Vincent (Ethan Hawke) is an outsider, a natural birth or 'In-valid', living in a world in which 'designer people', forged in test tubes, rule society. Determined to break out of his imperfect genetic destiny and fulfil his dreams, Vincent meets Jerome (Jude Law), a 'Valid' willing to sell his prime genetic material for cash.

Using Jerome's blood, urine, skin and hair samples, Vincent is able to forge a new identity and pursue his goal of a mission to space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation, and enjoy a blossoming romance with Irene (Uma Thurman), another 'Valid'. However a week before his flight, a Gattaca mission director is brutally murdered and Vincent finds himself pursued by a relentless investigator (Alan Arkin) threatening to expose his counterfeit life and reveal him as 'In-valid', ending his dreams forever...