In the year 2030, the financially struggling government of California devises a perilous scheme known as the Grand Lottery. Each Lottery Day culminates in a deadly survival contest where the randomly selected winner must endure until sundown, while anyone holding a losing ticket is permitted to kill the winner to claim the staggering multi-million-dollar prize. However, there's a peculiar stipulation: the use of guns or bullets is strictly prohibited.
The chaos begins as a rugged man, portrayed by Seann William Scott, dashes through the streets of a city thrown into disarray, being relentlessly targeted by eager contestants. Utilizing his impressive fighting prowess, he finds refuge in a home occupied by Grandma Tala, played by Dolly De Leon, who feigns innocence while ultimately dispatching him to seize the lottery prize for herself. Meanwhile, Johnny Grand, played by Murray Hill, hosts the grim lottery show, presenting Tala with a check for a jaw-dropping $22 million.
We then meet Katie Kim, brought to life by Awkwafina, a former child star who arrives in Los Angeles with aspirations of reviving her acting career, blissfully ignorant of the Lottery and its escalating $3.6 billion jackpot. During her bus journey, she encounters Sweet Irene, portrayed by Becky Ann Baker, and finds herself standing up to an impudent dad, played by Adam Ray, who is berating his daughter, Rylea Hendreschke, for not landing a role. Little does Katie know that Sweet Irene has filched her watch!
Upon renting a room from the avaricious Shadi, portrayed by Ayden Mayeri, and her boyfriend DJ, played by Donald Elise Watkins, she discovers that the apartment above is leaking sewage, ruining her belongings. As a result, Katie is forced to rent clothes from Shadi for her audition, which turn out to be rather garish. When she attends a lackluster audition costing $400, fate takes a turn as Katie inadvertently wins the Lottery, leading to chaos as she becomes a target for violence from those around her, including participants from the audition.
Noel Cassidy, embodied by John Cena, emerges as a freelance Lottery protection agent who offers his services in exchange for a cut of her winnings. Using non-lethal tactics, Noel creatively helps Katie navigate the wild pursuit of her "fans" before revealing the ominous fact that a tracking drone will broadcast her location every 14 minutes. He suggests that reaching the Grapevine, on the outskirts of the city, will allow her to legally quit the Lottery.
Torn between trust and desperation, Katie realizes the police are against her as well, compelling her to flee on foot. A compassionate security guard shelters her in a wax museum, but a phone tip from Shadi makes it clear she cannot stay safe. A confrontation ensues, but Noel arrives just in time to aid her escape amidst pursuing enemies, which leads them to the mansion of rapper MGK (Colson Baker). After using tranquilizer darts on MGK, the duo takes refuge in his panic room, where they further strengthen their bond.
As they seek help, Louis Lewis, played by Simu Liu, the head of the Lewis Protection Agency, agrees to safeguard Katie in exchange for 30% of her winnings. Amidst revelations of a darker past involving mercenaries and betrayal, Katie unveils her backstory, explaining her fall from grace after her father absconded with her earnings.
As suspicions grow regarding the agency, it isn't long before Noel's fears materialize when Katie is coerced to separate from him. With a daring plan, Noel allows a mob of fans to invade the agency, enabling Katie to escape on her own. In a climactic showdown, Katie bravely confronts Louis, who threatens Noel's life. In a heart-stopping moment, Katie threatens to forfeit her winnings, live-streaming her declaration to garner the attention of her fanbase.
The ensuing battle leads them to an abandoned theater where, in a twist of fate, Katie eliminates Louis but finds herself in a precarious fall—only to be heroically caught by her supporters right as the Lottery deadline expires.
In the aftermath, Katie and Noel utilize her prize money to create businesses and charities, including their protective agency for Lottery winners. As they bask in newfound wealth, mid-credit scenes hint at both the lavish yacht they acquire and the lingering shadow of the expanding Grand Lottery across the nation, showcasing how their fortune has inevitably altered their lives.
