It is 18th century London and the wealthy are being terrorised by the notorious highwaymen Plunkett (Robert Carlyle) and Macleane (Johnny Lee Miller). When the deadly duo hold up the coach of the Lord Chief Justice Gibson (Michael Gambon), matters get more complicated. Macleane falls in love with Gibson's niece Lady Rebecca (Liv Tyler), but Thief Taker General Chance sets out to locate and destroy the two highwaymen.