The inimitable charm of English detective films draws one into their mysterious and intriguing world. From Agatha Christie’s classic tales film adaptations to the timeless adventures of Sherlock Holmes, these movies attract us with their captivating plots and unforgettable characters. Which English detective novel would be worth watching? Here are the 7 greatest English detective films that keep one on the edge of the seat. Take a deep dive through these engaging stories where every clue counts and strangers are charmers with hidden secrets.
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- Murder on the Orient Express
- Death on the Nile
- A Haunting in Venice
- Sherlock Holmes
- Crooked House
- The Limehouse Golem
- Gosford Park
Murder on the Orient Express
IMDb: 6.5/10
2017, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
USA, Malta, PG-13
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Top cast: Kenneth Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe
It’s a reworking of the book of the same name by Agatha Christie, featuring performances by Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penélope Cruz, and Judi Dench. The action occurs on the luxurious Orient Express train, where Poirot is to solve a murder that would take place and turn into a theater of murder, taking into consideration that the murderer kills again. These views from the picture promote glamorous scenes of the feel of elegance and majesty of the 1930s — whisking one's mind away to another past era. The focus to detail, strong performances, and the clever plot twists make this movie stand out. 'Murder on the Orient Express' is a strong recommendation to be checked out. It’s so easy to follow even without knowing the reading.
Death on the Nile
IMDb: 6.3/10
2020, Crime, Drama, Mystery
USA, United Kingdom, PG-13
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Top cast: Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Kenneth Branagh
'Death on the Nile' is an intrigue-filled crime mystery adaptation of the original book by Agatha Christie. Kenneth Branagh, in this return performance as the legendary Hercule Poirot, both behind and in front of the camera, is bound to satisfy fans of murder mysteries fans and classic movie lovers alike. The action of the novel is set aboard a prestigious cruise along the Nile River. What was supposed to be a perfect voyage turned out to be a hunt for a murderer when a wealthy heiress turned up dead. Now, with an almost full ship of suspects, it is left to Poirot to find the solution before another murder unfolds.
A Haunting in Venice
IMDb: 6.5/10
2023, Action, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller
USA, PG-13
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Top cast: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan
If you’re a mystery and suspense lover, no need to look further than to 'A Haunting in Venice'. Under the helm of Kenneth Branagh, comes an exciting plot packaged with a hauntingly beautiful setting of Venice. The movie traces famous detective Hercule Poirot enacted by none other than Branagh himself; he seeks to unwrap the mystery lying behind some events occurring in a seance.
Sherlock Holmes
IMDb: 7.6/10
2009, Action, Adventure, Mystery
USA, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, PG-13
Director: Guy Ritchie
Top cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams
'Sherlock Holmes' is a breathless, exciting adventure that presents in an invigorating, fresh way one of the best detectives to ever walk the land. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the movie features Robert Downey Jr. as the famous role of Sherlock Holmes, and Jude Law acting as the loyal friend, remarkable doctor Dr. John Watson. The story winds with dark and foggy streets through Victorian London when Holmes and Watson appear to solve a spate of mysterious crimes.
Crooked House
IMDb: 6.3/10
2017, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
United Kingdom, USA, PG-13
Director: Gilles Paquet-Brenner
Top cast: Max Irons, Stefanie Martini, Glenn Close
'Crooked House' is a 2017 version of Agatha Christie’s story that highlights a sterling cast and somewhat of a warped plot. The story centers on the wealthy Leonides family who stay in a large mansion. When the head of the house, Aristide Leonides, was seen poisoned to death, every member of his family who was at one site at that moment becomes a suspect. They hire a private investigator, Charles Hayward, played by Max Irons, and put him on the job. The further he digs into the secrets of the family, the more lies, betrayals, and hidden motives he uncovers.
The Limehouse Golem
IMDb: 6.3/10
2016, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
United Kingdom
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Top cast: Douglas Booth, Olivia Cooke, Sam Reid
For those who enjoy a good atmospheric mystery done in the dark, The Limehouse Golem is an absolute must. Set in Victorian London, it follows Inspector John Kildare, played by Bill Nighy, trying to find out the real identity behind a collection of heinous murders ascribed to the infamous 'Limehouse Golem'. Redundant with period detail, it is hauntingly immersive. On the storyline front, it is full of twists and turns that keep any person in the dark until the very end.
Gosford Park
IMDb: 7.2/10
2001, Comedy, Drama, Mystery
United Kingdom, Italy, USA, R
Director: Robert Altman
Top cast: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas
Imagine being invited to the English countryside in the 1930s to a large country house, luxuriant with wealthy owners and their retinue of servants. 'Gosford Park' is a film by Robert Altman set in this house. It is a kind of 'whodunit' mystery combined with drama but with added doses of humor. It starts with a weekend hunting party where a murder is committed, and all its upscale guests and their servants become the suspects. The upstairs-downstairs nature of the story only lends a bit of profundity to the telling and makes for an interesting glimpse at class distinction of the time.
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