Pocahontas

In 1607, the Susan Constant travels from London to the New World, carrying English settlers from the Virginia Company. The settlers, including Captain John Smith, talk of adventure, finding gold, fighting "Injuns" and potentially settling in the new land. They encounter a hurricane shortly after setting sail, during which a soldier named Thomas gets washed overboard while assisting John with the ship cannons. John Smith manages to save him by rappelling off the ship, but they narrowly escape when the rope breaks.
In the Powhatan tribe in Virginia, Pocahontas, the pretty young Native American daughter of Chief Powhatan, fears being possibly wed to Kocoum, a warrior whom she sees as "too serious" for her own free-spirited personality. After having a dream about a spinning arrow, Pocahontas visits Grandmother Willow, a talking willow tree who alerts her of the arriving English.
The voyage's leader Governor Ratcliffe, who seeks only wealth and status, has Jamestown built in a wooded clearing and immediately has the crewmen dig for gold, which he secretly plans to use to dethrone King James. John departs the activity to explore the wilderness and encounters Pocahontas. At first, she speaks to him in Powhatan, but he soon gains her trust. They quickly bond, fascinated by each other's worlds, and end up falling in love. After a skirmish between the settlers and natives, Powhatan orders the natives to stay away from the Englishmen, but Pocahontas disobeys him and keeps meeting with John. However, Pocahontas's friend, Nakoma, discovers their secret relationship and warns Kocoum. Ratcliffe also learns of John's encounters and stubbornly warns him against sparing any Natives.
Later, John and Pocahontas meet with Grandmother Willow and plan to bring peace between the colonists and the tribe. While both parties spy on the couple, John and Pocahontas share a kiss. Furious at the scene, Kocoum lets out a battle cry, attacks, and attempts to kill John, but Thomas, sent by Ratcliffe to follow John, shoots and kills Kocoum instead. John angrily orders Thomas to leave the scene before the tribesmen arrive to capture John and retrieve Kocoum's body. Enraged at Kocoum's death, Powhatan chastises Pocahontas for leaving the village, and declares war on the English, beginning with John's execution at dawn.
Returning to Jamestown, Thomas warns the settlers of John's capture. Overhearing Thomas's news, Ratcliffe then rallies his men to battle, using this as an excuse to annihilate the tribe and find their nonexistent gold. That same night, Powhatan also orders his men to prepare for battle. A desperate Pocahontas visits Grandmother Willow and realizes the arrow from John's compass is the same spinning arrow from her dream, which leads to her destiny. At dawn, Powhatan and his tribe drag John to a cliff for his execution. Meanwhile, Ratcliffe leads the armed colonists to fight Powhatan's warriors. Just as Powhatan is about to execute John and start the war, Pocahontas throws herself over John and finally convinces her father to end the fighting between the two groups and spare John's life. Both sides stand down and Powhatan releases John, but an unmoved Ratcliffe fires his musket at Powhatan. John takes the shot instead to save the chief, and the livid settlers turn on Ratcliffe for hurting their comrade.
John is nursed back to health by the tribe, but he must return to England for his wounds to fully heal. Ratcliffe is also sent back in chains to face punishment for his crimes against the settlement. John asks Pocahontas to come with him, but she chooses to stay with her tribe to help keep the peace. John leaves without Pocahontas, but with Powhatan's blessing to return anytime in the future and his gratitude for saving him from Ratcliffe. At the end, Pocahontas runs to the top of a cliff, where she watches the Susan Constant carrying John depart.