In 1954, traveling milkshake machine salesman Ray Kroc observes that many of the drive-in restaurants that he tries to sell to are inefficiently run. After learning that a drive-in in San Bernardino, California is ordering an unusually large number of milkshake mixers, Kroc drives to see it. What he finds is McDonald's—a popular walk-up restaurant with fast service, high-quality food, disposable packaging and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Kroc meets with Maurice "Mac" and Richard "Dick" McDonald, who give him a tour of the restaurant. The next day, Kroc suggests that the brothers franchise the restaurant, but they hesitate, pointing out that they already tried, only to fail.