Max Da Costa (Matt Damon), a factory worker on Earth, is exposed to a lethal dose of radiation and is given only five days to live. His only hope for survival is to reach Elysium. To get there, he takes on a dangerous mission that pits him against the ruthless Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) and her mercenary enforcer, Kruger (Sharlto Copley). What begins as a selfish quest for survival turns into a battle to bridge the gap between the two worlds.