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Action drama

Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (2018): Cast & Ratings

Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (2018) movie poster

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.

Rotten Tomatoes
58%
worldwide gross
$90M
Echo Score
65
Metascore
58
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Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 12m (132 min)
Director
Hark Tsui
Genres
Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy
Original language
Chinese
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

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.

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Cast & crew

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.

Also Starring in Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings

· 2 more
From the director

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.

Full filmography
Ratings

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).

65 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

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.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$90M

US & Canada
$263K
International
$89.8M
US & Canada 0% Rest of the world 100%
Videos

Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings.

DETECTIVE DEE: THE FOUR HEAVENLY KINGS (2018) Official Trailer
Quiz

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main character of the movie?

Details

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
  • 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?

FAQ

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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