Jaguar Paw is led to the top of a towering pyramid. Just as the priest prepares to take his life, a total solar eclipse begins. The high priest declares this a sign that the gods are satisfied, and the remaining captives are spared from the altar—only to be used for target practice in a deadly "game" of survival. The Great Escape

The film is spoken entirely in the Yucatec Maya language and features a cast comprised of indigenous people from the Americas.

The film's protagonist, Jaguar Paw (played by Rudy Youngblood), is a skilled hunter and warrior who finds himself captured and enslaved by the rival city-state of Chichen Itza. The narrative follows Jaguar Paw's perilous journey through the treacherous underworld of human sacrifice and ritual violence, where prisoners of war are offered to the gods in brutal and elaborate ceremonies. Gibson's unflinching portrayal of these practices has sparked controversy and debate, with some critics accusing the film of perpetuating negative stereotypes about indigenous cultures.