Sutter Keely, a charming and self-assured high school senior, lives in the moment and embraces a life of parties, alcohol, and carefree relationships. Driven by his philosophy of the "spectacular now," he ignores his future and the looming responsibilities of adulthood. After a breakup with his girlfriend Cassidy, Sutter's penchant for alcohol leads to an unexpected encounter. Waking up on a stranger's lawn, he meets Aimee Finicky, a shy and bookish classmate who is the polar opposite of his ex-girlfriend. Despite their differences, an unlikely friendship forms between the extroverted party boy and the introverted sci-fi enthusiast.

As their bond deepens, the friendship begins to shift into a romantic relationship. Sutter, dealing with the influence of his absent father and his mother's concerns, convinces himself that he's a positive force in Aimee's life. Aimee finds herself drawn to Sutter's charisma and his devil-may-care attitude, which lends her a newfound sense of confidence. However, as they get closer, Sutter's struggles with alcohol and his refusal to plan for the future start to impact their relationship. His self-destructive habits threaten to derail the progress they've both made in each other's lives, challenging the sustainability of their blossoming romance.