Revered for her thrilling murder mysteries and twisty tales,Agatha Christieis 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 theGuinness 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 beenadapted from her works,many of which are outstanding cinematic triumphs.
Update June 22, 2025: This list has been updated by Yosra Ben lagha following the release ofA 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 likeDeath on the NileandMurder on the Orient Expressto more underrated staples likeMurder Under the Sun. With her newly released mystery movieA Haunting In Venice, Agatha Christie is in the spotlight once again; here are some of her best movies.
15The Mirror Crack’d (1980)
The esteemed Angela Lansbury took on the role of amateur detective miss Jane Marple in the 1980 British mystery dramaThe 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.
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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 inMurder, She Wrote.
14Crooked House (2017)
Gilles Paquet-Brenner directed the 2017 mystery filmCrooked 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.Vulturecommended themodern murder mystery moviein their review, writing, “Crooked Houseknows 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.”
13Evil Under the Sun (1982)
Following Agatha Christie’s longest-running character andmost iconic detective, Hercule Poirot, the 1982 British mysteryEvil Under the Sunstars 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 pictureDeath 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 forEvil Under the Sun,leading to the actor portraying the character four more times.
12Murder at the Gallop (1963)
1963’sMurder at the Gallopwas a sequel to 1961’sMurder, She Said, as well as a loose adaptation of the 1953 novelAfter the Funeralby 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 Gallopenhances Christie’s suspense with humor. Rutherford is a joy to watch.
11Murder in Three Acts (1968)
Murder in Three Actsis a 1968 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s mystery bookThree 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.
10Murder Most Foul (1952)
Murder Most Foulis loosely based on Agatha Christie’s novelMrs 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. Shejoins a theatrical groupspecialized 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.
9Seven Dials Mystery (1981)
Another addictive Agatha Christie film adaptation isSeven 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 Mysteryhas a personal feel. It feels like a family drama in which the detective, victim, and killer belong to the same group.
8The Passing Of Mr. Quin (1928)
The crime mysteryThe Passing Of Mr. Quinis loosely based on a part of Agatha Christie’s short story collection calledThe 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.
7Endless Night (1972)
Based on the Lady of Crime’s later novel, the 1972 British horror-mystery filmEndless Nightis 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 Nightis an unusual but gripping Christie mystery that seems to have been forgotten in time. “The thing aboutEndless Nightis, 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 Newswrote.
6Murder, She Said (1961)
Based on Agatha Christie’s4.50 from Paddington,the 1961 comedy murder mysteryMurder, She Saidstars 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.
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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, withthe BBCwriting, “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.”
