48 Hrs.

Albert Ganz and his partner-in-crime Billy Bear orchestrate a daring escape from custody. The duo is determined to flee to San Francisco to eliminate their former associate, Henry Wong, marking the beginning of their criminal pursuits.

Ganz and Billy check into a hotel under false identities as they execute their plans. However, their cover is blown when SFPD Inspector Jack Cates and his team confront them, leading to a deadly shootout that results in the tragic deaths of Inspectors Algren and Van Zant.

Inspector Cates resolves to enlist the help of Reggie Hammond, a former accomplice of Ganz currently in prison. He arranges a 48-hour release for Reggie, hoping his insider knowledge will aid in tracking down the escaped criminals.

After Reggie's release, he takes Cates to the apartment of Luther Kelly, a last known ally of Ganz. However, the visit escalates into chaos as Luther opens fire, forcing Cates to arrest him without extracting any useful information.

Reggie leads Cates to Torchy’s, a bar where Billy once worked, in search of clues about his whereabouts. The night unfolds with Reggie successfully reining in the rowdy crowd using Cates' badge but ultimately ends in frustration when they encounter Billy's unhelpful girlfriend, Casey.

Tensions peak between Reggie and Cates as they argue about their methods. Amidst their heated exchanges, Reggie reveals details from his past with Ganz, including a $500,000 heist that ended in betrayal, deepening the mistrust.

Following leads, Jack and Reggie track Luther to a Muni station where Ganz is attempting to load stolen loot. Spotting Jack, Luther panics, leading to a chaotic escape as shots are fired and a police officer is downed.

Jack and Reggie return to the precinct empty-handed, faced with their failure to apprehend Ganz. Jack’s frustration grows as he awaits a call from Reggie, while his confidence continues to wane amidst rising tensions with his superiors.

When Reggie finally calls, Jack rushes to Vroman's nightclub for a chance to repair their partnership. Jack apologizes to Reggie and offers financial assistance, but their reunion is short-lived as they spot Luther making a run for it.

In a shocking turn of events, Luther hijacks a bus driven by Billy to deliver stolen money to Ganz. This betrayal leads to an intense pursuit, leaving chaos in its wake as the duo scrambles to stop the criminals.

A thrilling car chase ensues as Jack and Reggie pursue Luther and Ganz through the city. Amidst a barrage of bullets, tensions rise as Billy crashes Jack's Cadillac, raising the stakes in their high-octane chase.

After their chaotic escapades, Jack faces a reprimand from Captain Haden, further diminishing his morale. He prepares himself for the possibility of tracking down Billy, suspecting he might return to Casey’s area.

Jack and Reggie confront Casey at her place, leading to an intense showdown with Billy. This confrontation leads to Reggie finally facing Billy, culminating in Billy's downfall at last.

In a dramatic twist, Ganz seizes the opportunity to abduct Reggie, leading to a tense confrontation where Jack must act quickly. In the ensuing chaos, Jack manages to shoot Ganz multiple times, effectively ending his criminal reign.

After the turmoil, Jack visits Candy and arranges to deliver money from Reggie's car. The film concludes with a moment of levity between Jack and Reggie, marking the end of their tumultuous partnership as Jack returns Reggie to prison.