Rogue CIA Agent Sands (Depp) has a bold plan. He knows that the Mexican cartel, headed by Barillo (Dafoe), has sent General Marquez (Vigil) to affect a coup d’etat on the president of Mexico, and put Barillo in control of Mexico. Sands’ plan: send the famous El Mariachi (Banderas) to kill General Marquez, whom El has a vendetta with - after Marquez kills the president. But when Sands’ plans start to backfire, it’s up to El Mariachi to do what’s best for Mexico.