The film opens with a mysterious CIA memo detailing the recovery of a man named Arlington Steward, who has endured severe burn injuries and is now involved in the Mars project.
Set in 1976, we meet Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur Lewis (James Marsden), who are seen enjoying the comfort of their bed before the early morning doorbell disrupts their peace. After seeing a black car speeding away from their home, Norma opens the door to discover a package containing a mysterious wooden box. Within it, she finds a glass dome-covered button accompanied by a note stating that Mr. Steward would arrive at 5:00 PM. The couple shares a pleasant breakfast with their son, Walter (Sam Oz Stone), blissfully unaware of the profound choices about to confront them.
As Arthur heads to his job at NASA, where he has contributed to the design of camera technology for the Viking Mars probe, he faces the disappointment of being rejected from the astronaut program after failing a psychological evaluation. In the meantime, Norma teaches literature at a prestigious school, where she confronts her own insecurities about her disfigured foot. When she's informed that her tuition discount is no longer valid, the couple's financial strain escalates.
The ominous arrival of Arlington Steward at precisely 5:00 PM reveals the dark implications of the button. He chillingly offers Norma and Arthur a choice: push the button, resulting in the death of an unknown person elsewhere in the world, and receive one million dollars as a reward. He gives her a $100 bill, prompting her to consider the weighty moral dilemma they face.
After much debate and some unexpected exploration of the box, Norma impulsively presses the button, which triggers a cascade of horrifying events that follow. When Arlington reappears, he hands them the cash without revealing whether the button was pressed, raising the stakes even higher. Tensions rise as Arthur receives troubling news about a woman shot fatally, likely linked to their decision.
Complications mount when Arthur and Norma attend a wedding rehearsal dinner, leading to unsettling discoveries that intertwine their lives with those of others. Strangely prophetic interactions with students and peculiar incidents reveal underlying connections and build a sense of foreboding.
Their lives spiral further into chaos as Arthur uncovers the truth about Arlington's sinister motives, coming to grips with an extraordinary world where choices have far-reaching consequences. Norma's emotional encounter with Arlington exposes the depths of her empathy, all while they scramble to save their son when he is unexpectedly kidnapped.
In a climactic twist of fate, the couple is forced to choose between their love and their child's future, leading to a heart-wrenching decision. The heartbreaking conclusion serves as a haunting reminder of the trials of morality, love, and sacrifice under extraordinary circumstances.
Intensifying the film's exploration of human nature, Arlington offers one final cruel choice, resulting in a grim conclusion as Arthur is left grappling with the impact of their actions. The cruel irony unfolds as another couple faces the same dilemma later, hinting at a cycle that perpetuates the exploration of human greed and the value of life. Ultimately, as Arthur is escorted away, a lingering sense of dread casts a shadow over the family's choices, solidifying the film's unsettling tone.
