The infamous outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) and his vicious gang of thieves have been plaguing the Southern Railroad in Arizona. When Wade is captured, Dan Evans (Christian Bale), a Civil War veteran struggling to survive on his drought-devastated ranch, volunteers to deliver him to the train that will take the killer to trial. Along the way, Evans and Wade begin to earn each other's respect. But with Wade's gang on their trail and dangers at every turn, the mission soon becomes a violent journey toward each man's destiny.