move swiftly to identify the devious killer before the paddle steamer completes its journey, using his profound gift for deciphering clues and discovering the truth to do so.

Related: Death on the Nile Review: A Superb Adaptation of Agatha Christie's Classic Murder Mystery

Peter Ustinov took over the role of Poirot after previous star Albert Finney declined to return, with producer Richard B. Goodwin having commented, “Poirot is a character part if there ever was one, and Peter is a top character actor.” Death on the Nile went on to win an Academy Award and garnered widespread praise, with the esteemed murder mystery standing out as one of the finest Christie adaptations; a remake directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh was released in 2022.

2 Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

The 1957 American mystery thriller film Witness for the Prosecution
United Artists 

The great director Billy Wilder helmed the Oscar-nominated 1957 mystery crime drama Witness for the Prosecution, depicting the efforts of renowned barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts as he defends his client Leonard Vole, who is on trial for murdering a wealthy woman. The case takes a dramatic turn when Vole’s cold-hearted wife decides to appear against him in court. The film noir was the first big screen adaptation of the Agatha Christie story, and Wilder went to great lengths to keep the mystery’s ending a secret, even keeping the final 10 pages of the script from the actors until it was time to shoot the final scene.

At the end of the picture, a voice-over even encouraged audiences not to divulge the conclusion to any friends and family, wanting to keep the mystique surrounding the drama intact. Witness for the Prosecution went on to earn six Academy Award nominations, and Agatha Christie is believed to have considered it the best adaptation of her work.

1 Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

A scene from Murder on the Orient Express
Anglo-EMI Film Distributors

Before Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of The Murder on the Orient Express, there was Sydney Lumet's star-studded masterpiece. Touting an impressive cast of Hollywood royalty like Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, and Sean Connery, the critically-lauded 1974 British mystery stars Albert Finney as the iconic detective Hercule Poirot. Poirot is relaxing on a journey home aboard the Orient Express but finds his much-needed break interrupted when a disliked billionaire is murdered en route. The mustachioed man of mystery decides to investigate the crime, quickly realizing that many of his fellow passengers harbored ill will towards the man and could easily be capable of murder.

The adaptation was both a critical and commercial success, earning Bergman an Academy Award and being heralded for its exceptional performances, gripping suspense, and faithfulness to Christie’s novel. The author even gave her seal of approval for Murder on the Orient Express, an impressive feat since she notoriously disliked most film adaptations of her work aside from Witness For the Prosecution. The picture remains one of the greatest cinematic examples of Christie’s work, and will, certainly make you second-guess train travel.