star trek movies 1980s

Star Trek movies in order: Chronological and release

Untangle the different timelines and get the popcorn: Here are the Star Trek movies in order — both chronological and release.

• Chronological order
• Prime Timeline

The Original Series movies

The next generation movies.

• Kelvin Timeline
• Release order

Upcoming Star Trek movies

We've got a guide to watching the Star Trek movies in order, decloaking off our starboard side!

So long as movies stick numbers on the ends of their titles, it’s easy to watch them in order. Once they start branching out, however, things can get a little muddled, especially when reboots come along and start the whole process over from scratch. 

You may have heard that the even-numbered ones are good and the odd-numbered ones are not. That’s spot on for the films starring the cast of The Original Series (aka Kirk and friends) falls apart once you reach the tenth entry in the series. It would probably be worth your while to have this list of the Star Trek movies, ranked worst to best around to steer clear of the clunkers. Look, we’re not going to pretend everything here is worth two hours of your day, we’re just letting you know which came out after which.

Should your Trek appetite remain unsatiated after your movie watchathon, feel free to pull from either our list of the best Star Trek: The Original series episode s or best Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes . Either one will set you up for a weekend jam-packed with great Trek moments. Consult our Star Trek streaming guide for all the details on where to watch the movies and shows online 

Star Trek movies: Chronological order

Below is the quick version of our list if you just need to check something to win an argument, but it comes with a lot of in-universe time travel-related caveats that we'll explain below.

• Star Trek: The Motion Picture
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
• Star Trek: Generations
• Star Trek: First Contact
• Star Trek: Insurrection
• Star Trek: Nemesis
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• Star Trek Beyond

Star Trek: Prime Timeline

The first thing you need to know about the Star Trek films is that while they travel back and forth in time, they also diverge into two (for now) different timelines. The films of the original crew (well, the first iteration of them, anyway – more on that later) are all in what is known as the Prime Timeline. 

Within the Prime Timeline, the movies are then split between The Original Series movies and The Next Generation movies.

1. Star Trek: The Motion Picture

• Release date: December 8, 1979
• Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley

This is the film that brought the voyages of the U.S.S. Enterprise to the big screen. An energy cloud is making its way toward Earth, destroying everything in its path. Kirk and crew intercept it and discover an ancient NASA probe at the heart of the cloud. Voyager – known as V’ger now – encountered a planet of living machines, learned all it could, and returned home to report its findings, only to find no one who knew how to answer. It’s a slow-paced film, and the costumes are about as 70s as they come, but there’s classic Star Trek at the heart of this film.

2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

• Release date: June 4, 1982
• Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Ricardo Montalban

Ask a Star Trek fan what the best Star Trek movie is and more often than not, you’ll get Khan as your answer. A sequel to the events of the “Space Seed” episode of The Original Series, Khan is a retelling of Moby Dick with Khan throwing reason to the wind as he hunts his nemesis, James T. Kirk. Montalban delivers a pitch-perfect performance, giving us a Khan with charisma and obsession in equal parts.

3. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

• Release date: June 1, 1984

Spock might have died in The Wrath of Khan, but this third entry set up the premise for his return, with the creation of the Genesis planet. Essentially a heist movie in reverse, Search for Spock has the crew defying orders from Starfleet in an attempt to reunite Spock’s consciousness with his newly-rejuvenated body. It’s not a great movie, but it does include two very important events: the rebirth of Spock and the death of Kirk’s son at the hands of the Klingons. That’ll be important a few flicks from now.   

4. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

• Release date: November 26, 1986
• Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Catherine Hicks

If Star Trek fans don’t say Khan is the best Star Trek movie, odds are very high they say Voyage Home is. It’s a funny film where the mission isn’t destruction, but creation – or more accurately, repairing the devastating effects of humankind’s ecological short-sightedness. 

A probe arrives at Earth, knocking out the power of everything in its path as it looks for someone to respond to its message (yeah, it happens a lot). This time, however, the intended recipient is the long-extinct blue whale. To save Earth, Kirk and co. go back in time to 1980s San Francisco to snag some blue whales. The eco-messaging isn’t exactly subtle, but it doesn’t get in the way of a highly enjoyable movie.

5. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

• Release date: June 9, 1989

A writers’ strike and Shatner’s directorial skills (or lack thereof) doomed this film before a single scene was shot. The core plot is actually pretty good: Spock’s half-brother hijacks the Enterprise so that he can meet God, which he believes to be… himself. Some Star Trek fans have an odd fondness for this movie, as it showcases the camaraderie of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy when they’re off-duty.

6. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

• Release date: December 6, 1991
• Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Christopher Plummer

Right, so if that Star Trek fan you’ve been talking to doesn’t choose either Khan or Voyage Home as the best Star Trek movie ever, they almost certainly name Undiscovered Country (and if they don’t, they have highly questionable taste, frankly). The Klingon moon of Praxis explodes, putting the entire Klingon race at risk. The Enterprise hosts a diplomatic entourage of Klingons, much to Kirk’s discomfort. 

Remember how Klingons murdered Kirk’s son? Well, he certainly hasn’t forgotten. Kirk’s lingering rage makes him the perfect patsy for the murder of the Klingon Chancellor, sending him and McCoy to a prison planet and setting the stage for war. Christopher Plummer is perfection as a Shakespeare-quoting Klingon general with no taste for peace.

7. Star Trek: Generations

• Release date: November 18, 1994
• Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner

And thus the torch is passed from the crew of The Original Series to that of The Next Generation. It’s a bit of a fumble, to be honest, but they all did their best to get Kirk and Picard into the same film and have it make sense. Malcolm McDowell plays Soran, a scientist who will stop at nothing to control the Nexus, a giant space rainbow that exists outside of space-time. 

Soran lost his family when his home world was destroyed and he wants to re-join them (or at least an illusion of them) in the Nexus. He’s not so much a villain as a tragic figure, but the Nexus makes a meeting between Kirk and Picard possible. Not all that sensible, but possible.

8. Star Trek: First Contact

• Release date: November 22, 1996
• Cast: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Alice Krige

Okay, no, for real, if your Star Trek pal didn’t pick Khan or Voyage Home or… oh, nevermind. Cueing off the iconic two-part episode “Best of Both Worlds,” in which Picard is assimilated by the Borg, First Contact sees the collective traveling back in time in order to disrupt First Contact, the day Earth’s first foray into space attracted the attention of the Vulcans, kicking off the events that would eventually lead to Starfleet’s victory over the Borg. The Borg Queen torments Picard with visions of the past and tempts Data with humanity, going so far as to give him some human skin. 

The fight with the Borg aboard the Enterprise is thrilling, and the work on the surface to get first contact back on track is fun. Plus, there’s just nothing like Patrick Stewart turning it up to 11 as he lashes out at the enemy that haunts his dreams.

9. Star Trek: Insurrection

• Release date: December 11, 1998
• Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, F. Murray Abraham

Essentially an episode inflated for the big screen, Insurrection is about the Federation conspiring to displace a planet’s population in order to harvest the planet’s unique resource – super healing metaphasic particles. In addition to the rejuvenating natural resource, the Ba’ku also have access to exceptional technology, which they shun in favor of a more simple lifestyle. 

Data malfunctions, the villains are Federation allies (and former Ba’ku!), Picard gets to knock boots with a local – Insurrection is the very definition of “fine.” Chronologically, Insurrection is relevant for rekindling the romance between Riker and Troi, but not much else.

10. Star Trek: Nemesis

• Release date: December 13, 2002
• Cast: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Tom Hardy

Before he mumbled his way into our hearts as Bane, Tom Hardy was Shinzon, a clone of Picard the Romulans created in an eventually abandoned attempt to infiltrate Starfleet. Shinzon is dying, and all that will save him is a transfusion of Picard’s blood. Unfortunately, Shinzon also happens to be a megalomaniac who happens to want to destroy all life on Earth and maybe a few other planets, too, if he’s feeling saucy. 

Nemesis is notable mostly for killing Data with a noble sacrifice, only to resurrect him moments later in a duplicate body found earlier by the Enterprise crew.

Star Trek: Kelvin Timeline

The last of the Prime Timeline movies failed to impress at the box office, so it was a few years before anyone tried to bring the Enterprise back to the big screen. Rather than lean on any of the TV crews, this new slate of movies would serve as a reboot, welcoming new audiences while honoring long-time fans. Welcome to the Kelvin Timeline. (For all the ins and outs, check out our Star Trek: Kelvin Timeline explained article).

11. Star Trek

• Release date: May 8, 2009
• Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban

Back to the beginning! Star Trek introduces us to James T. Kirk, Spock, and “Bones” McCoy as they meet and join the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Though the plot is a relatively straightforward affair of a Romulan named Nero trying to destroy the Earth. His anger borne out of grief, what matters most is how it all came to be. In the future, Spock – the Prime Timeline version – tries to save Romulus from being destroyed by a supernova, but fails. Both his ship and Nero’s are kicked back in time, setting off a chain of events that diverge from the original, “true” timeline. 

The name “Kelvin” refers to the U.S.S. Kelvin, the ship heroically captained by Kirk’s father, which is destroyed in the opening moments of the movie.

12. Star Trek Into Darkness

• Release date: May 16, 2013
• Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch

The benefit of the Kelvin Timeline is that it not only allows Star Trek to explore canon material – such as Khan (he of the Wrath) – but to do something completely new with it. Khan features heavily in Into Darkness, but he has no beef with Kirk. Instead, a Starfleet Admiral is threatening the lives of Khan’s crew, forcing them to craft weapons of mass destruction. 

Khan inevitably eludes captivity and strikes out against Starfleet, killing Captain Pike (and a bunch of others) in the process. Kirk and company eventually take Khan down, but not before Kirk sacrifices himself to save his crew. Don’t worry, these things don’t last in either Star Trek timeline, as Kirk gets better moments later thanks to *checks notes* Khan's super blood.

13. Star Trek Beyond

• Release date: July 22, 2016
• Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Idris Elba

Beyond leans into the camaraderie of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy now that they’ve had some time together, much to the movie’s benefit. The Enterprise is lured to Altamid under false pretenses, leading to much of the crew being marooned on the planet. The architect of the deception was Krall, who wants an opportunity to return to a galaxy where war is the order of the day. 

Beyond is a significant point in the timeline for two reasons. First, it sadly marked the death of Spock Prime due to the passing of Leonard Nimoy. Second, it culminates in the Enterprise embarking on the five-year-mission that started everything back in 1966.

Star Trek movies: Release order

If you can't be bothered remembering two different orders for the Star Trek movies then we've got good news for you — the release order is identical to the chronological order that we've shown above (accounting for the Kelvin timeline as it's own entity anyway).

The full run of Star Trek films currently tops out at 13 entries; the fate of the 14th was hidden within a nebula of conflicting information. “Star Trek 4” was slated for December 22, 2023, but given that filming had yet to begin as of July 2022, it seems inevitable that date will change. Back in February 2022, Paramount that the principal cast would be returning for the fourth installment of the Kelvin timeline, a claim quickly disputed by the agents of those selfsame actors. Awkward.

Soon after, however, Chris Pine eventually signed on the dotted line, and his shipmates reached their own agreements. As of right now, Kirk (Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), McCoy (Karl Urban, assuming he can make it work around filming of The Boys), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Uhura (Zoe Saldaña), and Sulu (John Cho) are all ready to beam up and get filming. Sadly, this will be the first of the Kelvin films to not feature Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov. Yelchin died in an accident at his home in 2016. It’s currently unclear if Chekov will be recast or if a different character will take his place on the bridge of the Enterprise.

Though the Kelvin timeline is often referred to as “J.J. Abrams Trek,” he won’t be directing Star Trek 4; Matt Shakman will take on that responsibility, leaving Abrams to produce. As for what it will be about, that’s anyone’s guess, but Chris Pine told Deadline he hopes this one tells a smaller story that appeals to the core Trek audience. “Let’s make the movie for the people that love this group of people, that love this story, that love Star Trek,” he said. “Let’s make it for them and then, if people want to come to the party, great.” It’s a strategy that makes sense; the disappointment with recent Trek films hasn’t been their content so much as their box office. A Trek film with a smaller scope (and budget) would almost certainly have a very healthy profit margin while also resonating with the fanbase.   

With no new announcements coming from San Diego Comic-Con 2022, it seems that we’ll have to wait for any more insight into the next Star Trek film. Sill, recent comments from Paramount CEO Brian Robbins have us cautiously optimistic: “We’re deep into [Star Trek 4] with J.J. Abrams, and it feels like we’re getting close to the starting line and excited about where we’re going creatively,” he told Variety . 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Get the Space.com Newsletter

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

Susan Arendt is a freelance writer, editor, and consultant living in Burleson, TX. She's a huge sci-fi TV and movie buff, and will talk your Vulcan ears off about Star Trek. You can find more of her work at Wired, IGN, Polygon, or look for her on Twitter: @SusanArendt. Be prepared to see too many pictures of her dogs.

Everything we know about 'A Quiet Place: Day One'

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 111 — The Big Glass Wars

Scientists find weird link between a solar mystery and feeding black holes

Most Popular

• 2 Churning spacetime and destroyed stars help reveal how fast supermassive black holes spin
• 3 Boeing Starliner's 1st astronaut launch delayed again, this time with no new flight date
• 4 Space debris could be dealt with more cheaply than previously thought, new NASA report suggests
• 5 How does spaceflight lead to medical breakthroughs? Veteran astronaut explains

Star Trek movies in order - chronological, release, and recommendation

With a truly expansive timeline, here's a complete guide on how to watch the Star Trek movies in order chronologically, by release, and our own recommendation.

James Osborne

Here’s our complete guide on how to watch the Star Trek movies in chronological order, release order, as well as our own bespoke recommendation. Since the ‘70s, cinemagoers across the world have been treated with new Star Trek movies in every single decade. What a blessed world we live in.

The 2020s will continue this trend as Star Trek fans were recently hit with the announcement that a new Star Trek movie  is coming. The  Section 31 release date is scheduled for 2024, and until then, we have 13 previous entries to rewatch including some of the best science fiction movies of all time.

