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A storm rages over a heath near a blood-soaked battleground, where a group of witches has gathered in an atmosphere charged with violence and the supernatural.

Two Scottish generals, Macbeth and Banquo, approach, fresh from their victory on as “foul and fair a day” as ever seen. The witches hail Macbeth as “Thane of Glamis,” “Thane of Cawdor” and “King of Scotland,” while Banquo is greeted as the founder of a great line of kings before the witches mysteriously vanish. The astonished commanders reveal their excitement, as well as their doubts, in a memorable duet. Messengers arrive, addressing Macbeth as “Thane of Cawdor.”

Scene 2: Macbeth’s castle.

Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband about his new title and his amazing encounter with the Weird Sisters. Elated by the prospect of such power, she resolves to see her husband quickly crowned. Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth, upon his return, to murder King Duncan, who is staying in the castle overnight. Macbeth reluctantly does as she asks, but is filled with horror afterwards.

Ashamed of her husband’s squeamishness, Lady Macbeth takes charge – smearing the sleeping guards with King Duncan’s blood and planting the murder weapon on an innocent man. Macduff makes the gruesome discovery of the King’s body and rouses the entire household. Terrified that they, too, will be murdered, Duncan’s sons take flight: Malcolm making haste to England and Donalbain to Ireland, casting suspicions upon them both.

The new king is settled uneasily upon his throne, disturbed by the witches’ prophecy that Banquo – not Macbeth – will father a great royal line. Macbeth plots to cheat destiny by arranging the murder of Banquo and his son, when they arrive to attend a state banquet. Lady Macbeth rejoices in the powers of darkness.

Scene 2: A park.

Banquo, meanwhile, approaches the castle, filled with foreboding. Attacked by an armed gang lying in wait, Banquo enables his son to escape at the cost of his own life.

Scene 3: Inside the Great Hall.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are entertaining their guests and the King is discreetly informed of Banquo’s death. As he returns to the table, Macbeth spies the ghostly figure of Banquo sitting in his place. However, no one else is able to see this apparition and the nobles assume -- by Macbeth’s raving responses -- that he is at best, demented and, at worst, guilty of Banquo’s cold-blooded murder. Lady Macbeth in unable to calm the crowd and Macduff, realizing he could be the next to leave this world, wisely departs Scotland instead.

The witches, gathered around a bubbling cauldron, are approached by the agitated Macbeth, for whom they conjure three spirits. The first advises him to “Beware of Macduff.” The second tells Macbeth he cannot be harmed by a man “born of a woman.” The third prophecy is the most mysterious of all: a peculiar claim that Macbeth will never be conquered until “Birnam Wood” marches against him. Macbeth is then subjected to the vision of the ghostly Banquo and eight of the murdered Lord’s descendants wearing the Scottish crown, just as the witches predicted.

Undone, Macbeth collapses.

Scene 2: In the castle.

The beleaguered King and his wife decide on another murdurous fix: this time, targetting Macduff and Banquo’s son, Fleance. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth sing a duet on the “Hour of death and vengeance.”

Members of the Macduff clan are bemoaning their fate and the bitter sufferings they’ve had to endure. Birnam Wood can be seen, off in the distance. Malcolm, the son of the murdered King Duncan, has joined forces with Macduff at the head of an English army. Preparing for the imminent battle, Malcolm orders the soldiers to cut branches from Birnam Wood and use them to camouflage their advance, fullfilling yet another of the witches’ prophecies.

Scene 2: Macbeth’s castle.

Lady Macbeth is seen sleepwalking through Glamis Castle. The guilt-wracked queen suffers from horrifying nightmares and wrings her hands incessantly, in an effort to wipe off the blood of her victims – blood only she can perceive.

Scene 3: Macbeth prepares for his enemies’ attack.

He shows no emotion when told of his wife’s death but realizes time may be running out when soldiers, carrying branches from Birnam Wood, advance in his direction. In the ensuing confrontation, Macduff tells Macbeth (as he kills the mad king) that he was never born of a woman – Macduff was delivered by C-section and thus, the final prophecy has been fulfilled.

Citizens and soldiers rejoice in a moving hymn to victory.