‘The Agatha Christie Collection’ 4K UHD Review
The new StudioCanal Agatha Christie Collection brings together four of the most iconic big-screen Christie adaptations, each newly restored in 4K, and seeing them presented with such care is a reminder of how essential these films are to the golden age of British murder mysteries.
Murder on the Orient Express (1974) remains the crown jewel: a luxurious, star-studded puzzlebox powered by Albert Finney’s eccentric, thunderous Poirot. Even after all these years, the film feels grand, theatrical, and impeccably staged, and the restoration truly breathes fresh life into its period detail – the snow-drifted train, the rich interiors, and the swirling candlelit ambience have never looked sharper. It’s still one of the definitive Christie adaptations and a masterclass in turning a confined setting into a riveting spectacle.
Special Features:
- NEW Behind the Velvet Curtains: Jacqueline Bisset revisits The Orient Express
- Interview with Richard Goodwin
- Audio Interview with Michael York
- Audio commentary with Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
- Agatha Christie: A Portrait
- Making Murder on the Orient Express: All Aboard / The Ride / The Passengers The End of the Line
- Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery
- Original trailer
Death on the Nile (1978) swaps trains for riverboats and doubles down on glamour. Peter Ustinov’s lighter, more mischievous Poirot gives the film a breezier tone, and the Egyptian vistas look stunning in 4K. The ensemble – Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury – crackles with personality, and the film’s slow-burn pacing feels more rewarding than ever in a crisp, clean presentation. The restoration highlights the desert palette and lavish costuming, which previously looked flat on older home-video releases.
Special Features:
- NEW Sparkling Homicide: A Video Essay by David Cairns
- Audio commentary with Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson
- Making Of
- Interview with Angela Lansbury
- Interview with costume designer Anthony Powell
- Interview with Producer Richard Goodwin
- Interview with Peter Ustinov
- Interview with Jane Birkin
- Behind the Scenes stills gallery
- Costume Designs Gallery
- Original Trailer
The Mirror Crack’d (1980) shifts gears, putting Miss Marple centre stage with Angela Lansbury delivering a wonderfully shrewd, knowing performance. This one leans into melodrama, fitting, given the plot’s showbiz backdrop, and benefits hugely from the restoration, which sharpens the village-set textures and lush studio scenes. It isn’t as tightly wound as the best Poirot mysteries, but as a character piece, it absolutely sparkles.
Special Features:
- NEW Reflections on Miss Marple: featuring Jean Kwok, Rian Johnson, Matthew Sweet and Mark Aldridge
- Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
- Interview with screenwriter Barry Sandler
- Interview with Angela Lansbury
- Interview with Producer Richard Goodwin
- Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery
- Storyboards Gallery
Evil Under the Sun (1982) brings Peter Ustinov back for a more playful, almost theatrical take on Christie. Set on a sun-drenched Adriatic island, it’s arguably the most visually transformed of the restorations: colours finally pop, the scenery looks vibrant rather than washed-out, and the film’s breezy humour lands more cleanly. The murder plot may be one of Christie’s lighter outings, but the charm is undeniable.
Special Features:
- NEW Back to the Island: Emily Hone remembers Evil Under the Sun
- NEW Excessive Creatures: A Video Essay by David Cairns
- Making Of featurette
- Audio commentary with Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson
- Interview with costume designer Anthony Powell
- Interview with screenwriter Barry Sandler
- Interview with producer Richard Godwin
- Behind the Scenes stills gallery
- Costume Designs gallery
- Original Trailer
- Radio Spots
- “The Royal Film Performance 1982: In the Gracious Presence of H. M. the Queen & H. R. H. the Duke of Edinburgh – At the Odeon Leicester Square
This boxed set presents the films in a 2160p HEVC/H.265 encode with Dolby Vision and HDR10 support. Aspect ratios vary across the set, with Murder on the Orient Express presented in 1.70:1, while Evil Under the Sun, Death on the Nile, and The Mirror Crack’d appear in 1.85:1. Audio options include DTS-HD MA 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 for Murder on the Orient Express, and LPCM 2.0 for the remaining three films, alongside French and German audio tracks where applicable. Subtitles are provided in English, French, and German. As well as the on-disc extras, this release also includes 64 64-page booklet with brand-new essays, plus 4 posters!
As a boxed set, The Agatha Christie Collection feels definitive. StudioCanal has treated each film with real respect, producing restorations that don’t scrub away the era’s texture but instead elevate it – grain looks natural, colours are balanced, and detail is far richer than previous editions. The consistency across all four titles makes the set feel cohesive rather than a loose bundle of upgrades, and together they chart a fascinating evolution of Christie’s screen legacy: from Finney’s intense, stage-trained Poirot to Ustinov’s warmer take, through to Lansbury’s razor-sharp, quietly savage Miss Marple.
***** 5/5
For Christie fans, lovers of British cinema, or physical-media collectors, The Agatha Christie Collection is an elegant, beautifully presented time capsule of mystery filmmaking at its best. Order your copy at Amazon now.