But the Star Trek timeline is a messy one, and figuring out the best way to enjoy the adventures of Star Trek captains Picard and Kirk isn’t straightforward. So, we’ve put together the definitive guide on how to watch all of the  Star Trek movies in order , starting with an explainer on the two timelines, our own recommendation on the best watch order, then chronologically, then by release. Engage, hit it, thataway, etc.

What is the difference between the Kelvin timeline and Prime timeline in Star Trek?

The Star Trek movies take place over two timelines: the Kelvin timeline, and the Prime timeline. Understanding the difference between the two before you embark on a mission to watch the Star Trek movies in order is important.

The Kelvin timeline covers the events seen in the three Star Trek reboot movies starring Chris Pine, and everything else (from all the Star Trek series on TV, to the TOS and TNG movies) is the Prime timeline.

Aside from it being a launching point for a new era of Star Trek, the Kelvin timeline actually has an in-universe explanation. In the year 2387, in the Prime timeline, Spock unintentionally sends himself back in time along with a Romulan named Nero.

Having been sent to the past (specifically 2233), Nero interferes with the natural passage of events and destroys the USS Kelvin, killing George Kirk (James T. Kirk’s father) in the process. Doing so splinters the flow of time, creating a divergence point that leads to two parallel but alternate timelines: the Kelvin timeline (which includes the events of Star Trek 2009, Into Darkness, and Beyond), and the Prime timeline.

The best way to watch the Star Trek movies in order

The best way to watch the Star Trek movies in order is to start with the three Kelvin timeline movies (which star Chris Pine as Kirk) before moving on to the classic TOS-era adventures and then the TNG-era movies. 

If you want to be really rogue, you can even add Star Trek Picard season 3 onto the end, as it is effectively a ten-hour long TNG movie, which ends the adventures of Picard and his crew on a much, much better note than Nemesis. Just don’t watch the two awful seasons which preceded it.

This is unorthodox but means you can watch the timelines progress in a mostly linear fashion. We get into much more detail on our reasons for this below, but this is how we watch the Star Trek movies, and it’s how we think you should too.

How to watch the Star Trek movies in order:

Star Trek 2009

Star trek into darkness, star trek beyond, star trek the motion picture, star trek ii the wrath of khan, star trek iii the search for spock, star trek iv the voyage home, star trek v the final frontier, star trek vi the undiscovered country, star trek generations, star trek first contact, star trek insurrection, star trek nemesis, star trek picard season 3.

Where to watch: Paramount Plus

Placing Chris Pine’s movie in this position is relatively controversial, but stick with us. Though it begins with the Prime Spock years after Nemesis, 99% of what we see in the three Kelvin timeline movies effectively serves as a prequel.

Set in an alternate timeline created by Leonard Nimoy ’s Spock, Star Trek 2009 follows a young James T. Kirk as he first takes command of the USS Enterprise, starts his journey as a captain, and meets his crew. Therefore, though set in an alternate timeline, the Pine movies act as prequels to the events seen in TOS, and the best way to watch the Star Trek movies in order is to start here. This is by no means the consensus, but we think it offers the most coherent and satisfying viewing experience.

Where to watch:   Amazon Prime Video (VOD)

The second installment in Pine’s trilogy brings in Khan as the antagonist, playing with the order of events as seen in Shatner’s adventures. Let’s put a pin in that, for now.

Khan causes havoc, corruption is rife within the Federation, and there’s an inversion of major plot points seen in The Wrath of Khan. The movie proved to be divisive upon its release, and does lose sight of the thematic thoughtfulness which makes Star Trek so distinct.

Still, it continues to deepen the connection shared by the main cast and characters, and if you’re going to commit to watching the Star Trek movies in order, it’s an important and necessary piece of the puzzle.

Set three years into the Enterprise’s five-year mission, Star Trek Beyond is the last film in the Kelvin timeline and somehow the first to really show the crew actually doing its job. Unsurprisingly then, it’s the best movie of the three, and it achieves a good balance of adventure and introspection by toning things down and lowering the stakes.

Amid all the fast action and fun, Beyond focuses on Kirk’s loneliness and his search for meaning in the vastness of space. It’s something new, and Star Trek thrives on new.

Since 2016, fans have been waiting patiently for the Star Trek 4 release date . But, with behind-the-scenes issues, it seems like that’s now dead in the water.

Where to watch:   Paramount Plus

Now we get to the Star Trek movies with William Shatner and co. as the crew of the USS Enterprise.

We recommend watching The Motion Picture after Beyond, because the Kelvin timeline Star Trek movies take place during Kirk’s five-year mission, and The Motion Picture is set after these adventures when Kirk has been made an Admiral. So, despite being set in alternate timelines, this is just how it makes sense to us, rather than skipping backward and forwards across timelines.

In The Motion Picture, Kirk re-assumes command of the USS Enterprise to deal with the threat posed by the mysterious V’Ger. His old crew join together once again in a frosty reunion but regain their connections as the adventure unfolds, building to a triumphant ending. It’s this growth across the movie, and the depth of its themes, which means that we love The Motion Picture despite its status as an awkward start to the cinematic side of the franchise.

One of the best movies ever made, The Wrath of Khan is set over a decade after The Motion Picture with Spock now the captain of the Enterprise. How times change.

The movie is remarkably straightforward. Kirk is tricked into coming face to face with his old enemy Khan Noonien-Singh, before the USS Enterprise and USS Reliant engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Thrilling, clever, and deeply moving, The Wrath of Khan ends with the death of Spock, who sacrifices himself to save the Enterprise and his friend Jim Kirk. We’re not crying, you are.

Directed by Leonard Nimoy who, in his infinite wisdom, wanted to add a sense of TOS-style fun back into proceedings, The Search for Spock is Star Trek at its most adventurous. Kirk steals the still-damaged Enterprise to embark on a mission to resurrect Spock, with his loyal crew in tow. Captain Picard could never.

Set directly in the aftermath of The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock is the make-shift middle installment in one of the best trilogies ever made. The Klingon Kruge is a fearsome foe (though he can’t hold a candle to Khan) who pushes Kirk to his very limits, and it sets the stage perfectly for the brilliant movie that follows it.

The Voyage Home is the one with the whales, and the nuclear wessels, and it’s an amazing achievement once again helmed by Nimoy. As Kirk prepares to return to Earth on the HMS Bounty to atone for his sins (disobeying Starfleet orders), the crew is instead roped into a time travel romp with a single goal: take whales from the past and bring them into the present (2286).

There’s very little jeopardy here: no Khan, no Kruge, just a heartfelt adventure to save Earth from its past misdeeds. It’s packed with laughs and fun, with perfect fish-out-of-water humor found in Kirk and his colleagues traversing ‘80s San Francisco. In the end, after the day has been thoroughly saved, Kirk is demoted back to the rank of captain which is really what he’d always wanted.

It ends a cohesive trilogy of Star Trek movies, following the death of Spock, his rebirth, and his return to adventure alongside Jim Kirk. If you’re looking for the best science fiction movies ever made you don’t have to look any further than these three.

Exit Nimoy, enter Shatner. As well as sitting in the captain’s chair, Shatner was swapped into the director’s chair for The Final Frontier too. And, honestly, the movie is a pure reflection of the man himself.

Concerned with grand philosophical ideas, notions of ego, and the quest for knowledge, The Final Frontier follows the first voyage of the USS Enterprise-A on the search for God. It marks the introduction of Spock’s half brother Sybok (a brilliant Star Trek villain), and is notorious for its iffy visual effects and puzzling tone.

It’s not all bad, though, and there are some gloriously camp sequences between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy on their camping trip. The humor doesn’t always land here, but its heart’s in the right place and I enjoy watching Kirk climb a rock (and adore his ‘Go climb a rock’ shirt). But, The Final Frontier was bad enough that it almost prematurely ended the franchise, and prevented Shatner from exerting his creative influence over the next movie.

The final adventure of the whole TOS-era crew, The Undiscovered Country is a grand, emotional send-off for the first Star Trek cast and a group of beloved characters.

As the Klingon moon Praxis explodes due to unsafe mining conditions, Kirk is sent on one last mission: to negotiate peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire after years of tension and war. It’s a direct parallel to the Chernobyl disaster, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the end of the Cold War.

Unsurprisingly then, The Undiscovered Country is the most political Star Trek movie, concerning itself with deep-rooted prejudice and how personal conflicts can be barriers to social progress and peace. Kirk learns to overcome his hatred for the Klingons and see the bigger picture, but not before the Enterprise crew uncovers a traitor in its midst who is attempting to sabotage the peace process.

“Second star to the right, and straight on ‘til morning,” is the perfect end to it all. At least, it could have been.

After the smash success of Star Trek The Next Generation (the finale was seen on broadcast by an astonishing 30 million viewers), it was the TNG cast ’s turn to have a go at making movies too. What better way to start a new era than by looking back to an old one?

Set in the immediate aftermath of TNG season 7, Captain Kirk joins forces with Captain Picard thanks to a convenient time travel plot device. Together, they defeat the villainous Soran, a man obsessed with finding a fantastical extra-dimensional realm called the ‘Nexus’. The Enterprise-D is destroyed, and to make things even worse, Kirk dies along the way too. He’s buried under a pile of rocks by Picard, which isn’t exactly a hero’s send-off, but here we are.

Like some joyless inverse of The Voyage Home, First Contact sees a former first officer (Jonathan Frakes’ Riker) step into the director’s chair to create an adventure that catapults the crew of the USS Enterprise back in time to Earth. This time though, there’s the threat of the Borg: it’s a lot darker than a mission to save some whales.

As the Borg attempts to prevent Earth from making first contact with the Vulcans, the TNG crew split up to combat the Borg in space with the shiny new Enterprise-E and ensure that things go as they should down on Earth’s surface. With some of the best action Star Trek has to offer, this is widely seen as the greatest TNG movie, even if its attempts to turn Picard into a Rambo-style action hero are misguided.

Often likened to a TNG episode, Insurrection lowers the stakes and opts for a more personal story instead. Mostly set on the planet of Ba’ku, Insurrection sees Picard ditch Starfleet’s orders in favor of doing the right thing.

The planet has restorative effects thanks to its metaphasic particles, which the Federation’s allies the Son’a want to harness for their own personal aims. That would mean shunting Ba’Ku’s inhabitants off to another world, though, and Picard refuses to cooperate. Instead, he helps the Ba’Ku mount a resistance, which brings him close to death.

While the TOS cast got six movies, the TNG cast could only manage four. Nemesis was their fourth and final adventure (until their reunion in Picard season 3) and it brought Picard into conflict with an evil clone… of himself, played by a bald Tom Hardy.

This clone is Shinzon, who leads the Remans (slaves to the Romulans) aboard his ship the Scimitar. The Scimitar is equipped with an extraordinarily powerful Thalaron weapon that has the power to destroy all before it, including Earth. In the battle to defeat Shinzon, Data sacrifices himself in an act similar to Spock’s sacrifice in The Wrath of Khan. Riker leaves to take command of the USS Titan , and the Romulan commander Donatra suggests peace could be on the horizon (something that never happens).

It’s a downer ending which, after the perfection of All Good Things… which concluded their time on TV, retroactively made all four TNG movies seem somewhat of a misfire.

No one wants to finish their Star Trek movie marathon with Nemesis, for God’s sake. Instead, end on a high with Star Trek Picard season 3.

Some critics, and plenty of audience members, called it one of the best seasons of Star Trek ever. Let’s make this abundantly clear: it’s not . The plot is packed full of contrivances, the attempt to force in nostalgia is cynical, it’s got too many subplots, the return of the Borg is predictable, and unlike 99% of TNG (which is so wants to remind you of) it ends with a giant mindless battle.

And yet, it at least gives the beloved Star Trek The Next Generation cast a happy ending. It also, to be fair, has some great moments, ideas, and episodes, with the like of No Win Scenario, and Dominion. It can be thrilling, and exciting, and it has a genuinely brilliant movie-like score.

In fact, it really wants to be a TOS-style Star Trek movie. And, perhaps it should have been. Cutting down the length would have solved a lot of problems and bloat. Still: to finish things off with some Star Trek VI-style optimism, you can end your re-watch with Picard season 3. For better and worse.

How to watch the Star Trek movies in chronological order

As the Kelvin timeline is created in the Prime timeline in the year 2387, the formal way to watch the Star Trek movies in chronological order is with Chris Pine’s Star Trek trilogy at the end.

Star Trek 2009 starts with Prime Spock post-Nemesis, so the movies are technically (if not spiritually) sequels. This isn’t the ideal order in which to watch the movies, because it’s jarring to skip back and forth.

But if you’re a stickler for rules, this is how you’ll want to do it. You’ve been warned, though. It gets messy, and pretty confusing.

How to watch the Star Trek movies in chronological order:

• Star Trek The Motion Picture (2270s)
• Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan (2285)
• Star Trek III The Search for Spock (2285)
• Star Trek IV The Voyage Home (2286)
• Star Trek V The Final Frontier (2287)
• Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country (2293)
• Star Trek Generations (2371)
• Star Trek First Contact (2373)
• Star Trek Insurrection (2375)
• Star Trek Nemesis (2379)
• Star Trek 2009 (Prime timeline 2387; Kelvin timeline 2255)
• Star Trek Into Darkness (Kelvin timeline 2259)
• Star Trek Beyond (Kelvin timeline 2263)

How to watch the Star Trek movies in release order

Beginning over a decade after the end of the first Star Trek series, the Star Trek movies began in 1979. Since then, new movies have been making their way into cinemas in neat intervals up until 2016, with the release of the most recent Star Trek Beyond.

Thankfully, watching the Star Trek movies in release order isn’t complicated at all.

Star Trek movies in release order:

• 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 (2009)
• Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
• Star Trek Beyond (2016)

All upcoming Star Trek movies

As it enters a new golden era with its TV series, the Star Trek franchise has plenty of life left in it, and there are two potential Star Trek movies which could be arriving in the next few years.

