A sweeping odyssey about a young man's encounters with responsibility, love, revenge and survival - this is the tale of a young Texan named John Grady Cole (Matt Damon), who finds himself without a home after his mother sells the ranch where he spent his entire life. Lured by the romance of the cowboy life South of the border, and the promise of a fresh start, Cole and his best pal Lacey Rawlins (Henry Thomas) embark on the adventure they've always dreamed about.

As they make their way towards the Rio Grande, and a land far from home, they cross paths with a volatile teenage misfit (Lucas Black) — an encounter that will precipitate much of the trouble that lies ahead. Before long, Cole falls in love with the beautiful young daughter (Penelope Cruz) of a wealthy Mexican landowner, an affair forbidden by her family. As Cole follows the wild path of his heart, he is led on a journey he could never have expected — a towering journey that will test his resilience, define his maturity and change his life forever.