Gloria (Anne Hathaway) is an unemployed writer struggling with alcoholism. Her errant behavior prompts her frustrated boyfriend Tim (Dan Stevens) to break up with her and kick her out of their New York City apartment. Forced to move back to her Middle American hometown, Gloria ends up reuniting with her childhood friend Oscar (Jason Sudeikis), who now runs his late father's bar. Oscar is warm and welcoming to Gloria; he brings her an old television for her unfurnished house and also offers her a job at the bar to help her get back on her feet, which Gloria accepts.
Working with Oscar at the bar does not help Gloria's alcohol problem. After each shift she joins Oscar and his friends Garth (Tim Blake Nelson) and Joel (Austin Stowell) in their ritual of hanging out and drinking until morning. Gloria takes to sleeping it off on a bench near a children's playground. At the same time, a giant reptilian kaiju appears in Seoul, South Korea, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Gradually, Gloria realizes that when she walks through the playground at exactly 8:05 in the morning, she causes the monster to manifest.
Gloria reveals her secret to Oscar and his friends, but the situation becomes more complicated when Oscar steps onto the playground and causes a giant robot to manifest in Seoul. Gloria ultimately tries to make amends by spelling out an apology on the ground, to the delight of the South Koreans and the media, and she begins to avoid both the playground and alcohol.
After spending the night with Joel, Gloria discovers that a drunken Oscar is using his avatar to taunt the South Koreans. After a tense confrontation, Gloria manages to make him leave. Oscar, for his part, is jealous that something happened between Gloria and Joel. Later that night at the bar, Oscar drunkenly insults his friends and demands that Gloria have a drink. Oscar threatens Gloria to obey him, saying he will return to the playground if she does not. The next morning, a sobered up Oscar confesses his remorse and pleads with Gloria to forgive him. Gloria accepts his apology, but it is clear that Oscar continues to want to control her.
Tim shows up in town on a pretense in order to see Gloria. Oscar provokes a confrontation that ends with him setting off a large firework inside the bar. Oscar explains his performance by saying that, no matter how out of control he may become, he knows that Gloria will remain under his thumb. Later, Oscar shows up at Gloria's house, telling her he is there to prevent her from calling Tim and going back home with him.
A flashback to a freak incident with lightning that strikes both Gloria and Oscar when they are kids passing near the playground area reveals to Gloria how she and Oscar are able to manifest their avatars in South Korea. Gloria also realizes why Oscar acts out in violence and manipulation – he hates himself. Gloria resolves to leave town with Tim. Oscar, intending to make good on his threat, heads for the playground. When Gloria follows, Oscar beats her, leaving her on the ground while he terrorizes Seoul.
Upon returning to her house, Gloria has another realization. She contacts Tim to apologize and say that she cannot join him; she has taken a plane to South Korea. Once again at 8:05 in the morning, U.S. time, Oscar causes the giant robot to manifest in Seoul. As she heads towards Oscar's avatar, Gloria causes her monster to appear again, this time at the playground. Clutched in the kaiju's giant hand, Oscar is vicious and controlling to the end, telling Gloria to "put me down, you fucking bitch!" At that, the Gloria/kaiju throws Oscar away like a broken toy, and the giant robot disappears from Seoul.
Her mission accomplished, Gloria retreats to an empty bar. Settling into her seat, Gloria promises the young woman serving drinks an incredible story. Offered a drink, Gloria simply lets out a long sigh.
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