Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- propulsive
- mysterious
- playful
- action movie night
- martial arts marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually inventive and entertaining, though its dense mythology and uneven storytelling limited its impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Detective Dee investigates a crime spree amid accusations and uncanny threats linked to the Four Heavenly Kings.
The story places Detective Dee and Empress Wu within a fantastical version of Tang dynasty court politics.
Kung fu combat and supernatural confrontations are central to the film's visual and action design.
Detective Dee must defend himself against Empress Wu's accusations while pursuing the crime spree.
Films like Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, and why
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
stylized martial arts mystery, supernatural intrigue, and elaborate period spectacle
The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
Chinese historical fantasy, kinetic kung fu choreography, and mythic investigative adventure
The Grandmaster
wuxia action, supernatural mystery, and heightened visual world-building
Shadow
period martial arts spectacle combining investigation, political conspiracy, and fantasy elements
Movie Details
- Director
- Tsui Hark
- Release Date
- 2018-07-27
- Runtime
- 132 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (218)
Cast
- Mark Chao
- William Feng
- Carina Lau
- Lin Gengxin
- Ma Sichun
- Ethan Juan
- Tiger Xu
- Sun Jiaolong
- Chen Weiran
- Zhang Aoyue
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Hi-YAH, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings about?
- A wrongly accused Tang dynasty detective battles conspiracies and supernatural forces through lavish kung fu spectacle.
- What is Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings as brutal.
- What did critics think of Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings?
- Critics broadly found the film visually inventive and entertaining, though its dense mythology and uneven storytelling limited its impact.
- Which films are like Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings?
- Films with a similar feel include Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, The Grandmaster, and Shadow.
- How long is Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings?
- Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings runs 132 minutes.
- Where can I watch Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings?
- In United States, Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings streams on Amazon Prime Video, Hi-YAH, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel.
