In a futuristic Washington, D.C., the Precrime police unit uses psychic technology to arrest and convict murderers before they commit their crimes. Three psychic "Pre-Cogs" predict the crimes by receiving visions of the future, and it is the task of Chief of Precrime, John Anderton, to interpret these visions to prevent the murders from occurring. Troubled by a personal tragedy, the loss of his son, Anderton is a fervent believer in the infallibility of the Precrime system. But the very system that prevents crime is also one without a judicial process—a fact that does not escape scrutiny from others.

The ultimate test of Anderton's faith in Precrime comes when he himself is implicated in a future murder. With the tables turned, he must go on the run, pursued by his own team, to clear his name while unraveling a much deeper conspiracy within the Precrime system. Anderton seeks the help of one of the Pre-Cogs, Agatha, who might hold the key to proving his innocence. As he delves into the enigmatic Pre-Cog visions, he encounters a tangled web of free will versus predetermined fate, and he must confront the potential flaws of a system that could fundamentally change the nature of justice.