Henri Charrière, who was wrongfully convicted of murder, develops an unexpected bond with fellow inmate and eccentric counterfeiter Louis Dega as they seek to escape the infamous penal colony on Devil's Island.
Drawing inspiration from the internationally acclaimed autobiographical works "Papillon" and "Banco," PAPILLON portrays the dramatic journey of Henri "Papillon" Charrière (played by Charlie Hunnam), a safecracker from the Parisian underworld who is unjustly accused of murder and sentenced to life at the infamous Devil's Island penal colony. Eager to regain his freedom, Papillon forges an improbable partnership with the unconventional counterfeiter Louis Dega (portrayed by Rami Malek), who agrees to fund Papillon’s escape in exchange for protection.
Accused of murder and handed a life sentence in the horrifying penal colony on Devil's Island, located off the coast of French Guiana, the Parisian safe-cracker known as Papillon named for the distinctive butterfly tattoo on his chest finds himself in a dire situation. Confronted with a fate more dreadful than death, Papillon quickly negotiates a deal with the infamous forger Louis Dega and immediately begins plotting their escape, despite the knowledge that those who attempt to flee face solitary confinement. Nevertheless, there is no such thing as a perfect escape plan. How far is Henri Charrière prepared to go in pursuit of freedom.