Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) jest weteranem walk wręcz. Jego kariera zakończyła się z chwilą, gdy panowanie na ringu przejęły roboty. Teraz zajmuje się organizacją nielegalnych walk i renowacją robotów. Jest na dnie, gdy w jego życiu pojawia się Max (Dakota Goyo), który twierdzi, że jest jego synem. Chłopak motywuje go do wytrenowania robota, który mógłby stanąć do walki o mistrzostwo. Stawki w tym brutalnym sporcie są wysokie, a Charlie i Max mają tylko jedną szansę, by wrócić na szczyt.
In 2020, boxing is no longer fought by humans, but they have been replaced by robots. The former boxer Charlie Kenton drives his truck to promote fights with his robot Ambush. When he has just lost a fight, he is summoned to a hearing and forced to take care of his unknown eleven year-old son Max Kenton since his mother has passed away. Charlie loses another fight with the Noisy Boy robot that his girlfriend Bailey Tallet has just bought and he goes with Max to a junkyard to collect parts of robots to build a new one. However, Max finds an old sparring robot named Atom and Charlie teaches him how to box. Atom becomes a winner and Max and Charlie become closer to each other. However, Charlie has an agreement to deliver Max to his aunt and her wealthy husband.
