Zola, based on a viral Twitter thread, follows the real-life story of a stripper named Aziah Wells (played by Taylour Paige). After meeting a seemingly friendly customer named Stefani (Riley Keough) at a restaurant, Aziah agrees to accompany her on a weekend trip to Florida to make money by dancing at a strip club.
The road trip also includes Stefani's boyfriend Derrek (Nicholas Braun) and her mysterious and controlling roommate X (Colman Domingo). As they navigate their way to Florida, tensions rise between the group and Aziah begins to suspect that something shady is going on.
Once they arrive in Florida, the group encounters a series of dangerous and unsettling situations, including violent pimps, drug deals, and prostitution. Aziah's friendship with Stefani is tested as she becomes increasingly involved in the dangerous world of the strip club scene.
Throughout the film, Zola maintains a darkly comedic tone, highlighting the absurdities of the situation while never shying away from the very real dangers the characters face.