Carl Frederickson loves adventure and Charles Muntz, a famous explorer. He wants to be just like Muntz and travel to paradise falls.

Carl Frederickson meets a girl named Ellie who loves Charles Muntz and the idea of Paradise Falls as much as him. They grow up playing together and end up getting married. They decide to move to Paradise Falls together, but do not have enough money. They start collecting up money in hope to afford it.

Ellie ends up dying before Carl can take her to the home of their dreams, and Carl abandons trying and settles down. He is very grumpy and anti-social.

Carl ends up having to move to a retirement home, and leave his lifelong home. He then has an idea to float to Paradise Falls with balloons.

The first trial for Carl is when he finds a kid named Russel outside on the porch of his house, and has to let him in. His second trial is accidentally flying into a thunder storm. His third trial is finding the monster of Paradise Falls and a talking dog named Dug.

Carl ends up finding Charles Muntz and his blimp. They have dinner together when Charles Muntz gets suspicious of them and finds out they have the monster he is looking for. He then tries to kill them.

The monster, Kevin shows Carl and Russel great love when he lets them ride to safety on his back. They successfully get away from Charles.

Charles Muntz ends up catching innocent Kevin, and Carl leaves him and takes his house to Paradise Falls. Russel wants to go back, but Carl won’t let him, and they both sit brooding and holding grudges.

Russel ends up returning on his own to save Kevin, and Carl chases after. They end up getting Carl, but Muntz tries to kill them and they aren’t able to escape through their house.