The story takes place during the reign of Queen Victoria (Jessie Buckley) of England. Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.) has the special ability to talk to animals and runs an animal hospital in his hometown with his wife. An accident took the life of Dolittle's wife. This huge blow made Dolittle close his heart and refuse to contact any human. One day, a boy named Tom (Harry Collett) broke into Dolittle's home and brought a wounded squirrel, hoping that Dolittle could save it. At the same time, Queen Victoria suffered from a strange disease, so she sent her maid Rose (Carmel Laniado) to visit Dolittle and ask him to come out. The animal farm owned by Dolittle belongs to the Queen. If the Queen dies, Dolittle will lose his only paradise with the animals.