First, we have the one which is officially in development: Star Trek Section 31. A spin-off of Star Trek Discovery centering on Michelle Yeoh’s Philippa Georgiou, the new movie is set to shine a light on the secretive operations of the infamous Section 31. This is a clandestine organization which forms part of Starfleet Intelligence and serves to protect the security of the Federation by any means necessary.

The Star Trek Section 31 release date looks like it will arrive at some point in 2025, and it’s set to air exclusively on Paramount Plus .

Then, we have the apparently-cursed Star Trek 4. A sequel to Star Trek Beyond with the Kelvin timeline cast has been in the works for close to a decade now, and still we have nothing concrete confirmed about the film.

Contractual negotiations and scheduling, as well as lots of shifting creative directions behind the scenes, have prevented the movie from ever getting further than a script. And even that, reportedly, is now scrapped. As each month passes by, the likelihood of Star Trek 4 ever being made lessens. The movie hasn’t been officially canceled yet, just indefinitely delayed, so we’ve still got a shred of hope. For now.

Upcoming Star Trek movies:

• Star Trek Section 31
• Star Trek 4

And, that’s it on how to watch the Star Trek movies in order. If you got to the end, well done: you’ve watched 13 movies across two parallel timelines. That’s no mean feat.

If, like us, you still can’t get enough of the Enterprise in all its forms, you can check out some of our other Star Trek articles, including our interview with Anson Mount and Rebecca Romijn about Strange New Worlds as well as our guides to the Strange New Worlds season 3 release date,  Lower Decks season 4 release date and a potential Star Trek Legacy release date .

You can also see our picks for the best Star Trek starships , as well as our explainers on the USS Intrepid , USS Farragut , and USS Kelcie Mae . Or, see our picks for the best Star Trek characters of all time, and our thoughts on which Star Trek captain would win in a zombie apocalypse . You can also check out what’s new on Paramount Plus this month, as well as our choices for the best TV series of all time.

James Osborne After graduating from the University of York with a degree in archaeology (inspired by Captain Picard), James worked with the news team at Screen Rant while contributing features to Vulture, The AV Club, Digital Spy, FANDOM, and the official Star Trek website. Now, he writes about all things sci-fi and fantasy at The Digital Fix with an 'Enterprise-D ambiance' playlist on loop. He's a seasoned expert on all things Star Trek , Lord of the Rings , Star Wars , and Yellowstone , and is more than willing to share his hot takes on TNG which he believes is the greatest series ever made.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Link to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Hit Man Link to Hit Man
• Babes Link to Babes

New TV Tonight

• Evil: Season 4
• Stax: Soulsville, U.S.A.: Season 1
• Jurassic World: Chaos Theory: Season 1
• Tires: Season 1
• Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza: Season 1
• Trying: Season 4
• Fairly OddParents: A New Wish: Season 1
• Mulligan: Season 2
• The 1% Club: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• Outer Range: Season 2
• Dark Matter: Season 1
• X-Men '97: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Bridgerton: Season 3
• Bodkin: Season 1
• Hacks: Season 3
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Bridgerton: Season 3 Link to Bridgerton: Season 3
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

All A24 Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

Cannes Film Festival 2024: Movie Scorecard

Asian-American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Walton Goggins Talks The Ghoul’s Thirsty Fans and Fallout’s Western Influences on The Awards Tour Podcast

Vote For the Best Movie of 1999 – Round 1

• Trending on RT
• Furiosa First Reviews
• Most Anticipated 2025 Movies
• Cannes Film Festival Preview
• TV Premiere Dates

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Where to watch.

Watch Star Trek: The Motion Picture with a subscription on Max, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

Featuring a patchwork script and a dialogue-heavy storyline whose biggest villain is a cloud, Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a less-than-auspicious debut for the franchise.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Robert Wise

William Shatner

Leonard Nimoy

Commander Spock

DeForest Kelley

Lt. Cmdr, Leonard H. 'Bones' McCoy, M.D.

Stephen Collins

Persis Khambatta

Lieutenant Ilia

Movie Clips

More like this, related movie news.

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, star trek: the motion picture.

Now streaming on:

Epic science-fiction stories, with their cosmic themes and fast truths about the nature of mankind, somehow work best when the actors are unknown to us. The presence of the Star Trek characters and actors who have become so familiar to us on television tends in a strange way to undermine this movie. The audience walks in with a possessive, even patronizing attitude toward Kirk and Spock and Bones, and that interferes with the creation of the "sense of wonder" that science fiction is all about.

Let's begin with the toy for the eyes. The Star Trek movie is fairly predictable in its plot. We more or less expected that two of the frequent ingredients in the television episodes would be here, and they are: a confrontation between Starship Enterprise and some sort of alien entity, and a conclusion in which basic human values are affirmed in a hostile universe. In "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", the alien entity is an unimaginably vast alien spaceship from somewhere out at the edge of the galaxy. The movie opens as it's discovered racing directly toward Earth, and it seems to be hostile. Where has it come from, and what does it want?

The Starship Enterprise, elaborately rebuilt, is assigned to go out to intercept it, with Admiral Kirk, of course, in charge. And scenes dealing with the Enterprise and the other ship will make up most of the movie if the special effects aren't good, the movie's not going to work. But they are good, as, indeed, they should be: The first special-effects team on this movie was fired, and the film's release was delayed a year while these new effects were devised and photographed. (The effects get better, by the way, as the movie progresses. The alien ship looks great but the spaceports and futuristic cities near the film's beginning loom fairly phony.)

The Enterprise, perhaps deliberately, looks a lot like other spaceships we've seen in " 2001: A Space Odyssey ," " Silent Running ," "Star Wars," and " Alien ." Kubrick's space odyssey set a visual style for the genre that still seems to be serviceable. But the look of the other spaceship in " Star Trek " is more awesome and original. It seems to reach indefinitely in all directions, the Enterprise is a mere speck inside of it, and the contents of the alien vessel include images of the stars and planets it has passed en route, as well as enormous rooms or spaces that seem to be states of a computer-mind. This is terrific stuff.

But now we get to the human level (or the half-human level, in the case of Mr. Spock). The characters in this movie are part of our cultural folklore; the Star Trek television episodes have been rerun time and time again. Trekkies may be unhappy with me for saying this, but there are ways in which our familiarity with the series works against the effectiveness of this movie. On the one hand we have incomprehensible alien forces and a plot that reaches out to the edge of the galaxy.

On the other hand, confronting these vast forces, we have television pop heroes. It's great to enjoy the in-jokes involving the relationships of the Enterprise crew members and it's great that Trekkies can pick up references meant for them, but the extreme familiarity of the Star Trek characters somehow tends to break the illusion in the big scenes involving the alien ship.

Such reservations aside, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" is probably about as good as we could have expected. It lacks the dazzling brilliance and originality of 2001 (which was an extraordinary one-of-a-kind film). But on its own terms it's a very well-made piece of work, with an interesting premise. The alien spaceship turns out to come from a mechanical or computer civilization, one produced by artificial intelligence and yet poignantly "human" in the sense that it has come all this way to seek out the secrets of its own origins, as we might.

There is, I suspect, a sense in which you can be too sophisticated for your own good when you see a movie like this. Some of the early reviews seemed pretty blase, as if the critics didn't allow themselves to relish the film before racing out to pigeonhole it. My inclination, as I slid down in my seat and the stereo sound surrounded me, was to relax and let the movie give me a good time. I did and it did.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Now playing

Brian Tallerico

The Blue Angels

Matt zoller seitz.

Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever

Simon abrams.

Glenn Kenny

Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World

Film Credits

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

132 minutes

William Shatner as Kirk

Leonard Nimoy as Spock

James Doohan as Scotty

George Takei as Sulu

Walter Koenig as Chekov

Directed by

• Robert Wise

Produced by

• Gene Roddenberry

Screenplay by

• Harold Livingston

Latest blog posts

Cannes 2024: Grand Tour, Motel Destino, Beating Hearts

Life, the Videogame: Run Lola Run

Cannes 2024 Diary 2: International Genre Picks

I Will Be Happy if I Can Say I’ve Done My Best: Eye Surgeon Dr. Ming Wang on Sight

• Tickets & Showtimes
• Trending on RT

TAGGED AS: movies , Star Trek

(Photo by Paramount)

All Star Trek Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

Star Trek (2009) celebrates its 15th anniversary!

We’re boldly ranking the Star Trek movies by Tomatometer, from the original film series (1979’s The Motion Picture to The Undiscovered Country ), into the handoff to films featuring the Next Generation cast ( Generations to Nemesis ), and through to the reboot series (2009’s Trek to Beyond ).

Star Trek (2009) 94%

Star Trek: First Contact (1996) 93%

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) 87%

Star Trek Beyond (2016) 86%

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) 84%

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) 83%

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) 82%

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) 78%

Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) 55%

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) 53%

Star Trek Generations (1994) 48%

Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) 38%

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) 21%

Related news.

Vote For the Best Movie of 1999 – Round 1

‘Seen on the Screen’ Podcast: A Celebration of Universal Stories 

Weekend Box Office Results: John Krasinski’s IF Rises to the Top

More Countdown

All A24 Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

Mad Max Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

Mad Max In Order: How to Watch the Movies Chronologically

Movie & TV News

Featured on rt.

May 24, 2024

Walton Goggins Talks The Ghoul’s Thirsty Fans and Fallout’s Western Influences on The Awards Tour Podcast

May 23, 2024

May 21, 2024

Top Headlines

• All A24 Movies Ranked by Tomatometer –
• Cannes Film Festival 2024: Movie Scorecard –
• Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch –
• Mad Max Movies Ranked by Tomatometer –
• Mad Max In Order: How to Watch the Movies Chronologically –
• Cannes 2024 Red Carpet Arrivals –

Every Star Trek Show And Movie In Chronological Order

As a media phenomenon, "Star Trek" began on September 8, 1966 with the airing of "The Man Trap" (the sixth episode in production order, but the first aired). Originally, the show's writers, including creator Gene Roddenberry, used the concept of "stardates" to ensure the show's actual timeline was left vague; for several episodes, all audiences knew was that "Trek" was set in the future and that the future was a pretty keen place. It wouldn't be until the episode "The Naked Time" (seventh episode produced, fourth aired, first aired on September 29, 1966) that the Gregorian year would be mentioned out loud, and an actual timeline could begin to be constructed. 

Since then, "Star Trek" has extrapolated an extensive, centuries long timeline of events, often skipping merrily back and forth through the centuries, adding more and more to the franchises complex chronology. The chronology of "Star Trek" is so complicated that entire books have been published tracking the various shows' and films' events. Because of the constant production of new "Star Trek," these books became dated immediately. 

" Star Trek: Strange New Worlds " is set to debut on Paramount+ on May 5, and it is set immediately before the events of the original "Star Trek," making it the third "prequel" series to the original. To keep matters as clear as possible, here is a (very brief, by the standards of "Trek") rundown of "Star Trek" chronology from within its own canon. 

NOTE : This list will not necessarily include single episodes wherein characters go back in time, but give an overall timeframe for each individual film and TV show.

1986: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Although beginning and ending within the proper chronology of the "Star Trek" future, Leonard Nimoy's 1986 feature film " Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home " is set largely in the earliest point in the franchise's timeline (again, excluding single time travel episodes of any given TV series, wherein Mark Twain, the 1950s, and other eras are regularly visited). In the film, the crew of the Enterprise must go back in time to rescue a pair of humpback whales from extinction in order to appease an enormous, inscrutable space monolith that has been draining future Earth of its oceans, looking for its own kind. 

The bulk of "Voyage Home" takes place in 1986, and the film gained a lot of critical and audience attention for its fish-out-of-water humor and light tone; the previous three films had been comparatively dour, downbeat, or cerebral.

2024: Star Trek: Picard (Season 2)

As of this writing, the second season of "Star Trek: Picard" is still being released weekly on Paramount+, so the ultimate conclusion of the story is as yet unknown. 

What is known is that the trickster god Q (John De Lancie), a playful villain from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," visited an elderly Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) to warn him of a parallel universe. In this parallel universe, Earth is a genocidal conqueror race that has wiped out most life in the galaxy. Picard must travel back in time, paralleling the story of "Voyage Home" in order to stop the fascist timeline from starting. Thanks to the limited information they have, they travel to the year 2024, and the bulk of the season's action takes place there. 

A bit of a continuity error already: In previously mentioned "Trek" canon, the Eugenics Wars — the conflagration that wrought Khan from "Star Trek II" — should have already happened by 2024 (I believe the original date for the Eugenics Wars was 1997), but, in "Picard," they had clearly been delayed. One of the subplots of the second season of "Picard,' however, involves a malevolent genetic engineer, so it looks like the Eugenics Wars may finally be nigh.

2063: Star Trek: First Contact

Although never directly filmed, there are constant references throughout "Star Trek" to World War III, an event that left the entire planet devastated. Despite destitution and technological ruin, an inventor named Zefram Cochran managed to invent an engine that allowed humanity to travel faster than light. This technology, when being tested for the first time in the solar system, attracted the attention of some Vulcans who just happened to be passing by. This was the First Contact mentioned in the title of the 1996 film " Star Trek: First Contact ." 

In that film, the characters from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" travel back in time to foil a plot by a malevolent species of cyborgs called The Borg, and find themselves in the year A.D. 2063 where they could witness First Contact themselves. This was the event that essentially kicked off creator Gene Roddenberry's vision of a peaceful future. In meeting intelligent space aliens, a hobbled humanity learned that war was churlish, and that unity as a species was preferable in the face of a suddenly occupied cosmos. 

"First Contact" is essentially the "Star Trek" origin story.

2151 - 2155: Star Trek: Enterprise

After first talking to Vulcans, humans were eager to take to the stars and join the galactic community. The conceit of the 2001 TV series " Star Trek: Enterpris e" (originally just called "Enterprise") was that the Vulcans, seeing how illogical and roughhewn humanity still was, encouraged them to stay on Earth for nearly a century before actually taking to the stars. In that century, humanity rebuilt, formed a Starfleet, and constructed its very first long-mission starship, the U.S.S. Enterprise NX-01. The show is about the adventures of the very first humans in space, circa A.D. 2151.

