MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings

Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings

2018 · 132 min

A dizzying, effects-heavy martial-arts mystery full of shifting illusions, palace intrigue and acrobatic fights that keeps you watching closely.

Directed by
Tsui Hark
Genres
Action, Fantasy, Adventure
Starring
Mark Chao You-ting, William Feng, Carina Lau
Overview
Dee, the detective serving Chinese empress Wu Zetian, is called upon to investigate a series of strange events in Loyang, including the appearance of mysterious warriors wearing Chiyou ghost masks, foxes that speak human language and the pillar sculptures in the palace coming alive.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
Directed by
Tsui Hark
Genres
Action, Fantasy, Adventure
Starring
Mark Chao You-ting, William Feng, Carina Lau
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • tensestrength 2 of 3
  • darkstrength 2 of 3
  • whimsicalstrength 2 of 3
  • earneststrength 1 of 3
Pacing
brisk, 3 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • power
  • conspiracy
  • betrayal
  • justice
  • loyalty
Places
  • big city
  • home
Era
period
Audience
teen
Form
  • ensemble
  • twist ending
Content intensity
  • Gore mild
  • Language mild
  • Violence strong
  • Sex none
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action8
Horror4
Humour3
Realism3
Romance2
Tension7
Darkness6
Complexity6
Emotional weight5

More like this

Titles like Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings

Movie

A lush, twisty historical mystery packed with martial-arts spectacle, political intrigue, and a brooding detective hero.

Same writer: Zhang Jialu · Tense, dark, brisk · about power and betrayal · ensemble

Also
Same writer: Zhang Jialu
Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • power
  • betrayal
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
123 min
Details
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom FlameHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Flying Swords of Dragon Gate

2011

A whirlwind of wire-fu duels and desert storms, visually dazzling but emotionally distant, with a tangled plot that rewards attention.

Same writer: Tsui Hark · Tense, dark, brisk · about power and betrayal · ensemble

Also
Same writer: Tsui Hark
Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • power
  • betrayal
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
125 min
Details
Flying Swords of Dragon GateHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty

2022

A stately, atmospheric plunge into imperial intrigue where eerie cases and courtly scheming keep you leaning in.

Tense, dark · about power and conspiracy

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • power
  • conspiracy
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Seasons
6
Details
Strange Tales of Tang DynastyHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back

2017

A wild, visually dizzying fantasy romp mixing slapstick comedy with dark demonic battles and a surprising emotional core.

Same director: Tsui Hark · Dark, whimsical, brisk · about betrayal and loyalty · ensemble

Also
Same director: Tsui Hark
Via
  • dark
  • whimsical
  • betrayal
  • loyalty
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
109 min
Details
Journey to the West: The Demons Strike BackHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Blades of the Guardians

2026

A sweeping, hard-hitting martial arts epic with relentless fights and a somber historical backdrop.

Tense, dark, brisk · about betrayal and justice · ensemble

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • betrayal
  • justice
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
126 min
Details
Blades of the GuardiansHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Ne Zha 2

2025

A vibrant, action-packed fantasy that balances playful humor with emotional stakes and a sense of mythic grandeur.

Tense, whimsical, brisk · about betrayal

Via
  • tense
  • whimsical
  • betrayal
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
144 min
Details
Ne Zha 2Hidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Mortal Kombat II

2026

A loud, gory, fast-paced fantasy brawl that throws colorful fighters at each other with little downtime and lots of fan service.

Tense, dark, brisk · about power and betrayal · ensemble

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • power
  • betrayal
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
116 min
Details
Mortal Kombat IIHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

JUJUTSU KAISEN

2020

A stylish, fast-paced supernatural thrill ride that balances brutal fights with moments of warmth and melancholy.

Tense, dark, brisk

Via
  • tense
  • dark
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Seasons
1
Details
JUJUTSU KAISENHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms

2023

A lavish, sprawling mythological epic that immerses you in a world of gods and monsters, with grand battles and political intrigue.

Tense, dark · about power and betrayal · ensemble

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • power
  • betrayal
  • ensemble
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
148 min
Details
Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of StormsHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Traveller

2024

A busy, secret-world fantasy brawl that keeps throwing factions and hidden powers at you, fun but crowded.

Tense, dark, brisk · about power and conspiracy · ensemble

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • power
  • conspiracy
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
134 min
Details
The TravellerHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Hero

2002

A ravishing, stately wuxia told in shifting versions, where gorgeous colour-coded duels and quiet philosophical debate build to a solemn, moving sacrifice.

Tense · about power and betrayal

Via
  • tense
  • power
  • betrayal
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
99 min
Details
HeroHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Swordsman

1990

A lively wuxia adventure with swirling swordplay, shifting loyalties, and a touch of bittersweet melody.

Same director: Tsui Hark · Tense, whimsical, brisk · about power and betrayal · ensemble

Also
Same director: Tsui Hark
Via
  • tense
  • whimsical
  • power
  • betrayal
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
117 min
Details
SwordsmanHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres
action, fantasy, adventure, mystery
Directed by
Tsui Hark
Written by
Zhang Jialu
Starring
Mark Chao You-ting, William Feng, Carina Lau, Lin Gengxin, Ma Sichun, Ethan Juan, Tiger Xu, Sun Jiaolong
Music
Kenji Kawai
Cinematography
Choi Sung-Fai
Runtime
132 min
Country
China, Hong Kong
Languages
Mandarin

TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikipediaWikidata