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Theseus, Duke of Athens, is preparing for his wedding to Queen of the Amazons (and somewhat reluctant fiancé), Hippolyta. Their marriage has been arranged through battle, as Theseus bested the Amazons while at war. Egeus, a well-to-do Athenian community member arrives with a problem - his daughter Hermia loves a young man named Lysander, but Egeus wants her to marry Demetrius (who is loved by Helena, Hermia’s friend from childhood).
Hermia and Lysander secretly decide to elope to the forest. Hermia tells her childhood friend Helena of their plans. And Helena, who is in love with Demetrius and hoping to get into his good favor, in turn tells Demetrius about her friend’s escape plan. Demetrius chases the happy couple into the woods, and Helena chases after him.
A group of tradesmen meet to discuss a play on the theme of Pyramus and Thisbe, which they hope to perform at Theseus’ wedding. Bottom, a bit of a diva, tries to get director Peter Quince to give all the roles to him. After calming Bottom down and giving him the role of Pyramus, the male romantic lead, they plan to rehearse in the forest.
Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies, are arguing over who should have a changeling boy, the son of one of Titania’s followers who had died. Titania will not give him up, so Oberon takes his revenge by having his servant Puck find a special flower whose juice he will squeeze onto Titania’s eyes while she is asleep, which will make her fall in love with the first thing she sees upon waking. Oberon, who feels sorry for Helena after seeing Demetrius rudely reject her, tells Puck to put the potion in Demetrius’ eyes also. But Puck mistakes Lysander for Demetrius, and Lysander wakes to see Helena. He falls in love with and chases after her, leaving Hermia alone in the woods.
Meanwhile, Bottom and the other mechanicals begin their rehearsal near where Titania is sleeping. Puck gives Bottom the head of a donkey, which frightens his friends away. The ruckus wakes Titania, and she falls in love with a donkey headed Bottom, who is treated like a lord by Titania’s fairy followers.
Hermia, having become separated from Lysander, thinks Demetrius has killed him and goes off in search of her beloved. Oberon is furious with Puck for mistakenly giving Lysander the love potion, and tells him to find Helena and bring her to him. Oberon squeezes the flower onto Demetrius’ eyes while he sleeps. Lysander enters with Helena, begging for her love, telling her Demetrius does not love her; Demetrius then wakes, sees Helena, and also begs for her love.
Hermia enters and is snubbed by Lysander, while Helena thinks all three are playing a mean, elaborate trick on her. Demetrius and Lysander challenge each other to a duel. Oberon gets Puck to imitate the two men’s voices, leading them around until they fall asleep. Puck puts an antidote on Lysander’s eyes so that he resumes his love for Hermia.
Oberon then releases Titania from her spell, having received the changeling boy from her, and Puck removes Bottom’s donkey head. Theseus and Hippolyta arrive in the woods with Egeus, where they discover the sleeping lovers. They hear their story, and Theseus decrees they shall be married as they wish, despite Egeus’ will.
Bottom is reunited with his friends, and they rehearse their play, which has been selected as one of those to be made available as entertainment at the wedding. After supper, Theseus chooses the mechanicals’ production of Pyramus and Thisbe, which is presented in front of an audience of all the lovers, who mock the silly play in good fun. Puck ends the play by asking the audience for forgiveness for his mischief, and also for applause.
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