Are There Film Adaptations Of The Express Novel Available?

Trains, mysteries, and movie adaptations have a way of sparking my movie-night enthusiasm, so yes — there are definitely film adaptations related to novels with 'Express' in the title or that revolve around iconic train-set stories. The phrase 'express novel' could point to a few different things, so here's a friendly roundup of the most famous and movie-ready examples you might be thinking of, along with what makes each adaptation worth checking out.

The most obvious one is 'Murder on the Orient Express' by Agatha Christie, which has been adapted for the screen multiple times. The 1974 film directed by Sidney Lumet is a classic ensemble piece with a supercast and that old-school, lavish filmmaking vibe. More recently, Kenneth Branagh directed and starred as Poirot in the 2017 version, which is flashier and visually impressive, with a modern sensibility and a big-name ensemble. Both films capture that claustrophobic, snowbound tension that makes the story work so well on screen, and fans often debate which edition best preserves Christie’s twisty plotting and character dynamics.

If your interest leans more toward train-adjacent stories rather than the exact word 'express', there are a few other heavy hitters. 'Snowpiercer' started life as a French graphic novel called 'Le Transperceneige', and Bong Joon-ho’s 2013 film adaptation is intense, political, and visually striking — it later inspired a TV series, too. Another train-set thriller is 'The Taking of Pelham One Two Three', which has a classic 1974 version and a 2009 remake starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta. While not literally called an 'express novel', these stories play in the same ballpark: confined spaces, ticking clocks, and social friction. Also, for something a little different, the sports biopic 'The Express' (2008) dramatizes the life of Ernie Davis — it’s not a train movie, but if you were thinking of a novel or title called 'The Express', this film is a real-world title match and worth a look if you enjoy inspirational true stories.

Where to find these? The big ones usually rotate through streaming services, rental platforms, and physical media: 'Murder on the Orient Express' editions show up on Blu-ray and streaming platforms semi-regularly, 'Snowpiercer' has been on major streamers and physical release, and 'The Taking of Pelham One Two Three' is commonly available for rent. If you’re hunting specifically for a faithful adaptation of a novel with 'Express' in its title, 'Murder on the Orient Express' is the go-to. But if you’re open to train-focused thrillers and adaptations inspired by serialized or graphic novels, 'Snowpiercer' and 'Pelham' offer wildly different but satisfying takes.

All told, there’s a surprisingly rich cinematic tradition around train-bound novels and thrillers — whether you want classic detective work, social allegory, or high-stakes hijinks. Personally, I never get tired of revisiting 'Murder on the Orient Express' and then switching to something like 'Snowpiercer' to shake up the tone; it’s a fun way to see how different filmmakers handle the same tight, rail-bound premise.