In the year 1893, Nikola Tesla and a female companion find themselves gliding gracefully on roller skates, as a narrator begins to recount the fascinating backstory of Tesla's life. She describes how, as a child, Tesla experienced inspiration while petting his cat and observing static electricity.
Flashing back to 1884 in New York City, we learn about Tesla's time working under the renowned inventor Thomas Edison. Despite his brilliance, Tesla faces dismissal of his revolutionary ideas regarding alternating current, and Edison, driven by personal tragedy, refuses to compensate him adequately for his groundbreaking work. Amidst playful moments where they hilariously smash ice cream cones, the narrator interjects to clarify historical inaccuracies regarding his time with Edison.
The narration delves deeper into Tesla’s early life, where he was born in 1856 in a humble Croatian village to a Serbian priest and an exceptionally intelligent mother. He pursued his education in Engineering in Prague, eventually attempting to establish his own venture, the Tesla Lighting Company. Unfortunately, Tesla faces disillusionment when swindling investors lead to failure, forcing him to take up manual labor digging ditches for Western Union.
In stark contrast, Edison thrives in his lavish lifestyle, marred by personal loss. His wife Mary, who sadly passed away from a morphine overdose, was a significant part of his early life. Following her death, Edison finds companionship in Mina, portrayed by Hannah Gross, a woman brought into his life through fortune and connections.
In 1885, Tesla pitches his innovative magnetic induction motor to financial backers Alfred Brown and Siegfried Peck, ensuring a more lucrative arrangement than his previous $15/month compensation. Meanwhile, Edison dominates the energy landscape with his 121 power stations across the nation, unaware of Tesla's relentless ambition to overtake him.
Tesla and his devoted assistant Anthony Szigeti, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, gain the attention of Professor Anthony, who inspires them to fragment their invention into multiple patents. In this vibrant atmosphere, Tesla meets the sophisticated Anne Morgan, the daughter of J.P. Morgan played by Donnie Keshawarz, as well as the charming yet firm presence of Anne's banker father, who is heavily investing in Edison's endeavors.
Enter inventor George Westinghouse, excellently portrayed by Jim Gaffigan, who purchases Tesla's patents and endeavors to propel his energy solutions into production, offering Tesla a royalty for every horsepower sold. This sets the stage for a fierce rivalry, as Edison continues to advocate for direct current, claiming its superiority while categorizing alternating current as perilous.
Tensions heighten when Edison orchestrates a public demonstration involving the electrocuted William Kemmler, a grim sign of the lengths to which he will go to prove his point. Throughout this tumultuous era, the chemistry between Tesla and Anne deepens, with Anne striving to pull Tesla from his world of solitude, though he is haunted by his ideals and maternal influence.
The film reaches a pinnacle as Tesla's work illuminates the World's Fair in Chicago, showcasing alternating current’s safety and brilliance to millions. Yet, contrary to the joyous public reception, the personal relationship between Tesla and Anne remains complicated, featuring fleeting interactions as she grapples with his emotional distance.
Faced with mounting pressure, Westinghouse asserts the need for a merger, leading Tesla to renegotiate his contract, which he abruptly tears up, disillusioned that his innovative pursuits were mismanaged in the capitalistic world. Not long after, he meets the glamorous actress Sarah Bernhardt, who contributes to Edison's gramophone recordings but overlays a tension in his work as Edison’s envy looms large.
Time passes, leading Tesla to supervise the ambitious Niagara Falls hydroelectric power plant, while J.P. Morgan curious if Tesla harbors any romantic feelings for Anne. However, Tesla's focus on his work and ambitions continuously leads him toward solitude.
Years speed by and by 1901, as Edison faces catastrophic failures in his mining ventures, Tesla remains adamant in decoding signals he believes are extraterrestrial in origin while pursuing the noble dream of democratizing energy. Unfortunately, he finds himself continuously in need of funding from a weary J.P. Morgan, only to be met with repeated refusals.
The film poignantly closes with a montage of Tesla's struggles and triumphs. Anne, realizing the impossibility of a future with Tesla, travels to France to dedicate herself to helping children. She reflects on Tesla's legacy, noting that he outlived many of his contemporaries but sadly passed away alone at the age of 87, leaving behind a world that is, in many ways, shaped by his visionary imagination.
