Best friends Chon (Taylor Kitsch) and Ben (Aaron Johnson) are dedicated marijuana cultivators thriving in Laguna Beach, California. Their journey begins when Chon, a former Navy SEAL, brings back specially sourced seeds from Afghanistan that yield an extraordinarily potent strain of marijuana. This successful business venture leads Chon and Ben to wealth and establishes them in the local market. Their budding relationship with O (Blake Lively) adds another layer to their lives, as they explore a polyamorous romance together.
When Ben is away doing charity work abroad, a chilling video arrives from cartel thug Lado (Benicio Del Toro), displaying gruesome imagery that raises alarm bells about Ben’s safety. Fortunately, Ben returns unscathed the following day, and the trio confronts the Mexican cartel, which is desperate to gain a foothold in their lucrative business. The cartel proposes a deal to industrialize their production for a 20% cut, but Chon and Ben are unwilling to compromise their independence by partnering with such dangerous elements.
As they plan an escape to Indonesia without informing O of the looming threat from the cartel, their intentions are thwarted when the cartel learns of their plans. Having realized the duo’s knowledge is essential for their operations, the cartel decides they cannot let them go. In a desperate attempt to gain leverage, they abduct O, prompting Chon and Ben to negotiate with cartel leader Elena (played by Salma Hayek) through a harrowing Skype call, where she threatens O’s life unless they comply.
In the ensuing turmoil, Chon and Ben discover more about the cartel’s inner workings through corrupt DEA agent Dennis (John Travolta). Unraveling the web of manipulation and danger, they learn of Elena's brutal past and her unyielding nature. Chon and Ben, now armed with determination, consider kidnapping their way out by planning to rob Elena's properties in Laguna, where they suspect vast amounts of cash are hidden.
The duo executes a daring raid on one of Elena's cash laundering operations with the help of Chon's Navy SEAL friends, resulting in significant violence. They cunningly frame Alex (Demián Bichir), a cartel member, for the massacre to deflect suspicion from themselves. In a twisted revelation during Alex's torture, they learn that Elena’s supposedly deceased daughter Magda may still be alive and is in Laguna Beach.
Elena’s desperation brings her to Laguna to meet Magda, while O remains trapped in horrendous conditions, subjected to unspeakable trauma. Meanwhile, Lado and Dennis plot to leverage their knowledge for personal gain, revealing a deep-rooted betrayal that complicates alliances further.
As the stakes climb, Chon and Ben pay an exorbitant $3 million to Dennis for intel on Magda. They successfully kidnap her and use her as leverage against Elena, who finds herself powerless now. When a tense standoff unfolds in the desert, lives are lost as the struggle for power culminates in an explosive clash.
Ultimately, a shocking turn reveals Lado's treachery. He escapes just as DEA agents close in, leaving Elena to face the consequences of her actions. With Elena imprisoned for decades, Ben and Chon leverage incriminating evidence against Dennis, securing their freedom. The trio then embarks on a new chapter together, finding solace in their life "like savages" in Indonesia, free from the chaos they once endured.
