The Final Frontier A Complete Star Trek Chronological Timeline
The Star Trek franchise spans centuries of in-universe history, across dozens of television series, films, and alternate timelines. To help navigate this expansive canon, this guide organizes all major entries in chronological order — based on the events as they occur in the timeline of the Star Trek universe, not by release date.
This includes the early days of Starfleet in Enterprise, the adventures of Kirk and Spock during the Original Series era, the 24th-century arc of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager, as well as the new post-Nemesis frontier explored in Picard and late-season Discovery. Alternate-universe films like the Kelvin timeline are also included for completeness.
Whether you're plotting a rewatch or seeking context for a specific series, this timeline brings structure to one of science fiction’s most enduring and complex universes.
Star Trek: Enterprise
Timeline2151–2161 | FormatTV Series
Captain Jonathan Archer commands Earth's first Warp 5 starship, the Enterprise NX-01, making humanity's initial forays into deep space.
The series explores the challenges of first contact and the foundational steps that led to the creation of the United Federation of Planets.
The theme song, "Faith of the Heart," was a significant departure from the traditional orchestral scores of previous Trek series and proved divisive among fans.
Star Trek: Discovery (Seasons 1–2)
Timeline2256–2258 | FormatTV Series
Specialist Michael Burnham's actions trigger a devastating war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, forcing Starfleet to confront new technologies and moral compromises.
It examines the themes of identity, redemption, and the conflict between science and warfare in a serialized, modern format.
This was the first Star Trek series created specifically for a streaming service, spearheading the platform now known as Paramount+.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Timeline2259–Present | FormatTV Series
Captain Christopher Pike leads the USS Enterprise on missions of exploration, encountering new life and new civilizations in the years before Captain Kirk's command.
The show's goal was a return to the classic episodic, planet-of-the-week storytelling format of The Original Series, focusing on optimism and adventure.
The series was greenlit due to overwhelming fan demand after Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, and Ethan Peck's popular portrayals of Pike, Number One, and Spock in *Discovery*.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Timeline2265–2269 | FormatTV Series
Captain James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy lead the USS Enterprise on a five-year mission, exploring the galaxy and confronting moral, social, and political dilemmas.
It aimed to tell allegorical stories that commented on contemporary 1960s issues like war, racism, and politics under the guise of science fiction.
The famous Vulcan nerve pinch was invented by Leonard Nimoy as an alternative to a scripted moment where Spock was supposed to knock a character out with his phaser butt.
Star Trek: The Animated Series
Timeline2269–2270 | FormatAnimated Series
Continuing the five-year mission, the crew of the Enterprise encounters bizarre alien life and cosmic phenomena that would have been impossible to create in live-action at the time.
The goal was to continue the adventures of the original crew and explore more imaginative sci-fi concepts unconstrained by a live-action budget.
Though its canon status was debated for years, elements like the holodeck and Kirk's middle name "Tiberius" were first introduced in this series.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Timeline2273 | FormatMovie
Admiral Kirk reassumes command of a newly refitted USS Enterprise to intercept a massive, mysterious energy cloud called V'Ger that is on a direct course for Earth.
The film deliberately embraces a more cerebral, awe-inspired tone, focusing on the theme of what it means for life to seek out its creator.
This movie began life as a script for a new TV series called *Star Trek: Phase II*, which was cancelled when Paramount decided to pursue a feature film instead.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Timeline2285 | FormatMovie
A vengeful Khan Noonien Singh, a genetically engineered tyrant from Kirk's past (refer episode Space Seed), returns to steal a terraforming device and exact his revenge on the Admiral.
The film is a deep exploration of aging, mortality, friendship, and the consequences of one's past actions coming back to haunt them.
Spock's death was originally intended to be permanent, but positive test audience reactions and Leonard Nimoy's renewed interest led to the addition of the final mind-meld scene.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Timeline2285 | FormatMovie
Following Spock's sacrifice, Admiral Kirk and his crew risk their careers and their lives to steal the USS Enterprise and return to the Genesis Planet to search for their friend's body and soul.
This film deals with themes of loyalty, friendship, and the lengths one will go to for a loved one, directly continuing the narrative from The Wrath of Khan.
Leonard Nimoy directed this installment, which gave him significant creative input on his character's resurrection.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Timeline2286 | FormatMovie
To save Earth from a destructive alien probe seeking to communicate with extinct humpback whales, the crew of the Enterprise travels back in time to 1986 San Francisco to find a pair of whales.
A significant departure in tone, this film is a lighthearted adventure with a strong environmental message and humor derived from the crew's interactions with 20th-century life.
It was the most financially successful of the original cast films, appealing to a broad audience beyond the traditional fanbase.
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Timeline2287 | FormatMovie
Spock's long-lost half-brother, Sybok, hijacks the Enterprise on a quest to the center of the galaxy to find the mythical planet of Sha Ka Ree, believed to be the home of God.
Directed by William Shatner, the film explores themes of faith, pain, and the nature of belief, though it was met with a mixed critical and fan reception.
The production was plagued by issues, including a writers' strike and a special effects company that was unable to deliver on the planned visuals for the climax.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Timeline2293 | FormatMovie
After the Klingon moon Praxis explodes, the Klingon Empire teeters on the brink of collapse, pushing them toward peace talks with the Federation. Kirk and his crew are tasked with escorting the Klingon chancellor, but are framed for his assassination.
