Detective Dee Movies in Order & How Many Are There?
The Detective Dee movie franchise offers everything, from action, and adventure, to mystery and mysticism. Started in 2010, with the original Detective Dee movie, the franchise has spawned multiple sequels. In this article, we will let you know how many movies are there and what is the best way to watch Detective Dee movies in order.
The original Detective Dee movie grossed US$51.7 million and won six awards at the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards, more than any other film, including Best Director and Best Actress for Lau; it was also nominated for the Golden Lion at the 2010 Venice Film Festival.
Let’s now check out how many Detective Dee movies are there.
How many Detective Dee movies are there?
There are currently three Detective Dee movies. The original one from 2010, and two prequel movies. So let’s check them out by the release date.
- Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010)
- Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon (2013)
- Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (2018)
Now, let’s see what is the best way to watch Detective Dee movies in order, what are they about, and how they connect to each other.
Detective Dee movies in order
Watching Detective Dee movies by their release date is actually not the best way to watch the franchise. Both sequel Detective Dee movies are actually prequels to the original movie, so let’s find out what is the best way to watch Detective Dee movies and what are they about.
Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon (2013)
In Rise of the Sea Dragon, Dee investigates the origins and nature of an attack against the Chinese fleet, believed to have been caused by a mysterious sea creature.
Even though Rise of the Sea Dragon is the second movie in the franchise, chronologically, it is the first one. It takes place in year 660, and we follow Young Detective Dee.
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (2018)
Following the events of Rise of the Sea Dragon, Dee Renjie (Mark Chao) was appointed to head the Court of Judicature and Revision (Da Li Si) and conferred the prestigious “Dragon Taming Mace” by Emperor Gaozong (Chien Sheng).
Hence, he became a threat to Empress Wu Zetian’s (Carina Lau) quest for ultimate authority. Empress Wu assigns the head of the royal guard, Yuchi Zhenjin (Feng Shaofeng) to lead a group of mercenary sorcerers to steal the mace from Dee.
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Yuchi begrudgingly agrees under the condition that Dee must not be harmed or punished; however, Wu has secretly assigned the sorcerers to kill Dee. Knowing that Wu would try to eliminate him, Dee has hidden the mace and later on goes into hiding himself, to foil her plans and uncover the conspiracy against him.
Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010)
Taking place in the year 689 of the Tang Dynasty exiled detective is recruited to solve a series of mysterious deaths that threaten to delay the inauguration of Empress Wu. A bizarre murder mystery brings together the most powerful woman in China, the soon-to-be-Empress Wu Zetian and a formerly exiled detective, Dee Renjie at the infamous Imperial Palace.
Hoping he will solve the crime before her coronation, Wu appoints Dee Chief Judge of the Empire and implores him to combine his indisputable wisdom with his unparalleled martial arts skills to save the future of her dynasty. Director Tsui Hark (Seven Swords) teams with stunt director Sammo Hung in this heart-pounding, epic thriller inspired by the incredible true story of one of the Tang Dynasty’s most celebrated officials.
Do you need to watch Detective Dee movies in order?
You should watch Detective Dee movies in order. The best way to watch them is by chronological watch order, as we have suggested above, but you can also watch them by the release date. Still, you need to watch them in one of those two ways, as the movies as well as the characters are connected.
Will there be more Detective Dee movies?
Unfortunately, for now, there are no announcements for the new Detective Dee movie. Still, we do hope something will change in the future, and that we will get more Detective Dee movies.
