When twelve monolithic spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team--led by expert linguist Dr Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner)--are brought together to investigate. As they grapple to unlock the linguistic codes that will allow them to communicate with this mysterious alien life form, the world's super powers are planning their attack. With mankind on the brink of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers--and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly all humanity.