Running on Karma

Running on Karma

Year: 2003

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: Cantonese

Directors: Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai

DramaActionThrillerCrime

A monk skilled in kung fu discovers he can see into people's lives and glimpse the future. He leaves the monastery, becomes a body‑builder, and befriends a determined female police officer. Using his prophetic gift, he strives to reshape the forces of karma and alter her destiny.

Running on Karma (2003) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Running on Karma (2003) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a world where ancient meditation meets neon‑lit nightlife, a disciplined monk discovers a startling ability: fleeting visions of people’s past lives that hint at the threads of their future. This gift pulls him away from the quiet cloisters of his monastery and into the bustling streets of the city, where he adopts the unlikely guise of a charismatic bodybuilder performing in a strip club. The film balances the fluid grace of kung fu with the flash‑filled energy of urban spectacle, setting a tone that is simultaneously meditative and kinetic.

Big—the monk‑turned‑performer—carries the weight of his spiritual training while navigating a realm of muscles, music, and mystery. His newfound capacity to glimpse karmic patterns makes him both an observer and a reluctant participant in the lives that cross his path. The atmosphere oscillates between the hushed contemplation of a temple and the pulsating rhythm of the city’s underbelly, creating a visual and emotional landscape where destiny feels both inevitable and mutable.

Enter Lee Fung‑yee, a determined police officer whose pragmatic dedication to uncovering hidden truths clashes with, yet is oddly complemented by, Big’s ethereal insights. Their partnership forms the film’s emotional core, blending her grounded investigative instinct with his otherworldly perception. Together they navigate a maze of clues, intuition, and unseen forces, each step hinting at how the balance of karma might be nudged toward a different future.

The story unfolds as a stylish meditation on fate, responsibility, and the possibility of altering one’s path through compassion and understanding. With lush choreography, sharp humor, and a lingering sense of mystery, the film invites viewers to wonder whether the past truly determines the present—or if the present can rewrite the script of destiny.

Last Updated: October 23, 2025 at 16:14

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Fatalistic thrillers like Running on Karma

Characters grapple with destiny and violent crime guided by supernatural insight.If you liked the blend of crime-solving and karmic destiny in Running on Karma, explore these movies. This thread features similar stories where supernatural insight or a philosophical framework like karma drives a tense, often violent narrative, creating a unique and heavy viewing experience.

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Narrative Summary

Movies in this thread typically follow an investigator or protagonist who uses a non-traditional, often spiritual, form of insight to navigate a web of crime and violence. The plot intertwines a present-day mystery with a deeper, personal exploration of fate, consequence, and the possibility of redemption, leading to a conclusion that acknowledges the inescapable weight of past actions.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their unique mix of a thriller or crime plot with heavy spiritual or philosophical themes. The shared experience is one of unease and deep contemplation, where action sequences are punctuated by moments of somber reflection on destiny and moral consequence.

Bittersweet stories of redemption like Running on Karma

Profound personal change achieved only through great sacrifice and suffering.For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional journey and bittersweet resolution of Running on Karma, this thread collects movies about characters seeking redemption. These stories often involve violence and profound loss, leading to an ending that is peaceful but poignantly earned through sacrifice.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist attempting to alter a seemingly fixed destiny, either their own or someone else's. Their efforts are met with fierce resistance from external forces and their own internal demons. The climax typically involves a major sacrifice, resulting in an ending that feels both redemptive and mournful, acknowledging the cost of change.

Why These Movies?

They share a core emotional journey: a heavy, somber tone where the pursuit of a noble goal leads to inevitable and tragic costs. The similarity lies in the specific emotional mix of hope, despair, and the final, quiet acceptance of a bittersweet outcome.

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Running on Karma Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Running on Karma

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Running on Karma

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