Ryo Saeba is a sharp-witted private investigator known as the City Hunter. His assistant Kaori Makimura is the younger sister of his late partner, and she has fallen deeply in love with him, which makes her uneasy when he flirts with other women. In a tale that blends action, comedy, and a dash of romance, the duo is drawn into a high-stakes mission when they’re hired to locate Kiyoko Imamura, the runaway daughter of a powerful newspaper CEO. The clue points to Hong Kong, but Kaori’s feelings threaten to complicate the pursuit, and she ultimately leaves the search, prompting Ryo to press on alone.
Ryo’s search leads him to a skateboarding park where Kiyoko briefly eludes him, stealing a boarding pass for the luxury Fuji Maru. With tenacity and flair, he sneaks aboard the very cruise liner to continue the chase and to reunite with Kaori, who has boarded the ship with her lustful cousin Rocky. Rocky earns attention on board for his swagger and tricks, while the cruise itself becomes the backdrop for a brutal and well-planned terrorist plot. The ship is hijacked by a group led by ex-US Special Forces Colonel Col. MacDonald, who intends to seize the affluent passengers and use them as leverage. In pursuit are not only Ryo and Kaori, but also undercover police officer Saeko Nogami, portrayed by Saeko Nogami with her capable assistant Kasumi Asou, creating a tense, cross-genre pursuit.
Key moments unfold as Kiyoko Imamura overhears MacDonald’s plan. A fierce effort to silence her escalates into a cascade of daring escapes: Kiyoko is knocked out by one of the ship’s officers who reveals himself as a terrorist, and she later crosses paths with Ryo at crucial junctures. The escape leads them into the movie theater where a screening of Game of Death unfolds, and Ryo draws inspiration from Bruce Lee’s techniques, recreating signature moves against two towering opponents in a display of skill and instinct.
The sailaway party in the ship’s casino is interrupted when MacDonald murders the captain and drives a brutal, high-stakes game against the ship’s most affluent guests. A skilled card gamer named Kao Ta joins the fray, using his cards as shurikens, and the group of defenders—Ryo, Kaori, Saeko, Kasumi, and their allies—converges to challenge the threat. In a dramatic turn, MacDonald’s right-hand tactics escalate as Kaori is captured and held in his suite, forcing a tense confrontation that tests each fighter’s resolve. Ryo fights to break free, enduring a severe setback when he is tied up and thrust into a Street Fighter II arcade duel, where he is electrified and must confront the illusion that his foe is Ken. His battle culminates in a victorious shift, as he defeats his opponent with a strategy inspired by Chun-Li rather than his earlier missteps.
As the danger heightens, Taiwan’s Thunderbolts Squadron arrives to dismantle MacDonald’s operations, cutting through the terrorists’ defenses and enabling Saeko, Kasumi, and their allies to step back into the fray. MacDonald detonates bombs around the ship, seizing Kaori hostage as the casino becomes a battleground once more. The confrontation peaks when the scar tissue of treachery explodes into a final, decisive moment: MacDonald is defeated when he accidentally triggers his own bombs after being driven into the stage by Ryo and Saeko.
In the aftermath, Ryo and Kaori locate Kiyoko and deliver her safely back to her father. The elder Imamura’s gaze lingers on Ryo as he hints at a possible future together, and Kaori’s feelings flare into renewed frustration when she learns of his response. A romantic overture—Ryo offering a rose—sparks a last moment of tension, but Saeko’s arrival and flirtatious show quickly fuel Kaori’s anger, culminating in a dramatic hammer moment that sends Ryo flying and reveals the complicated web of affection and loyalty that threads through their partnership. The film closes on a surreal, recurring dream of beautiful women by a swimming pool, leaving the audience with a sense of lingering desire, humor, and the enduring pull of an unconventional city hunter.
