Some writers imagine their novels leaping onto the big screen, while others, like Agatha Christie, view adaptations with a critical eye. Christie’s career shows the opposite pattern: her books have been among the most filmed and televised works, celebrated for their knack for suspense. In Britain, Christie is a cultural landmark, and her stories have become fixtures in film and TV. The cast she’s inspired reads like a who’s who of screen legends, from Michael Fassbender and Benedict Cumberbatch to Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Peter Ustinov, David Niven, and Albert Finney. The author’s own remark mirrors the tension many creators feel: ordinary chores can spark a deadly idea. Washing dishes, Christie noted, could spark a homicidal spark in anyone.
The French audience has kept Christie’s world in the public eye for years. A series titled The Little Agatha Christie Murders unfolds across the 1930s, 1950s, and 1960s, with new mysteries interwoven into each season. The latest run leans into the late 1970s, blending fashion, psychedelia, and a capable curator who must navigate a team’s masculine energy while solving crimes.
Looking ahead, a new project is on the horizon. Hugh Laurie is directing and adapting Agatha Christie: Why Don’t They Ask Evans? into a three‑part mini‑series for Movistar Plus, slated for release in mid‑April.
For Christie enthusiasts who crave more of her universe, Death on the Nile remains a prominent option. It’s not in cinemas yet, but fans can explore a curated guide to the best screen adaptations of Christie’s work. Classic films by Billy Wilder, such as Witness for the Prosecution (1957); Sidney Lumet’s Murder on the Orient Express (1974); John Guillermin’s Death on the Nile (1978); Gilles Paquet‑Brenner’s The Crooked House (2017); and Kenneth Branagh’s 2017 Murder on the Orient Express on Disney+ are highlighted for comparison. The suggestion is to enjoy Christie’s world from the comfort of home, imagining the Cluedo board come to life in the living room.
1. ‘Agatha Christie: Why Don’t They Ask Evans?’
Hugh Laurie, known for portraying a grumpy doctor, directs and appears in this three‑part series based on one of Christie’s detective novels. Movistar Plus+ will stream the show starting April 15, two days after its UK release. The story follows a pastor’s son and his witty companion, joined by the socialite Lady Frances Derwent, as they unravel a murder tied to a cryptic dying question. The ensemble also features Emma Thompson and Jim Broadbent in supporting roles. In addition, films The Curse of Agatha and Ihstar and Agatha and the Midnight Murders are slated to debut on Movistar on April 10 and 17 respectively.
- Year: 2022
- Where to see: Movistar+
2. ‘Poirot’
Twelve seasons follow the precise Belgian sleuth who favors herbal tea and methodical deduction. The cast includes Hastings, Inspector Japp, and Miss Lemon, with the series balancing feature‑length films and shorter episodes. Poirot remains a paragon of meticulous detection, celebrated for clever plotting and engaging character work.
- Year: 1989-2013
- Where to see: Movie and Amazon Prime
3. ‘Miss Marple’
Miss Marple is introduced as an unassuming observer who unmasks criminals from the English countryside. The adaptation pathway mirrors Poirot, with Geraldine McEwan later replaced by Julia McKenzie from season four onward, bringing Christie’s elderly sleuth back to life for a new generation.
- Year: 2004-2013
- Where to see: The Movie (season two) and Amazon Prime (season three)
4. ‘Ten Little Niggers’
Often remembered as the most translated Christie story, this mystery has been adapted for television multiple times. The BBC’s 125th‑anniversary homage presents the tale as a three‑part event where ten strangers are lured to an isolated island and die one by one. The cast features Aidan Turner, Miranda Richardson, Charles Dance, Douglas Booth, Maeve Dermody, Burn Gorman, Anna Maxwell Martin, Sam Neill, Toby Stephens, and Noah Taylor.
- Year: 2015
- Where to see: Previously available on Movistar+
5. ‘Tragic Innocence’
Christie reveals this story as one of her favorites to write, and the BBC’s three‑part adaptation captures that sentiment. The plot centers on a Christmas 1954 murder involving a wealthy philanthropist, his family, and a scientist whose alibi becomes suspect as secrets resurface. The cast includes Bill Nighy and Matthew Goode with Anna Chancellor among the supporting players.
- Year: 2018
- Where to see: Movistar+
6. ‘Witness for the Prosecution’
The same producing team behind Ten Little Niggers and Tragic Innocence also presents a BBC two‑part adaptation of the short story. The tale follows a prosecutor entangled in a murder case that echoes Wilder’s famous film, with a young man drawn into a high‑stakes legal drama following the death of a wealthy widow.
- Year: 2016
- Where to see: Previously available on Movistar+
7. ‘The Mystery of the Rail Guide’
Starring John Malkovich as Poirot, this three‑part BBC adaptation, scripted by Sarah Phelps, unfolds as a meticulous but deadly pursuit. A killer details murders in alphabetical order and leaves a copy beside each body, driving a tense investigation.
- Year: 2018
- Where to see: Movistar+
8. ‘The Pale Horse Mystery’
ATA series with supernatural overtones, written by Sarah Phelps, follows a widow who encounters a cursed list that connects a string of deaths. The mystery deepens as a small town reveals its darkest secrets among three enigmatic women accused of witchcraft.
- Year: 2020
- Where to see: Movistar+
9. ‘The Marriage of the Greyhounds’
The detective duo Tommy and Tuppeence appear in this adaptation of the 1929 novel. The series spans eleven episodes and earned an Emmy recognition for its faithful yet fresh handling of Christie’s world.
- Year: 1983
- Where to see: The movie