Following the successful conviction of organized crime leader Lou Janero, lawyers and the media publicly credit the victory to renegade San Francisco, California, police inspector “Dirty Harry” Callahan. To keep him out of danger from Janero’s vengeful colleagues, Harry’s superiors attempt to reassign him to a desk job in public relations, which they hope will capitalize on the department’s positive image. When Harry flatly refuses, Captain Michael Donnelly agrees to let him keep his current position if he cooperates with the media, and assigns novice detective Al Quan as his new partner. For their first case together, Harry and Al investigate the death of rock star Johnny Squares, who overdosed in his trailer while on location for a feature film. Harry questions the director, low-budget horror auteur Peter Swan, but Swan callously denies knowledge of Johnny’s well-known drug habit. Just then, KWSF News reporter Samantha “Sam” Walker arrives at the scene and aggresstively begins interfering with the investigation. Harry destroys her camera, but Sam promises to drop legal action against the city if he agrees to take her to dinner. That evening, Sam reveals her desire to do an in-depth profile detailing Harry’s career, but he views the idea as a shallow attempt to boost ratings and storms out of the restaurant. Later, on the news, Sam reports that Peter Swan and other members of his film crew have been involved in a morbid game called “The Dead Pool,” in which the participants bet on the deaths of local celebrities. Harry is annoyed that Sam did not consult with police first, as Swan’s list arouses suspicion for containing the names of both Johnny Squares and Harry Callahan. Sam apologizes, explaining that she was eager to break the story after receiving an anonymous tip about the game. To make up for their previous outing, Harry invites Sam to dinner and agrees to reconsider her proposal. As they leave the restaurant, two of Janero’s hit men open fire. Harry kills both the assailants, and escorts Sam home before her colleagues in the media arrive. Furious over the incident, Harry visits Janero in prison and threatens to have him beaten by another inmate if the assassination attempts continue. Although Peter Swan publicly declares an end to the game, another person on his list—famous film critic Molly Fisher—is murdered in her apartment by someone claiming to be Swan. Harry and Al suspect Swan is being set up, with the killer using the director’s violent films as inspiration. Al searches Swan’s personal files and finds several pieces of mail from an obsessive fan named Harlan Rook. Swan recalls Rook acting like a stalker at several film festivals, which prompted the director to file for a restraining order. Harry returns to his desk to find an updated copy of The Dead Pool list, marked to suggest he is the next target. Harry spends the night at Sam’s apartment, but Rook tracks his movements. When Al picks up Harry the next morning, Rook rigs an explosive to a remote-controlled toy car and follows the detectives on their way to work. Harry notices the toy vehicle and speeds away, leading Rook on a high-speed chase through the city. However, the toy eventually catches up to them, and Al is injured in the explosion. At the hospital, Harry learns Rook was previously diagnosed with a disorder known as process schizophrenia, and searches his apartment. Among Rook’s vast collection of movie memorabilia, he finds a payroll stub indicating that Rook used an alias to get a job with Swan’s on-set security team. Meanwhile, Rook kidnaps Sam and intends to film her death in the bayside meatpacking plant Swan is using as a makeshift studio. Harry arrives, creating a distraction that allows him time to hide Sam in a closet and lure Rook out of the building. When Rook runs out of bullets, Harry emerges from the fog and fatally impales him using a harpoon cannon. As police and reporters swarm the crime scene, Harry reunites with Sam, and they walk away from the crowd.