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Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong (2016) movie poster

Plot Summary

Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong (2016) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 78 min · English
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Directed by
Emily Ting

A chance meeting between Ruby, a toy designer from Los Angeles, and Josh, an American living in Hong Kong, sparks a spontaneous and memorable night exploring the city’s lively neighborhoods. A surprising revelation changes their paths, and a year later, they unexpectedly meet again while living separate lives. As they recall their shared experiences amidst Hong Kong's vibrant markets and unique music scene, they must consider if their connection is worth pursuing.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong
  6. 6 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong (2016) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

As Ruby Lin (Jamie Chung), a visionary behind some of America's cherished children's toys, navigates the lively streets of Hong Kong, she finds her phone to be as much a hindrance as a help. In a twist of fate, she overhears a familiar tune of despair; the frustration of being lost without GPS. Enter Josh Rosenberg (Bryan Greenberg), an American expatriate who offers his support. What starts as a chance encounter quickly blossoms into an unlikely adventure through the city's pulsating nightlife, where their conversations flow as effortlessly as the drinks.

As their bond deepens, Ruby encourages Josh to embrace his long-suppressed passion for writing—a sentiment he’s yearned to pursue. Their impromptu evening leads Ruby to prioritize this spontaneous connection over her plans with friends, as she opts for drinks with Josh at a nearby bar. However, the night unfolds with unforeseen complications when Josh reveals a shocking truth: he is still in a relationship, having left his girlfriend inside the bar while he flirted with Ruby. Feeling betrayed and furious, Ruby exits abruptly, leaving Josh to mull over the repercussions of his choices.

Fast forward a year, and destiny strikes again as Josh spots Ruby on the famed Star Ferry, a symbol of Hong Kong's enchanting skyline. He takes the chance to reintroduce himself, eager to express how their previous conversation transformed his life for the better. His confession is profound: he has abandoned his previous finance career for a shot at literary fame.

In a heartfelt exchange, Ruby shares her own flourishing career, thanks to a promotional transfer, while navigating her journey of personal growth. As they reconnect, Josh admits that he is still with his girlfriend, and Ruby reveals her involvement in a long-distance relationship. The two share a slow dance in a luxurious lounge, their bodies coming together reminiscent of the harmony they once felt.

Yet, the delicate thread connecting them frays when one of Josh’s friends encounters them together, igniting a wave of jealousy and betrayal in Ruby. This newfound strain propels her world into disarray. The duo then decides to share a cab back to Ruby's apartment, confronting their intertwined realities—both committed to others yet undeniably attracted to each other.

As they sit outside Ruby’s home, caught in a whirlwind of longing and obligation, they face the daunting question of what their next steps should be. Will they give in to their feelings, or take the courageous route towards a different future?

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 13:49

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Plot questions answered

Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong (2016): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Ruby leave the bar after Josh reveals he's in a relationship?

Ruby leaves because she feels betrayed and deceived. Throughout their evening, there was an obvious romantic connection, and Josh deliberately omitted the fact that he had a girlfriend waiting inside the bar while he flirted with Ruby. His revelation feels like a betrayal of the trust that had developed during their spontaneous night together, making Ruby realize she was unknowingly participating in infidelity.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the night, Ruby chose to spend time with Josh over her planned meeting with friends, showing how invested she had become in their connection.

  • Ruby
  • Josh
  • betrayal
  • bar scene
  • girlfriend
Q2

Why does Josh tell Ruby he's still in a relationship?

Josh reveals his relationship status because he feels guilty about misleading Ruby. Rather than continuing the evening under false pretenses, he chooses honesty despite knowing it would likely end their connection. This moment shows his internal conflict between his attraction to Ruby and his existing commitment.

Foreshadowing: His willingness to be honest suggests he's already questioning his current relationship.

  • Josh
  • girlfriend
  • honesty
  • confession
Q3

Why does Ruby encourage Josh to pursue writing?

Ruby recognizes something special in Josh during their conversation and senses he's been suppressing his true passion for writing in favor of a stable finance career. Her encouragement comes from a genuine belief in his potential and a desire to help him live a more authentic life, reflecting her own aspirations as a toy designer who followed her creative instincts.

Foreshadowing: This encouragement plants the seed that leads Josh to leave finance a year later.

  • Ruby
  • Josh
  • writing
  • passion
  • career change
Q4

What causes Josh to leave his finance career?

Ruby's encouragement during their first meeting is the catalyst for Josh's career change. Her words about pursuing what he truly loves, rather than what society expects, resonate with him deeply enough to abandon his finance career and pursue writing. When they meet again a year later, he's already made this significant life transition.

Foreshadowing: Ruby explicitly tells Josh he should stop wasting his potential in finance and start writing.

  • Josh
  • finance
  • writing
  • career change
  • transformation
Q5

Why do they meet again on the Star Ferry?

The Star Ferry meeting isn't coincidence in the traditional sense, Josh spots Ruby and deliberately approaches her. He's been thinking about her for a year and wants to thank her for changing his life. This intentional reconnection shows how meaningful their original encounter was to him.

