Macbeth

In the Middle Ages, a Norwegian and Irish invasion aided by the traitorous Thane of Cawdor is defeated by Macbeth and Banquo. Cawdor is sentenced to death by King Duncan for his treachery. Duncan then decrees that Macbeth shall be awarded the title of Thane of Cawdor, elevating Macbeth's status and ambition.

Macbeth and Banquo encounter the Three Witches on the moor and learn prophecies about their futures. The witches hail Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor and future king, and call Banquo 'lesser and greater'. The encounter plants seeds of ambition in Macbeth while arousing Banquo's curiosity.

Macbeth writes a letter to Lady Macbeth detailing the witches' prophecies and his new title. Lady Macbeth reads the letter with delight and immediately imagines how to help Macbeth seize the throne. Her excitement turns to a ruthless resolve to push him toward regicide.

Lady Macbeth fears her husband's nature may be too lenient to take the throne. She vows to be cruel and to push Macbeth into murdering Duncan. Her ambition and manipulation set the plan into motion.

Duncan and the royal party spend the night at Macbeth's castle, where Macbeth is awed and anxious. Duncan names Malcolm Prince of Cumberland, enraging Macbeth and foreshadowing a line of succession. Lady Macbeth greets Duncan with duplicity, dancing and entertaining him.

Urged by his wife, Macbeth enters Duncan's chambers and murders the king after Duncan is drugged and asleep. He then frames the guards for the killing and kills them as well to cover up the crime. The king's murder is discovered, throwing Scotland into crisis.

Fearing a conspiracy, Malcolm and Donalbain flee to England and Ireland, respectively. The act leaves suspicion on others and signals Macbeth's rise to the throne in practice. The Thane of Ross realizes Macbeth will be king.

Macbeth orders murderers to kill Banquo, a potential threat to his rule, while Fleance escapes during the attack. Ross is involved as the mysterious third killer, heightening fear and suspicion at court. The murder intensifies Macbeth's paranoia about threats to his crown.

Banquo's appearance as a ghost unsettles Macbeth at a royal banquet, terrifying the assembled lords. He tries to maintain composure, but his fear exposes his guilt. The scene marks Macbeth's spiraling paranoia.

The witches perform a nude ritual and summon spirits that seem to support Macbeth's invincibility. They further manipulate him with prophecy, including the idea that he cannot be killed by anyone born of a woman and cannot be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. The prophecy fuels his overconfidence.

Ross travels to Fife with orders to slaughter Macduff's family, but Macduff has already gone to England to join Malcolm. In Fife, Macbeth's murderers murder Lady Macduff and her children after the heavy doors are left open by a traitor. Macbeth's hold on Fife tightens as Seyton is installed as Thane of Fife.

English forces invade, aided by Malcolm and Siward, cutting branches from Birnam Wood to hide their numbers. In battle, Macduff reveals he was born by Caesarean section and slays Macbeth, fulfilling the prophecy in reverse. Malcolm is crowned king as order returns to Scotland.

Donalbain, out riding, encounters the witches, leaving the film on a note of ambiguous fate. His meeting with the witches hints at further prophecies or dangers that persist beyond Macbeth's fall.