In the neon-lit streets of Los Angeles, a driven and morally flexible man discovers the high-speed world of crime journalism, where freelance camera crews film crashes, fires, murder, and other mayhem. Obsessed with the idea of capturing the most gruesome footage to sell to local TV news stations, he muscles into the cutthroat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling. With no experience but plenty of ambition, he begins to blur the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story, teaching himself police codes and the locations of accidents and crime scenes throughout the night.

Guided by the mantra that the footage has to be thrilling to compete in the sensational news market, he partners with a struggling news station, where an equally ambitious news veteran becomes his gateway into the industry. As their professional relationship develops, it becomes clear that their definitions of success involve ethical compromises. The pursuit of exclusive, boundary-pushing content leads to a symbiotic relationship that escalates the stakes of their nighttime missions. Driven by the quest for higher ratings and greater profits, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, setting the stage for a series of events that challenge their morality and legality.