Foreshadowing: Their first meeting clearly made a lasting impression on both characters.

  • Star Ferry
  • reunion
  • second meeting
  • Hong Kong
Q6

Why does Ruby feel jealous when Josh's friend sees them together?

Ruby experiences jealousy because seeing Josh's friend reminds her of the complicated reality: Josh is still committed to someone else. Their intimate moment at the lounge becomes tainted by the knowledge that Josh's friend could report back to his girlfriend, exposing the emotional infidelity happening right in front of them.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Ruby herself was upset when she learned Josh had a girlfriend, so this moment reopens that wound.

  • Ruby
  • Josh
  • jealousy
  • friend
  • relationship
Q7

What does the slow dance between Ruby and Josh symbolize?

The slow dance symbolizes the deep emotional connection and magnetic attraction that persists between them despite their committed relationships. It represents a moment where they allow themselves to fully feel what they've been suppressing, their genuine bond and longing for each other, before reality intervenes again.

Foreshadowing: Their immediate connection during the first meeting foreshadows this undeniable chemistry.

  • Ruby
  • Josh
  • dance
  • emotion
  • connection
  • longing
Q8

Why do Ruby and Josh decide to share a cab?

They share a cab because neither is ready to let go of the moment. Despite knowing they should part ways and return to their respective partners, they're drawn to each other and want more time together. The cab ride becomes a transitional space where they can delay making any definitive decisions about their futures.

Foreshadowing: This reluctance to separate reflects the unresolved tension that's been building since their reunion.

  • Ruby
  • Josh
  • cab
  • attraction
  • indecision
Q9

Does Ruby and Josh end up together at the end of the movie?

The ending remains intentionally ambiguous, the film never reveals whether they choose to pursue their feelings or return to their current partners. They sit outside Ruby's apartment, caught between desire and obligation, facing the difficult question of what comes next. Viewers are left to interpret their final choice.

Foreshadowing: The repeated theme of complicated commitments foreshadows that no easy resolution will occur.

  • ending
  • resolution
  • together
  • ambiguous
  • future
Q10

What happened to Ruby's career after the first meeting?

Ruby received a promotion that allowed her to advance professionally, which is why she's back in Hong Kong a year later. Her career success reflects her own journey of growth and self-actualization, paralleling Josh's decision to pursue writing. This shows that both characters used their transformative encounter as motivation for positive life changes.

Foreshadowing: Ruby mentions working hard to earn this promotion during their first meeting.

  • Ruby
  • promotion
  • career
  • success
  • Hong Kong
Q11

What is Ruby's relationship status when they meet again?

When Ruby and Josh reconnect, Ruby reveals she's in a long-distance relationship. Like Josh, she's committed to someone else but still finds herself drawn to the connection they share. This parallel situation adds to the film's exploration of whether true compatibility should supersede existing commitments.

Foreshadowing: Ruby initially came to Hong Kong alone, hinting at some distance in her relationship.

  • Ruby
  • long-distance
  • relationship
  • commitment

Movie threads

More Movies Like Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Urban Bittersweet Romance Movies like Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong

Modern city love stories marked by chance, connection, and complicated realities. Discover movies like Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong that explore chance encounters and complex relationships in atmospheric city settings. If you enjoyed the blend of romantic hope and melancholic reality in this story, you'll find similar bittersweet romance films here.

  • romantic
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • reflective
  • uncertain
  • atmospheric
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, hopeful
  • Pacing: slow, conversational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often begin with a spontaneous, fateful meeting between two people in a city. Their immediate chemistry leads to a romantic exploration of the urban landscape, but the connection is tested by external complications, such as existing relationships or life paths, leading to a reflective and emotionally uncertain journey.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together by their shared core of a compelling 'what if' scenario set against an evocative city backdrop. They share a bittersweet tone, a focus on character-driven dialogue, and an emphasis on the emotional weight of life choices rather than high-stakes plot drama.

Conversational Slow-Burn Romance Films Similar to Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong

Romantic dramas where deep connections are built through intimate conversations. Find movies with a similar talk-driven feel to Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong. These romance films prioritize character dialogue and a slow, reflective pace to build emotional connection, perfect for viewers who enjoy thoughtful, conversation-centric love stories.

  • conversational
  • intimate
  • reflective
  • slow burn
  • romantic
  • thoughtful
  • Tone: reflective, intimate, bittersweet
  • Pacing: very slow, dialogue-heavy
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern revolves around two characters spending extended time together, often in a confined timeframe or a series of meetings, where their relationship develops almost exclusively through extended, revealing conversations. The plot is minimal, with tension arising from emotional honesty, personal revelations, and the unspoken chemistry between the characters.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their shared commitment to a 'walking and talking' narrative style. They prioritize verbal intimacy over physical action, creating a specific, low-intensity vibe that feels authentic and introspective. The similarity lies in the pacing, the source of emotional weight, and the overall meditative experience.

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Every angle

Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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