In the pre-Civil War American South, Django, a slave, finds his life irrevocably changed when he is freed by Dr. King Schultz, a German bounty hunter. Schultz seeks Django's help in identifying the Brittle brothers, his next bounties, who were former overseers of Django and brutally mistreated him. Schultz, deeply opposed to slavery, strikes a deal with Django: if Django aids him in tracking down the Brittle brothers, Schultz will not only free him but also teach him the ways of bounty hunting. As the newly formed duo set out, a bond forms between them, with Schultz becoming a mentor and ally to Django.

During their ventures, Django reveals his ultimate goal to rescue his wife, Broomhilda, who was separated from him when they were sold at auction. Discovering she is enslaved on the infamous "Candyland" plantation owned by the charming but cruel Calvin Candie, Schultz agrees to help Django in his quest. They devise a risky plan to infiltrate the plantation under the guise of purchasing a fighter for Candie’s brutal “Mandingo” fights. Their sharp wit and cunning give them an initial advantage, but as they delve deeper into the savage world of Candie's domain, the stakes rise and the danger grows, threatening their mission and their lives.