In a seemingly perfect utopian future, society has abolished violence, crime, and even swearing, thanks to an innovative system of social control. However, everything changes when a dangerous criminal from the 20th century, frozen in time to serve his sentence, manages to escape from his prison of ice and unleashes chaos in a city that has forgotten how to deal with criminality. His name: Simon Phoenix, a killer and psychopath who presents an imminent threat.
To counter this threat, the authorities decide to unfreeze a police officer from the same time as Phoenix: John Spartan, a tough and straightforward agent whose way of handling problems led to his imprisonment. However, Spartan is not just a man of action; he must also adapt to a world where the rules have drastically changed. Between advanced technology and the peculiarly friendly citizens who have lost their sense of danger, Spartan will have to remember how to deal with an unpredictable criminal.
With the help of a modern police officer who does not understand his old-fashioned methods, Spartan embarks on a frantic race to capture Phoenix and restore order in a society that has forgotten how to defend itself. As the battle between these two men unfolds, truths about violence, justice, and human nature will be questioned, while both face a fate that could change the future forever.