Winfried doesn’t see much of his working daughter Ines. The suddenly student-less music teacher decides to surprise her with a visit after the death of his old dog. It’s an awkward move because serious career woman Ines is working on an important project as a corporate strategist in Bucharest.  

Winfried tries to change Ines' corporate lifestyle and often annoys her with his practical jokes and corny pranks. The geographical change doesn’t help the two to see more eye to eye and they reached an impasse. But when Winfried finally decides to go back home to Germany, here comes Toni Erdmann - Winfried’s smooth-talking alter ego. Disguised in a tacky suit, weird wig and even weirder fake teeth, Toni barges into Ines’ professional life, claiming to be her CEO’s life coach. As the two goes head to head with each other, Ines begins to understand that somehow her eccentric father might deserve some place in her life after all...