Elliot Richards, portrayed by Brendan Fraser, is an unassuming geek trapped in a monotonous technical support role at a computer company in San Francisco. With no true friends and co-workers who take advantage of him, Elliot's life is a constant struggle, especially when it comes to his feelings for his colleague, Alison Gardner. Haunted by self-doubt and social anxiety, he finds himself yearning for a connection with her, often telling himself that he would “give anything” for Alison to be by his side.
His wish doesn't go unnoticed. Enter Satan, beautifully played by Elizabeth Hurley, who overhears Elliot's desperate wish and offers him a fantastical deal: seven wishes in exchange for his soul. To test the waters, Elliot makes a seemingly simple wish for a Big Mac and Coke. In a cheeky twist of fate, Satan takes him to a McDonald’s, reminding him that there’s no such thing as a free lunch when he’s forced to pay for it. Once inside her nightclub office in Oakland, Elliot is persuaded to sign the contract, thus embarking on a tumultuous journey filled with wish after wish, each one leading to unexpected and often disastrous outcomes.
As Elliot navigates through these wishes, each scenario reveals new layers of his relationship with Alison and his co-workers, ultimately showcasing the pitfalls of his desires. When he wishes to be rich and powerful with Alison as his wife, he finds himself cast as a Colombian drug lord—a notorious criminal whose wife is unfaithful and who has to fend off a murderous co-worker planning to usurp him. In a shocking turn of events, a cosmic confrontation results in Elliot's "death," but he awakens back in reality with the chilling realization that he never explicitly wished for Alison to truly love him.
In his next endeavor, Elliot hopes to gain emotional sensitivity, aiming to understand women better. However, this backfires spectacularly as he becomes an overly emotional man, reduced to tears at the beauty of life, causing Alison who had only just become his girlfriend, to opt for the company of someone “strong and shallow” instead. Disheartened but determined, he wishes to be a superstar athlete, alluring to women, but Satan adds the twist of making him an NBA player with a small endowment and low intelligence, much to Alison’s dismay as she loses interest.
Elliot then goes for the ultimate transformation—intelligence, wit, and charisma. Granted his wish, he sees himself as a famed writer, winning Alison's heart at a high-profile cocktail party. Yet, in a cruel twist, it’s revealed he is gay and living with a flamboyant partner, shattering his romantic fantasies with Alison yet again. Seeking redemption and a final opportunity to shape his existence, Elliot wishes to become the President of the United States, only to be thrust into the haunting climax of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination at Ford's Theatre, facing inevitable doom.
Throughout this chaotic adventure, Elliot learns that he has not been specific enough with his wishes. His last two wishes hang in the balance as he returns to his uninspiring job, pondering what might finally bring him happiness. In a desperate attempt for divine intervention, Elliot finds himself in a church, only to be misjudged and arrested when he confesses his dealings with Satan. In a twist of irony, his fellow inmate assures him that his soul ultimately belongs to God, planting the seeds of enlightenment regarding his true self and purpose.
Determined, Elliot demands to cancel his contract with Satan, who refuses initially. However, as they are transported to Hell, Elliot makes a profound selfless wish for Alison to find happiness—invoking Satan’s unexpected concession as his wish voids the contract, allowing him to keep his soul. Upon awakening, he finds himself in a courthouse, where he realizes that he has obtained freedom from temptation, while acknowledging a unique bond with Satan, seeing her as a friend.
In the closing moments, Elliot returns to his daily life with a newfound understanding of himself. Confronted by a bully from work, he’s able to stand his ground and assert himself without resorting to violence. The film wraps up with Elliot meeting his new neighbor, Nicole Delarusso, whose resemblance to Alison stirs nostalgic feelings as they start to form a budding relationship. The intriguing final scene hints at divine oversight as Satan and Elliot's cellmate, now revealed as God, play chess in the background, casting a light on the everyday intricacies of life and love. With a shy smile, Elliot embarks on a fresh chapter, prepared to embrace life fully and with purpose.
