The movie begins with Jerico Stewart (Kevin Costner) on a beach, contemplating how those who invaded his mind underestimated the depths of his rage. He vows vengeance on anyone who crosses him. As he stands there, a van arrives, and someone exits to confront him.
Flash back to London, where CIA agent Bill Pope (Ryan Reynolds) is seen picking up a duffel bag filled with cash and taking time to call his wife, Jill (Gal Gadot), and their daughter, Emma (Lara Decaro). Meanwhile, Bill is covertly watched by his superior, Quaker Wells (Gary Oldman), and fellow operatives, Marta Lynch (Alice Eve), Esteban Ruiza (Amaury Nolasco), and Pete Greensleeves (Scott Adkins). Little does he realize, he is targeted by the anarchist Xavier Heimdahl (Jordi Molla), whose right-hand woman, Elsa Mueller (Antje Traue), stalks him as he gets into a cab. They ambush him, resulting in Bill's capture after a brutal altercation.
Inside an abandoned facility, Heimdahl tortures Bill, attempting to extract information about Jan Strook, also known as The Dutchman (Michael Pitt), a hacker with plans to introduce chaos. Despite the pain, Bill defiantly responds, but ultimately he is fatally electrocuted. Once the CIA learns of his demise, they bring in Dr. Franks (Tommy Lee Jones), who has devised a controversial memory transfer procedure. They aim to implant Bill's memories into Jerico, a psychopath whose brain suffered trauma from a violent childhood experience.
In a tense interview, Heimdahl articulates his anarchist agenda, claiming that without governments, the world would prosper. As Jerico is extracted from prison for the memory procedure, he is teetering on the edge of life and death. Once successful, he experiences Bill's memories, which start to reshape his violent impulses into something more complex.
After his release, Jerico seizes his opportunity to escape, violently taking down agents as he maneuvers through the streets. Fueled by flashes of Bill's life, including significant moments with Jill, he communes with the memories as he arrives at the Pope household, where he ties Jill up while searching for the money bag. When Jill activates a silent alarm, prompting Ruiza to contact her, Jerico cleverly misleads them before making his escape.
On the streets, Jerico juggles Bill's memories and his own persona, causing confusion and violent outbursts, as he seeks solace from the chaos in a coffee shop. He manages to access Bill's CIA login details, attracting their attention. Seeking relief from the mental overload, he seeks help from Franks, all while being monitored closely.
Chaos erupts as Heimdahl stages an attack that leaves many agents dead, including Marta. Jerico finds his way back to the Pope house, where he shares a memory with Jill to prove his identity. Their relationship deepens as he expresses vulnerability, and she reluctantly invites him to stay the night, aware that he is now connected to her husband’s memories.
The next day, Jerico remembers the location of the money bag hidden within the library where Jill works. However, Elsa, seeking revenge, bursts into the Pope house and takes Jill and Emma hostage, while Jerico embarks on a mission to save them. As he navigates this high-stakes confrontation, he concocts a diversion using makeshift explosives and engages in a final showdown with Heimdahl.
In a dramatic climax at the airfield, Jerico confronts Heimdahl, trading a crucial piece of information for the release of Jill and Emma. However, Heimdahl betrays him, leading to a devastating showdown where Jerico outsmarts him, ensuring the villain meets his end.
The film concludes back at the beach, where Jerico reunites with Jill and Emma, acknowledging that Bill continues to exist within him. With Wells hinting at a new direction for Jerico’s life, there’s a sense of hope and redemption as the characters move forward together.
