In the late 1950s, at the start of their senior year at Rydell High School, greaser Danny Zuko and the sweet Australian transfer student Sandy Olsson recount their summer romance unaware they're now in the same high school. Their worlds collide when Sandy is introduced as the new girl during homeroom, catching Danny off guard. Both play it cool in front of their peers, Danny sticking to his tough-guy facade with his gang, the T-Birds, and Sandy befriending the Pink Ladies, led by the sassy Rizzo.

As the school year progresses, Danny and Sandy try to rekindle their summer love amidst the social norms of high school cliques and peer pressure. They find themselves pulled apart by the expectations of their distinct friend groups: the T-Birds with their leather jackets and slicked-back hair, and the Pink Ladies who are known for their sassy attitudes and rule-breaking antics. Sexual innuendos, teen pregnancy scares, and school pranks color their experiences as they navigate the highs and lows of adolescent life. The brewing tension between maintaining a reputation and staying true to their feelings for each other sets the stage for a transformative school year.