A new update for A Haunting in Venice's box office is here, and it could spell bad news regarding whether there will be more movies in the Hercule Poirot franchise. Director and star Kenneth Branagh returns as brilliant detective Poirot for A Haunting in Venice, the third movie in the franchise following Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. The film is based on Agatha Christie's Hallowe'en Party, with Poirot attempting to solve multiple murders while attending a séance in Venice.

Now, per Collider, A Haunting in Venice's box office has now passed $100 million, grossing $2 million domestically in its fifth weekend. The film is falling very short of Murder on the Orient Express's domestic total of $102.8 million and is just shy of Death on the Nile's domestic tally of $45.6 million, although there is a chance that the new sequel will meet this latter figure in the coming weeks. As it stands, A Haunting in Venice is poised to end its run as the lowest-grossing entry in the franchise, casting doubt on Poirot's future.

A Haunting In Venice's Box Office Performance Explained

Interestingly, A Haunting in Venice's reviews have been the best of the franchise, with critics praising the spooky atmosphere, strong performances, and production design. Strong reviews evidently haven't translated to box office success, however, and there are several reasons why this may be the case.

​​​​​​One major factor in the film's lackluster performance could be the shift in tone. Branagh's Poirot movies excel with a slightly older demographic, and this demographic turned out in droves for Murder on the Orient Express. Death on the Nile predictably underperformed due to its pandemic-era release, but A Haunting in Venice's veer into horror territory might be behind the franchise's recent disappointment. It's possible that audiences who enjoyed the previous two movies are more interested in a predictable, straightforward, and non-scary murder mysteries, something that trailers made clear wasn't the case this time around.

It's also possible that changing audience behaviors played a role in A Haunting in Venice's disappointing performance, with viewers now more selective about what films they see in theaters. The poor reception to Death on the Nile could also have played a role, with audience interest in the franchise potentially taking a hit. It remains to be seen whether another Poirot movie will happen after A Haunting in Venice, but VOD success might now be the key factor regarding whether the franchise has a future.

Source: Collider