Twin tiger cubs Kumal and Sangha are torn apart when their father is killed by hunter Aidan McRory (Guy Pearce). Kumal finds himself in a circus, where his spirits are broken by an abusive trainer (Vincent Scarito), while Sangha is adopted by a politician's son (Freddie Highmore) and cast aside when he attacks the family dog. The brothers struggle to survive in a world where tigers are enslaved or killed for sport, and when they inevitably meet again, it is under the worst of circumstances.