Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (2018): Cast & Ratings
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings is a 2018 action drama directed by Hark Tsui, starring Mark Chao as Dee, Carina Lau and Shaofeng Feng. It runs 2 hours 12 minutes and earned $90 million worldwide. Critics gave it 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 12m (132 min)
- Director
- Hark Tsui
- Original language
-
Chinese
- Studio
- China Lion Film Distribution
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings About?
The premise of Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During the Tang dynasty, Empress Wu enlists the renowned detective Dee to investigate a series of bizarre murders in Chang'an. Accused of a crime he didn't commit, Dee must clear his name while uncovering the truth behind the killings. He finds himself embroiled in a complex conspiracy involving supernatural elements and powerful figures, threatening the stability of the empire and forcing him to confront formidable adversaries.
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings Cast & Characters
Mark Chao leads the cast as Dee, with Carina Lau as Wu Zetian and Shaofeng Feng as Yuchi Zhenjin. Directed by Hark Tsui; 6 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Hark Tsui
- Mark Chao as Dee
- Carina Lau as Wu Zetian
-
Shaofeng Feng as Yuchi Zhenjin -
Kenny Lin as Shatuo Zhong
Also Starring in Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings
· 2 more- Sichun Ma Shui Yue
- Ching-Tien Juan
More from Hark Tsui
More films directed by Hark Tsui, best-rated first: Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, Shanghai Blues, The Taking of Tiger Mountain and The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate.
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in sensory experience (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings Echo Score Breakdown
In terms of its overall impact, Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings excels in visual imagination and technical craft while struggling to sustain narrative and emotional engagement. Viewers and critics alike praise the film’s inventive production design and immersive effects, yet many note uneven pacing, logic gaps, and limited character connection. Though the spectacle delivers a vivid and entertaining experience, the story and emotional resonance ultimately fall short of the franchise’s earlier heights.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 85
In terms of art and craft, the film’s production design and visual conception stand out as its primary strengths. Critics and audiences commend the bold set pieces, inventive creature design, and polished cinematography supported by precise editing. The director’s technical inventiveness consistently enhances spectacle. Overall, the film delivers a striking and cohesive visual presentation.
- Character & Emotion 50
When it comes to character and emotion, the film shows uneven depth and limited resonance. While performances are competent and a few personalities remain memorable, critiques frequently note a lack of sustained emotional engagement and a stunted human element. The narrative focus on spectacle diminishes character growth, leaving emotional connections only moderately effective.
- Story & Flow 55
In terms of story and flow, Detective Dee offers inventive twists but struggles with coherence and pacing. Reviews highlight logic gaps in the investigation, a tendency toward restless action interludes, and an overlong finale that undercuts suspense. Though occasional reversals and world-building moments engage, the uneven progression results in a narrative that is engaging yet inconsistent.
- Sensory Experience 90
When it comes to the sensory experience, the film excels in delivering immersive sound design and a dynamic soundtrack alongside imaginative visual effects. Critics praise the 3D presentation, vibrant color palettes, and inventive creature animations. Both audio and visual elements coalesce into a richly textured atmosphere that underpins the movie’s most memorable moments.
- Rewatch Factor 45
In terms of rewatch factor, the film presents a mixed appeal for repeat viewings. The vivid spectacle, inventive designs, and occasional narrative surprises may reward a second look, but its lengthy runtime, uneven pacing, and limited emotional investment diminish its long-term pull. Consequently, it achieves moderate rewatch value without broad lasting appeal.
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Rotten Tomatoes 58% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 68%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 58 Metascore
User score 6.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.3 /5
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings Plot Summary
What happens in Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As Dee Renjie (Mark Chao) embraced his new responsibilities as the head of the Court of Judicature and Revision (Da Li Si), adorned with the revered “Dragon Taming Mace” granted by Emperor Gaozong, he found himself entangled in a web of power play orchestrated by Empress Wu Zetian (Carina Lau). The Empress’s relentless ambition began to create ripples of discontent, prompting her to view Dee as a potential threat to her growing dominion. To counter this challenge, she enlisted the support of Yuchi Zhenjin (Shaofeng Feng), the veteran commander of the royal guard, to lead a skilled group of sorcerers in a covert operation aimed at stealing Dee’s treasured mace. Unbeknownst to Yuchi, Wu’s true intent was to have Dee eliminated outright.
Full summary
The whole story of Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, scene by scene
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings Box Office
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings grossed $90 million worldwide. $262,963 came from the US and Canada and $89.8 million (100%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$90M
- US & Canada
- $263K
- International
- $89.8M
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings.
How Well Do You Know Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main character of the movie?
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings Also Known As
20 alternative titles, including “Détective Dee 3 La Légende des rois célestes” and “Détective Dee III - La Légende des Rois célestes”.
- Also known as
-
- Détective Dee 3 La Légende des rois célestes
- Détective Dee III - La Légende des Rois célestes
- Detective Dee e i 4 Re Celesti
- 王朝の陰謀 闇の四天王と黄金のドラゴン
- Ouchou no Inbou: Yami no Shitennou to Ougon no Dragon
- Détective Dee : La Légende des rois célestes
- 狄仁傑之四大天王
- Detective Dee e i quattro Re celesti
- Detective Dee und die Legende der vier himmlischen Könige
- Địch Nhân Kiệt: Tứ Đại Thiên Vương
- Detective Dee y los cuatro reyes celestiales
- 적인걸 3: 사대천왕
+8 more Show fewer
- Детектив Ди: Четыре Небесных царя
- ตี๋เหรินเจี๋ย ปริศนาพลิกฟ้า 4 จตุรเทพ
- Dedektif Dee 3 : Dört Cennetli Krallık
- Detetive Dee: Os Quatro Reis Celestiais
- Di Renjie Zhi Sidatianwang
- Detective Dee: Čtyři nebeští králové
- Detektív Dee: A négy mennyei király
- Detetive D e os Quatro Reis Celestiais
Seen Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings?
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings?
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings runs 2 hours 12 minutes (132 minutes).
When was Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings released?
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings was released on July 27, 2018.
Who directed Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings?
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings was directed by Hark Tsui.
More films by Hark Tsui Who is in the cast of Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings?
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings stars Mark Chao as Dee, Carina Lau as Wu Zetian and Shaofeng Feng as Yuchi Zhenjin, among 6 credited actors.
How much did Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings make at the box office?
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings grossed $90 million worldwide ($262,963 domestic, $89.8 million international).
How is Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings rated?
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings has 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, 58 on Metacritic, 62% on TMDB and 3.3/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings have a post-credit scene?
Yes. Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
What language is Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings in?
The original language of Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings is Chinese.
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