A political thriller with parallels to the end of the Cold War, it explores themes of prejudice, letting go of the past, and the fear of change.
This film serves as a final send-off for the entire original cast, with their signatures appearing in the end credits.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Timeline2364–2370 | FormatTV Series
A century after Kirk, Captain Jean-Luc Picard leads the new USS Enterprise-D, confronting new adversaries like the Borg and the Q Continuum with a focus on diplomacy and philosophy.
The series aimed to evolve Star Trek's utopian vision, focusing on thoughtful problem-solving and philosophical dilemmas over pure action.
Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar) and Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher) both left the show but later returned; Crosby came back for guest appearances while McFadden was brought back for Season 3 after a fan campaign.
Star Trek: Generations
Timeline2293 / 2371 | FormatMovie
Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D face a villain who can manipulate a temporal energy ribbon known as the Nexus. The film brings together Captain Kirk and Captain Picard to stop him.
Serving as a bridge between *The Original Series* and *The Next Generation*, the movie explores themes of time, mortality, and what it means to make a difference.
The destruction of the Enterprise-D in this film was a major turning point for the TNG crew.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Timeline2369–2375 | FormatTV Series
Commander Benjamin Sisko is assigned to a former Cardassian space station orbiting a stable wormhole, becoming a key figure in the political and religious turmoil of the region.
The show's goal was to deconstruct Starfleet's utopia by exploring darker themes like war, occupation, religion, and moral compromise in a serialized format.
It was the first Star Trek series to feature a person of color in the lead role and to be set on a stationary location rather than a traveling starship.
Star Trek: First Contact
Timeline2373 | FormatMovie
The Borg travel back in time to stop humanity's first contact with aliens. The crew of the new Enterprise-E must follow them to the mid-21st century to ensure history unfolds as it should.
Widely considered the best of the TNG films, it is an action-packed exploration of the Borg's nature and a deep character study of Picard's trauma from his assimilation.
The film introduces the Borg Queen, adding a new layer to the previously faceless and collective cybernetic race.
Star Trek: Insurrection
Timeline2375 | FormatMovie
Captain Picard and his crew defy a Starfleet admiral's orders to protect a peaceful planet and its inhabitants, the Ba'ku, whose world has regenerative properties.
The film attempts to return to the moral and ethical dilemmas of the series, essentially functioning as an extended, high-budget television episode.
The plot drew comparisons to Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness, a recurring theme in the Star Trek universe.
Star Trek: Voyager
Timeline2371–2378 | FormatTV Series
The starship USS Voyager is stranded 70,000 light-years from home in the Delta Quadrant and must make the long journey back to Earth, encountering new species and challenges along the way.
It explores themes of perseverance, found family, and holding onto one's principles while isolated from the support of the Federation.
Voyager was the flagship series that launched the UPN network in the United States in 1995.
Star Trek: Nemesis
Timeline2379 | FormatMovie
The Enterprise is diverted to Romulus, where a new leader, a human clone of Picard named Shinzon, has taken power and seeks the destruction of Earth.
This was the final film for the *The Next Generation* cast, exploring themes of identity, duality, and legacy, and features the death of a major character.
Tom Hardy, in one of his earlier roles, played the villain Shinzon.
Star Trek: Picard
Timeline2399–2402 | FormatTV Series
A retired Jean-Luc Picard is drawn back into adventure when a mysterious young woman seeks his help, forcing him to confront his past and the legacy of his friend, Data.
The series is a character study about aging, regret, and finding renewed purpose after a lifetime of service and loss.
The final season served as a reunion for the main cast of *The Next Generation* and was filmed on a painstakingly recreated bridge of the Enterprise-D.
Star Trek: Discovery (Seasons 3–5)
Timeline3188 onwards | FormatTV Series
The USS Discovery crew travels to the 32nd century, a future where the Federation has collapsed due to a mysterious cataclysm known as "The Burn."
The core theme is about restoring hope and connection in a galaxy that has become fractured, isolated, and has lost faith in the Federation's ideals.
The time jump was a creative decision to free the show from existing canon constraints and allow it to explore entirely new territory.
Star Trek (2009)
TimelineAlt. 2258 | FormatMovie
A Romulan named Nero travels back in time, creating an alternate reality (the "Kelvin Timeline") where a young James T. Kirk must rise to the occasion to save Earth.
The film's goal was to reboot the franchise for a modern, mainstream audience with a focus on action, spectacle, and the origins of the Kirk-Spock friendship.
Leonard Nimoy's appearance as "Spock Prime" was crucial to the plot and served as a bridge connecting the original timeline to the new reality.
Star Trek Into Darkness
TimelineAlt. 2259 | FormatMovie
When the USS Enterprise crew 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.
The film reinterprets the story of Khan Noonien Singh for the Kelvin Timeline, exploring themes of terrorism, militarism, and vengeance.
Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of Khan was a central element of the film's marketing and narrative.
Star Trek Beyond
TimelineAlt. 2263 | FormatMovie
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.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, this film returns to the themes of exploration and unity, with a focus on the crew as a family.
The screenplay was co-written by Simon Pegg, who also plays Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the Kelvin Timeline films.
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