Annie Platt finds herself at a crossroads in her life, reflecting on the desire to escape her quaint hometown of Sandcliff, England. She is an art curator at a local museum, but her relationship with Duncan, a college instructor fixated on the reclusive American musician Tucker Crowe, is far from fulfilling. Crowe last made waves in the music scene back in 1993, and the arrival of an album titled Juliet, Naked reignites tensions between Annie and Duncan. The album, showcasing acoustic demos from Crowe's classic work, leads to a fierce debate between the couple about its merits. In a moment of frustration, Annie pens a critical review on Duncan's Tucker Crowe fan site.
Unexpectedly, Crowe himself reaches out to Annie via email, expressing gratitude for her candid assessment. They begin a heartfelt exchange, during which Crowe reveals his inner turmoil over being a distant father to four children from three different mothers (later it’s unveiled that he has five kids with four different mothers), while Annie shares her own regrets about not having children of her own.
While Crowe resides on the estate of his ex-partner, he makes time for his youngest son, Jackson, in America. His daughter Lizzie, who is expecting, comes to visit from London, and it becomes clear that he also has twin sons from yet another relationship. Before departing, Lizzie hands Crowe the phone number of his other daughter, Grace, whom he has never encountered.
Meanwhile, Duncan's infidelity adds another layer of complexity when he invites Gina, a new colleague, over to listen to the album, leading to a brief affair. The truth of Duncan's betrayal drives Annie to end their relationship, forcing him to vacate her life and space.
As Crowe navigates parental responsibilities, he decides to bring Jackson to London to check on Lizzie after she unexpectedly gives birth. Although Crowe and Annie plan to meet, an unforeseen heart attack lands him in the hospital. There, Annie encounters not just Crowe but also Jackson, Lizzie, and many of Crowe's past partners and children who have come to support him. In a poignant moment, Crowe expresses a desire to visit Sandcliff, prompting him and Jackson to stay with Annie.
In an awkward encounter, Duncan comes face-to-face with Crowe, who introduces himself. Initially skeptical, Duncan is eventually convinced when Crowe shows his passport. When they share dinner, Duncan's obsession with Crowe's music begins to grate on the aging musician, who bluntly dismisses Juliet as worthless. Duncan insists that art can have more significance to audiences than its creators do.
Crowe opens up about the painful decision that pulled him away from music twenty-five years prior: during a gig, he was left holding his daughter Grace, and overwhelmed by fear, he abandoned both her and his career. Despite reaching out to Grace, she remains unreceptive.
At Annie's museum opening, she reveals her growing feelings for Crowe, who reciprocates. With the mayor in attendance, Crowe reluctantly performs “Waterloo Sunset” by The Kinks, marking a significant moment in their budding relationship. However, their romantic night is interrupted by a sick Jackson, yearning to return home.
Annie reflects on her growth as she drives Crowe and Jackson to see Lizzie, before bidding them farewell. Later, while at a bar, Duncan attempts to reconcile, but Annie resolutely turns him down.
Fast forward a year, Annie reaches out to Crowe via email. She's now made the bold choice to relocate to London and pursue single motherhood. They pencil in a meeting, hinting at a bright future.
As the credits roll, a video from Duncan’s site reveals Crowe has released a new album, So Where Was I?, inspired by Annie. The tracklist and Duncan’s harsh critique suggest that Crowe and Annie are thriving together, much to Duncan's dismay.
