明朝成化年间，朝纲(gāng )腐败，奸(jiān )邪当道。西厂东厂为(wéi )宦(huàn )官把持，混(hún )淆黑白(bái )，陷(xiàn )害忠(zhōng )良，朝野内外噤若寒蝉。时有(yǒu )赵怀(huái )安（李连杰(jié ) 饰）等流亡剑客挺身而出，接连铲除东厂数名奸佞，致令阉(yān )贼胆战心惊。适值此时，风头正劲(jìn )的西厂