The movie takes place in a small town in Mexico, where Miguel Rivera lives with his family. Miguel loves music, but his family has a ban on it, as his great-great-grandfather, Imelda, forbade it after her husband, Héctor, abandoned her to pursue a music career. One day, Miguel discovers a magical guitar that once belonged to his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, and is transported to the Land of the Dead. There, he meets Héctor, who becomes his guide, and together they embark on a journey to find Ernesto and return to the Land of the Living.