New Jersey, 1952. Entranced by his first visit to a movie theatre and haunted by the powerful imagery of Cecil B. DeMille's Oscar-winning El espectáculo más grande del mundo (1952), young Sammy Fabelman returns home seeking to recreate it. And encouraged by Mitzi, his doting mother, Sammy discovers an irresistible passion for making home movies. As a result, the boy's creative projects become increasingly ambitious, inspired by John Ford and Un tiro en la noche (1962). However, when a life-altering family secret hidden in plain sight puts a strain on family ties, influencing his work, Sammy will have to believe in the power of the lens, embrace the slow process of growing up, and pursue his dream to become a storyteller.