Through her friend Annie (Karen Gillan](/actor/karen-gillan)), call center intern Mae Holland (Emma Watson) lands a customer support role at The Circle, a prominent tech and social media company. After a challenging interview with Dan (Nate Corddry), who focuses on behavioral questions to gauge her character, Mae begins her journey. Under the supervision of Jared ([Mamoudou Athie](javascript:void(0)]), Mae initially struggles with her work, worrying about her mid-90s satisfaction scores and the possibility of being dismissed. However, Annie reassures her that it takes time to adapt.
Mae's lifelong friend Mercer (Ellar Coltrane) is less than encouraging, secretly harboring feelings for Mae but never daring to express them. Taking the job at The Circle is crucial for Mae, as she aims to provide for her parents—especially her father, Vinnie Holland ([Bill Paxton](javascript:void(0)])—who is battling multiple sclerosis and requires expensive treatments.
At a pivotal company meeting, CEO Eamon Bailey unveils the revolutionary SeeChange technology, which utilizes small cameras for real-time video and analytics. He posits that the technology can bring justice by exposing wrongdoers, stating, > "If it happens, we will know." Meanwhile, Senator Williamson ([Eve Gordon](javascript:void(0)]) initiates an investigation into potential anti-trust violations at The Circle.
Mae quickly ascends the ranks, fully embracing the company culture and social networking. She finds herself integrating her personal social media accounts into her professional profile, which is the policy of the company. The Circle even tracks her activity, including her weekends away from the campus, disclosing information about her father's health conditions to the staff.
Her growing responsibilities lead her to meet Ty Lafitte (John Boyega), a co-founder who becomes increasingly skeptical of the aggressive enthusiasm exhibited by other employees. Mae is fitted with a health monitoring sensor and wristband, illustrating the invasive nature of her new job. As her commitment to work intensifies, she neglects her home life, which becomes evident when Mercer assists her father after a fall—a clear sign of Mae's diminishing presence at home.
The company continues to encourage extreme measures for safety, revealing they are even implanting chips in children's bones as a protective measure against various crimes. During an outdoor event, Mae becomes embroiled in a sentiment of accountability that permeates the workplace, driven by the initiative of Tom Stenton, the COO. This pushes Mae to take further steps, ultimately leading her to completely share her life through continuous video monitoring, a decision that begins to fracture her relationships with her friends and family, as private moments are exposed to the public eye.
At a board meeting, Eamon claims overwhelming support for voting through Circle accounts—highlighting their integration into governmental services. Mae, feeling increasingly empowered, intensifies the push for transparency, leading to a series of unfortunate events that culminate in the tragic death of Mercer when Circle users hunt him down, believing they are acting for the greater good.
Reeling from Mercer's death, Mae attempts to reconnect with Annie, who has distanced herself from The Circle for her own well-being. Despite her parents' concerns, Mae returns to the company, believing that connection can help her heal. She confronts Eamon and Tom, advocating that no one should remain in the shadows. During a pivotal meeting, Mae's revelation brings chaos as she publicly exposes their private correspondences, leading to their retreat in embarrassment.
In a darkened auditorium, Mae's resolve remains unshaken as her supporters illuminate her path, and she embraces the culture of transparency, unceremoniously returning to kayaking, emboldened by her newfound conviction against the all-seeing nature of technology that once enveloped her.
