A young boy named Sammy Fabelman discovers the captivating power of film after his parents, Mitzi and Burt, take him to see his first movie. Growing up in post-World War II era America, his love for cinema blossoms, accompanied by his mother's artistic spirit and his father's practical intellect. The family's dynamic reflects Mitzi's whimsical nature and Burt's technological prowess, fueling Sammy's passion and talent for making his own films. He uses his camera to create and preserve his version of the world, but it also serves as a means to understand the complexities around him. As he grows older, his experiences with his supportive but unconventional mother, his relationship with his father, and interactions with his siblings play a pivotal role in shaping his perspective on life and art.

Through his lens, Sammy begins to capture the joys, sorrows, and unspoken truths of his family life, inadvertently uncovering secrets and tensions within his home. His journey is not only a creative awakening but also a coming-of-age story, as he confronts the challenges of adolescence and the dissonance between his parents' dreams and his own aspirations. The family moves across the country for Burt's career, further complicating Sammy's emotional landscape and leading him to seek solace and expression in the moving images he crafts. As he hones his filmmaking skills, Sammy navigates the delicate balance between his artistic desires and the realities of his family's shifting world.