Solomon Northup, a free African-American man in 1841, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Southern United States. He endures twelve years of bondage before regaining his freedom.
Ron Woodroof, a Texas electrician and rodeo cowboy, is diagnosed with HIV in 1985 and given 30 days to live. Facing stigma and limited treatment options, he seeks alternative therapies and begins smuggling unapproved drugs from Mexico. Partnering with Rayon, a transgender woman, they establish the Dallas Buyers Club, providing non-FDA-approved medications to AIDS patients. Their efforts challenge the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies, highlighting issues of access and acceptance.