Detective Knight (film series)

Last updated
Detective Knight
Detective Knight film series logo.jpg
Official film series logo
Based onOriginal characters
by Edward John Drake & Corey Large
Starring
Production
companies
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release date
2022–2023
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$341,525
(3 films)

The Detective Knight film series consists of American action films, directed by Edward John Drake from original stories he co-wrote with Corey Large. The series details the police investigations of veteran Detective James Knight, played by Bruce Willis; and are notable for being one of his final roles, before retiring from acting due to his health struggles with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia diagnoses. The plot of each film centers around a different holiday, and follow the lead character's attempts to resolve the associated criminal activities.

Contents

The movies have been met with mixed reception, overall. [1] [2] [3] The first installment, [4] [5] its sequel, [6] [7] as well as the third and final release, [8] [9] were collectively criticized for their pace, story elements, B-movie quality and script. Conversely, elements of the movies received positive reactions for the writer/director's story-telling framework around Willis, while honoring his legacy with limited lines to respectively utilize his legacy presence, regardless of his diminishing health problems; with praise directed at the film series' action sequences. [10] [11] [12] The film series earned $341,525 at the box office through limited international theatrical distribution. [13] [14] [15]

Films

FilmU.S. release dateDirectorScreenwriterStory byProducers
Detective Knight: Rogue October 21, 2022 Edward Drake Corey Large & Edward DrakeCorey Large, George Furla & Randall Emmett
Detective Knight: Redemption December 9, 2022
Detective Knight: Independence January 23, 2023Corey Large & Robert Dean

Detective Knight: Rogue (2022)

Det. James Knight, whose reputation is in question with the police force, is called into action when a series of masked bank robberies taking place during the Halloween season plague the area. Working through the investigation with his friend Det. Eric "Fitz" Fitzgerald, and with the help of their colleague Det. Godwin Sango, the trio find a trail of clues that leads them to connections with a businessman named Winna. Coming to terms with demons from his past, Knight begins to discover that the gang of thieves may be an inside job. [a]

Detective Knight: Redemption (2022)

After killing a pair of thieves to save his police partner, Det. James Knight finds himself sentenced to serve a term in prison. After Det. Fitzgerald begins to clear his name, Knight is tasked with investigating potential connections to a series of events begin examined by the police department; all while being surrounded by criminals he helped to incarcerate. During Christmastime a former ex-convict-turned-chaplain of the facility named Ricky Conlan, organizes a jailbreak as a means to fight the commercial aspects of the holiday; under the alias of The Christmas Bomber, alongside his band of lawbreaks who call themselves the Real Saints of Christmas. Now given the chance of exoneration in clearing his name, with the decades of experience Det. Knight must stop the plans the group has planned before its too late. [b]

Detective Knight: Independence (2023)

Det. James Knight is called into action one last time, when the threat of a domestic terrorist group causing commotion once again arises. As the celebration of the nation's Independence Day approaches, a disgruntled former EMT-turned-criminal named Dezi, alongside his girlfriend Ally plan to complete a heist in compensation for recently being fired. With the help of ex-criminal father Vincent, they assemble a team to take a large sum of money and escape before they're discovered. When they begin to leave a trail of murders in their wake, Knight grows closer to solving the case and ending their spree. [c]

Main cast and characters

List indicators

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.

CharacterFilms
Detective Knight:
Rogue
Detective Knight:
Redemption
Detective Knight:
Independence
Principal cast
Det. James Knight Bruce Willis
Det. Eric "Fitz" Fitzgerald Lochlyn Munro
Det. Godwin Sango Jimmy Jean-Louis
Winna Michael Eklund Michael Eklund A P C  
Casey Rhodes Beau Mirchoff  
Mercer Corey Large  
Mike Rochester Trevor Gretzsky  
Nikki SykesKeeya King 
Ricky Conlan
The Christmas Bomber
Paul Johansson  
Dajon Cody Kearsley  
Maxwell RoySarah May Sommers 
Jerry LeachNels Lennarson 
Dezi  Jack Kilmer
Ally  Willow Shields
Vincent  Timothy V. Murphy
Supporting cast
Capt. Anna SheaMiranda Edwards 
Mayor Vassetti John Cassini  
Arthur VassettiJerry Yu 
Lily RhodesHunter Daily 
Clara RhodesAlice Comer 
Brigga Johnny Messner Johnny Messner A P C  
The Chess MasterRyan Xue 
COP Charlotte Burnham  Dina Meyer
Peter O'Malley  Francis Cronin
Sean Beston Scott Cargle
Nico Michael Sparks
Kirill Mark Hewlett
George  Lorenzo Antonucci
Quinn Dax Spangole

Additional crew and production details

TitleCrew/Detail
ComposerCinematographerEditorProduction companiesDistributing companiesRunning time
Detective Knight: Rogue Scott CurrieLaffrey WitbrodJustin Williams Lions Gate Films
BondIt Media Capital
Buffalo 8 Productions
Emmett/Furla Oasis Films
Lionsgate 105 min
Detective Knight: Redemption 93 min
Detective Knight: Independence 91 min

Reception

Box office and financial performance

FilmBox office grossBox office rankingRef.
North AmericaOther territoriesWorldwideAll time
North America
All time
worldwide
Detective Knight: Rogue $95,244$95,244#31,475 [13] [16]
Detective Knight: Redemption $192,939$192,939Information not publicly available [14] [17]
Detective Knight: Independence $53,342$53,342Information not publicly available [15] [18]
Totals$341,525$341,525x̄ #10,492

Critical and public response

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
Detective Knight: Rogue50% (8 reviews) [1]
Detective Knight: Redemption71% (7 reviews) [2] (2 reviews) [19]
Detective Knight: Independence60% (10 reviews) [3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Detective Knight: Rogue". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. 21 October 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Detective Knight: Redemption". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. 9 December 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Detective Knight: Independence". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. 20 January 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Detective Knight: Rogue (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb . Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Detective Knight: Redemption". Box Office Mojo. IMDb . Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Detective Knight: Independence". Box Office Mojo. IMDb . Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  7. "Detective Knight: Rogue (2022)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  8. "Detective Knight: Redemption (2022)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  9. "Detective Knight: Independence (2023)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  10. "Detective Knight: Redemption". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved March 2, 2025.

Notes

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