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The movie begins with Ptolemy I Soter narrating the key events of Alexander's life and events revolving around his invasion of the Achaemenid Empire (Persian Empire). Alexander was declared a god in Egypt and then fought the pivotal Battle of Gaugamela, where the Persian army was defeated and later fell, although Alexander failed to kill or capture the Persian king, forcing him to march further east. The story then goes back in time to show the strained relationship between Alexander's mother (Olympias)and Philip II. Alexander takes solace in wrestling, horse riding, and becomes tutored by Aristotle.<ref>For more on Alexander's early life, see: Freeman, P. (2011). <i>Alexander the Great.</i> New York: Simon & Schuster.</ref>

After Alexander is declared king and unites the Greeks after his father's (Philip II) death, his campaign against the Persians commences. After his victory in Gaugamela, one key focus was on Alexander entering Babylon, one of the great cities of the Achaemenid (Persian) Empire. Alexander is depicted as being in awe of the great city and showed more interest in uniting the Persian world with the Greek world, making these worlds better than they would be alone, where he is the great king of this new united world. While his soldiers delight in his great victory, Alexander is shown as thinking more about the future and freeing those who were enslaved at the Persian court. He gives permission for royal individuals, including Darius' daughter, to remain and be treated with respect. Meanwhile, while Alexander is staying in Babylon, his mother makes him aware of conspiracies against him but berates him for being too generous with his enemies. Alexander is shown as conflicted about his destiny. Hephaistion, one of Alexander's generals, is shown as his close companion, confidant, and lover. <ref>For more on Alexander's battles against the Persians and time in Babylon see: Cheshire, K. A. (2009). <i>Alexander the Great.</i> Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press.</ref>

Alexander then pushed on into Iran and Central Asia and India, where Alexander finally marries, choosing and Darius III was eventually killed by his troops. He chooses to marry Roxana, a marriage with a Persian-Bactrian princess that was also intended to help unify the worlds that Alexander wanted to conquer. The Greek generals and soldiers are not completely convinced in this marriage, as the Greeks saw the newly conquered as barbariansand Alexander should marry a Greek or Macedonian. Alexander, though, seems to be happy with her, despite Hephaistion's possible jealousy. Later, one of Alexander's close strategists, Parmenion, is assassinated as he was accused of treason against Alexander. Then, Cleitus, an officer serving Alexander, who was to be governor of Bactria, got involved in a drunken dispute with Alexander, where Cleitus insulted Alexander, leading to Alexander killing Cleitus. This event and the assassination of Parmenion showed the increased strain Alexander and his men were coming under as they had campaigned for so long away from Macedonia. Alexander offers generous rewards and pensions to his soldiers to keep their loyalty as he continues east. <ref>For more on Alexander's last years of campaigning and problems with his followers, see: Gabriel, R. A. (2015). <i>The Madness of Alexander the Great: and the Myth of Military Genius.</i> Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military.</ref>

Alexander then pushes his men where they fight the Battle of Hydaspes in Punjab, India. Alexander is shown as being gravely injured and the battle being particularly bloody, although the battle was won by Alexander and his troops. His army was, at this point, exhausted and many men perished as they marched back to Babylon. Back in Babylon, Alexander was shown as trying to forge a united Greek and eastern state that combined Persian and other eastern populations. His lover However, within months after he arrives his plans fall apart. First, his companion Hephaistion dies from Typhus and a few months later Alexander joins him in death. With Alexander's death, his generals begin to fight each other and divide his kingdomempire that stretched from Greece to Egypt and to western India. Forty years later, Ptolemy , who now ruled Egypt, is shown as creating a biography about Alexander, where the movie suggests the generals poisoned Alexander and sickness did not kill him, as the generals feared Alexander may have wanted to launch new campaigns to the dismay of his soldiers.<ref>For more on Alexander's last months at Babylon, see: Romm, J. S. (2011). <i>Ghost on the throne: the death of Alexander the Great and the war for crown and empire.</i> New York: Alfred A. Knopf.</ref>