Johnny Smith awakens from a coma nearly five years after a devastating car accident to find that the life he knew has moved on without him. His mother has become increasingly consumed by religious beliefs, and Sarah, the woman he loved, has married someone else and started a family.
Johnny also discovers that the accident has left him with an extraordinary ability. By touching a person or object, he can sometimes see events from the past or future. His visions soon draw public attention and place him in situations where knowing what will happen brings difficult choices of its own.
Then Johnny meets rising politician Greg Stillson and sees a future with devastating consequences. Faced with knowledge no one else possesses, Johnny must decide what responsibility comes with the ability to see what has not happened yet, and how far he is willing to go to prevent it.