In the Prohibition-era United States, the Bondurant brothers—stoic Forrest, ambitious Jack, and tough Howard—run a successful bootlegging operation in Virginia's Franklin County. Their moonshining business thrives due to the public's ravenous demand for illegal alcohol and the brothers' ruthless tactics in defending their trade. Local authorities turn a blind eye to their activities, partly due to corruption and the brothers' well-cultivated reputation for invincibility. However, their lives and booming business take a turn when a new and particularly sadistic law enforcement officer arrives on the scene, determined to crack down on the local bootlegging operations and take a cut of the profits.

This formidable deputy, known for his unorthodox and brutal methods, poses the greatest threat the Bondurant brothers have ever faced. In an attempt to expand their business beyond the county lines, Jack, the youngest and most ambitious brother, makes moves to diversify their operation and partners with other gangsters, attracting even more unwanted attention from law enforcement. The increased scrutiny and the deputy's relentless pursuit of control lead to a violent confrontation, which threatens not only the Bondurant family's livelihood but their very lives. As the brothers stand their ground, they are drawn into a cycle of violence and retribution that tests their bond and their legend of indestructibility.