Barry B. Benson is a young bee who has just completed his college education but finds himself feeling disillusioned with the single career path ahead of him: working at Honex, where all bees are tasked with honey production in New Hive City. Feeling trapped, Barry decides to break free and explore the vast, intriguing world of Manhattan. It is here that he encounters the eccentric Vanessa, a human florist who is ironically in a relationship with a boyfriend who is allergic to bees and constantly attempts to swat Barry away.

Their unusual friendship sparks with the now-iconic question, > “Ya like jazz?” This moment is particularly significant as it breaks a fundamental rule in the bee community: never engage in conversation with humans. As Barry navigates life in the bustling metropolis, he learns a shocking truth—that humans have been stealing the honey created by his fellow bees. Fueled by a sense of justice, Barry takes a bold step and files a class-action lawsuit against humanity for their honey theft.

In court, Barry faces off against the formidable Layton T. Montgomery, a cunning lawyer defending the commercial interests involved. Proving his sentience as a talking bee, Barry introduces an unexpected witness: a bear, creating chaos in the courtroom as part of his evidence. This confrontation leads to an amusing turn of events, leaving Montgomery injured and immobile in a peculiar device. On the trial’s second day, tension escalates when Layton questions the slow progress of the case and presents a dangerous honey-harvesting tool that threatens the bees’ well-being. Ultimately, justice is served, and the bees triumph.

However, Barry’s victory comes at a hefty price; as they cease their pollination duties, the floral world collapses, leading to a grim and barren landscape. Realizing the catastrophic error their community has made, Barry, alongside the other bees, orchestrates a large-scale effort to restore life by pollinating the planet once again. In a heartwarming conclusion, their mission succeeds, and the story wraps up on a positive note as the credits roll.