"Enterprise" took place before a lot of established "Trek" tech had been invented. There were transporters, but they weren't entirely safe for use on humans. There were no shields around the ship. There were no food replicators, and the Enterprise required a galley. Most notably, there wasn't a Prime Directive yet, so a lot of mistakes are bound to be made. It wouldn't be until 2161 — according to ancillary revelations — that the Federation would be formed. 

2254: The Cage

The unused "Star Trek" pilot has probably gained more canonical traction than any other unused footage from any other work of filmed fiction. "The Cage" didn't air in its complete form until 1986, 20 years after its making. Previously, footage from "The Cage" was incorporated into a two-part "Star Trek" episode called "The Menagerie" (November of 1966). 

In the pilot, we first meet Capt. Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter) and his ship the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701. We were first introduced to Spock as well, although Spock would be the only character carried over into the second pilot that was eventually used. Majel Barrett played the Enterprise's first officer in "The Cage," and she would go on to play multiple other roles throughout "Star Trek," including Nurse Chapel, M'Ress, Lwaxana Troi, and the voice of the ship's computer. 

The events of "The Cage" would also be revisited in the second season of "Star Trek: Discovery."

2256 - 2258: Star Trek: Discovery (seasons 1 and 2)

Another cataclysm that had been mentioned multiple times throughout "Star Trek" was a war between the Klingons and the Federation. The first season of "Star Trek: Discovery," which debuted on CBS All Access (now Paramount+) in November of 2017, dramatized those events explicitly, as seen through the eyes of the U.S.S. Discovery. This new ship was a science vessel that had figured out a way to tap into a galaxy-wide network of near-undetectable, microscopic spores into order to teleport anywhere in the galaxy instantaneously. 

After surviving the Klingon war, the Discovery teamed up with the U.S.S. Enterprise while it was still being captained by Christopher Pike (now played by Anson Mount), putting the events of "Discovery" immediately after the original pilot. There were a lot — and I mean a LOT — of narrative excuses as to why the high-tech Discovery (realized with late-2010s special effects) didn't match the boxier, monochromatic world of "The Cage." 

The show's writers also needed to come up with an organic reason why a ship that can teleport — a technology that would have fundamentally changed the world of "Star Trek" — was never mentioned in any of the "Trek" shows made from 1966 until 2017. As such, at the end of the second season of "Discovery," the ship was thrown almost 1,000 years into the future in order to outrun an insidious computer intelligence that would spread throughout the galaxy if knowledge of it was passed around. As such, the Discovery more or less deleted itself from existence. As panicked, narrative ass-saving measures go, it's a 7.

2258: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

The appearance of Capt. Pike on "Discovery" was so well-received that Paramount+ elected to go back to the Enterprise, bring back the characters from "The Cage," lump in a few familiar faces from the 1966 "Star Trek," and make " Strange New Worlds ," a series that takes place only eight years prior to the events of the original TV series. 

"Strange New Worlds" brings back Anson Mount as Pike, as well as a young Spock, a very young Uhura, a young Nurse Chapel, one of Khan's ancestors, and Dr. M'Benga, who showed up in a few episodes if the 1966 show. It also, notably, will not have season-long story arcs, but a single-hour episodic structure, standing in contrast with most of the other Paramount+-era "Star Treks," with "Lower Decks" being the proud exception.

2258 (KELVIN): Star Trek (2009)

Thanks to "Star Trek," the notion of parallel universes is quite well-known to the public. Incidentally, it's been quite odd watching the films and TV shows in the Marvel universe slow-walk the notion of a multiverse over the course of multiple installments when we've already seen Spock with a goatee. 

Thanks to complicated studio politics, there was a split in Paramount in the mid-2000s, and the Paramount side of the schism — when wanting to make a new "Star Trek" feature film — was legally required to make something distinguishable from the TV shows. Enter J.J. Abrams and his 2009 feature film " Star Trek " which takes place at the same time as "Strange New Worlds," but in a parallel universe where the characters from the 1966 show now look like a new cast, the Enterprise looks brighter and sleeker, and everything is more intense and action-packed. 

This new timeline would be created when a villain went back in time interfered with James T. Kirk right when he was born.

2259 (KELVIN): Star Trek Into Darkness

Although taking place far before the events of 1982's "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," J.J. Abrams' " Star Trek Into Darkness " (2013) drew a lot of story parallels to the Nicholas Meyer film. Taking place almost immediately after the 2009 film, "Into Darkness" involved the character of Khan who, in the timeline of the 1966 series, wouldn't be resurrected from cryogenic sleep for a few years hence. In "Into Darkness," he was awakened early, became involved in a plot to smuggle other cryogenically frozen compatriots. 

Originally, the Eugenics Wars were meant to have started in the 1990s, but — as "Star Trek" persisted, and the '90s came and went in the real world — that timeline had to be altered several times. The timeline of the Eugenics Wars in "Into Darkness" are a little unclear. As we saw above in "Star Trek: Picard," we know that they'll now take place sometime after 2024.

2263 (KELVIN): Star Trek Beyond

In Justin Lin's " Star Trek Beyond " (2016), Kirk (Chris Pine) laments that his adventures have already become episodic. It's unusual that the 2009 film and the 2013 sequel are essentially origin stories about the young Kirk coming into his own, and "Beyond" skips ahead to the point where he's already tired of being on "Star Trek." We missed the actual "five year mission" part!

Another interesting wrinkle in "Beyond" is that it alludes to a time somewhere after "Star Trek: Enterprise": The evil Kroll (Idris Elba) was, in fact, a human captain named Edison who led his own starship in the "Enterprise" era. Before the film, he was mutated into an evil alien. "Beyond," in explicitly mentioning the Xindi wars and other events from "Enterprise," anchors the Kelvin films a little more solidly into the "Trek" timeline.

2265 - 2269: Star Trek

After "The Cage" was abandoned by Paramount, the studio and Gene Roddenberry reworked the show into the 1966 program we all know and love. As mentioned, Spock was the only character carried over from the original pilot, and "Star Trek" now featured William Shatner as Captain Kirk and a host of new characters besides. "Star Trek" began as a horror show — there are many monsters and scare moments in the first season — eventually tackling ethical issues in a sci-fi fantasy context. 

"Star Trek" ran for three seasons, ending its initial run on June 3, 1969. Thanks to the gods of syndication, "Star Trek" would remain in reruns for the following decade, building up interest, spawning Trek conventions, and allowing the show to grow into a full-blown cultural phenomenon.

2269 - 2270: Star Trek: The Animated Series

In the opening credits of " Star Trek ," Shatner brazenly informed the audiences that the U.S.S. Enterprise was on a five-year mission. Given that the show was canned after only three years, there was more mission left to witness. In 1973, Roddenberry teamed up with Filmation to make an animated "Star Trek" series that would, by dint of its two seasons, ostensibly complete the five-year mission. Chekov (Walter Koenig) was absent from this show, but other unusual aliens took his place, including a cat woman named M'Ress and Mr. Aryx, a being with three arms. The animated format allowed for wilder ideas, aliens, and ships to be employed, and there are stories featuring flying serpents, aliens made of plants, an undersea episode, and a story with a 50-foot Spock. 

This 1973 version of "Star Trek," in only running 30 minutes per episode, cut out a lot of extraneous character moments from the traditional "Trek" structure, and got straight to the story. It's a far more efficient show than the 1966 program, and it has a passionate following of fans. 

2273: Star Trek: The Motion Picture

The decade of syndication, "Trek" conventions, and the financial success of George Lucas' sci-fi serial epic " Star Wars " in 1977 led Paramount to start thinking about restarting "Star Trek" on TV. A project was put into production that was to be called "Star Trek Phase II," and would have reunited several familiar "Trek" characters as well as introduce some new ones. For various reasons, "Phase II" was abandoned and elements of it were transformed into what would become the 1979 theatrical release " Star Trek: The Motion Picture ."

If all you had prior to "The Motion Picture" was a failed, low-budget TV show and a little-regarded animated series, this movie would feel grand in ways that you couldn't previously imagine. A lot of time was devoted to the size of the Enterprise, the importance of the characters, and mind-bending notions about the unending vastness of the cosmos. Here was a "Star Trek" film that is often compared to 1968's "2001: A Space Odyssey." Good gracious was it enormous. 

"The Motion Picture" was successful enough to warrant a sequel, but not so successful that Roddenberry was welcomed back. Remember that detail when we get to "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

2285: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

2285 was a significant year. In the events of Nicholas Meyer's "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (1982), a thawed out Khan — the version played by Ricardo Montalbán from the 1967 "Star Trek" episode "The Space Seed," not the version played by Benedict Cumberbatch in "Star Trek Into Darkness" — hijacked a starship called the U.S.S. Reliant and set out on a mission of revenge against Admiral Kirk. The good admiral, we find, had forgotten about a lot of irresponsible actions taken in his past and had to face them head on just as he was looking down the barrel of old age. "Star Trek II" didn't end well for Kirk or for Spock. In that film, Spock famously dies. 

Not wasting any time, however, Kirk and co. sprang back into action in Leonard Nimoy's " Star Trek III: The Search for Spock " (1984), which picks up immediately after "Khan" ended. Thanks to the fineries of Vulcan psychic powers, and a high tech radiation wave that can generate life out of nothing, Spock could potentially be resurrected, and Kirk hijacks the Enterprise in order to help a friend. In so doing, Kirk destroys the ship, rouses the ire of some Klingons, loses his son (killed by said Klingons), and possibly destroys his career in Starfleet. Oops. 

Perhaps one of the reasons "Star Trek IV" (which began in 2286) was so popular was that it was the first "Trek" film to end on a wholly positive note. 

2287: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Often cited as the worst of the "Trek" movies, William Shatner's "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" (1989) starts with a promising concept, but was undone by a bad script hastily written during a strike, and a repeatedly cut FX budget. The film ultimately feels flimsy and ill-considered, not able to truly confront the interesting ideas it brings up. Shatner has apologized for the poor quality of his film, which was fraught with production troubles.

In "Frontier," a newly-built Enterprise is hijacked by Spock's half-brother Sybok (Laurence Luckinbill), who is leading a cult of brainwashed followers, freed from pain by their leader's psychic powers. He seeks a mysterious planet at the center of the galaxy where he believes God physically lives. The final frontier of the title is not space, but the soul, religion, or spirituality. Many "Trek" purists will point out that seeking the center of the galaxy, and finding a deity there, is similar to an Animated Series episode called "The Magicks of Megas-Tu," wherein Kirk found the planet at the center of the galaxy is actually home to Satan. 

Note : "The Magicks of Megas-Tu" is far better than "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier."

2293: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Made after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nicholas Meyer's " Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country " (1991) was very clearly a metaphor for the end of the Cold War. In it, the Klingon Empire is crippled by the accidental explosion of one of their moons, leaving the entire government requiring Federation help. "Country" is about how difficult it is to give up being enemies, especially when so much of one's identity is tied in with hate. There's an assassination, a investigation, a trial, a prison break ... It's one of the best "Trek" movies. 

One might glean from the title of the previous film in the series that the entire Kirk era was meant to end with "The Final Frontier." One might also glean that the poor reception and bad box office of "Final Frontier" led to one last go 'round. Fans may be relieved that the final feature film in the Kirk era was actually, y'know, a good one.

2364 - 2370: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Throughout the 1970s, Gene Roddenberry made tours on the convention circuit, talking about his vision for "Star Trek," and interacting with fans who were inspired by the peace, diplomacy, and calm that "Star Trek" has written into its DNA. Looking back over the 1966 show, notions of optimism and diplomacy are present, but they are mixed in with a lot of violence, sexism, and other now-backward ideas. After Roddenberry was essentially barred from involvement on the "Star Trek" feature films, he decided to make a purer, better version of his old show, set another 80 years in the future, and even more devoted to intelligence and diplomacy than ever before. Hence, 1987's " Star Trek: The Next Generation ." 

Taking place on a new ship, the Enterprise NCC-1701-D, and featuring an all new cast, the update of "Star Trek" started a little clumsily, but eventually found its stride to become the best "Star Trek" has offered to date. The tech was more convincing than it ever was, and it featured professional, adult characters who deal with crises with stiff upper lips. More so, it more frequently addressed questions about the meaning of life that humanity will always, it seems, wrestle with.

"Next Generation" last for seven full seasons, and its characters ended up occupying just as large a place in the pop consciousness as the characters from the 1966 TV series. 

Yes, "Next Generation" went back in time several times.

In terms of chronology, "Next Generation" overlapped with...

2369 - 2375: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

" Deep Space Nine " (1993 – 1999) was an unusual animal in many ways. It was the first time two "Star Trek" shows would run concurrently, and would take place over the same time frame (Picard from "Next Generation" appeared in the show's pilot). It was not about trekking at all, as it took place aboard a space station. It was also not set in the world of the Federation, often revolving alien species who were not offered protection from the organization. It was a show of healing and animosity. Of war and death. It started with an ensemble of seven or eight people, and eventually expanded to include about 30 main characters. "Deep Space Nine" is "Star Trek" via a Russian historical novel. 

When taken as a unit, "Next Generation" and "Deep Space Nine," both excellent in their own rights, become a complementary mass that is greater than their sum. The strength of diplomacy vs. its breakdown. The avoidance of war vs. the involvement in it. The absence of fascism vs. its inevitable regrowth. 

Yes, "Deep Space Nine" went back in time several times. 

"Deep Space Nine's" chronology would overlap with "Star Trek: Voyager," as well as with...

2371: Star Trek: Generations

The 1994 feature film " Star Trek: Generations " was a strange excursion. Although "Next Generation" had already run for seven years, "Generations" was still insistent on "passing the torch" from Kirk to Picard, and it bent over backwards to create the means by which Kirk and Picard, separated by 87 years of history, could meet face-to-face. It was the fan crossover no Trekkie wanted. As such, "Generations" is a flimsy affair, speeding through a ridiculous plot about a mobile temporal nexus that serves as Heaven for the people it scoops up along its path. 

