The movie begins by showcasing Ryan O'Kane as Colt Seavers, a skilled stuntman with a deep respect for the history of his craft. The story opens with Colt passionately discussing the significance of stunt performers in shaping film and television. Despite frequently taking dangerous hits, Colt deems the risks worthwhile because he is driven by his love for cinema and for Jody Moreno, Emily Blunt, a talented camera operator who dreams of directing her own films. Colt is currently working on scenes for a major Hollywood production starring Tom Ryder (not one of the listed cast, but central to the plot), and he is preparing for a daring stunt involving a harness and a high fall. Tragically, something goes wrong during the stunt, causing Colt to hit the ground hard and sustain a severe back injury. This accident prompts him to leave the stunt business and distance himself from Jody.
Eighteen months pass, and Colt has fallen into a less glamorous life as a valet driver. He has not spoken to Jody since his injury, and he is labeled disparagingly as “the fall guy” by a former coworker. This leads to a confrontation where Colt, feeling insulted, revs up his car and drives erratically in front of his critic. Suddenly, he receives a call from Gail Meyer, a producer who works with Tom Ryder. She offers Colt an opportunity to return to the stunt world as Ryder’s stunt double for a new sci-fi film titled Metalstorm, but she reveals that her true reason for reaching out is because Jody is directing the movie.
Colt arrives on set and reconnects with his friend and stunt coordinator, Winston Duke, who informs him that his first stunt involves a cannon roll—an exhilarating but nerve-wracking move that makes Colt uneasy, especially because he fears screwing it up in front of Jody, who is on set. During the stunt, Colt’s car rolls across a beach before he signals to the crew with a thumbs-up, showcasing his professionalism. When Jody sees Colt in costume, her reaction is mixed—she’s clearly upset to see him after such a long absence, which contradicts what Gail had told Colt about her requesting him specifically.
The production continues with complex stunts, including a fiery explosion where Colt is blown against a wall. Throughout this process, Colt and Jody share subtle conversations about their relationship, often hinting at lingering feelings while the crew watches. Meanwhile, Gail approaches Colt with a new urgent task: Ryder has gone missing after getting entangled with suspicious individuals, and Colt is hired to find him within 48 hours to save the film’s production. This unexpected mission sets Colt on a collision course with danger.
As Colt reconnects with Jody, he’s seen reminiscing about their shared moments while listening to Taylor Swift and emotional over his situation. When she joins him, they discuss their feelings—Jody emphasizing the importance of the film and Colt reassuring her he’s committed despite everything. Colt’s search takes him to Ryder’s apartment, where he is attacked by Iggy Starr, Ryder’s girlfriend and the lead actress of Metalstorm, portrayed by Teresa Palmer. The altercation reveals that Ryder might be in trouble, and Iggy directs Colt toward a nightclub where Ryder’s drug dealer, Doone, can be found.
Dressed extravagantly, Colt infiltrates the club and confronts Doone, but the dealer drugs him instead, leading Colt to trip and fight off several assailants. During the chaos, Colt chases Doone outside and manages to apprehend him, learning from a key tip that Ryder is at a nearby hotel, where he is told to look for a “fruit platter”—a coded reference to a hotel room's key. Inside, Colt finds Jody and, unpredictably, the corpse of a fellow stuntman, Henry Herrera. This discovery deepens the mystery, prompting Colt to call Gail, who advises him against involving the police. Nevertheless, Colt’s curiosity pushes him to speak with an officer, revealing more about the grim situation, even as the police glitch the investigation.
The next day, during filming, Jody feels inspired by her conversations with Colt and begins to develop more complex ideas for her movie, utilizing deepfake technology to substitute Ryder’s face onto stunt doubles. Later, she invites Colt to a karaoke night, hinting at their growing connection. En route, Colt encounters Alma Martin, Tom’s assistant, who is in possession of Ryder’s phone. She suspiciously hints at sensitive information and demands producer credits for her help—she’s willing to swap her silence for a role in Metalstorm.
The story escalates as Colt and Alma are ambushed by Dressler, Ryder’s head of security. Colt manages to steal Alma and Jean-Claude, a trained dog he previously worked with, to pursue their kidnappers in a wild chase involving stolen trucks and intense fight scenes. The adventure culminates at a karaoke bar where Colt discovers Jody waiting. They work together to hack Ryder’s phone, revealing shocking footage of Ryder and his friends—including the stuntman Henry Herrera, who was accidentally killed during a stunt gone wrong, leading to Ryder’s and others’ attempt to cover it up.
This revelation triggers a series of confrontations, both physical and digital. Dressler and hired gunmen attack Colt and Dan, forcing a brutal fight that ends with Ryder’s boat being commandeered and a dramatic showdown on the water. Forced into a corner, Ryder confesses to his crimes, blaming Gail’s manipulations, just before he attempts to burn Colt alive. Colt escapes, risking everything in a daring escape on a boat just before it explodes, leading to a presumed death and a cover-up using deepfake technology to show Ryder as the murderer.
Part of the climax involves Colt sneaking back onto the film set dressed as an alien and ultimately confronting Ryder during the final stunt scene—a jaw-dropping car jump across a canyon. Jody, aware of Ryder’s habitual forgetfulness about being recorded, organizes a plan to get Ryder to involuntarily confess on camera. The stunt culminates with Ryder knocked out after a wild leap, and Gail stealing the confession tape. The film ends with Colt and Jody celebrating their victory as Metalstorm is released in theaters, earning praise and commercial success, with Jason Momoa replacing Ryder as the star.
The credits highlight the dangerous stunts involved, while the epilogue shows law enforcement arresting Ryder and Gail for their criminal activities; however, Ryder tries to escape, activating pyrotechnics and destroying the set in a comedic finale. The film concludes with Alma calling Jason Momoa’s agent for representation, signaling new beginnings for the characters and a nod to the chaos and heroism behind the scenes.
