The action of this films starts with a young Howard Hughes proving his genius for being in touch with the times and the market while others believe he is taking on impossible odds. The film spans across the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression and World War II to show the culture and politics of America in this time of profound change.

Leonardo DiCaprio shows a great range of acting as he moves the character of Hughes through political, economic, technological and psychological challenges. Director Martin Scorsese excels at bringing different moods to the screen as the story progresses through the first half of the 20th Century.