Trekkies were even-headed enough to realize that Kirk and Picard weren't meant to meet, and that "Next Generation" was its own entity. The decision to aggressively tie the two shows even more closely together was just baffling. 

Notable too: The Enterprise-D was destroyed in "Generations," and would be replaced by a big ol' ugly thing for three additional feature films.

2371 - 2378: Star Trek: Voyager

" Star Trek: Voyager " debuted in 1995 and ran concurrently with "Deep Space Nine" both on television and within the chronology of "Star Trek." To cleverly avoid any interference between the two shows, however — "Deep Space Nine" would eventually become embroiled in a galaxy-spanning war — "Voyager" was given a "Lost in Space"-style premise wherein the title ship was thrown all the way across the galaxy to a portion of space that has never been explored by Starfleet, and could otherwise only be reached by 70 years of space travel. 

While the premise would perhaps lead a viewer to believe that "Voyager" was going to be about resource allocation and survival, it quickly became more about the Borg, a character played by actress Jeri Ryan, and Captain Janeway's (Kate Mulgrew) steady slide into autocracy. 

"Voyager" struggled with ratings for years, but still managed to last seven seasons like "Next Gen" and "Deep Space" before it. The final episode of "Voyager," a time travel story called " Endgame ," would air in March of 2001.

2375: Star Trek: Insurrection

While "Voyager" and "Deep Space Nine" were running concurrently on television, the "Next Generation" crew were yukking it up in the overwhelmingly mediocre 1998 Jonathan Frakes film " Star Trek: Insurrection ." Like "The Final Frontier," "Insurrection" can be seen straining against the limits of its budget, with bad CGI, bland costumes, and locations clearly found in the California mountains. The cheapness of "Star Trek" has often served as a boon for its story, forcing writers to insert interesting and challenging ideas into their plywood sets. "Insurrection" has no such ideas, asking the ethical question of forced relocation, but never feeling threatening, and offering a magical curative radiation that would require study and collection. 

Although one can admit this: "Insurrection" captures the tone of the "Next Generation" TV series far better than any of the other movies in this part of the series. It's a pity, though, that after the grand finale of "Next Generation," we find ourselves with suck lackluster films. 

Speaking of lackluster films ...

2379: Star Trek: Nemesis

Released in 2002, Stuart Baird's " Star Trek: Nemesis " was poised to be the final gasp for "Star Trek." "Enterprise" was already taking the franchise in a new direction, and the "NextGen" cast was clearly too tired to handle a continued barrage of poorly planned action movies, and thrillers that didn't resemble the show they were inspired by. "Nemesis" is dark and action-packed and violent and takes a lot of structural cues from "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." 

In it, Tom Hardy plays a character named Shinzon who is, in fact, a clone of Captain Picard, grown in a Romulan lab, and eventually discarded into a Romulan mine. Shinzon escaped the mine, built an army, and is poised to take a giant death ship into Federation space to revenge all over people. "Nemesis" is also the film in which Data (Brent Spiner) dies, and Captain Picard drives a dune buggy. 

The sentiment of the time was reminiscent of T.S. Eliot's " The Hollow Men ." This is the way "Next Gen" ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper.

Worry not. There will be further whimpers for the NextGen crew.

2380 - ?: Star Trek: Lower Decks

Named after a seventh season episode of "Next Generation," and taking place in line with the end of "Nemesis" and "Voyager," " Star Trek: Lower Decks " debuted on Paramount+ in 2020 as part of a slew of "Star Trek"-related indicia that the company was desperate to exploit. And while the all-your-eggs-in-one basket approach to TV production affected by Paramount led to stinkers like "Discovery" and "Picard," it did lead to this surprisingly good animated program. 

One of the more appealing aspects of "Star Trek" is that it's essentially a series of workplace shows. The characters are typically vocation-forward, and take their duty to their ship very seriously. Where a "Star Trek" character works speaks powerfully to who they are. "Lower Decks" follows the people who have the worst possible jobs on a Starfleet vessel, often tasked with cleaning holodecks, sanitizing floors, and arranging widgets for the senior staff. It's rough going for ensigns. They sleep in the hallway and are typically not deemed important enough to include on more exciting missions. What's more, the central ship on "Lower Decks" is a tiny, crappy ship with substandard tech. Surely such jobs would exist in "Star Trek." 

"Lower Decks" is eager to make "Trek" references, and is clearly made by people who understand "Trek's" ethos, but who still have a raunchy sense of humor. The future is here. And it's still crappy for those on the bottom. 

2383: Star Trek: Prodigy

Produced under the auspices of Nickelodeon, " Star Trek: Prodigy " (2021) was the first Trek series to be made explicitly with a younger audience in mind. The series follows a ragtag group of alien youths as they flee a prison mine and discover an abandoned Starfleet vessel called the U.S.S. Protostar. On board is an instructional hologram of Captain Janeway from "Voyager," and she teaches the kids how to behave like Starfleet officers, the importance of duty and compassion, and how their trauma does not define them. The design and the creatures are more reminiscent of "Star Wars" than "Star Trek" (the series features an evil emperor and his powerful masked servant, invoking the Emperor and Darth Vader), but it certainly functions as a generic space adventure. The "Star Trek" stuff is mere window dressing. 

It's almost disappointing to include "Prodigy" on this timeline, as one of the show's central mysteries — at least for the first part of its first season, the only part to have aired as of this writing — is when and where it takes place. It was possible that "Prodigy" took place centuries or even millennia beyond the known Trek universe. The last we saw, however, the real Captain Janeway is still alive, giving "Prodigy" a known place in Trek chronology. 

2399: Star Trek: Picard (Season 1)

After nearly 20 years of a world without Picard, Paramount+ convinced Patrick Stewart to reprise his role in a new show named for him. " Star Trek: Picard " debuted on Paramount+ in 2020, taking place further in the future than any other Trek show to date. In the timeline of "Picard," the Federation had become soured by xenophobia and openly discouraged the evacuation of Romulus, historically an enemy world, but now in dire straits after their sun went supernova (something something J.J. Abrams). Picard had left Starfleet in disgust, and had now retired to his winery. 

The story of the first season is too convoluted to get into here, needless to say it involved a Romulan secret society, a planet of androids, a reclaimed Borg cube, and a robot Cthulhu. I'm not kidding. 

It's a pity that "Picard" did not roll with its future setting more, establishing new tech or positive sea changes in the "Trek" universe. Instead, everything is devoted to a chewy, awful story about androids. Indeed, by the end, Picard himself would have his consciousness shunted into an android body. What a snore.

3188 - 3190: Star Trek: Discovery (Seasons 3 and 4)

When last we saw the U.S.S. Discovery, it was being pulled through a time hole into the distant future. In the third and fourth seasons , Discovery's crew learns that they are stranded 930 years from home, and now must rediscover their function as Starfleet officers after the Federation went into hiding. A galaxy-wide disaster — The Burn — spontaneously destroyed millions of starships, and a fierce new criminal enterprise, The Emerald Syndicate, now rules the galaxy.

The 23rd-century ship now has to learn how to use 32nd-century technology. The Discovery was redesigned, and the new mission became to spread diplomacy in a galaxy unready for it. This is the premise, it seems, that Discovery should have started with two years prior. The writing is still rather weak, and the characters are callow and weepy, but "Discovery" does excel in one notable way: Queer representation. Seven of the main cast members are openly queer. After 55 years of a dodgy relationship with queerness, "Discovery" finally nailed it.

I just wish it were a better show.

Star Trek Movies Ranked:How to Watch All the Best Trek Films Online

Ghezal Amiri

Official JustWatch writer

The Star Trek franchise has produced 13 feature films spanning over several decades. The original series, which aired in the 1960s, served as the foundation for the franchise's success. The first six films were released between 1979 and 1991 starring the original cast members. These films explored a range of themes, from political tensions to the struggle for personal identity and maintained the series' reputation for thought-provoking storytelling. In the late 1980s, the franchise saw a resurgence with the release of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The success of the TV series prompted the production of four subsequent films featuring the Next Gen crew. These films continued the franchise's legacy of tackling complex issues including the consequences of technological advancement and the ethics of leadership. However, the series saw a decline in critical reception and box office earnings towards the end of the 1990s.

JJ Abrams’ reboot of the Star Trek universe in 2009 was met with critical and financial success despite its more bombastic atmosphere which was not a common component of previous Star Trek entries. The film introduced a new cast with Chris Pine as Captain Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock and Zoe Saldana as Uhura. It is presented in an alternate timeline which made its way for new interpretations of the franchise’s beloved characters. Two subsequent sequels were released with Into Darkness in 2013 and 2016’s Beyond. Here are the 13 Star Trek movies ranked and where you can find them.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

The starship Enterprise and its crew is pulled back into action when old nemesis, Khan, steals a top secret device called Project Genesis.

Star Trek: First Contact

The Borg, a relentless race of cyborgs, are on a direct course for Earth. Violating orders to stay away from the battle, Captain Picard and the crew of the newly-commissioned USS Enterprise E pursue the Borg back in time to prevent the invaders from changing Federation history and assimilating the galaxy.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

After years of war, the Federation and the Klingon empire find themselves on the brink of a peace summit when a Klingon ship is nearly destroyed by an apparent attack from the Enterprise. Both worlds brace for what may be their deadliest encounter.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

When a huge alien probe enters the galaxy and begins to vaporize earths oceans, Kirk and his crew must travel back in time in order to bring back whales and save the planet.

Star Trek Beyond

The USS Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

A surprise visit from Spock's father provides a startling revelation: McCoy is harboring Spock's living essence.

The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James Kirk, is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock, a Vulcan, was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before. The human adventure has begun again.

Star Trek Into Darkness

When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

Star Trek: Insurrection

When an alien race and factions within Starfleet attempt to take over a planet that has "regenerative" properties, it falls upon Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise to defend the planet's people as well as the very ideals upon which the Federation itself was founded.

Star Trek: Generations

Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D find themselves at odds with the renegade scientist Soran who is destroying entire star systems. Only one man can help Picard stop Soran's scheme...and he's been dead for seventy-eight years.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

When an unidentified alien destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers, Captain James T. Kirk returns to the newly transformed U.S.S. Enterprise to take command.

Star Trek: Nemesis

En route to the honeymoon of William Riker to Deanna Troi on her home planet of Betazed, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise receives word from Starfleet that a coup has resulted in the installation of a new Romulan political leader, Shinzon, who claims to seek peace with the human-backed United Federation of Planets. Once in enemy territory, the captain and his crew make a startling discovery: Shinzon is human, a slave from the Romulan sister planet of Remus, and has a secret, shocking relationship to Picard himself.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

A renegade Vulcan with a startling secret hijacks the U.S.S. Enterprise in order to find a mythical planet.

• 1980s Movies Set in Space
• '80s Movies About the Hood
• The Best 1980s Sci-Fi Movies
• High Octane Action '80s Flicks
• The Very Best '80s Movies
• Greatest '80s Fantasy Films
• Most Hilarious 1980s Movies
• Best '80s Movies About Aliens
• The Greatest Kids Movies of the 1980s
• Horror Movies of the 1980s
• '80s Kung Fu
• The Best 1980s Western Movies
• Greatest '80s Teen Movies
• Gangster Films of the 1980s
• Favorite Superhero '80s Movies
• Fan Theories to Think About
• Best Thrillers of the 1980s
• Movies to Share with Your Kids
• The Top 1980s War Movies
• Top Vampire Movies of the '80s
• '80s Football Films
• Cartoon Films of the 1980s
• The Best '80s Cop Movies
• Scariest '80s Slasher Movies
• Great 1980s Films About Bikers
• '80s Dance Movies
• 1980s Spy Movies
• '80s Zombie Flicks
• Best Black Movies of the 1980s
• Lifetime Originals
• The Best '80s Rom-Coms
• Greatest '80s Black Comedies
• Historical Films Released in the 1980s
• Top Directors of the 1980s

The Best Space Movies Of The 1980s

When it comes to movies set in space, the '80s was the decade of the sequel. As this 80s space movie list demonstrates, sometimes it pays to stick with what works. Four Star Trek sequels, two Star Wars sequels, one Alien sequel and, just for good measure, a sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey were all successful space movies from the 80's. What a great decade to be alive!

But don’t worry if you think the 80's was completely without originality. Among the top 1980s space movies you’ll also find The Last Starfighter , Dune , Flash Gordon , and The Transformers: The Movie —which has spawned a few sequels of its own.

So which do you prefer, Star Wars or Star Trek ? Vote up your favorite space movies from the 80's, or add any that we might have missed.

The Empire Strikes Back

In the wake of a game-changing space opera, this sequel took the galaxy by storm, solidifying its place in cinematic history. With an iconic twist that left audiences speechless, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford reprised their roles as the ultimate trio - Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo. The film's darker tone and nail-biting cliffhanger ending left fans clamoring for more and cemented it as a pillar of science fiction storytelling.

• Dig Deeper... People Who Saw 'The Empire Strikes Back' In Theaters Describe The Reaction To The Twist
• And Deeper... Here's Why The Last Jedi And Empire Strikes Back Are Pretty Much The Same Movie
• # 3 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked

This gripping tale of survival against all odds pits the fearless Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) against a terrifying extraterrestrial threat. The suspenseful atmosphere and pulse-pounding action sequences make this film an adrenaline-fueled roller coaster ride that has viewers clinging to the edge of their seats. This movie not only brought nightmares to life but also showcased powerful female characters in lead roles.

• Dig Deeper... 12 Behind-The-Scenes Stories From 'Aliens'
• # 22 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 88 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

When vengeance becomes the driving force behind an adversary's relentless pursuit, a beloved crew must face their greatest challenge yet. Featuring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy as Captain James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock respectively, this thrilling journey sees our heroes pushed to their limits as they grapple with morality and sacrifice. The film's enduring legacy is a testament to its compelling storyline and memorable performances.

