A Haunting in Venice: Unlocking the Enigma of Hercule Poirot's Greatest Mystery

The Big Picture

A Haunting in Venice concludes its box office run as the lowest-grossing film in the trilogy, falling significantly short of its predecessors' earnings.

The film, adapted from a lesser-known novel, showcases a less prominent ensemble cast and a more modest budget in comparison to the previous films in the franchise. However, despite garnering improved reviews, the declining public interest and lackluster reception at the box office indicate that the probability of a fourth installment in Kenneth Branagh's Agatha Christie adaptations is doubtful.

Director-star Kenneth Branagh's A Haunting in Venice is set to wrap up its global box office run as the lowest-grossing installment of the trilogy. The film will make its way to PVOD platforms in the United States on October 31. This past weekend, it secured the 10th position on the domestic box office chart, bringing in just under $500,000. With a worldwide total of less than $110 million, it falls significantly behind its immediate predecessor.

A Haunting in Venice disappointed in its domestic market, earning only $41 million, and garnered another $66 million from international territories, resulting in a modest global box office of $108 million. The movie stands no chance of surpassing Death on the Nile's impressive $45 million domestic and $137 million global earnings from last year. To put it in perspective, it has currently made around a third of the $350 million that Murder on the Orient Express generated worldwide in 2017. The initial film was a surprise success, surpassing $100 million in North America following a $28 million opening weekend.

In contrast to the preceding two movies within Branagh's trilogy of Agatha Christie murder mystery adaptations, A Haunting in Venice was derived from a lesser-known source novel, and showcased a less prominent ensemble cast. Both Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile were marketed as grand cinematic spectacles with renowned movie stars like Gal Gadot, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Penélope Cruz, among others. Notably, the second film incurred significant expenses, with production costs alone amounting to approximately $100 million for 20th Century Studios.

Will A Haunting in Venice Mark the End of Kenneth Branagh's Series?

Image Via 20th Century Studios

The scale for this film was reduced, resulting in a reported budget of $60 million. Unlike the first two films, which were shot on large-format film, A Haunting in Venice was shot digitally. This change in format allowed the film to be more of a horror-thriller that takes place in a single location. It also introduced new and interesting directions for the fictional Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, portrayed by Branagh.

In terms of reviews, A Haunting in Venice received better feedback compared to its predecessors. According to the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a "fresh" score of 75%. This is higher than the 61% scores of both Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. However, it is evident that interest in the series is declining, both domestically and worldwide. It was somewhat surprising when 20th Century Studios announced the production of a third film after the underwhelming commercial performance of Death on the Nile. If a fourth installment is announced following the performance of A Haunting in Venice, it would be even more surprising.

The movie features a talented cast including Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Michelle Yeoh. For more updates, stay tuned to our website.

A Haunting in Venice

In post-World War II Venice, the retired Hercule Poirot (played by Kenneth Branath) finds himself reluctantly attending a seance. However, the event takes a sinister turn when one of the guests is brutally murdered. Now, Poirot must put his detective skills to the test once again as he endeavors to uncover the identity of the killer.

Kenneth Branagh, who not only stars in but also directs the film, returns for the third installment of his murder mystery movie series based on the renowned novels by Agatha Christie. Previous additions to this gripping franchise include the critically acclaimed Murder on the Orient Express and the captivating Death on the Nile, both of which successfully brought Christie's beloved stories to life on the big screen.

Release Date September 15, 2023Director Kenneth BranaghCast Kelly Reilly, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Kenneth BranaghRating PG-13Runtime 103 minutesGenres Drama, Crime, Horror

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the box office performance of "A Haunting in Venice." On the one hand, I am disappointed that the film did not perform as well as its predecessors, "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Death on the Nile." I enjoyed those films and was looking forward to seeing more of Kenneth Branagh's take on the Hercule Poirot character. On the other hand, I can understand why the film may not have resonated with audiences as much as the previous two.

The film is based on a lesser-known Agatha Christie novel, and it features a less star-studded cast. Additionally, the film's marketing campaign seemed to focus more on the horror elements of the story than on the mystery, which may have turned off some potential viewers.

Overall, I think "A Haunting in Venice" is a solid film, but it may not have been the right choice for a third installment in the series. I would still be interested in seeing another Hercule Poirot film in the future, but I think the filmmakers would need to find a way to make the story more appealing to a wider audience.