Emma Stone stars as Cruella de Vil in this prequel to '101 Dalmatians' (1961). Aspiring fashion designer Estella (Stone) makes a living as a pickpocket in 1970s London, alongside fellow thieves Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser). As a gift for her birthday Jasper and Horace create a fake CV and gain Estella an entry-level position with the most influential designer in London, the Baroness (Emma Thompson).

Estella quickly makes an impact but she has ulterior motives for wanting to get close to the Baroness, and sets out a cunning plan to steal her wealth. In order to do so she must reinvent herself as Cruella, and also find a way of getting round the Baroness' three Dalmatian dogs.