Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express

Year: 2017

Runtime: 114 min

Language: english

Director: Kenneth Branagh

DramaMysteryCrime

A lavish journey aboard the Orient Express takes a dark turn when a murder occurs, trapping thirteen strangers in a confined space. Renowned detective Hercule Poirot must navigate a complex web of secrets and conflicting alibis to identify the killer among them. As suspicion falls on everyone, Poirot races against time to uncover the motive and method behind the crime, based on Agatha Christie's celebrated novel.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Murder on the Orient Express (2017) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Murder on the Orient Express (2017), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

In 1934, the renowned detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) finds himself entangled in a perplexing theft case at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. A man marked by his obsessive-compulsive tendencies, Poirot strives for balance in his life and views his extraordinary skill to uncover lies amid truths as somewhat of a curse. While yearning for some peace in Istanbul, he is compelled to return to London to tackle yet another mystery. His close friend, Bouc (Tom Bateman), who manages the Orient Express, extends an invitation for him to stay aboard the illustrious train.

Amidst this setting, businessman Samuel Ratchett (Johnny Depp) solicits Poirot’s services as a bodyguard during their three-day voyage, fearing threats he has received from an anonymous source. Poirot, however, declines this job. That very night, he becomes alert to peculiar sounds emanating from Ratchett’s cabin and witnesses a mysterious figure clad in a red kimono dashing down the corridor. Suddenly, tragedy strikes when an avalanche derails the train, trapping the passengers in its grip.

The following morning unveils the shocking news that Ratchett has been brutally murdered, stabbed multiple times during the night. Teaming up with Bouc, Poirot begins to unearth the identities and alibis of the passengers as repairs to the train get underway. Evidence points towards a single perpetrator responsible for Ratchett’s demise, with Caroline Hubbard (Michelle Pfeiffer) asserting that someone had entered her compartment, providing a potential route for the murderer into Ratchett’s space.

Poirot’s investigation reveals a partially ruined note linking Ratchett to the infamous kidnapping of Daisy Armstrong, a little girl who was taken from her home for ransom and later discovered dead despite the payment being made. Ratchett is exposed as John Cassetti, the very man responsible for Daisy’s abduction and murder. The heartbreaking repercussions of Daisy’s death led to her mother’s tragic demise during childbirth and her father’s subsequent suicide. The case deepens further with the shocking revelation of the nursemaid Susanne, who was wrongfully accused and later took her own life after being unjustly incarcerated.

The train compartments were securely locked that night, leaving only the individuals within that compartment as potential suspects. Even a guard confirmed he saw no one enter Ratchett’s cabin during the crucial time. An analysis of Ratchett’s coffee indicates it was drugged, yet his valet Henry remains in the dark about how it occurred before or after it was served to Ratchett. As new evidence surfaces, including a bloodied handkerchief and a button from a conductor’s uniform found in Hubbard’s room, the mystery intensifies further. Hubbard gets attacked but survives, leaving Poirot grasping at the threads of a complex narrative.

Not long after, Poirot engages in interviews with various suspects, including Mary Debenham (Daisy Ridley), where tension escalates when John Arbuthnot nearly shoots Poirot, only to clarify his intent was not to kill but to assert a point. With each interaction, hidden connections to the Armstrong family emerge, weaving a dense tapestry that Poirot meticulously unravels.

Eventually, he confronts the passengers with two potential theories regarding Ratchett’s death. The simpler one suggests that an outsider masquerading as the conductor carried out the murder, while the more intricate theory indicates that all present had a personal connection to the Armstrong tragedy, yielding a collective motive against Cassetti. In a stunning turn, it becomes evident that Hubbard is actually Linda Arden, a former celebrated actress and mother to Sonia Armstrong, who orchestrated the murder plot alongside the other suspects.

Poirot further uncovers deep links among the passengers to the Armstrong family. Hector Willard MacQueen (Josh Gad), Ratchett’s loyal secretary, bears connections through his father to the kidnapping case, fueling his rage against Cassetti. The plot thickens with revelations about Edward Henry Masterman, Colonel Armstrong’s batman and later servant, and Colonel Arbuthnot, a trusted friend of Armstrong. They all share intertwined histories of grief and vengeance stemming from the past.

Ultimately, as Poirot pieces together this complex puzzle, he challenges the suspects, proposing that all of them took part in Ratchett’s death, each delivering a blow to reserve their collective secret. Tragically, at the conclusion of this moral dilemma, Poirot realizes that true justice will elude him. Cassetti’s crimes justified his death, leaving Poirot to bear the weight of a lie on his mind. He presents a solitary killer theory to the authorities, facilitating the passengers’ escape. As the train gets back on its course, a messenger approaches Poirot, requesting his expertise on a death that has occurred on the Nile, prompting Poirot to take on yet another complex investigation.

Last Updated: November 02, 2024 at 12:33

Ending Explained – What Happens at the End of Murder on the Orient Express?

Still wondering what the ending of Murder on the Orient Express (2017) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.

The ending of Murder on the Orient Express presents a profound twist that challenges traditional notions of justice. Hercule Poirot, having discovered that all the passengers on the train are intimately connected to the tragic kidnapping and murder of Daisy Armstrong—acts committed by the same man, Cassetti—faces a moral dilemma. Cassetti, a man responsible for a horrifying crime that devastated many lives, is already dead in the story’s investigation, and Poirot uncovers the elaborate web of revenge that the passengers have enacted together. Led by Linda Arden, the group devises a plan to murder Cassetti on the train, knowing full well that all of them have a personal connection and a shared motive rooted in grief and justice. They plan a staged attack—drugging him and stabbing him with a dozen different knives—to ensure that the true killer remains anonymous, and that no single person is uniquely responsible.

When Poirot, who arrives last-minute on the train and begins his investigation, quickly spots the inconsistencies and false clues crafted by the passengers, he concludes that everyone involved took part in the killing. His initial suspicion of an external assassin is dismissed, and he recognizes that the act was a joint effort. Ultimately, despite knowing who the murderers are, Poirot chooses not to hand them over to the authorities. Instead, he crafts a clever false story claiming there was a stowaway, allowing the group to go free. His decision stems from his recognition that, while what they did was morally wrong, they were motivated by a desire to avenge the innocent Daisy Armstrong and to punish a man who had escaped justice for too long.

This choice signifies a shift in Poirot’s moral outlook. Traditionally, he values justice above all else, but here he understands that sometimes the moral weight of an act surpasses legal justice. By turning a blind eye, Poirot acknowledges that the passengers’ actions, though criminal, were an emotionally driven response to profound trauma and injustice. It’s a moment that reveals a more empathetic, morally complex side of the detective—one that shows he recognizes the limits of law and the importance of moral righteousness in a world filled with shades of grey.

Ultimately, Poirot’s decision encapsulates the film’s deeper message: sometimes, justice can be imperfect, and taking justice into one’s own hands, driven by compassion or moral necessity, can be justified. He accepts that the passengers’ revenge was a tragic but understandable act and chooses to shield them from punishment. The ending leaves viewers contemplating the thin line between right and wrong, and whether true justice always means the letter of the law. It’s a powerful, thought-provoking conclusion that underscores the film’s exploration of morality, guilt, and the complexity of human motives.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:00

Unlock the Full Story of Murder on the Orient Express

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Murder on the Orient Express Timeline

Track the full timeline of Murder on the Orient Express with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Murder on the Orient Express Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Murder on the Orient Express

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Murder on the Orient Express. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of Murder on the Orient Express? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

Murder on the Orient Express Ending Explained

More About Murder on the Orient Express

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