Unlocking the Cage follows animal rights lawyer Steven Wise and the Nonhuman Rights Project as they challenge the legal status of nonhuman animals. The documentary captures Wise's efforts to file groundbreaking lawsuits seeking to grant limited legal personhood rights to cognitively complex animals, such as chimpanzees, whales, dolphins, and elephants. By employing writs of habeas corpus, traditionally used to free humans from unlawful imprisonment, Wise argues for the bodily liberty of these animals, aiming to protect them from physical abuse and confinement. The film provides an intimate look at this legal battle, highlighting a significant cultural shift towards recognizing the rights of nonhuman animals