Kirk and the Enterprise crew returned in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and the franchise reached a larger audience on the big screen. The original cast would star in five more standalone adventures, before riding off into the sunset at the beginning of the ’90s. The movies immediately carried on with the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Though Star Trek‘s golden era ended with the 1990s, the movie franchise wasn’t over. A reboot premiered in 2009, continuing the adventure in an alternate universe. A trilogy of blockbusters kept Trek relevant, and helped usher in a new era of modern shows. The Star Trek franchise is in limbo right now, but another movie is always possible.
|
Star Trek Movie |
Release Year |
|---|---|
|
Star Trek: The Motion Picture |
1979 |
|
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan |
1982 |
|
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock |
1984 |
|
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home |
1986 |
|
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier |
1989 |
|
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country |
1991 |
|
Star Trek Generations |
1994 |
|
Star Trek: First Contact |
1996 |
|
Star Trek: Insurrection |
1998 |
|
Star Trek: Nemesis |
2002 |
|
Star Trek |
2009 |
|
Star Trek Into Darkness |
2013 |
|
Star Trek Beyond |
2016 |
|
Star Trek: Section 31 |
2025 |
1
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
10 years after the series was canceled, the original Enterprise crew returned for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Kirk leads an expedition to investigate a mysterious cloud in space that’s destroying ships on its way to Earth. The film showcases amazing visual effects, but the methodical pace and complicated themes keep the first film from being a true classic.
2
Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (1982)
After The Motion Picture received tepid reviews, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan went in a different direction. Kirk’s old foe, Khan, escapes from exile and goes on a mad rampage to bring down the aging Starfleet legend. Though the sequel maintained the franchise’s rich themes, it also told an action-packed story befitting a feature film.
The Wrath of Khan runs the viewer through the gamut of emotions, and allows familiar characters like Kirk and Spock to grow. It’s undoubtedly one of sci-fi’s best sequels, and arguably the greatest film in the entire Star Trek franchise. Subsequent sequels would struggle to recapture the intellect and magic of Trek‘s crown jewel.
3
Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (1984)
Following The Wrath of Khan was impossible, and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock was overshadowed. Kirk disobeys orders when he tries to reunite Spock’s soul with his body. The threequel is an excellent action flick with gorgeous ’80s effects, but it lacks heart. It features a memorable villain, but is inferior to the films before and after.
4
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
After two dour films, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is the franchise’s first full stab at comedy. To save Earth, the Enterprise crew must travel back to 1986 and bring a whale back to the future. With a heartfelt environmental message underneath, The Voyage Home is a charming fish-out-of-water adventure.
Though the plot is half-baked and goofy, the film really shines as a humorous showcase for the characters. Seeing the seasoned Starfleet vets struggle to fit into the modern world is a hilarious and natural exploration of the franchise’s ideals. It might be a bit divisive, but there’s no denying that The Voyage Home is an entertaining flick.
5
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
William Shatner directed Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, but the film had lots of issues. The Enterprise is hijacked by Spock’s brother so that he can commune with god. The fifth movie took the wrong lessons from four, and has too much humor. It’s lackluster attempts at drama fall flat, and the tone is all over the place.
6
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was a fitting end for the original movies, and it’s the franchise’s underrated gem. Kirk and McCoy are framed for the murder of a Klingon diplomat, and they must fight to preserve peace. The film mirrors real-life issues and evolves Kirk’s character. It deftly mixes its heady themes with a digestible mystery storyline.
7
Star Trek Generations (1994)
Designed to be a passing of the torch between eras, Star Trek Generations mostly missed the mark. Kirk and Picard must team up in a time-travel adventure to stop a villain from altering the past. While it may sound exciting, Generations is shockingly slow and plodding. The Kirk and Picard pairing is nothing special, so it feels like a letdown.
The biggest problem is that the movie’s scale never matches its scope. It’s a huge and important story on paper, but its execution doesn’t match. As a conclusion for the most famous name in Star Trek, the seventh film is even more disappointing.
The Next Generation‘s first standalone film is a vast improvement, with Star Trek: First Contact being a fan favorite. The Enterprise travels back to Earth’s past to stop the Borg from preventing first contact. Thoughtful themes are discarded in favor of bombastic action, but it’s such an effective film that it doesn’t matter. First Contact is a fun popcorn flick.
9
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
If First Contact could paper over its flaws with great action, Star Trek: Insurrection has all of its issues laid bare. Picard and company uncover a Federation conspiracy to steal a planet from peaceful settlers. It looks like a thoughtful episode of TNG, but has absolutely abysmal writing. Ultimately, Insurrection commits the cinematic cardinal sin of being quite boring.
10
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
Star Trek: Nemesis tries to end things with a bang, but it’s mostly a whimper. A Romulan clone of Picard hatches a vast revenge plot. The film borrows from The Wrath of Khan, but can’t pull it off. It certainly has lots of action, but it’s in service of nothing. Unlike Star Trek VI, Nemesis wasn’t a fitting conclusion.