Parents Guide to Death on the Nile – Is it Kid Friendly?

Wondering if Death on the Nile is ok for kids? Rated PG-13 for violence and some disturbing images, Death on the Nile is mostly kid-friendly for teens and up. Kenneth Branagh again is excellent as Hercule Poirot and gives murder mystery fans a good showing. However, due to some sexual innuendos, Death on the Nile may not be for everyone. Here’s what parents need to know in this Death on the Nile Parents Guide.

Death on the Nile Parents Guide

Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) is back to solve another crime when he’s invited on an acquaintance’s honeymoon celebration aboard a luxury ship in Egypt, and a murder is committed on board.

The mystery involves a love triangle involving Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer), his love, Jacqueline de Bellefort (Emma Mackey), and her best friend and rich heiress Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle (Gal Gadot). Poirot witnessed Jacqueline introduce Simon to Linnet at a blues club in London, but the next time they meet – plot twist – Simon and Linney are married.

Poirot joins some of the wedding party on a trip down the Nile and as jealousy and vengeance start to rear its ugly head, there are too many suspects to count out. 

Why is Death on the Nile Rated PG-13?

Death on the Nile is rated PG-13 for violence, some bloody images, and sexual material which means some material may not be suitable for kids under 13.

Language

Death on the Nile does contain some profanity not suitable for younger children like a few uses of damn, a**, and words of Deity like “oh g-d” and g-ddamn.

Mature Content

There are a lot of sexual innuendos and talk about sex in Death on the Nile. Two characters in a dance club dance very provocatively on the dance floor, almost as if they’re having sex while dancing, but are fully clothed. Another scene shows a couple talking dirty to each other and making thrusting motions from behind while lifting up a skirt.

The beginning of a the film shows a war scene which is pretty graphic and could be disturbing for young children. People die. A man’s face is shown burned and somewhat disfigured. There are murders in the film involving guns and gun shots.

There are discussions of race and wealth as well as talk of suicide.

Characters drink alcohol. 

Is Death on the Nile Appropriate For Kids Under 13?

Death on the Nile is predictable, yet entertaining. With an all-star ensemble cast, this whodunnit is not quite as fun and innovative as Knives Out, but the scenery is exotic and lovely. If you’re into Agatha Christie novels and murder mysteries, the action picks up after a murder occurs. The buildup is quite slow, and I don’t know that it would hold tweens’ attentions. 

Hercule Poirot’s character is not particularly connectable with a younger crowd, and the violence at the beginning of the film seemed a pointless way to tell viewers more about his backstory. However, I do enjoy Poirot’s quirkiness and somewhat dry sense of humor.

Modernized with diversity and a more active Poirot than perhaps Christie’s novels suggest, the basic story stays true-ish to the original. Parents should be aware of the violence and sexual material for younger viewers, but overall, appropriate for teens. 

There’s not much to say about Death on the Nile other than it’s a fun film with bright spots like Sophie Okonedo as Salome Otterbourne whose performance adds sass and truth to the cast. Other cast members were not as strong. Death on the Nile is somewhat of a mess, but one of those kinds of messes you can tolerate.