Broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow opens the story with an insightful onscreen prologue that showcases captivating footage from A Trip to the Moon (1902) by Georges Méliès. This introduction sets the stage by informing audiences that the narrative will be loosely inspired by Jules Verne's classic novel From the Earth to the Moon. As the camera pans over a launching unmanned rocket, viewers watch in awe as Earth recedes into the distance, signaling the start of an epic adventure.
The tale begins in 1872 with an audacious English gentleman, Phileas Fogg, who boldly claims he can traverse the globe in a mere eighty days. His assertion is met with disbelief, leading him to stake an extraordinary wager of £20,000—equivalent to a staggering £2.3 million in today's currency—with four skeptical members of the Reform Club, each contributing £5,000 to the bet. Fogg is determined to prove them wrong and embark on this ambitious journey, setting an exact timeline of returning to the club by 8:45 PM, precisely eighty days from then.
Joined by his clever and resourceful French valet, Passepartout, Fogg wastes no time and begins his whirlwind adventure, hopping from one destination to another while generously spending money to secure the assistance of locals. With the clock ticking, they manage to reach Paris, only to learn that a major tunnel beneath the Alps is blocked. Fortunately, a Thomas Cook representative offers them a thrilling solution: hire a hot air balloon. Fogg seizes the opportunity, purchasing the balloon and taking to the skies, where they cheerfully toast with champagne as they fly over the majestic Alps.
However, their journey soon takes an unexpected turn when they're blown off course and end up in Spain. Here, they stumble upon a lively flamenco performance taking place in a charming bar. The adventure takes a comedic twist as Passepartout hilariously participates in a bullfight, much to Fogg's chagrin. Next, the pair make their way to Brindisi in Italy, while back in London, suspicion mounts against Fogg for allegedly stealing £55,000 (around £6.2 million today) from the Bank of England. In response, Inspector Fix is dispatched by Scotland Yard to track him down, starting at Suez. However, Fix must patiently await a warrant that would authorize his arrest in any British-controlled ports they might visit.
In India, the plot thickens as Fogg and Passepartout heroically rescue the beautiful young widow, Aouda, from being forced into a funeral pyre that follows her husband's death. This act of bravery binds the trio together as they continue their adventurous journey across the globe, traversing through bustling Hong Kong, scenic Yokohama, and the vibrant atmosphere of San Francisco, before breaking into the untamed Wild West, where encounters with the Sioux Nation await them.
Upon reaching New York, they hastily arrange for passage aboard a cargo steamship bound for Venezuela, but Fogg’s plans encounter a major setback when the ship runs out of coal in the middle of the ocean. In a moment of desperation, Fogg buys the ship and instructs the crew to use anything flammable, including lifeboats, as fuel to keep their journey alive.
Eventually, they dock in Liverpool, and with barely any time left to reach London and win the bet, Fogg is apprehended by the zealous yet misguided Inspector Fix. In a twist of fate at the police station, Fix discovers that the real thief has already been caught in Brighton. Just when Fogg is exonerated and ready to rush to the Reform Club, he realizes that time is running out and that he may have lost everything, except for the blossoming love he shares with the enchanting Aouda.
As the story draws to a close, Fogg urges Passepartout to arrange a church wedding for the following day, only to discover that it is actually Sunday, not Monday, shocking both him and his faithful valet. It dawns on Fogg that by traveling east towards the rising sun and crossing the International Date Line, he has gained an extra day. With newfound hope, he rushes towards the Reform Club, arriving just before the clock strikes 8:45 PM. The arrival of both Passepartout and Aouda follows closely behind, causing a stir among the club's members, as it is a historical moment—they are astounded that a woman has entered the Reform Club for the first time.
