While admiring a rose blooming in the dead of winter, Queen Eleanor pricked her finger on one of its thorns. Three drops of blood fell onto the snow covered ground and she wished that she had a daughter as white as the snow, lips as red as the blood, hair as black as a raven's wings and a heart as strong and defiant as the rose she found, still blooming in the snow. And then she gave birth to Snow White, who became the Princess of Kingdom Tabor and daughter of King Magnus. But the queen falls ill and then she dies. After her death, King Magnus marries Ravenna, by whose beauty he was being enchanted, after rescuing her from the Dark Army, an invading force of glass soldiers. Ravenna, who is in fact a powerful sorceress and the Dark Army's master, kills Magnus on their wedding night after noting that men like him exploit the beauty of women and discard them. She implies that she has been ravaged by a king and his men in the past. As Ravenna usurps control of the entire kingdom, Duke Hammond escapes the castle with his son William, but is unable to rescue Snow White, who is captured by Ravenna's brother Finn. Snow White is then locked away in the north tower of the castle.

Tabor is ruined under Ravenna's rule as she periodically drains the youth from the kingdom's young women in order to maintain a spell once cast by her mother to save her life from marauders who kidnapped her, which allows her to keep her beauty. When Snow White comes of age, Ravenna learns from her Magic Mirror that Snow White is destined to destroy her unless Ravenna consumes the young girl's heart, which will make her immortal. Ravenna orders Finn to bring her Snow White, but she escapes into the Dark Forest, where Ravenna has no power. Eric the Huntsman, a widower and drunkard who has survived the Dark Forest, is brought to Ravenna, who orders him to lead Finn in pursuit of Snow White. He belligerently refuses because he doesn't think he can survive in the dark forest. She then threatens to kill him and finally persuades him when she promises to revive his deceased wife, Sarah.

The Huntsman tracks down Snow White in the Dark Forest but refuses to hand her over to Finn until he knows Ravenna will keep her word. When Finn says that Ravenna cannot resurrect the dead and that Eric is a fool, the Huntsman fights Finn and his men while Snow White runs away. Later Eric catches up to her and Snow White promises him gold if he will escort her to Duke Hammond's castle. Finn gathers another band of men to find Snow White. Duke Hammond learns that Snow White is alive and has fled into the Dark Forest. William, Snow White's childhood friend, argues with his father and then leaves the castle to find Snow White. Later he joins Finn's band as a bowman in order to find her.

Eric and Snow White leave the Dark Forest, and encounter a huge troll. Eric tells Snow White to run while he attacks the troll which quickly knocks him out. Snow White has not run away and saves them by charming the troll. They then encounter a group of women in boats who take them to a fishing village populated by women who have disfigured themselves in order to escape Ravenna. While there, Eric learns Snow White's true identity as the princess. He then leaves her in the care of the women but returns when he sees the village being burned down by Finn's men. Snow White and the Huntsman evade them and eventually meet a band of eight dwarves namely Beith, Muir, Quert, Coll, Duir, Gort, Nion, and Gus. A blind Muir perceives that Snow White is the daughter of the former king, and the only person who can defeat Ravenna and end her reign.

As they travel through a fairy sanctuary, later the group is attacked by Finn and his men. Eric battles Finn and kills him after Finn taunts him with details of his murder of Eric's wife. William reveals himself and helps defeat Finn's men while Gus sacrifices himself by taking an arrow meant for Snow White. William joins the group which continues the journey to Hammond's castle.

Ravenna disguises herself as William and tempts Snow White into eating a poisoned apple, but is forced to flee when the Huntsman and William discover her. William kisses Snow White — whom he believes to be dead — without seeing that she has shed a solitary tear. She is taken to Hammond's castle. As she lies in repose, the Huntsman professes his regret for not saving Snow White, who reminds him of his wife, and kisses her, breaking the spell; she awakens after a second tear has fallen. Snow White walks into the courtyard and gives a passionate speech to the Duke and his forces. She takes leadership of the Duke's army and the Army travels to battle Ravenna.

The dwarves infiltrate Tabor through the sewers and open the gates, which allows the Duke's army to invade the castle. Snow White confronts Ravenna, but is overpowered. Ravenna is about to kill Snow White and consume her heart when she uses one of the moves Eric taught her on Ravenna and kills her, telling her that she cannot have her heart. Duke Hammond's army is victorious.

The kingdom is once again in order and peace as Snow White is crowned Queen.