King of the World

The plane crashes in a remote jungle, leaving the cockpit out of reach and hopes of quick rescue fading. Ed Malone climbs a small hill and spots the cockpit about a mile away, establishing a possible path to help. A portion of the survivors decides to leave the wreck to search for radios and a signal, while others remain near the crash site to increase their chances of being found.

The Roxton-led search party forges into the jungle, hoping to reach civilization or a working radio. Those who stay behind keep watch at the wreck, wary of the unknown dangers that lie ahead. The separation creates a divide between groups as the wilderness closes in.

They reach a distant fuselage, only to discover it's not part of their plane and that crucial radio gear has been stripped. The discovery dampens any hope of an easy radio contact, underscoring how brutal wildlands can be. Lieutenant Colonel Challenger arrives, traveling alone with a stern, stubborn demeanor and a briefcase he refuses to part with.

The group presses on in hopes of finding the cockpit, pushing through thick vegetation and harsh conditions. Tensions rise as some members are lost or presumed dead, heightening fear and uncertainty. They push forward, driven by the lingering chance of rescue.

They stumble upon a military plane wreck and briefly entertain the possibility of a rescue signal. Challenger tries to rig a missile as a signal gun, but the improvised solution fails and the effort collapses. Frustration and danger mount as time slips away and the jungle looms closer.

Seeking shelter for the night, the survivors find a cavern, only to be attacked by giant prehistoric Brontoscorpio scorpions. John Roxton and Tianka are killed in the onslaught, leaving Ed, Challenger, Rita, Dana, and Natalie scrambling for safety. The encounter marks a brutal turning point for the expedition.

While escaping from the stream, they are captured by natives living on a plateau. The locals reveal they have been stripping planes to keep outsiders from scavenging. The group realizes they may be used or sacrificed by the natives to appease jungle creatures.

Natives introduce a sacrificial rite and reveal survivors from an earlier crash who perform it to appease the creatures. Dana and Natalie are brainwashed into joining the cult, while Ed is chosen as the sacrifice. The outsiders' fate now depends on a ritual that could either save or doom them.

Just as the ceremony seems underway, a giant ape interrupts, attacking a swarm of flying dragon-like lizards. Dana, who pretends to be brainwashed, helps save Ed, turning the tide of the danger. The chaos disrupts the natives' plans and forces the group to reevaluate their chances.

Challenger and Rita join the group, and distant jets are seen overhead moving in to strike the giant ape. The jets are destroyed by the ape's rampage, and Challenger kills a native before being killed himself. Ed is left to confront the ape alone.

Ed faces the rampaging ape in a brutal confrontation amid wreckage and jungle noise. The fight pushes them through the wrecked planes as danger looms from all sides. The outcome seems grim, but Ed refuses to give up.

Ed detonates a nuclear bomb from a crashed plane, killing the ape but destroying the cockpit and trapping Ed, Rita, and Dana inside the jungle. The trio considers their bleak future, yet Ed's stubborn resolve keeps them moving forward. A lone flying giant lizard survives the blast, ensuring more danger in their path.

With the ape dead, the trio surveys the horizon and contemplates their uncertain survival. They refuse to surrender, as implied by Ed's 'Not today' line, and continue moving through the jungle. The ending leaves a sense of fragile hope despite the catastrophic loss.