Space Truckers

Space Truckers

Year: 1996

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Stuart Gordon

ComedyAdventureScience FictionThrillerMonsters aliens sci-fi and the apocalypse

John Canyon, one of the few remaining independent space‑transport operators, accepts a shady freight job during hard times. He delivers the mysterious load to Earth without asking questions, only to discover mid‑flight that the cargo contains a swarm of relentless, deadly killer robots, turning his routine run into a deadly battle for survival.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Space Truckers (1996)

Trace every key event in Space Truckers (1996) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Mercenaries establish defense on Triton base

Mercenaries set up a defense perimeter around the corporation's base on the Neptunian moon Triton. Saggs and Nabel retreat to the control room as the siege begins, bracing for an unstoppable cyborg threat. The clash foreshadows a fight that could determine the fate of everyone aboard the base.

Neptunian base, Triton
2

Cyborg attack escalates; tank destroyed, helicopter crashes

The cyborg rampages through the base, first tearing apart the soldiers' tank and then assaulting a helicopter. The helicopter crashes into the control room, causing chaos and heavy casualties as the cyborg presses its advance. The base's defense grid is overwhelmed, forcing a desperate response from the survivors.

Control room, Triton base
3

Nabel deactivates the cyborg with a remote

In a desperate move, Dr. Nabel manages to deactivate the cyborg with a handheld remote control. The threat is momentarily neutralized, allowing Saggs to reassess their precarious position. Yet the crisis remains unresolved, leaving room for new betrayals and power plays.

Control room
4

Saggs discovers cyborgs were Nabel's creation; reactivates cyborg to kill Nabel

Saggs discovers that the cyborgs were Nabel's creation for the company, a betrayal that fuels his vendetta. He seizes the remote and deliberately reactivates the cyborg to kill Nabel. The stage is set for a deadly intra-company conflict that could seal everyone's fate.

Triton base, control room
5

John Canyon begins space trucking mission

John Canyon drops off his cargo of square pigs at a remote space truck stop and gets into a brutal brawl with Keller, the trucking company head. Keller is sucked out into space, altering the balance of power and sending John and his two passengers on the run. They decide to transport alleged sex dolls to Earth to make ends meet.

Space truck stop station
6

Deal to transport alleged sex dolls to Earth

Facing police scrutiny over Keller's death, the trio agrees to haul the sex doll cargo to Earth. The cargo is revealed to be far more dangerous than it appears, drawing the attention of both lawmen and pirates. The risky voyage becomes a fight for survival from start to finish.

Space lanes toward Earth
7

Pursuit into the Scum Cluster; captured by Regalia

Chased by authorities, John, Cindy, and Mike steer into the pirate-dominated Scum Cluster. Their rig is damaged and adrift when Regalia, a pirate ship, captures them. Captain Macanudo, who controls Regalia, forces their fate.

Scum Cluster; Regalia
8

Captain Macanudo revealed as Nabel; cargo revealed as cyborgs

Captain Macanudo turns out to be Nabel, who rebuilt his body and turned to piracy as revenge against Saggs. The trio learns their cargo consists of the cyborg warriors Nabel designed for the company. The revelation shifts the conflict from betrayal to a direct, existential threat.

Regalia
9

Cyborgs awaken and attack Regalia; ship is damaged

One of the cyborgs activates aboard Regalia, slaughtering crew members and inflicting severe damage. John, Cindy, and Mike fight to survive as the pirate ship is ripped apart by the attack. The Regalia explodes, creating an opportunity for the survivors to escape.

Regalia
10

Macanudo reveals cargo truth to the trio

As Regalia breaks apart, Macanudo is mortally wounded and reveals the cargo's true nature to John and the others. The information confirms they are now carrying a dangerous war machine that could rewrite who holds power back on Earth. The trio steels themselves for what comes next.

Regalia hold
11

John sacrifices cargo and frees Cindy

John decides to sacrifice the cyborg cargo to the atmosphere, letting it burn up on re-entry. He also frees Cindy from her obligation to marry him, prioritizing their survival over romance. Cindy and Mike evacuate via an escape pod while the rig drifts toward Earth.

Close to Earth, Regalia hold
12

Earth arrival and hospital reunion

Cindy and Mike land safely on Earth and head to a hospital to see Cindy's mother, who had been frozen for twenty years until a cure was found. John remains outside, nursing his unexpected feelings as the reunion unfolds. The waiting room becomes a quiet pause before the next wave of danger arrives.

Earth hospital
13

Saggs becomes President; offers deal at hospital

Saggs, now President of Earth after privatizing the government, visits the hospital and tries to seal the scandal with a payoff. He offers John a new rig and a suitcase full of money to stay quiet about the cyborg invasion plan. John pretends to accept, anticipating that silence will come at a price.

Earth hospital
14

Suitcase bomb detonates; Saggs is killed

Back at Saggs's presidential limousine, a bomb is detonated as the suitcase lands on the roof. The blast not only kills Saggs but also erases a key political threat, leaving Earth briefly destabilized. The trio watches from a distance as the danger passes and prepares to flee to the spaceport.

Presidential limousine, Earth
15

Escape to spaceport and start anew

With Saggs dead and Earth momentarily safe, John, Cindy, and Mike escape into space aboard a brand-new rig. They head toward an uncertain future, leaving behind the turmoil that followed them. The ending hints at renewed freedom and the possibility of a better life, if only they can survive what comes next.

Spaceport, Earth

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:12

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Space Truckers Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Space Truckers

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