Eden najbolj duhovitih in sofisticiranih filmov o medgeneracijskem prepadu je v filmski svet izstrelil igralca Dustina Hoffmana, režiserju Nicholsu pa prinesel oskarja za najboljšo režijo. Benjamin Braddock, ki je pravkar diplomiral, se vrne domov, k premožnim staršem v predmestje. Zbegan in razočaran nad svetom ne ve, kaj bi v življenju počel. Kot bi ne imel dovolj težav, se zaplete z ženo očetovega poslovnega partnerja, privlačno, a nevrotično gospo Robinson, ki ga prepriča, da jo zapelje domov, tam pa ga zapelje ona. In ko se nato zaljubi v dekle svojih let, se izkaže, da je njena mati prav gospa Robinson.
Ben has recently graduated from college, with his parents now expecting great things from him. At his "Homecoming" party, Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's business partner, has Ben drive her home, which leads to an affair between the two. The affair eventually ends, but comes back to haunt him when he finds himself falling for Elaine, Mrs. Robinson's daughter.