近未来,地球爆发一场毁灭性的战争。灾难过后,人类文明消失殆尽,整个星球满目疮痍。幸存者逆境求生,为了有限的资源回归原始,暴力血腥肆意蔓延。沉默的黑人艾利(丹泽·华盛顿 Denzel Washington 饰)是一个独来独往的旅者,他横越荒芜的美洲大陆,见识几多炎凉和凶险。 这一日,艾利辗转来到一座喧嚣小镇。神秘危险的卡耐基(加里·奥德曼 Gary Oldman 饰)控制着小镇的水源,也因此成为富甲一方、不可一世的大头目。正当此时,世间流传着一本关乎人类未来命运的预言书的传说,而艾利正是这本书的护送人。卡耐基派出手下四处寻找预言书,结果一无所获,命运却指引着他和艾利宿命地相会。人类的命运终将如何……In a violent post-apocalyptic society, a drifter, Eli, has been wandering westward across North America for the last thirty years. He finds solace in a unique book which he carries on his person and guards closely, whilst surviving by hunting small animals and seeking goods in destroyed houses and vehicles to trade in villages for water and supplies. When he reaches a village ruled by the powerful mobster, Carnegie, the man views Eli's impressive fighting skills and offers Eli a place within his gang. Carnegie presses his blind lover Claudia to send her daughter, Solara, to at least convince Eli to spend the night by sleeping with him. However, Eli proves to be the better man when he gently declines her advances. The girl sees Eli's book, and when Carnegie finds out he beats her mother until she reveals what she saw. Carnegie sends his gang into the wasteland to take the book from Eli, but the man proves to be a formidable foe as he makes it more than clear that if they want the book, they must first take his life.