• # 143 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 377 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 42 of 178 on The 150+ Best Movies With Aliens

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

The climactic conclusion to an epic space saga sees familiar faces joining forces with new allies in a desperate bid to restore balance to the galaxy. As with its predecessors, this film boasts awe-inspiring visual effects and unforgettable characters like Darth Vader (played by David Prowse). A timeless classic that continues to resonate today, it remains a benchmark for science fiction films across generations.

• # 11 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 39 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 17 of 178 on The 150+ Best Movies With Aliens

The Last Starfighter

A young man's dreams take flight when he discovers his destiny lies among the stars in this cult classic from 1984. Lance Guest plays Alex Rogan who finds himself thrust into an interstellar conflict upon discovering his unique abilities as a starfighter pilot. Filled with adventure and heart, this film is a testament to the power of imagination and the limitless potential that exists within us all.

• # 485 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 231 of 375 on The Best Movies Based On Books
• # 63 of 114 on 50+ Movies That Need Sequels

A laugh-a-minute spoof that lovingly pokes fun at the space movie genre, featuring an ensemble cast led by comic genius Mel Brooks. This hilarious parody pays homage to classic science fiction films while providing a fresh spin on their beloved tropes. With side-splitting humor and unforgettable characters, it remains a fan favorite and serves as a lighthearted reminder not to take ourselves too seriously.

• Dig Deeper... 10 Behind-The-Scenes Stories About 'Spaceballs'
• # 17 of 703 on The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
• # 51 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked

Set against a backdrop of interstellar conflict, two adversaries forge an unlikely bond amidst their struggle for survival. Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr.'s powerful performances drive this tale of friendship and unity in the face of adversity. A poignant exploration of what it means to be human, this film reminds us that even in the vastness of space, we are never truly alone.

• # 167 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 38 of 178 on The 150+ Best Movies With Aliens
• # 47 of 96 on The 90+ Best Movies Of 1985, Ranked

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

This nail-biting adventure sees our heroes embark on a quest fueled by loyalty and hope as they search for their fallen comrade. Returning favorites William Shatner (Captain Kirk) and Leonard Nimoy (Spock) join forces once more in an emotional roller-coaster ride filled with twists, turns, and heart-stopping moments. A must-see addition for fans who have followed these beloved characters through thick and thin.

• # 177 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 594 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 97 of 178 on The 150+ Best Movies With Aliens

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

In this riveting installment of one of the most iconic sci-fi franchises, our heroes embark on a race against time to save Earth from disaster. The film's unique blend of humor, action, and environmental awareness struck a chord with audiences, leading it to become one of the most successful entries in the series. With its memorable lines and heartfelt moments, this journey through time continues to captivate fans today.

• # 136 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 624 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 87 of 178 on The 150+ Best Movies With Aliens

A thought-provoking exploration of humanity's place in the cosmos, this sequel to Stanley Kubrick's 1968 classic delves into themes of evolution and extraterrestrial intelligence. With stunning visuals and an engrossing story, it offers a captivating glimpse into our potential future among the stars. A worthy follow-up that builds upon its predecessor's legacy while forging its own path forward.

• # 396 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 127 of 178 on The 150+ Best Movies With Aliens
• # 48 of 92 on The Best Movies Of 1984, Ranked

With wide-eyed wonderment at its core, this family-friendly tale follows three young friends as they build their own spaceship from scratch. A charming ode to innovation and camaraderie amidst extraordinary circumstances makes this film a nostalgic delight. A reminder that with a little ingenuity and a lot of heart, even the youngest among us can reach for the stars.

• # 148 of 178 on The 150+ Best Movies With Aliens
• # 35 of 96 on The 90+ Best Movies Of 1985, Ranked
• # 50 of 80 on The Best Adventure Movies For Kids

Flash Gordon

A campy homage to vintage space adventures, this film features Sam J. Jones as the titular hero who must save Earth from annihilation at the hands of an evil emperor (Max von Sydow). With lavish production design and tongue-in-cheek humor, it offers a fun-filled romp through time that has since achieved cult status among fans.

• # 172 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 26 of 64 on The Best Movies Of 1980
• # 94 of 114 on 50+ Movies That Need Sequels

In this sprawling adaptation of a literary masterpiece, politics and power collide against the backdrop of an inhospitable desert planet. The film's complex narrative is matched by its impressive ensemble cast, which includes Kyle MacLachlan, Patrick Stewart, and Sting. Though divisive in its reception, it remains an ambitious and visually striking work that continues to inspire conversation today.

• Dig Deeper... The New Cast Of 'Dune' Vs. The Old Cast Of 'Dune'
• # 199 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 679 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies

This family-oriented adventure follows a group of aspiring astronauts as they accidentally blast off into space during a routine summer camp simulation. With an ensemble cast including Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, and Joaquin Phoenix, this feel-good film combines youthful camaraderie with thrilling outer-space escapades. It's a charming reminder that sometimes the greatest adventures are born from the most unexpected circumstances.

• # 50 of 87 on The Best Movies of 1986
• # 17 of 25 on The Best Space Movies For Kids
• # 26 of 42 on The Best Science Fiction Family Movies

Groundbreaking animation coupled with mind-bending storytelling makes this Japanese cult classic an unforgettable cinematic experience. Set in a dystopian future where humanity grapples with destruction and rebirth amidst technological advancements beyond comprehension, it serves as both cautionary tale and awe-inspiring spectacle. A visual feast for the senses that transcends cultural barriers and continues to influence the genre today.

• Dig Deeper... Some Artists Drew All Of 'Akira' With 'The Simpsons' Characters, And It's Amazing
• # 321 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 146 of 450 on The 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies

Set on Jupiter's moon Io, this gritty sci-fi thriller explores themes of corruption and corporate greed in a remote mining colony. Sean Connery stars as Marshal William O'Niel who uncovers a deadly conspiracy that threatens not only his life but also those he is sworn to protect. This film offers an intense look at humanity's darker side within the unforgiving vacuum of space.

• # 32 of 75 on The Best Movies Of 1981
• # 85 of 176 on The Best Science Fiction Action Movies
• # 155 of 185 on Movies With The Best Soundtracks

The Transformers: The Movie

An animated extravaganza that took beloved childhood toys to the big screen, featuring an all-star voice cast including Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime), Frank Welker (Megatron), and even Orson Welles in his final film role. This action-packed epic pits the heroic Autobots against the sinister Decepticons in a battle for survival that transcends time and space. A nostalgic favorite for those who grew up with these shape-shifting robots.

• # 253 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 245 of 450 on The 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
• # 93 of 186 on The Greatest Comic Book Movies Of All Time

Battle Beyond the Stars

A ragtag team of interstellar misfits bands together to save their galaxy from tyranny in this Roger Corman-produced sci-fi classic. Featuring mind-blowing special effects for its time and a memorable score by James Horner, this low-budget gem has since achieved cult status among fans of science fiction cinema. An inspiring tale of unity against all odds in the face of insurmountable danger.

• # 6 of 14 on 14 Movies That Blatantly Ripped Off 'Star Wars'
• # 9 of 13 on 13 Times Sci-Fi Movies Were Just Remakes Of Older Classics
• # 55 of 58 on The 55+ Best PG Science And Sci-Fi Movies

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

In this introspective entry to a landmark franchise, our heroes grapple with questions about life's meaning while embarking on their most personal mission yet. William Shatner takes on double duty as both Captain Kirk and director in this thought-provoking journey into uncharted territory - both literally and metaphorically. Though met with mixed reviews, this film remains an essential piece of the franchise's enduring legacy.

• # 232 of 399 on The Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
• # 139 of 178 on The 150+ Best Movies With Aliens
• # 127 of 164 on The Best Movie Sequels Ever Made

Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone

Venturing into a realm where danger lurks around every corner, this action-packed adventure stars Peter Strauss as a space bounty hunter who must rescue three women from an inhospitable wasteland. With its fantastical creatures and otherworldly landscapes, this film offers a thrilling ride through science fiction’s most treacherous terrain. A cult classic that captures the spirit of pulp adventures for fans of all ages.

• # 10 of 14 on 14 Movies That Blatantly Ripped Off 'Star Wars'
• # 392 of 419 on The 400+ Best Movies Produced By Columbia Pictures
• # 15 of 18 on 18 Space Western Movies That Prove They're The Perfect Genre Mashup

Set on one of Saturn's moons, this suspenseful thriller explores themes of isolation and paranoia within the confines of a secluded research station. Kirk Douglas and Farrah Fawcett star as scientists whose peaceful existence is shattered by the arrival of an unstable visitor (Harvey Keitel). This tense drama showcases humanity's struggle to maintain sanity amidst the unknown depths of space.

Galaxy of Terror

A chilling journey into cosmic horror awaits those who dare to explore this B-movie classic from legendary producer Roger Corman. Featuring gruesome creatures and mind-bending terror within the confines of an abandoned spaceship, it offers an unrelenting descent into darkness for viewers seeking thrills beyond the stars. A cult favorite that continues to enthrall fans of horror and science fiction alike.

• # 28 of 60 on The Scariest Movies Set In Space, Ranked
• # 10 of 14 on Pretty Good Horror Movies Set In Outer Space
• # 54 of 62 on The 60+ Scariest R-Rated Sci-Fi Horror Movies

Set in the distant future, this interstellar gladiator tale sees Paul Satterfield star as Steve Armstrong – a human who must prove his worth in an alien-dominated fighting arena. With its imaginative premise and inventive special effects, this lesser-known gem has earned admiration among die-hard fans of 1980s science fiction cinema. An exciting blend of action and extraterrestrial intrigue that keeps viewers on their toes.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola with music by Michael Jackson himself, this groundbreaking 3D short film dazzled audiences at Disney theme parks for over a decade. Its revolutionary visual effects and memorable musical performances made it an unforgettable sensory experience that captivated viewers young and old alike. A testament to the power of creativity when artistry meets cutting-edge technology.

Exploring themes of artificial intelligence within the confines of a remote research station, this thought-provoking sci-fi drama delves into questions about humanity's ethical responsibilities toward sentient machines. Klaus Kinski stars as Dr. Daniel who grapples with both personal demons and technological advancements spiraling out of control. This cerebral tale offers food for thought for those who dare to ponder what lies beyond our understanding.

The Noah's Ark Principle

This German sci-fi thriller explores the potential consequences of humanity's unquenchable thirst for knowledge and power. Set in Earth's orbit aboard a high-tech weather control station, it delves into themes of control, manipulation, and the unforeseen dangers that can arise from playing God. This thought-provoking film serves as both warning and philosophical exploration for avid fans of cerebral science fiction.

Part parody, part homage to classic science fiction films like Barbarella , this campy romp follows Galaxina (Dorothy Stratten) - an android tasked with retrieving a powerful artifact while navigating hilarious obstacles along the way. Filled with quirky humor and over-the-top situations, it remains a lighthearted fan favorite that showcases the funnier side of space adventures.

Arcadia of My Youth

This Japanese animated film, based on the iconic Captain Harlock manga series, follows the titular character's origins as he battles against an oppressive regime in a dystopian future. With its breathtaking visuals and action-packed storyline, it has cemented itself as a classic within the realm of anime and space opera. A swashbuckling adventure that transcends language barriers and captures the hearts of fans worldwide.

A satirical take on totalitarianism set in an underground society following a nuclear apocalypse, this Polish sci-fi comedy offers biting social commentary beneath its humorous surface. Set in a world where men are all but extinct, it provides an insightful exploration of gender relations and societal expectations. An entertaining ride that showcases wit and wisdom in equal measure.

Time Masters

In this French-Hungarian animated masterpiece, a young boy embarks on an interdimensional journey to rescue a kidnapped scientist alongside his trusty shape-shifting companion. With stunning visuals and an imaginative storyline, it transports viewers to fantastical worlds beyond their wildest dreams. A captivating voyage through time and space that will leave audiences spellbound.

• Entertainment
• The Space Page
• Watchworthy

Lists that rank the greatest, most unforgettable films in every genre released in the Great '80s.

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before. Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before. Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.

• Gene Roddenberry
• Patrick Stewart
• Brent Spiner
• Jonathan Frakes
• 321 User reviews
• 162 Critic reviews
• 39 wins & 61 nominations total

Episodes 176

Photos 3429

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard …

• Lieutenant Commander Data …

• Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker …

• Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge …

• Counselor Deanna Troi

• Lieutenant Worf …

• Doctor Beverly Crusher …

• Enterprise Computer …

• Wesley Crusher …

• Chief Miles O'Brien …
• Youngblood …

• Lieutenant Natasha 'Tasha' Yar …

• Doctor Katherine Pulaski …

• Nurse Alyssa Ogawa …

• Ansata Terrorist …

• Ensign Ro Laren …

• Keiko O'Brien …
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Stellar Photos From the "Star Trek" TV Universe

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Almost everyone in the cast became life-long friends. At LeVar Burton 's 1992 wedding, Brent Spiner served as best man, and Sir Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , and Michael Dorn all served as ushers. Man of the People (1992) (#6.3) aired on that day.
• Goofs It is claimed that Data can't use contractions (Can't, Isn't, Don't, etc) yet there are several instances throughout the series where he does. One of the first such examples is heard in Encounter at Farpoint (1987) , where Data uses the word "Can't" while the Enterprise is being chased by Q's "ship".

[repeated line]

Capt. Picard : Engage!

• Crazy credits The model of the Enterprise used in the opening credits is so detailed, a tiny figure can be seen walking past a window just before the vessel jumps to warp speed.
• Alternate versions The first and last episodes were originally broadcast as two-hour TV movies, and were later re-edited into two one-hour episodes each. Both edits involved removing some scenes from each episode.
• Connections Edited into Reading Rainbow: The Bionic Bunny Show (1988)

User reviews 321

• ringedseals
• Jan 9, 2020

Exceptional Robots on Film & TV

• How many seasons does Star Trek: The Next Generation have? Powered by Alexa
• Who is the captain of the USS Enterprise?
• Did any cast members of the original Star Trek series appear in The Next Generation?
• September 26, 1987 (United States)
• United States
• Official Facebook
• Official site
• Star Trek: TNG
• Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant - 6100 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA (location)
• Paramount Television
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 45 minutes
• Dolby Stereo

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

15 Famous Actors You Probably Forgot Were in Old Star Trek Movies

Star Trek has been... and always shall be... filled with famous actors.

