Death on the Nile (1978)

80% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(8,094 ratings)

Peter Ustinov began his long association with the Hercule Poirot character of murder mystery novelist Agatha Christie with this lavish but financially disappointing follow-up to the popular Murder on the Orient Express (1974). During a luxurious pleasure cruise down the Nile aboard a lavish vessel… More Peter Ustinov began his long association with the Hercule Poirot character of murder mystery novelist Agatha Christie with this lavish but financially disappointing follow-up to the popular Murder on the Orient Express (1974). During a luxurious pleasure cruise down the Nile aboard a lavish vessel populated with wealthy passengers, widely despised heiress and home wrecker Linnet Ridgeway (Lois Chiles) is murdered. Also aboard is famed Belgian detective Poirot (Ustinov) and his taciturn traveling companion, Colonel Race (David Niven). Poirot undertakes an investigation into Ridgeway's killing. Among the colorful suspects are Salome (Angela Lansbury) and Rosalie Otterbourne (Olivia Hussey), Doctor Bessner (Jack Warden), Mrs. Van Schuyler (Bette Davis), Miss Bowers (Maggie Smith), and Jacqueline De Bellefort (Mia Farrow). As more bodies pile up, however, it appears that nearly everyone aboard has a motive. The script for Death on the Nile (1978) was adapted by Anthony Shaffer, the writer of Sleuth (1972) and the identical twin brother of Amadeus (1984) author Peter Shaffer. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: John Guillermin
Written By: Anthony Shaffer
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Sep 29, 1978 Wide
On DVD: Feb 27, 2001
Studio: EMI Films Ltd.

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Fun, if not cookie-cutter, Agatha Christie-based flick w/Peter Ustinov fine as Det. Hercule Poirot.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
A fine Agatha Christie adaptation, made more watchable because of its all-star cast
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Death on the Nile is a fine entertainment that is lovely to look at and easy to enjoy.
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Not bad if a bit dry.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Okay whodunit suffers by comparison with Murder on the Orient Express.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Not nearly as good as Murder On the Orient Express, even a step down from Evil Under the Sun, but colorful Christie tale with fine production values and a good cast with Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis and Maggie Smith standing out. One of the problems is overlength another is a too… More
Not nearly as good as Murder On the Orient Express, even a step down from Evil Under the Sun, but colorful Christie tale with fine production values and a good cast with Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis and Maggie Smith standing out. One of the problems is overlength another is a too deliberate pace but if yo're a mystery fan still a worthwhile watch. Ustinov of course is perfect as Poirot.
Wahida K

This is pretty great TV Movie based upon the Novel written by Agath Christie with late Sr.Peter Ustinov and Angela Lansberry as a Alcoholic widow. It was funny to see Lanburry as an Alcoholic.
Tom E

It's an old-fashioned Whodunit which IS a bit dated, but the story is still good
Pierluigi P

Agatha Christie's great whodunit comes again with a pack of legendary actors. Peter Ustinov is the best Poirot ever. sublime and intriguing scheme.
Jennifer X

I had first watched this many years ago before I knew of big names like Bette Davis and Angela Lansbury and Maggie Smith. I only remembered that I loved the story and I loved Agatha Christie. Now watching it again it only reaffirms that love I felt. It's quite a fabulous and… More
I had first watched this many years ago before I knew of big names like Bette Davis and Angela Lansbury and Maggie Smith. I only remembered that I loved the story and I loved Agatha Christie. Now watching it again it only reaffirms that love I felt. It's quite a fabulous and clever story, not particularly meaningful but infinitely entertaining, peppered with some fabulous supporting roles by aging Bette Davis and relatively youngish Maggie Smith.
Lafe F

A real Agatha Christie Treat - more luxurius than the Orient Express. Lots of nice famous actors as suspects. Peter Ustinov made a great Poirot. I liked the musical score and the exotic locations.
Dean !

One of the best Agatha Christie films there is. An all star cast with a great plot, full of twists make this an excellent Whodunit?
Drew S

A very good film, but delivered in an almost identical manner to Murder on the Orient Express, which I guess goes to show that directing a British murder mystery in the 1970s was a pretty colorless affair. Even in a place as exotic as Egypt, this still feels almost interminably… More
A very good film, but delivered in an almost identical manner to Murder on the Orient Express, which I guess goes to show that directing a British murder mystery in the 1970s was a pretty colorless affair. Even in a place as exotic as Egypt, this still feels almost interminably British. Fortunately, though, this movie manages to draw great things from the cast and the source material. Death on the Nile is a little overlong, at 2:20, and Ustinov is probably the weakest Poirot I've seen on the screen (the film's losing point to its Orient Express precursor). That aside, though, this is certainly a Christie adaptation worth watching. Both the plot and the characters are some of the most memorable she's ever written, and the performances fit them flawlessly here.
Nicolas K

A great story from Agatha Christie, coupled with an amazingly talented cast, and couple with a superb soundtrack, can only mean one thing: a great detective thriller!
Sunil J

One of the better Poirot movies.
Barry L

Loved these on a Sunday.