Tom Popper is a successful real estate developer in New York City. He's dedicated his life to his work, often at the expense of his relationships with his family, including his ex-wife Amanda and their two children. Popper's life takes an unexpected turn when he inherits six penguins from his estranged father, who was an adventurer. The penguins turn Popper's swanky Manhattan apartment into a snowy winter wonderland and his life upside down. Initially seeing the penguins as a nuisance, Popper contemplates finding a new home for them but struggles due to their endangered status.

As Popper becomes increasingly attached to the penguins, naming them after famous explorers, they help him rediscover the joy and wonder in his life. The presence of the penguins brings Popper and his family closer together, helping him to mend his relationship with his children and rethink his priorities in life. However, managing the needs of the penguins in an urban environment proves challenging, attracting the attention of his nosy neighbors and a persistent zoo official who believes the penguins belong in a more appropriate habitat. His career also faces jeopardy as he tries to juggle his responsibilities at work with the demands of his new unconventional family.