Throughout the years, Star Trek has taken various forms. And, be it a television series or film, there have been famous faces that were not a part of the consistent ensemble. This started with Star Trek: The Original Series , which featured recognizable guest stars such as Fred Williamson, Sid Haig, Charles Napier, and Joan Collins.

Then, over a decade after that show wrapped up its brief three-season run, a film franchise kicked off. And, like the original series and The Next Generation (which began between the releases of the fourth and fifth films), there were some big names attached. They may not have always held the spotlight for long in the films, but they were there. So, who's in what? Let's find out, but note that the films subject to inclusion were only the ones that featured either The Original Series cast members or The Next Generation cast members. In other words, no Chris Pine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Idris Elba, or Zoe Saldaña here.

7 Stephen Collins in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

Like some of the show's most deeply philosophical episodes , Star Trek: The Motion Picture tries to bite off a lot. But, in the case of the movie, it's more than it can chew. Yet, it does feature a former celebrity in a big role: 7th Heaven 's Stephen Collins as Willard Decker. Collins' Decker is always butting heads with Captain Kirk, who has suddenly replaced Decker as the captain of the Enterprise .

The Most Controversial Performer on this List

TV fans will recognize Collins not only from the long-running 7th Heaven , but also No Ordinary Family and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia . As for that latter show, he portrayed the biological father to Dennis and Dee Reynolds. Collins' career ended when he confessed to multiple instances of sexual misconduct against a minor, including once a few years before he nabbed the Star Trek role. Stream Star Trek: The Motion Picture on Max .

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

*Availability in US

6 Kirstie Alley, Paul Winfield, and James Horner in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

With tight pacing, the franchise's best villain , Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is the best Star Trek movie to date. It also features a few familiar faces in The Terminator 's Paul Winfield and Cheers ' Kirstie Alley . The former plays Clark Terrell, the captain of the Reliant who is subjected to Khan's eel torture, while the latter plays Saavik, a protege to Spock. Not to mention, the late James Horner provided the film's music, but had a cameo role as an Enterprise crew member.

You've Certainly Heard Horner's Work

Widely regarded as one of the cinema industry's great composers, Horner tragically died in a plane crash in 2015. But he left a massive body of very impressive work, and The Wrath of Khan was one of his earliest projects. Throughout his career, Horner was nominated for Academy Awards for Aliens , An American Tail ("Somewhere Out There"), Field of Dreams , Braveheart , Apollo 13 , A Beautiful Mind , House of Sand and Fog , and Avatar . He also won both an Oscar and a Grammy for Titanic , the former for the score and the latter for "My Heart Will Go On." Stream Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan on Max.

Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

Star trek’s j.j. abrams advised chris pine to be ‘less shatner’ while portraying james t. kirk, 5 christopher lloyd and miguel ferrer in star trek iii: the search for spock (1984).

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock may not be a fan-favorite when it comes to the original run of Star Trek movies, but it's generally viewed in a better light than the fifth film. And, unlike the fifth film, it features several big names on the cast list. These include Back to the Future 's Christopher Lloyd and RoboCop 's Miguel Ferrer .

Actors Not Unfamiliar with Sci-Fi

Lloyd portrays the main antagonist in the late Leonard Nimoy -directed film, and he impressively sheds most of the likability he possessed in Taxi and would again show two years later in Robert Zemeckis' classic sci-fi film, Back to the Future . His Kruge is a Klingon officer with his sights set on using a terraforming device called Genesis for evil. As for Ferrer, his role was far briefer, as he played a First Officer aboard a fellow Federation ship, the Excelsior . Stream Star Trek III: The Search for Spock on Max.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

4 christopher plummer, christian slater, and kim cattrall in star trek vi: the undiscovered country (1991).

The even-numbered Star Trek films, at least of the original six, are the best. So, until Star Trek: Generations rolled, the intergalactic film franchise left off on a high note with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country . And a big part of that is the inclusion of The Sound of Music and Knives Out legend Christopher Plummer .

Plummer Steals the Show

It's essentially all a Cold War allegory with the Klingons standing in for the Russians. And, while many of the Klingons are ready to strive for peace, there's always someone who sews discontent. That'd be Plummer's general, eye-patch-adorned Chang. But, he's not the only familiar face with considerable runtime, as there's also Sex and the City 's Kim Cattrall as the Vulcan Valeris, the ambitious new helmsman of the Enterprise . Not to mention, there's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo from Christian Slater, a fan of the franchise and son of the film's casting director, Mary Jo Slater. Stream Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country on Max .

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

3 whoopi goldberg, malcolm mcdowell, and alan ruck in star trek: generations (1994).

At one point, Star Trek writers wanted to bring William Shatner's Captain Kirk back , but with a villainous twist. That idea was nixed, but Shatner did find a way back into the universe after the initial film franchise had wrapped up. That said, his reprisal of the role in Star Trek: Generations was more or less to kill him off so the IP could change. But, it had a major similarity to the previous film: a big name in the antagonist role.

McDowell in His Element

In the case of Generations , that would be A Clockwork Orange 's Malcolm McDowell as Tolian Soran, who holds the distinction of actually killing William Shatner's Captain Kirk. Ghost 's Whoopi Goldberg also appeared as Guinan, a role she inhabited from 1988 to 1993 on Star Trek: The Next Generation . Succession 's Alan Ruck also has a substantial role as Enterprise -B captain John Harriman who, like his character on HBO's hit series, comes from a wealthy family. Stream Star Trek: Generations on Max .

Star Trek: Generations

Not available

Star Trek: Deanna Troi’s 16 Best Quotes from the Franchise

2 f. murray abraham and gregg henry in star trek: insurrection (1998).

The third film to focus on The Next Generation 's cast after Generations and Star Trek: First Contact , Star Trek: Insurrection , often feels like a feature-length episode of the series that inspired it. And, while Nemesis sealed the deal, Insurrection showed that the IP was swiftly dropping out of favor with general audiences. And, yet, Amadeus ' F. Murray Abraham is excellent in the main antagonist role.

An Unrecognizable Abraham

Covered in a great deal of makeup, one would be forgiven for not recognizing the Scarface star as Ru'afo, commander of the Son'a. The same could be said of Gregg Henry as his second-in-command, Gallatin. Though, if they can discern that it's him, they'll recognize him as Peter Quill's grandfather from another little sci-fi IP called Guardians of the Galaxy . Stream Star Trek: Insurrection on Max .

Star Trek: Insurrection

1 tom hardy in star trek: nemesis (2002).

Star Trek: Nemesis ' box office tallies showed the franchise's financial viability had run its course. And, if that wasn't enough, the reaction from critics and fans solidified that. But, it features one of Tom Hardy 's earliest performances, only his second big movie after Black Hawk Down and six years before he started gaining clout thanks to his title role in Bronson .

An Early Showcase for Hardy

Explaining where audiences know Hardy from seems pointless, as he's now one of the biggest performers in Hollywood thanks to Inception , Mad Max: Fury Road , and the Venom films. And, while his role as the villainous Captain Picard clone, Shinzon, isn't as much a showcase as his work in those films, it's still an early sign of his considerable talent. Not to mention, for someone who isn't one of the top-billed cast members, he gets quite a bit of screentime. Stream Star Trek: Nemesis on Max .

Star Trek: Nemesis

Screen Rant

10 things everyone expects to see in movies that take place in the 1980s.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Why The Harkonnen Planet Is Black & White In Dune

If you liked my demon, check out this 2022 korean movie starring kim yoo-jung, lord of the rings becomes studio ghibli anime adventure in fantastical art.

• 1980s films captured the essence of the era with iconic music, fashion, and cultural references.
• Arcade culture, big hair, and synth-pop soundtracks were staples of 1980s cinema.
• Themes like urban decay, Cold War tensions, and high school cliques were central to movies set in the 1980s.

The 1980s was a unique time period with so many idiosyncratic aspects, and audiences expected several things from movies set during this era. While plenty of films made during the 1980s were full of stereotypical 80s clichés and tropes, this has intensified for contemporary movies hoping to tap into the nostalgia of that time and lean into 1980s sensibilities and representations. When done well, these tenets of 1980s culture breathe life into a movie and add to its authenticity, but films can look more like cheap parodies when poorly executed.

The first things viewers expected from movies set in the 1980s involved fashion and music, but there was a lot more to that time than just that. More socially aware films set during this era highlight that time period's social and political context as characters grapple with economic insecurity and urban decay. Audiences expected to see many different things in movies set in the 1980s , and how well they were done could make or break a film’s success.

10 Teens Spending Time At The Local Arcade

Pixels (2015).

Today, gaming has become something that teenagers can do in the comfort of their own homes, but during the 1980s, the only way to play games like Pac-Man , Asteroids , or Donkey Kong was to head down to the local arcade. This made arcades an important social destination and was often a prime location for many teen movies during the 1980s. Whenever there’s a nerdy kid in a movie set in the 1980s, audiences can expect to see them hanging out in the arcade.

The Adam Sandler sci-fi comedy Pixels leaned heavily into this trope and began with a flashback to 1982 as Sam Brenner played Donkey Kong on videocassette footage that was later sent to space. This formed the basis for the entire film as Pixels moved to the present day and alien replicas of the arcade games attacked the Earth. These ideas leaned heavily into the association between arcade culture and the 1980s and were a trope seen in many films.

*Availability in US

In Pixels, invading aliens misinterpret classic 1980s arcade games as declarations of war and attack Earth in the form of various game characters such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, Michelle Monaghan, and Brian Cox star in this 2015 sci-fi action comedy directed by Chris Columbus.

9 Synth-Pop & Power Ballads

American psycho (2000).

Almost more than any other decade, the 1980s had a distinctive sound that audiences should expect to hear in any movie set during this period. While 1980s classics like The Karate Kid and plenty of Rocky movies gave viewers iconic soundtracks and epic montage songs , this continued to be the case for movies set during the 1980s. Genres like synth-pop and emotional power ballads were often used to inject a real 1980s aesthetic and tone into movies set during that era.

One movie that showcased a different side of the 1980s but still maintained its notable music was American Psycho , which satirized 1980s yuppie culture and consumerism. In American Psycho , Patrick Bateman was a serial killer with a fondness for New Wave as he waxed lyrical about the importance of Huey Lewis and the News before killing one of his victims. The song “Hip to Be Square” was now forever associated with the American Psycho soundtrack and was an excellent use of music in a 1980s setting.

American Psycho

Based on the book of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho follows Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) an investment banker in New York in 1987 who leads a double life as a serial killer. As investigators circle Bateman after the disappearance of a colleague, he finds himself trapped in a spiral of murder and excess, unable to stop himself from giving in to his increasingly dark urges. Also stars Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Justin Theroux, and Reese Witherspoon. 

8 1980s Big Hair

The wedding singer (1998).

If a movie was going to be set in the 1980s, the era-appropriate hairstyle absolutely had to be right. During this period, iconic looks like the perm and the mullet were in vogue, and as a general rule, bigger was always better. All of these hairstyles were on full display throughout movies made during the 1980s, but when later films were set in this period, they were often exaggerated even further as the outrageous hairstyles got bigger and bigger, especially in comedies.

The Adam Sandler romantic comedy The Wedding Singer was one of the greatest examples of this, as not only did Sandler sport a big hairstyle, but everyone around him followed suit. The Wedding Singer was one of Sandler’s best rom-coms , and it was made even more enjoyable through all the references to the 1980s found throughout. As a story following a wedding singer in 1985, The Wedding Singer was full of big hair , bold fashion statements, and great 1980s music.

The Wedding Singer

Not available

Set in 1985, The Wedding Singer sees comedy icon Adam Sandler play a nice guy with a broken heart whose misery is compounded by his job as a wedding singer. Jilted at the altar by his fiancée, he crashes hard, only to find love again when he meets Julia (Drew Barrymore), who asks for help planning her wedding. Then, the race is on to show Julia how he feels before her wedding.

7 Boomboxes, Cassette Tapes, & Vinyl Records

Guardians of the galaxy (2014).

While music itself has changed a lot since the 1980s, so has the way that listeners consume it, and one surefire way for filmmakers to showcase a movie was set in the 1980s to feature things like boomboxes, cassette tapes, and vinyl records. These relics of the past indicate for viewers what era they were witnessing, and when mixed with the fashion styles of the time, it’s easy to tell when something was set in the 1980s. One classic example from that time was Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) in Say Anything serenading his girlfriend with a boombox outside her window.

However, this was also seen in later movies across many different genres, with a prime example being the use of cassette tapes in Guardians of the Galaxy . Although the movie wasn’t entirely set in the 1980s, Guardians of the Galaxy began in 1988, and Peter Quill, who later became Star-Lord, hung onto his cassette player as a memory of his life on Earth. This retro reference to the past, paired with excellent 1980s music often featured in the Guardians of the Galaxy series, highlighted the importance of that era to the lead character.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Egotistic loner and "legendary" space pirate Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) falls foul of bounty hunters and his former allies after he steals an orb containing the Power Stone. Chased by Ronan the Accuser, a powerful Kree villain and thrown into an uneasy alliance with a group of similar misfits, he must adapt to his new dynamic or risk everything. He's joined by gun-toting Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), treelike-alien Groot (Vin Diesel), Thanos' daughter Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and the vengeful Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). Can the galaxy's most infamous a-holes really save the day?

6 The Cold War

Atomic blonde (2017).

The political tension between the United States and the Soviets cast a shadow over the entire 1980s and was often a significant part of movies set in the 1980s. Even if it’s not the entire basis of the plot, Russian villains, like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, were often used as stand-ins to represent the overall political animosity between the regions. The memory of this long-lasting conflict has remained in contemporary movies set in the 1980s, as the Cold War has often been used to illuminate current conflicts .

