Arguably among the unlikeliest contemporary franchises from a major studio, directorKenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot series of mystery movies is back this week with its third installment,A Haunting in Venice, which marks a bit of a departure from the norm, both stylistically and critically. The movie opened for previews on Thursday, grossing $1.2 million at the domestic box office.A Haunting in Veniceis set to expand to over 3,500 domestic theaters today.
This puts the movie on track for a soft opening weekend in the $13 million and $15 million range. The franchise experienced a significant downgrade with its second installment,Death on the Nile, which opened at a more precarious time during the pandemic and grossed a very similar $12.8 millionin its opening weekend. Budgeted at a hefty $90 million,Death on the Niletapped out with just $45 million domestically and under $140 million worldwide. 20th Century Studios kept costs on a leash this time around;A Haunting in Venicewas produced on a reported budget of $60 million.
The series began in 2017, with the star-studdedMurder on the Orient Express, which opened to $28 million but legged it to more than $100 million domestically and $350 million worldwide. Each movie in the trilogy has been directed by Branagh, who also stars asthe famed Belgian detective Poirot, created by the legendary authorAgatha Christie. But while the first two movies were based on two of the most popular Poirot novels, Branagh and screenwriterMichael Greenwent in a different direction with the third film.
Not only isA Haunting in Venicemore of a supernatural thrilleras compared to the old-fashionedmurder mystery charmsof bothMurder on the Orient ExpressandDeath on the Nile, it’s also more restrained in its scope, and is based on a lesser-known and previously unadapted (for the big screen) source novel: “Hallowe’en Party.” The movie adaptation transports the action from England to Italy, and is set a decade after the events ofDeath on the Nile. Now retired, Poirot is summoned to action when a guest at a séance he was invited to ends up dead.
Will the Film’s Positive Reviews Work in its Favor?
Reviews for the movie have been more encouraging than usual for the series.A Haunting in Venicecurrently sits at a “fresh” 77% score on the review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes— bothMurder on the Orient ExpressandDeath on the Nilescored a 61% approval rating. Collider’sEmma Kielywrotethat the film “fails to get to the root of the horror that pervades this mystery, and a bizarre moment during the climax only adds to the confusion.”
A Haunting in Venicealso features Academy Award winnerMichelle Yeoh,Tina Fey,Jamie Dornan,Kyle Allen,Camille Cottinand others. Last weekend’s number one film,The Nun II, will slip to the second spot this weekend, whileThe Equalizer 3,My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3andBarbieare expected to fill out the remaining slots in the top five. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates!
