During the late 18th century, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their daughters – Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia – live at Longbourn, their estate in rural England. Mrs. Bennet, eager to secure her daughters' futures through suitable marriages, is delighted when wealthy bachelor Charles Bingley moves into nearby Netherfield. Bingley is introduced to local society at an assembly ball with his sister, Caroline, and his friend, Mr. Darcy. Bingley and Jane are taken with each other, while Elizabeth instantly dislikes the aloof Darcy and overhears his demeaning remarks about her.

Later visiting the Bingleys, Jane falls ill and must stay to recuperate. At Netherfield to see Jane, Elizabeth verbally spars with the haughty Caroline and Darcy. The Bennets are visited by Mr. Bennet's cousin, Mr. Collins, a pompous clergyman; as the Bennets have no sons, Collins will inherit Longbourn. Mr. Collins intends to propose to Jane, but Mrs. Bennet suggests Elizabeth instead. The Bennet sisters meet the charming Lieutenant Wickham, who is connected to the Darcy family and wins Elizabeth's sympathy by claiming Mr. Darcy denied him his rightful inheritance.

At a ball held at Netherfield, Elizabeth is pursued by Collins, and accepts Darcy's request for a dance, trading witty taunts with him. The next day, Collins proposes to Elizabeth, who declines; despite her mother's anger, her father supports her decision. When the Bingley party unexpectedly return to London, Elizabeth sends Jane to the city to stay with their aunt and uncle, the Gardiners, hoping to reconnect her with Bingley. Elizabeth is astonished that her friend Charlotte, fearing spinsterhood, has accepted Mr. Collins' proposal.

Months later, Elizabeth visits the newly-married Mr. and Mrs. Collins, who reside on the manor estate of his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Invited to dine there, Elizabeth is surprised to see Darcy, who is Lady Catherine's nephew, visiting with his friend, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Unaware Jane is Elizabeth's sister, Fitzwilliam mentions that Darcy recently separated Bingley from a woman with an "unsuitable" family.

Distraught, Elizabeth is confronted by Darcy, who proposes marriage and declares he loves her "most ardently" despite her inferior rank. She refuses, and he defends his interference with Jane and Bingley, and criticizes the Bennet family. Elizabeth cites his treatment of Wickham, leaving Darcy angry and heartbroken. He leaves her a letter describing Wickham's true character: Wickham squandered the bequest Darcy's father left him, then attempted to seduce Darcy's 15-year-old sister, Georgiana, into eloping to gain her fortune.

Elizabeth returns home, as does Jane, having moved on from Bingley. Accompanying the Gardiners on a trip to the Peak District, Elizabeth reluctantly tours Pemberley, the grand Darcy estate. She runs into Darcy, who invites her and the Gardiners to dine at Pemberley. Darcy's manner has softened considerably, and Georgiana shares her brother's flattering reports about Elizabeth.

An urgent letter from Jane reveals that Lydia has run off with Wickham. Darcy leaves abruptly, and Elizabeth returns home, where her mother fears Lydia's disgrace will ruin her sisters' chances for good marriages. Mr. Gardiner sends news that Lydia and Wickham are now married, and the newlyweds return to Longbourn. Lydia lets slip to Elizabeth that it was Darcy who found them, and paid for their wedding and Wickham's military commission.

Bingley and Darcy return to Netherfield and visit Longbourn; Bingley proposes to Jane, who accepts. Late that night, Lady Catherine arrives to see Elizabeth, and demands she never become engaged to Darcy; deeply insulted, Elizabeth refuses. Walking the moor early the next morning, Elizabeth encounters Darcy, who apologizes for his aunt's intrusion. He professes his continued love, and Elizabeth, her feelings radically altered, accepts his proposal. She tells her father the truth of Darcy's actions, and Mr. Bennet gives Elizabeth his consent to marry, overjoyed she has found love.