In 2017, Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan), a dedicated reporter for The New York Times, receives an unexpected tip regarding actress Rose McGowan (Keilly McQuail), who alleges that she was sexually assaulted by the infamous producer Harvey Weinstein (Mike Houston) back in 1992. Initially hesitant, McGowan later opens up about the traumatic encounter, vividly recounting how Weinstein assaulted her when she was just 23. Frustratingly, she reveals that, despite confiding in numerous individuals over the years, her pleas for help went unanswered.
Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan), another reporter at The Times, is closely following the allegations of sexual misconduct against then-President Donald Trump, having communicated with Rachel Crooks (Emma Clare O'Connor), who asserts that Trump assaulted her. Encouraging Crooks to go public, Jodi warns her that the newspaper would be unable to offer legal support if the president initiated a lawsuit.
As Megan publishes the article about Crooks, she finds herself threatened when Crooks receives a shocking bag of feces in the mail. Married to Vadim Rutman (Tom Pelphrey), Megan becomes a pivotal character in pursuing these grave allegations, especially as sexual harassment in the workplace gains prominence in national discourse.
Jodi, driven by her conviction that sexual harassment is alarmingly prevalent in Hollywood, brings the McGowan story to the attention of her editors, including Rebecca Corbett (Patricia Clarkson) and Matt Purdy (Frank Wood), who grant her the necessary clearance to investigate further. As she delves deeper, she interviews notable actresses like Ashley Judd and Gwyneth Paltrow, who share harrowing accounts of their own experiences with Weinstein but insist on anonymity, fearing repercussions on their careers.
Recognizing that progress is slow in her investigation, Jodi enlists help from Megan, who has shown exceptional skill in encouraging women to disclose their painful experiences. Together, they uncover a labyrinth of complaints against Miramax, the studio associated with Weinstein, but find that many allegations have been settled quietly without ever seeing the inside of a courtroom.
Despite their determined efforts, Megan encounters obstacles when she tries to gather further information; a key government investigator remains tight-lipped, while former Miramax executive John Schmidt (John Mazurek) hesitates to provide crucial details regarding Weinstein's prior settlements.
Their investigation exposes a disturbing pattern of silence surrounding sexual harassment claims, where settlement agreements often include non-disclosure clauses, effectively silencing victims. Alarmingly, they learn that a staggering 40% of the settlement funds often line the pockets of attorneys, compounding the sense of injustice.
As the story unfolds, Ambra Battilana also comes forward, having accused Harvey of groping her, only for law enforcement to conclude that insufficient evidence existed to mount a prosecution. Conversations with individuals connected to the legal system reveal that connections between Weinstein and those in power have likely contributed to the swift dismissal of criminal complaints against him.
Eventually, Jodi receives a critical tip from an assistant at Miramax, leading her to interview three former aides - Rowena Chiu (Angela Yeoh), Zelda Perkins (Samantha Morton), and Laura Madden (Jennifer Ehle). Each woman bravely shares her experiences of abuse, describing how the toxic environment at Miramax ultimately forced them to remain silent in fear of professional fallout.
Though initially reluctant, Laura consents to speak with Jodi after a representative from Weinstein's camp attempts to intimidate her. The pressure intensifies as Harvey catches wind of the investigation and dispatches attorney Lanny Davis (Peter Friedman) to refute the allegations, while still avoiding any formal statements regarding his actions.
Megan and Jodi press on, striving to convince their sources to go public. After much deliberation, both Judd and Madden choose to be named in the article, understanding that this crucial exposure could foster change.
Finally, on October 5, 2017, The New York Times publishes the groundbreaking article. The resulting impact is profound, as 82 women come forward to share their experiences with Weinstein, igniting a movement for workplace reform and legal consequences against those who perpetuate such behavior. As it stands, Weinstein is now serving a 23-year prison sentence for sexual assault in New York, a chilling testament to the systemic issues that these courageous women sought to address.