This can be seen across genres, like the action thriller Atomic Blonde , which was set during the Cold War's final days shortly before the Berlin Wall came down. Charlie Wilson's War , starring Tom Hanks, explored the true story of a congressman’s attempts to support the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War during the 1980s. The theme of political tension between two major natures was always going to be relevant, so it made sense that it came up time and time again in movies set during the 1980s.

Atomic Blonde

Based on a graphic novel, Atomic Blonde stars Charlize Theron as Lorraine Broughton, an MI6 agent who is attempting to locate a sensitive list of double agent spies before it is smuggled from East to West Germany, just before the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Theron is joined by a cast that includes James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella, and John Goodman. 

5 Urban Decay

This is england (2006).

It’s common to look back on the 1980s with a sense of glamor and excitement, but this ignores the incredible economic turmoil of that era and the urban decay that was on full display. With Reaganomics in the United States and Thatcherism in the United Kingdom , Neo-Liberalism at this time led to massive wealth inequality as the rich gained tax breaks while the poor struggled to get by. This was reflected in movies during that time, but with the power of hindsight, it became much more relevant in later movies set in the 1980s.

The British drama This Is England expertly showcased the devastating effects of economic turmoil and urban decay on a troubled 12-year-old boy named Shaun in the East Midlands. Shaun was relentlessly bullied for his poor social standing and soon found a sense of identity with a group of local teenage skinheads. This coming-of-age story sadly turned dark when the group was radicalized by a racist older member. The story of This Is England captured something real about that era in British history, and this was a trope that can be seen in many socially aware movies set during the 1980s.

This Is England is a British drama film directed by Shane Meadows that explores the social climate of 1983 England. Focusing on 12-year-old Shaun, played by Thomas Turgoose, the film depicts his experiences with a skinhead subculture. Through Shaun's interactions with the group, the film addresses themes of friendship, violence, and socio-political tensions during the Thatcher era.

4 The Dawn Of Home Computing

Black mirror: bandersnatch (2018).

The 1980s were an extraordinarily exciting time for computing. Technology was expanding at a rapid rate, and what once felt like science fiction was starting to become a reality. While this was true at the time, looking back, the technology looks quite tame. The way it was represented in movies like Weird Science holds a special nostalgia for a simpler era before smartphones became ubiquitous. This excitement around technology's incredible potential was seen in movies made in the 1980s and has remained in newer films set during that era.

Danny Boyle’s biopic about Apple co-founder Steve Jobs perfectly encapsulated this excitement around the dawn of home computing. Steve Jobs began shortly before the Apple Macintosh 128K was unveiled in 1984 and highlighted how the company grew throughout the 1980s. While Steve Jobs was based on true events, these ideas were also seen in fiction works like the interactive Netflix film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, which followed a young programmer who made his own video game in 1984.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

3 iconic movies posters & memorabilia, sing street (2015).

One way movies set in the 1980s tried to capture a sense of authenticity was not through the story itself but in all the little details that viewers could notice in the background. Whenever a scene was set in a teenager's bedroom in a movie with a 1980s setting, audiences could be sure to notice a litany of movie posters, era-appropriate records, and lots of other memorabilia that just screamed 1980s. This was a great way to showcase a character’s identity and interests and a fantastic trick for grounding the movie in its place and time.

This trope was on full display in teen movies made in the 1980s , like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or Sixteen Candles , but has extended up to modern times into contemporary movies set during that era. One example was the Irish musical coming-of-age film Sing Street , which followed a group of inner-city Dublin teens who formed a band in 1985. Sing Street was full of memorabilia from that period, as the characters tried to emulate the music they loved and played the songs to impress girls.

Sing Street (2016)

Sing Street is a musical drama film directed by John Carney. Set in 1980s Dublin, it tells the story of Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), a teenager who forms a band to impress a girl named Raphina (Lucy Boynton). As they create music together, Conor navigates the challenges of adolescence and family life. The film offers a nostalgic look at the period's music scene and the power of artistic expression.

2 The Bold Fashion Sensibilities

Everybody wants some (2016).

The very first thing viewers expected to see from movies that took place in the 1980s was the unique sense of fashion from that era. Shoulder pads, parachute pants, power suits, and denim were all popular during this time, and for a movie to feel authentic, it must have reflected these styles and fashion trends. During that time, movies like Flashdance and Risky Business gave incredible insight into what was popular , and this has been carried forward into contemporary films that were set in the 1980s.

Richard Linklater's breakout film, Dazed and Confused, gave cinema one of its best representations of the 1970s. Decades later, he followed this up with a spiritual sequel set in the 1980s called Everybody Wants Some!! This film encapsulated much of the 1980s' bold fashion sensibilities, as all the characters wore era-appropriate clothing. This college comedy leaned heavily into the tropes that viewers expected to see from the 1980s regarding fashion and music.

Everybody Wants Some

1 jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, bullies, & stoners, summer of 84 (2018).

The 1980s cliches of high school hierarchy were effectively seen in John Hughes movies such as The Breakfast Club and have since seeped into the collective understanding of high school during that era. With stereotypical representations of popular jocks and cheerleaders contrasting with nerds and bullies, all while the stoners stood on the outside, these groupings stood as movie shorthand for the characters’ social standing in high school movies. While this can also be seen in movies that were not set in the 1980s, it’s become highly related to that era.

The social hierarchy of high school in the 1980s was effectively seen in the teen horror Summer of 84 , which followed a group of nerd friends who suspect their neighbor may be a serial killer. Graham Verchere played Davey Armstrong, a stereotypical 80s nerd, while his love interest, Nikki Kaszuba, encapsulated every 1980s popular high school prom queen. The character tropes of jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, bullies, stoners, and more can be expected from every teen movie set in the 1980s.

Set in a suburban town in the summer of 1984, Summer of 84 follows a group of teenage friends who suspect their police officer neighbor is a serial killer. As they dig deeper into their investigation, they uncover unsettling truths and find themselves in a precarious and dangerous situation. Directed by François Simard, Anouk Whissell, and Yoann-Karl Whissell, the film blends elements of horror and nostalgia, creating a compelling coming-of-age thriller.

Sorry, Ryan Gosling! This Is the Best Movie About Stunts Ever

Ryan Gosling's 'The Fall Guy' is a fun action comedy, but this 1980 movie will give you nightmares.

The Big Picture

• Stunt work is dangerous with big risks and often little recognition in Hollywood.
• Peter O'Toole's performance in The Stunt Man highlights a director's ability to manipulate on sets.
• The film questions to what extent human lives should be sacrificed for an artist's vision.

If The Fall Guy truly tried to sell you on an idea that isn't just the thermonuclear charisma of Ryan Gosling being enough to sell a movie, it's the notion that being a stunt performer is really cool. You get paid a good salary and live an extravagant lifestyle to do the actual superheroism for a movie star, while also living in relative anonymity when you're off-screen. This is, of course, as long as you can abide by the potential for egregious and life-changing injury, the lack of mainstream recognition and appreciation , plus the inherent instability in your chance for more work. Is that actually worth it? Not if you ask Richard Rush , the co-writer/director of The Stunt Man , a film that harbors no illusions about the danger and spiritual manipulation that's intrinsic not just to being a stunt performer , but intrinsic to surviving in the movie business at all.

The Stunt Man (1980)

An escaped convict finds himself on a chaotic film set, where he is recruited as a stuntman by a cunning and unpredictable director. The fugitive's new life becomes a dizzying blend of real danger and cinematic illusion as he navigates the perilous world of stunts. Amidst the high-octane action and the director's psychological games, he must maintain his hidden identity and confront the intense pressures of his dual reality. The story delves into the intersection of art and life, creating a captivating narrative filled with suspense and dark comedy.

'The Stunt Man' Thrusts Its Protagonist Into Hollywood Madness

Cameron ( Steve Railsback ) is a Vietnam veteran who is on the run from the law for a history of violence, and he stumbles his way onto a movie set. It's a whizz-bang World War I epic involving lots of car crashes and explosions , with soldiers splayed out on battlefields with convincing prosthetic limbs that recall Saving Private Ryan nearly 20 years before that film existed. When Cameron rescues an old woman from drowning on set, it turns out the old woman is actually the lead actress, Nina Franklin ( Barbara Hershey ) testing out the makeup for her role in the film. This catches the eye of the director of the film, Eli Cross ( Peter O'Toole ), who immediately latches onto Cameron as just the person he needs as a new stunt performer. Knowing that the law is looking for Cameron, and he has nowhere else to go, Eli talks him into becoming his new stunt performer, which Cameron agrees to primarily for protection. This becomes the beginning of a dynamic built around Eli's self-imposed glorious purpose and Cameron's thirst for the approval and appreciation of Eli and the easy money he gets for the stunts.

In the world of The Stunt Man , there is no such thing as a casual stunt. Stunt work can often be as simple as jumping over a fence or doing a swift tuck and roll or one fake punch, but Eli demands only the most derring-do stunts possible. It's such a huge part of his reputation as a director that there are rumors that he's even covered up the deaths of prior stunt performers, and Cameron could very well be the next victim. From sprinting across rooftops while being fired upon with actual bullets to standing on a bowing plane and doing a Charleston dance as it's actually flying in the air, Cameron is thrown into abjectly deranged maneuvers that would break almost any normal person .

He's honestly very lucky he implausibly never once gets truly hurt, as he's in an environment where he gets no true safety net (be it literal or emotional) and there seems to be no medical care, as far as the audience is shown. Everybody on the set, including Nina, is totally enraptured with Eli, all too eager to shut down any criticism of him that Cameron tries to interject. Even people willing to acknowledge Eli's faults, like his best friend and screenwriter, Sam ( Allen Garfield ), still enable him, valorizing his insatiable need to exert control over all human aspects of his filmmaking process .

Peter O'Toole's Performance Makes the Hollywood Satire Soar

The success of the film's commentary on the perils of the cult of the auteur is mostly due to Peter O'Toole's magnetic performance, for which he received one of his staggering eight Best Actor Oscar nominations without a win. It's obvious enough that he makes Eli an effortlessly charming alleycat, strutting his stuff in the territory that he gleefully reigns over . When an actor like O'Toole has been blessed with the combination of his laissez-faire composure and supremely sonorous voice, it makes it easy to see how he held court wherever he went, and it sells that people would swallow the casually dominant ideology he throws around. He convinces Cameron that nobody will recognize him as a fugitive because Eli will make the crew "call you anything I tell them to," he threatens to literally kill and devour those who seek to censor or diminish his vision, and angrily insists Cameron is a "communist" when Cameron claims he doesn't go to the movies often. Nothing is good enough for Eli unless he can have total mastery over the rules of reality , roving around on his mechanical crane chair, seeing all of his underlings from a bird's eye-view. Many a joke has been made about directors wanting to play God, but Eli Cross never heard the laughter over the sound of his own applause.

No, ‘The Fall Guy’s Box Office Isn’t Signaling the “Death of Cinema”

That juxtaposition of his all-too-casual demeanor with the viciousness of his megalomania speaks to the most salient nuance of O'Toole's performance: he might be sadistic and eccentric, but he's not exactly "insane ." He's not a danger to those around him, and he does have a way of looking out for those he cares about (for what that's worth). The loyalty that he inspires comes down to making everyone in his circle feel like exclusive members of a club, one that sees themselves as better than the Hollywood elites, despite still enacting all the worst traits of Hollywood culture.

It begs the question: how can someone so cultured be so committed to such chaos for a film? Eli attests that most "anti-war" films just lead to increases in army enlistments, and he feels he needs to show audiences a "reasonable and better way" to end war. But in order to do so, he must commit everyone to "creating an authentic stench of madness," believing that he can tap into the true nature of war by endangering everyone. It's not for nothing that he thinks he likes Cameron in part because Eli's "fallen madly in love with the dark side of your nature," seeing himself as a person entitled to capitalize on the vices of others in service of capturing what he thinks is the truth about the human condition.

'The Stunt Man' Posits Actors As Pawns To Be Used By Directors

When stepping back and viewing this from 10,000 feet, is any of Eli's behavior and demands really that unlikely? Look at some of the notable auteurs who have made names for themselves with a demanding work ethic and a level of intense manipulation that could potentially verge on human rights violations. David Fincher alledgedly demands at least 100 takes of any given scene, Stanley Kubrick put many of his actors through constant hellscapes repeatedly for the sake of psychological realism, and in the 1930s, child actor Jackie Cooper was emotionally abused on the set of Skippy .

Despite the skeletons in their collective closet that we know of, we still celebrate their films and what it took to get them made, essentially allowing the ends to justify the means. From that perspective, Eli's rampantly malevolent attempts at squeezing "realism" out of what seems to be a Dirty Dozen knockoff is no less unheard of than what any other "great" director would do , stretching material as far as possible in service of one's artistic ego. In an age when the sacredness of an artist's true vision needs to be more vitally protected than ever before, it's not that implausible to think that Eli's method of endangering his cast and crew on a daily basis would be defended as a valid way to make something we've never seen before, provided the cast and crew signed off on it.

The film uses Eli's machinations and how Cameron gets pulled under his spell to interrogate the question of just how much human collateral damage we should tolerate for the pursuit of a "great" artist's work. Eli's manipulation gets so bad that Cameron starts to believe that Eli will intentionally try to kill him for the sake of selling the big stunt . This paranoia propels the rest of the plot, as Cameron must re-evaluate what Eli means to him and if it's truly worth risking his life for the sake of a couple of hundred bucks and the "respect" of a benevolent dictator. Is eternal glory on-screen worth his literal life? How can he trust the people he's grown to love if they're all lock-step with a would-be murderer? You'll have to watch The Stunt Man and see for yourself, as the film barrels through its various plots and the potential noose tightens around Cameron's neck, always feeling on the verge of his last tuck and roll. While very much a "movie" premise, it serves as an exaggerated crystallization of the fear that all actors, not just stunt performers, must have: would the directors they trust kill them for the sake of their art?

The Stunt Man is available to watch on Peacock in the U.S.

WATCH ON PEACOCK