Brave warrior Beowulf (Ray Winstone) sets out with his men to destroy the monster Grendel (Crispin Hellion Glover) who has been terrorizing the court of the Danish king Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins). An epic battle ensues during which Beowulf deals Grendel a fatal wound and the monster returns to his home to die. Grendel's mother (Angelina Jolie) is wracked with grief and her cries soon draw Beowulf to her lair where he is determined to kill her too. Grendel's mother seduces Beowulf and promises him that he will be king of the Danes and that there will be peace in his kingdom as long as she can have his golden dragon drinking horn. Beowulf agrees and returns to Hrothgar's Hall at which point Hrothgar throws himself from the highest tower and Beowulf is declared the new king. Many years pass and all is peaceful, until one day the drinking horn is returned to Beowulf. This is swiftly followed by an attack by a dragon. Beowulf defeats the dragon, but in the process is mortally wounded and his faithful companion Wiglaf (Brendan Gleeson) is left to become the new king.