In the tumultuous atmosphere of 1960s America, racial tensions were high, particularly in Detroit, where an increasingly polarized society existed. With a significant African American population residing in segregated neighborhoods overseen by an aggressive white police force, the fabric of community was fraying. On July 23, 1967, in an unfortunate turn of events, the Detroit police raided an unlicensed club during a joyous celebration meant for returning African American veterans from the Korean and Vietnam Wars. As arrests were made, a mob quickly gathered, escalating the situation as they hurled rocks at law enforcement and looted local businesses, culminating in the start of the 12th Street Riot.
Faced with the chaos, civil authorities struggled to restore order, prompting Governor George W. Romney to mobilize the Michigan National Guard along with Army paratroopers to assist in the escalating crisis. On the second day of riots, during a pursuit of a fleeing looter, Philip Krauss (Will Poulter) fatally shoots the suspect, ignoring direct orders, yet he is allowed to remain active until a decision is made on potential murder charges against him.
Amidst this turmoil, a renowned African American R&B group, The Dramatics, arrives in Detroit in hopes of securing a recording contract. Just as they're set to perform at a local music venue, police intervene, closing the venue and evicting them from the city. Their tour bus is attacked by rioters, leading to the group splintering. Larry Reed (Algee Smith) and his friend Fred Temple (Jacob Latimore) find shelter at the Algiers Motel for the night, where they encounter two white girls, Julie Ann (Hannah Murray) and Karen (Kaitlyn Dever). They are introduced to Carl Cooper (Jason Mitchell) and Aubrey Pollard (portrayed by ****). After a prank turns sour, which upsets Julie and Karen, they decide to switch rooms.
Meanwhile, Melvin Dismukes (John Boyega), a private security guard, is tasked with protecting a grocery store from looters. As tensions mount, Carl discharges several blanks toward the troops, inadvertently provoking them into believing they are under sniper fire, leading to a tragic response. A contingent of police arrives, spearheaded by Krauss, who fatally shoots Carl as he attempts to flee, disgracefully planting a knife next to him as evidence.
What follows is a horrifying series of events where Dismukes and the police round up the hotel guests, coercing them under threats of violence to identify the supposed shooter. Despite a search yielding no weapon, Krauss becomes increasingly aggressive, subjecting the group to psychological torture disguised as a "game." In a shocking series of betrayals, Aubrey is killed during the chaos, while the remaining guests are coerced into silence about the night’s events.
As the riots begin to ebb, the repercussions are felt deeply. Dismukes finds himself in a dire situation when he is arrested and wrongfully charged with murder after Julie erroneously identifies him from that fateful night. Amid investigations, many officers implicated are questioned, and with a lack of substantial evidence, the all-white jury ultimately acquits both Dismukes and Krauss, leaving Dismukes to confront the harsh reality of injustice.
In a poignant closing, the aftermath for those involved is revealed: Dismukes relocates to avoid retaliation and continues working as a security guard; Krauss and his colleagues remain on the force, though they never return to active duty; Julie rebuilds her life by starting a family; and Larry, haunted by past trauma, eventually finds solace as a choir singer, continuing to call Detroit home to this day.
