In the Lego universe, populated by anthropomorphic minifigures, criminal mastermind Lord Business steals a super-weapon named the "Kragle" and blinds Vitruvius, a wizard who attempted to stop Business. He speaks of a prophecy before being kicked by Lord Business into a lava lake.
Eight-and-a-half years later, in the city of Bricksburg under the power of Business (now employing the title of "President Business"), ordinary construction worker Emmet Brickowski notices a mysterious woman and falls underground attempting to accost the trespasser. Emmet sees a mysterious piece and receives epileptic visions after touching it. He awakens in the custody of Good cop/Bad cop, Lord Business's lieutenant, with the piece, referred to by Bad cop as "the Piece of Resistance", glued on his back.