Kenneth Branagh's 'A Haunting in Venice' rakes in $1.2 million in Thursday previews at box office. See storyline, cast and more

Kenneth Branagh returns as Detective Hercule Poirot in his latest film, "A Haunting in Venice," which had a solid start at the box office with $1.2 million in Thursday previews. The supernatural mystery is projected to debut with earnings between $13 million and $15 million, placing it between the franchise's previous two installments: 2017's "Murder on the Orient Express" and 2022's "Death on the Nile."

All three movies are adaptations of Agatha Christie's murder mystery novels. "Murder on the Orient Express" was the most successful, opening with $28.6 million and eventually grossing $100 million domestically and $350 million globally. "Death on the Nile," released during the pandemic with a hefty $90 million budget, had a $12.8 million opening and concluded its box office run with $45.6 million in the U.S. and $137.3 million worldwide. In Thursday previews, "Orient Express" earned $1.6 million, while "Death on the Nile" secured $1.1 million.

A Haunting in Venice: Storyline

Branagh both stars in and directs "A Haunting in Venice," an adaptation of Christie's 1969 novel "Hallowe'en Party." Portraying a retired Hercule Poirot, he endeavors to unravel a shocking murder during a Venetian seance.

A Haunting in Venice: Cast

The ensemble cast includes this year's Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, and more. Following "Death on the Nile," 20th Century Studios scaled down the budget for this latest installment to $60 million.

"A Haunting in Venice" is anticipated to surpass last week's box office leader, Warner Bros.' "The Nun II," which had an opening haul of $32.6 million.

FAQs

What is the box office performance of 'A Haunting in Venice' in its Thursday previews?
'A Haunting in Venice' garnered $1.2 million in box office earnings during its Thursday previews.

How does the opening projection for 'A Haunting in Venice' compare to the previous films in the franchise?
The anticipated opening for 'A Haunting in Venice' falls within the range of $13 million to $15 million, positioning it between the earnings of the franchise's prior entries, "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Death on the Nile."