In the small fishing community of Gloucester, Massachusetts, a crew aboard the fishing boat Andrea Gail is looking for a successful season. Led by their captain, the seasoned Billy Tyne, the crew is determined to make a significant haul and reverse their recent spate of bad luck. Facing financial pressures, Tyne convinces his crew to push out beyond their usual fishing grounds to the Flemish Cap, an area known for its abundant fish but also for its unpredictable weather. The promise of a bountiful catch blinds them to the risks ahead, setting the stage for a perilous journey. As they set sail with hopes high, the crew's dynamics and personal stories unfold, depicting their lives and the bonds formed on the open sea.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the Andrea Gail and its crew, two powerful weather fronts and the remnants of a hurricane converge to create a rare meteorological phenomenon. As the crew heads deeper into the Atlantic, chasing their fortune, they encounter increasingly perilous conditions. The merging storms transform the ocean into a relentless force, putting the boat and its crew in grave danger. This sets a suspenseful narrative of survival against the might of nature, where human resolve and camaraderie are tested against the backdrop of what would come to be known as one of the most formidable storms in modern history.