Wrestler Mark Schultz, who won the Olympic gold medal in 1984, is trapped in a cycle of daily training routines and the occasional speeches he gives. His career had already peaked when he met John du Pont, a sports-loving multimillionaire. Du Pont invited the athlete to join the training preparations for the 1988 Olympic Games, which were to be held in Seoul. Schultz accepts the offer and moves to du Pont's farm, where the Foxcatcher team trains. There, the eccentric du Pont both showers him with luxury and drives him to train relentlessly. After several failed attempts, Schultz finally manages to persuade his brother and mentor, Dave, to join the team as well. However, as the pressure on everyone involved in Seoul continues to mount, the pent-up tensions threaten to erupt into a catastrophe...