In a small town in Missouri, Mildred Hayes' life takes an unexpected turn after the brutal rape and murder of her daughter, Angela. Desperate for justice and frustrated with the lack of progress in the investigation, Mildred decides to take matters into her own hands. In a bold move, she rents three strategically placed billboards along the road leading into town, on which she delivers a provocative message to Police Chief Willoughby and the community at large. The billboards criticize the police's inaction and demand answers, igniting a whirlwind of controversy and tension among the townspeople.
The message catches the attention of several complicated characters in the story. Willoughby, a terminally ill man struggling to find a balance between his duty and his compassion, attempts to address the situation but faces the resistance of the violent and racist officer Dixon, who is an unfortunate example of the flawed system that Mildred critiques. As the conflict intensifies, the film explores profound themes such as grief, forgiveness, and justice.
What begins as a personal fight for truth transforms into a reflection on love and revenge, while the town confronts its own demons. In this disturbing yet moving story, a mother's courage can change not only her life but also the lives of those around her.