Rush Hour

In late 1997, Detective Inspector Lee spearheads a raid at a shipping wharf in Hong Kong. The operation is aimed at capturing the elusive crime lord Juntao, but only his right-hand man, Sang, is present, managing to escape.

Despite Sang's escape, Detective Lee successfully recovers a number of stolen Chinese cultural treasures from Juntao. He presents these treasures to Chinese Consul Solon Han and British Commander Thomas Griffin, marking a small victory before the British handover.

After arriving in the United States, Consul Han faces a nightmare when his daughter Soo Yung is kidnapped on her way to school by Sang. This distressing incident prompts Han to seek help from Detective Inspector Lee.

Detective James Carter is undercover at a doughnut shop trying to make a deal for C4 explosives. When police arrive, a confrontation ensues, leading to a chaotic chase where Carter successfully apprehends the dealer, Clive.

Worried about the publicity of a possible injury to Lee, the FBI assigns him to assist the LAPD. Captain Diel puts Carter on the case, but instead of cooperation, Carter is tasked to keep Lee away from the investigation.

Carter meets Lee at the airport, initially taking him on a sightseeing tour of Los Angeles. However, Carter secretly tries to gather intel from his contacts while keeping Lee away from the investigation.

During the arranged ransom drop, Lee quickly realizes that things are not as they seem. He tries to warn the FBI, but just as his message gets through, a bomb explodes, resulting in casualties among the agents.

After the failed ransom drop, Lee and Carter visit Clive at the county jail to uncover more about Juntao's whereabouts. Clive initially refuses to cooperate, but eventually, his concern for Soo Yung persuades him to reveal vital information.

Lee and Carter head to a restaurant in Chinatown based on Clive's tip, but while there, Carter is captured by the kidnappers. Fortunately, Lee arrives just in time to rescue him, despite mounting tensions with the FBI.

The kidnappers, led by Sang, contact Consul Han and threaten to raise the ransom to $70 million. This escalates the urgency for Lee and Carter to act quickly, forging a reluctant partnership towards saving Soo Yung.

The climax unfolds at a grand Chinese art exhibition where Lee, Carter, and Tania Johnson infiltrate disguised as guests. Carter triggers chaos by announcing a bomb threat, aiming to create a diversion amidst escalating tensions.

In a desperate race against time, Carter finds Soo Yung and learns her bomb vest is rigged to detonate. He bravely manages to remove it, but complications arise as he must navigate the delicate situation while ensuring everyone's safety.

The intense confrontation culminates with a struggle between Lee and Griffin, revealing Griffin as Juntao. As the stakes reach new heights, both factions must fight to retrieve the bomb and save Soo Yung before it's too late.

As Lee hangs precariously while trying to defuse a bomb vest, Carter swiftly intervenes to catch him just in time. Their teamwork leads to Griffin's downfall, successfully freeing Soo Yung from the grip of danger.

After the successful rescue, Consul Han joyfully reunites with Soo Yung. In gratitude, he offers Lee and Carter a vacation in Hong Kong, providing a lighthearted conclusion to their tumultuous adventure.