Death on the Nile

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Death on the Nile

PG

1978

2h 20m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

On a luxurious cruise on the Nile River, a wealthy heiress, Linnet Ridgeway (Lois Chiles), is murdered. Fortunately, among the passengers are famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) and his trusted companion, Colonel Race (David Niven), who immediately begin their investigation. But just as Poirot identifies a motley collection of would-be murderers, several of the suspects also meet their demise, which only deepens the mystery of the killer's identity.

Joe Clay

The Times (UK)

03/28/2024

... The Egyptian locations are the ideal backdrop to colonial intrigue and the cast is a corker, including Jane Birkin, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, David Niven and Maggie Smith.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Nov 27

4/5

‘…there’s no mistaking Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot; other versions may have been more faithfu, but those who took a cruise on Death on the Nile weren't disappointed by this lush, rich, and defiantly old-fashioned Hollywood whodunnit…’

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

12/21/2023

3.5/4

For fans of the novel, there are a few changes, but none that overwhelm the essence of the story, allowing viewers to take a trip on the Nile with the world-famous sleuth and his inimitable talents.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

03/12/2022

Its a fun, if somewhat slow-moving murder mystery that favors glamor and drawing room banter over suspense, like a lavish version of a British TV mystery set in the 1930s.

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Frank J. Avella

Edge Media Network

09/25/2020

B

Death on the Nile is an admirable addition to the Christie-on-film canon with a cast of game, if sometimes hammy, actors and just the right amount of murder, mystery and mayhem.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

09/06/2020

3.5/4

The intricacies of the plot, the top production values, and a splendid cast add up to stellar entertainment.

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J.T. H.

@JTH006 Dec 16

Superb all-star cast in stylish 1978 adaptation of Christie classic, adapted for the screen by Tony award winning playwright Anthony Shaffer (Sleuth). A must for all mystery fans.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Jul 20

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Julian S

@akajulianscott 04/16/2025

It knows exactly what it is—campy, star-studded, and easily one of the finest whodunits ever put to screen.

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Sammy B

@RT42409823 11/18/2024

This is such a great film! Especially since the cast is full of legendary stars! I also loved it because it stayed true to the original plot details! A great movie to watch when you find yourself with a rainy day and nothing else to do!

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Glafira Regina O

@Glafira_Regina 11/10/2024

One of the best costume films conveying the era and customs of the 1930s. Some points diverge from the book, but the story still feels coherent and well-crafted. Some of the actors underperform, but most of them look interesting and memorable. And although after the new version of 2020, I remember the image of a slightly different Poirot, the inimitable Peter Ustinov still got used to the role of a capricious and cunning Belgian.

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Jack C

@JackCroft03 10/22/2024

This film is vastly superior to Branagh’s convoluted nonsense. It is faithful to the book, Ustinov is on top form and the performance of stars like Bette Davis and Maggie Smith is shining. This is a must-see!

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John Guillermin

Director

Peter Ustinov

Hercule Poirot

Bette Davis

Mrs. Van Schuyler

David Niven

Colonel Race

Jane Birkin

Louise Bourget

Lois Chiles

Linnet Ridgeway

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Synopsis

On a luxurious cruise on the Nile River, a wealthy heiress, Linnet Ridgeway (Lois Chiles), is murdered. Fortunately, among the passengers are famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) and his trusted companion, Colonel Race (David Niven), who immediately begin their investigation. But just as Poirot identifies a motley collection of would-be murderers, several of the suspects also meet their demise, which only deepens the mystery of the killer's identity.

Director: John Guillermin
Producer: John Brabourne, Richard Goodwin
Screenwriter: Anthony Shaffer, Agatha Christie
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Mersham Productions Ltd., EMI Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 29, 1978, Original
Release Date (DVD): Jan 27, 2009
Runtime: 2h 20m

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