After his father's recent death, Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) and his mother Gale (Amy Ryan) move from New York City to the peaceful town of Madison, Delaware. While settling in the new neighborhood, Zach befriends his neighbor Hannah (Odeya Rush) until her overprotective father (Jack Black) warns him to avoid contact with them. The next morning, at Madison High School, where Gale works as vice-principal, Zach befriends Champ (Ryan Lee (actor)). That night, Hannah invites Zach to an abandoned amusement park but when they return home, Hannah's father warns again that Zach stays away or something bad will happen.