Death on the Nile
Eccentric Poirot whodunit has gun violence, drinking.
Parents say
Based on 17 reviews
Kids say
Based on 27 reviews
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Death on the Nile
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Death on the Nile is based on Agatha Christie's same-named mystery novel and is a follow-up to 2017's Murder on the Orient Express. The central figure is a glamorous heiress (Gal Gadot) who marries her best friend's fiancé (Armie Hammer). Racy moments include passionate kissing, references to sex, and the honeymooning couple grinding against each other while fully clothed. As the movie's title suggests, there's a good deal of murder in the story (involving knives and guns), and while it's all meant to shock and startle, only one death is accompanied by blood and packed with emotion. Suicidal ideation and behavior are present, and there's a flashback to wartime battlefield violence and a close-up of a grisly wound (accompanied by a positive message about acceptance). Characters drink throughout, and there are references to smoking. Women are portrayed as intelligent and shrewd, and supporting characters have been updated in a way that reflects a more diverse world than the one Christie wrote about.
Community Reviews
Good story but not great for kids
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Not great!
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What's the Story?
In DEATH ON THE NILE, renowned detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) is vacationing among the affluent passengers of the S.S. Karnak, on a river cruise touring Egypt's famous river. When a fellow passenger is found murdered on board, Poirot is appointed to suss out the killer before they can strike again.
Is It Any Good?
Branagh's second Agatha Christie adaptation is much like Hercule Poirot's marvelous mustache: historical, eccentric, and multidirectional. But it's not a shoo-in for younger viewers. Even though Branagh attempts to bring Poirot down to earth, sharing the sleuth's backstory to explain his extravagant facial hair (and why there's no Mrs. Poirot), teens may find the finicky, narcissistic detective difficult to connect with. Also, the dialogue assumes that viewers understand matters that would have been familiar fare in 1937, such as being pro-Communism, what a dowry is, and why an entire wedding party would accompany newlyweds on their honeymoon. That's great conversation-starter fare, perhaps making Death on the Nile a better choice for a family watch-together than a slumber party pick.
On the upside, Death on the Nile may help solve the mystery of how to get kids more engaged with geography and/or world history. The phenomenal Egyptian landscape is showcased in crisp cinematography. Scenes with the Pyramids of Giza and Abu Simbel temple are striking, memorable, and inviting, and seeing characters interact with these landmarks might spark kids' curiosity about the locations. For those who are already familiar with this particular story, some changes have been made to Christie's novel to present a fresh take: It slims down the number of murder suspects and is purposely more diverse than the source material. But it's not necessarily better. Like Poirot's facial grooming, this version is just different.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this adaptation of Death on the Nile is more inclusive and diverse than the original novel. Black musicians and LGBTQ+ philanthropists were active in high society in the mid-1930s. Why do you think many films and novels from that time largely ignored them? How does entertainment impact viewers' attitudes?
Which characters are "good" and which are "bad" -- or is it hard to tell? Why do films often want us to see people as one way or another, rather than showing humans' capacity to be both?
What makes Hercule Poirot an astute detective? Why is curiosity an important character strength?
Talk about Death on the Nile's violence. How much is actually shown? What's the impact of the violence that's not shown? Is this thrilling or shocking?
Why do you think author Agatha Christie and her character Hercule Poirot have such enduring appeal?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 11, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: April 5, 2022
- Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Tom Bateman
- Director: Kenneth Branagh
- Studio: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Book Characters, Great Boy Role Models
- Character Strengths: Curiosity, Integrity
- Run time: 127 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: violence, some bloody images, and sexual material
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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