In 2154, the population is divided in two social classes: the wealthy people live in Elysium, a space station with all the resources; the poor people lives in the exhausted Earth. A ruthless government official, the Secretary of Defence of Elysium, Delacourt, will stop at nothing to enforce the anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of Elysium citizens. When unlucky Max is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that, if successful, will not only save his life but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.