A young movie fan, Danny Madigan, is obsessed with the larger-than-life action hero Jack Slater, star of a popular film franchise. Danny frequents his local movie theater, where the elderly projectionist, Nick, gives him a magical golden ticket once owned by Harry Houdini. This ticket possesses powers that blur the lines between reality and the cinematic world. During a private screening of the latest Jack Slater film, this ticket propels Danny straight into the movie, turning his greatest fantasies into reality. Inside the film world, Danny finds himself side by side with his idol, Slater, who is unaware that he is a fictional character.

As Danny tries to navigate this alternate reality with the help of his newfound hero, they team up to tackle Slater's latest adversary. With Danny's knowledge of real-world logic and Slater's superhuman abilities, they work to prevent the villain's sinister plot. Meanwhile, moments and items from movies intermingle with the fantastical storyline, as the magical ticket begins to breakdown the barriers between two distinctly different worlds. Danny must balance the awe of being in the cinematic universe with the need to help Slater adapt to the unpredictability beyond their scripted existence, leading to a journey that tests the limits of fiction and reality.