Mrs. Bennetts mål i livet er at få sine fem døtre gift. Da de rige ungkarle Darcy og Bingley flytter til egnen, øjner hun fluks en chance for at få afsat et par af døtrene. Den ældste, Jane, bliver straks betaget af den rare Bingley. Det er derimod ikke just kærlighed ved første blik, da den næstældste datter, Elizabeth, møder den flotte, men tilknappede og tilsyneladende arrogante Darcy.

A visit from the Bennets' cousin, Mr Collins, throws the family into disarray, while Elizabeth's acquaintance with Wickham solidifies her distrust and dislike of Darcy.

Ungkarlene Darcy og Bingley rejser ganske uventet tilbage til London. Det gør ikke Elizabeth Bennet mildere stemt over for den flotte, men tilknappede Darcy. Hendes søster Jane er sønderknust over nyheden om, at Bingley er rejst, og Elizabeth opfatter miseren som Darcys skyld.

Darcy defends himself against Elizabeth's accusations, and later they meet at his house, Pemberley. While there, Elizabeth makes an astonishing discovery about Darcy which changes her feelings about him.

Mrs Bennet is delighted to have one of her daughters married at last. Elizabeth sees Wickham in his true colours when she meets him again after his elopement. There is great excitement in the neighbourhood when Bingley returns to Netherfield, bringing Darcy with him.