Thirty years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises in the form of the First Order, an authoritarian regime determined to claim control of the galaxy. Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi, has vanished, and both the First Order and the Resistance, led by General Leia Organa, seek to find him. The Resistance hopes to gain Luke's help to combat the First Order, while the latter seeks to prevent the return of the Jedi. The map to Skywalker's location is held within the droid BB-8, who stumbles upon the desert planet Jakku.

BB-8's search for allies leads it to cross paths with Rey, a resourceful scavenger with a mysterious past. Meanwhile, a stormtrooper named Finn experiences a crisis of conscience, leading him to desert the First Order. His path intersects with that of Poe Dameron, a skilled Resistance pilot who is captured, but not before he entrusts BB-8 with the valuable map. Together, Finn and Rey embark on a journey that involves new bonds, a legendary starship, and the ongoing battle between the dark side and the light, unaware of the influence their actions will have on the future of the galaxy.