In Arizona in the late 1800s, infamous outlaw Ben Wade plagues the Southern Railroad. When Wade is captured, injured Civil War veteran Dan Evans - struggling to survive on his drought-plagued ranch and desperate for money - volunteers to escort him to the "3:10 to Yuma", a train that will take the killer to trial. During the journey the two men learn grudging mutual respect, but with Wade’s cold-blooded gang in hot pursuit, the mission soon becomes a violent, dangerous journey where honour and loyalty clash with far-reaching consequences.