In 1815, convict Jean Valjean is paroled by the prison guard Javert after enduring nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread and multiple escape attempts. Valjean exhibited remarkable strength and inspired his fellow inmates to perform incredible feats in service of the nation. However, upon his release, he is shunned from every town due to his criminal status. Despite this, he is granted shelter and food by the Bishop of Digne, only to betray this kindness by stealing his silver one night. When the authorities capture him, the Bishop claims it was a gift, leading to Valjean's release. Touched deeply by the Bishop's mercy, Valjean breaks his parole and promises to reinvent himself under a new identity, yet this act places him under the threat of recapture.
Fast forward eight years, and Valjean has transformed into a prosperous factory owner and the mayor of Montreuil-Sur-Mer, while Javert has taken up the role of chief of police. In their first encounter, Javert instinctively recognizes Valjean but can’t pinpoint him. During this time, Fantine (Anne Hathaway), one of Valjean's factory employees, faces disgrace as she is discovered sending money back home to her estranged daughter Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), who is living with the unscrupulous Thenardiers (Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen) and their daughter Eponine. As Fantine is falsely accused by her foreman and ridiculed by her coworkers, she resorts to selling her hair, teeth, and ultimately descending into prostitution to provide for her child. After a brutal encounter with a customer, she finds herself arrested, but Valjean comes to her aid, ensuring she receives medical attention.
As fate would have it, Valjean learns that an innocent man has been arrested in his stead, prompting Javert to offer his resignation. However, Valjean insists he did not do anything wrong. Unable to witness an innocent man suffer in his place, Valjean decides to reveal his true identity in court. After this critical moment, he returns to assure Fantine that he will take care of Cosette before she passes away. Although Javert arrives to arrest him, Valjean strikes a deal for time to secure Cosette's safety. In a daring escape, he jumps into a river and eventually finds the Thenardiers, paying off Fantine's debts while whisking Cosette away with a promise of fatherhood. They flee to Paris, prompting concern amongst the Thenardiers about their financial opportunities.
Nine years pass amidst rising poverty in Paris, as the sympathetic Jean Maximilien Lamarque nears death. A group of students, known as the ABC, including Marius Pontmercy, decide to rebel against the monarchy. Marius, who resides near the Thenardiers, inadvertently captures the heart of Cosette, now a young woman, while Eponine silently suffers her own unreturned affection for him. One day while out with Cosette, Valjean encounters Marius, igniting a complicated web of feelings that intertwine their lives and lead to confrontations with the Thenardiers, who are eager to extort Valjean again.
As the students prepare to revolt, they receive devastating news about Lamarque’s death, igniting a passionate resolve among them. Eponine leads Marius to Cosette, and they confess their love, unaware of her secret heartache. The Thenardiers attempt to exploit their grasp over Valjean, leading to moments of tension heightened by Javert’s sudden intervention. Valjean, mindful of Cosette’s attachment to Marius, grapples with his protective instincts as more dangers loom. When the revolution finally erupts, filled with fire and chaos, Eponine sacrifices her life to protect Marius, leaving behind a heart-wrenching letter from Cosette.
Amid the violence, Valjean puts aside his desire for freedom to safeguard Marius, confronting Javert and making a moral choice that alters their fates. As the struggle continues, Thenardier’s avaricious nature leads to further betrayals, but ultimately it's the bond between Valjean and Marius that shifts lives forever. With despair and tragedy echoing through Paris, a bittersweet conclusion unfolds as Marius recovers and learns about Valjean’s past, ultimately leading to love, loss, and the true meaning of sacrifice. As the story draws to a close, Valjean prepares to meet his end, leaving behind a legacy of love and redemption, entwined forever with the spirits of those he lost.
