TMBTMB
TMBTMB

Track, discover and find where to watch TV shows and movies.

Discover

  • Movies
  • TV Shows
  • Browse
  • Topics

Account

  • Watchlist
  • Watched
  • Ratings

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Content Policy

© 2026 Movie Browser. All rights reserved.

Data provided by TMDB

Home
Browse
Watchlist
backdrop
backdrop
logo
The '75 Hang Seng heist: $7 million, zero chill, maximum Cantonese chaos.
TMDB
50

Running on Empty (1991)

gritty 70s Hong Kongscrappy underdogstight 92 minutes

Overview

ActionDramaHistoryCrime

Based on a true story, and recreated from the personal account of one of the robbers, the film follows an immigrant from mainland China in 1975 as he works with a team to plan to rob an armored car carrying seven million dollars from the Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong.

Flag of HKHKCantonese
based on true storytrue crimeheistbank robberybank heist

Standout Aspects

Production

Period-perfect 1975 Hong Kong recreation on tiny budget.

Practical Effects

Pre-CGI heist staging, all practical tension.

Best for:Solo: Late night, neon lights optional but recommended.·Streaming: Perfect obscure gem for your Hong Kong cinema deep dive.
Heads up:Violence: Bank robbery shootouts, some blood.
H

Director

Hoh Cheuk-Wing

ReleasedApr 8, 1991
Runtime1h 32m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacefast
Intensityhigh
Tonedark
Feelmedium
Chun Sing Film Company
Mei Ah Film Production Co., Ltd.

Top Cast

Frankie Lam

Frankie Lam

Jacqueline Ng Suet-Man

Jacqueline Ng Suet-Man

Terrence Fok Shui-Wah

Terrence Fok Shui-Wah

Chin Shih-Erh

Chin Shih-Erh

Alan Chui Chung-San

Alan Chui Chung-San

Kwong Wa

Kwong Wa

Lee Siu-Kay

Lee Siu-Kay

Policeman

Ho Wing-Cheung

Ho Wing-Cheung

Assassin

John Chong

John Chong

Lee Yiu-King

Lee Yiu-King

Thug

Gregory Charles Rivers

Gregory Charles Rivers

Journalist

Ask about Running on Empty

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

One of the actual robbers consulted on the film, making this perhaps cinema's most compromised 'true story'—he got creative control of his own mythology.

Cultural

Shot during Hong Kong's 1991 Handover anxiety, the 1975 colonial setting carries accidental political weight—desperate mainlanders, British-controlled wealth, escape as the only option.

Gallery

Reviews

No ratings yet

Start the discussionBe the first to post — spoiler-safe
Rate & reviewBe the first to weigh in

Recommended

The Newton Boys movie poster (1998)
6.1

The Newton Boys

Heist 88 movie poster (2023)
6.6

Heist 88

Heat movie poster (1995)
7.9

Heat

The Getaway movie poster (1972)
7.1

The Getaway

The Asphalt Jungle movie poster (1950)
7.5

The Asphalt Jungle

Machine-Gun Kelly movie poster (1958)
5.9

Machine-Gun Kelly

The Town movie poster (2010)
7.2

The Town

Little Caesar movie poster (1931)
6.9

Little Caesar

Parker movie poster (2013)
6.1

Parker

Face movie poster (1997)
6.2

Face

Cradle 2 the Grave movie poster (2003)
6.1

Cradle 2 the Grave

Ambulance movie poster (2022)
6.6

Ambulance

The Highwaymen movie poster (2019)
6.8

The Highwaymen

Public Enemies movie poster (2009)
6.7

Public Enemies

Dog Day Afternoon movie poster (1975)
7.9

Dog Day Afternoon

More Like This

Wonderland movie poster (2003)
6.1

Wonderland

Naan Petta Makan movie poster (2019)
3.0

Naan Petta Makan

Hoosiers movie poster (1986)
7.0

Hoosiers

Gandhi movie poster (1982)
7.6

Gandhi

Almost Famous movie poster (2000)
7.5

Almost Famous

The Thomas Crown Affair movie poster (1968)
6.8

The Thomas Crown Affair

The Thomas Crown Affair movie poster (1999)
6.8

The Thomas Crown Affair

Cinderella Man movie poster (2005)
7.6

Cinderella Man

Rififi movie poster (1955)
7.8

Rififi

Lawrence of Arabia movie poster (1962)
8.0

Lawrence of Arabia

Heat movie poster (1995)
7.9

Heat

name removed movie poster

name removed

All the President's Men movie poster (1976)
7.7

All the President's Men

Cool Runnings movie poster (1993)
7.0

Cool Runnings

Discussion

Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.

Discussion starters

View all comments →