The film begins with Sergei Kravinoff, also known as “Kraven The Hunter,” portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, being transferred to a high-security prison in Russia. During the transport, he displays his fierce nature by incapacitating two fellow inmates before being taken to meet the notorious crime boss Semyan Chorney, played by Yuri Kolokolnikov. As Kraven asserts his feared identity, Chorney dismisses him, stating that “The Hunter” is merely a legend. In an explosive display of power, Kraven seizes a tiger's tooth from a rug and uses it to eliminate Chorney's henchmen, ultimately jamming it into Chorney’s neck, ensuring his death. He resorts to using another inmate’s body as a decoy, enabling his audacious escape from prison.
The narrative then propels us 16 years back in time, showcasing a young Sergei (played by Levi Miller) alongside his sibling Dmitri (portrayed by Billy Barratt). Their father, Nikolai Kravinoff, depicted by Russell Crowe, arrives to pick them up from school, delivering the devastating news of their mother’s suicide—a tragedy that Sergei holds Nikolai responsible for. The boys are soon taken on a hunting expedition with Nikolai and his accomplice, Aleksei Sytsevich, played by Alessandro Nivola. While seeking to be part of Nikolai’s underworld empire, Aleksei’s ambitions are unreciprocated, and his intentions remain unfocused. Nearby, a teenage girl named Calypso (originally portrayed by Diaana Babnicova, but later by Ariana DeBose) seeks guidance from her grandmother through tarot cards. The hunt takes a dangerous turn when a lion attacks Sergei, nearly leading to his demise. Calypso intervenes to tend to his injuries, yet as lion's blood enters Sergei’s bloodstream, it triggers a transformation that alters his DNA. Miraculously, after being declared dead by medical professionals, Sergei’s newfound powers revive him.
With the trauma of his rebirth fresh in his mind, Nikolai hastily brings Sergei back home. In a moment of defiance, Sergei decides to escape, leaving his brother Dmitri to contend with their father. He wanders into the wilderness, where he witnesses a wildebeest stampede; shockingly, he later discovers several of the animals slaughtered by hunters—one being a father-son duo who threaten him. In a fit of rage, Sergei wields a knife, killing the older hunter before brutally attacking the younger.
Fast forward to the present, Kraven utilizes his enhanced animalistic abilities to target and eliminate criminals. A text message from Dmitri, now played by Fred Hechinger, invites Kraven to join in his birthday festivities. However, when Kraven disrupts a band of mercenaries attempting to hunt illegally, he demonstrates his lethal skills by infiltrating their van and swiftly slaughtering the men inside. After he claims the life of the mercenary leader by invoking terror and violence, he occupies the boss’s chair as though he were the one in charge.
The film’s plot thickens when Calypso, now a lawyer, learns that her close ally has been murdered by Chorney’s men. Kraven reveals himself to her, reminding her of the boy she once saved and disclosing his current identity as “The Hunter” who has been indiscriminately targeting dangerous criminals within the city. Meanwhile, Aleksei, who has transformed into a mercenary with his own ambitions, seeks to usurp Nikolai's criminal empire by demonstrating his newly obtained mutation, which allows him to become “The Rhino”—a grotesque transformation he maintains with the help of a serum.
A chaotic birthday party for Dmitri unfolds, attended by Nikolai at a nightclub where Dmitri showcases his musical talents. A plot to assassinate Nikolai arises, but he cleverly uses one of the thugs as a shield during the ensuing gunfire. After an unexpected visit, Kraven spends quality time with Dmitri before tension escalates as Nikolai interrupts their reunion.
Things take a darker turn when Aleksei’s men capture Dmitri, prompting Kraven to launch into a full-hearted pursuit across the city as he smashes through doors and leaps over obstacles in a frantic chase to save his brother. After sending a grim message in the form of Dmitri’s severed finger, Nikolai realizes the stakes and the price he must pay to secure his son’s safety.
Anticipating Kraven’s response, Aleksei hires an assassin known as The Foreigner, portrayed by Christopher Abbott, whose ability to manipulate time makes him a formidable foe. With Calypso by his side, Kraven embarks on a journey to rescue Dmitri from captivity. They navigate through treacherous terrains, encountering familiar wildlife in the jungle.
The climax reaches a boiling point when The Foreigner confronts Kraven, incapacitating him with poisoned darts that induce terrifying hallucinations. Yet, Calypso emerges as a savior, shooting The Foreigner with a well-aimed arrow and employing her mystical powers to restore Kraven’s vigor. In a desperate showdown, Kraven unleashes a stampede of wildebeests against Aleksei's convoy. The chaotic scene culminates in a fierce battle between Kraven and Aleksei—the latter transforming fully into The Rhino to match Kraven's ferocity.
Ultimately, Kraven manages to outmaneuver Aleksei, using cunning tactics to exploit his weaknesses. In a moment of bitter truth, Kraven learns that Nikolai orchestrated events that lured him into this brutal confrontation, revealing the manipulative nature of their family ties. As a final act of vengeance, Kraven steals bullets from all of Nikolai’s firearms before leaving a beast to enact retribution upon his father.
In the aftermath, Kraven encounters Dmitri, now empowered with the ability to shapeshift into others, marking his own transformation into “The Chameleon.” Their parting is fraught with tension, showcasing the divergence in their destinies. Returning home, Kraven confronts an unsettling package from Nikolai, further cementing his identity as a relentless hunter as he grapples with his father's legacy. Charles is met with the dark reflection of his own ambitions, now donning a vest made from animal fur, symbolizing the predator he has become.
