Ryan, Wade and Emmit attend their first day of high school and immediately meet up with Filkins, the school bully who comes off like a little Hannibal Lecter. Before they become completely engulfed in Filkins' reign of terror, they seek out some protection by placing an ad in Soldier of fortune magazine. Their best response and the cheapest comes from Drillbit Taylor, a down-on-his-luck soldier of furtune who lives a homeless existence on the beach. He enrolls them in a sort of physical and mental training, steeling them, and possibly himself, for the ultimate clash against the forces keeping them down.

Ryan, Wade ve Emmit lisenin açıldığı ilk gün bir araya gelirler. Tam herşey yolundadır ki, karşılarına okulun azılı öğrencisi Filkins çıkar. Filkins bu üçlünün tam anlamıyla kabusu olur.Üç arkadaş kendilerini ondan koruyacak bir yöntem bulmaya çalışırlarken, akıllarına bir bodyguard tutmak gelir. Kendilerine en uygun olan aday Drillbit Taylor'dur. Sokaklarda yaşayan Taylor, çocukları koruma görevini kabul eder.