Move over The Night Manager, Murder on the Orient Express is Olivia Colman’s “superb” drama to watch tonight

When ranking Olivia Colman’s top performances, The Night Manager is certainly up there. While Angela Burr is a formidable character, in our opinion, her turn in Kenneth Branagh’s Murder On The Orient Express is equally as impressive. The actress plays Judi Dench’s character’s servant in the superb Agatha Christie drama – and you can enjoy the spectacular murder mystery tonight.

The film, which first hit cinemas in 2017, is a glamorous whodunnit featuring a whole host of stars, including Kenneth Branagh (as Poirot), Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz. As you’ve probably guessed, there’s a murder aboard the glitzy steam train – and Poirot must get to the bottom of it.

Here’s everything you need to know about Murder On The Orient Express, including the cast, plot and how to watch it.

What is Murder On The Orient Express about?

Based on Agatha Christie’s classic 1934 Hercule Poirot novel, Murder On The Orient Express takes us aboard the luxurious train on which Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) is travelling. The famous Belgian detective has just wrapped up a case in Jerusalem and is after a bit of R&R, but, of course, there’s never any rest for the little grey cells.

Businessman Edward Ratchett (Johnny Depp) is on the train with his manservant Edward Masterman (Derek Jacobi) and secretary Hector MacQueen (Josh Gad). He attempts to hire Poirot during the journey, but the detective declines. Why? He doesn’t trust Rachett. Then, an avalanche derails the train, leaving the passengers stranded. Poirot is awakened by strange noises during the night – and he soon finds Ratchett has been murdered.

Poirot pieces together the clues. A woman in a red kimono was seen in the corridor, while a porter’s uniform and a button turn up, along with a charred scrap of paper that holds the key to the real identity of the victim. He soon uncovers a complicated conspiracy related to Ratchett’s family – and he’s left facing a moral conundrum.

The detective must work with his friend Bouc (Tom Bateman) to get to the bottom of the mystery. And they have a whole array of suspects. Among them are Princess Dragomiroff (Judi Dench), a wealthy Russian aristocrat, and her maid, Hildegarde Schmidt (Olivia Colman).

Olivia Colman previously spoke to Sky about working alongside Judi Dench. ‘It turns out she's really badly behaved, so that was great. Burping, fart jokes, trying to make you laugh when you're on camera. She's very naughty,’ she said.

Who’s in the cast of Murder On The Orient Express?

The cast of Murder On The Orient Express includes:

• Kenneth Branagh (Mayday) as Hercule Poirot
• Johnny Depp (Edward Scissorhands) as Edward Ratchett
• Michelle Pfeiffer (Grease 2) as Caroline Hubbard
• Penélope Cruz (Vanilla Sky) as Pilar Estravados
• Judi Dench (Skyfall) as Princess Dragomiroff
• Leslie Odom Jr (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) as Dr Arbuthnot
• Olivia Colman (Broadchurch) as Hildegarde Schmidt

Is Murder On The Orient Express any good?

Yes – it’s a glamorous and thrilling whodunnit. With brilliant performances from the dazzling cast list and an unpredictable plot, it keeps you guessing until the very end. One reviewer described it as ‘entertaining and intriguing right to the end’, and we couldn’t agree more.

Is there a trailer for Murder On The Orient Express?

Yes, you can watch the trailer for Murder On The Orient Express below.

View full post on YouTube

How can I watch Murder On The Orient Express?

You can watch Murder On The Orient Express now on Disney +.

What other Olivia Colman dramas can I watch now?

If you're after a fun period drama, we suggest Wicked Little Letters. Set in an English seaside town in the 1920s, two neighbours, Edith Swan (Olivia) and Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley), go to war over a mysterious letter scandal. Edith is deeply conservative, while Rose is a rebellious single mother. Wicked Little Letters is available to watch now on Channel 4. For a more emotional watch, we’d suggest Mothering Sunday. The heartbreaking film about post-war grief and forbidden love sees Olivia play a grief-stricken mother, and her performance is truly brilliant. Mothering Sunday is available to watch now on Channel 4.