The Star Trek franchise has been beloved by fans for over half a century, with a dedicated following that spans generations. The franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, with merchandise, conventions, and fan fiction all contributing to its enduring popularity. From the original series to the latest films and TV shows, Star Trek has captured the imagination of audiences around the world.
One of the reasons for the franchise's longevity is the visionary work of its creator, Gene Roddenberry. Roddenberry's vision of a future where humanity has overcome its prejudices and worked together for the betterment of all is at the core of the Star Trek universe. This optimistic and hopeful vision has resonated with fans for decades, inspiring them to imagine a future where cooperation and understanding are the norm.
Another reason for the franchise's success is its ability to adapt to changing times while staying true to its core values. From the original series in the 1960s to the latest TV shows and films, Star Trek has always been at the forefront of science fiction storytelling, exploring complex themes and ideas while remaining accessible to a broad audience. The franchise has tackled issues like war, discrimination, and social justice, while also showcasing thrilling action, adventure, and drama.
Overall, the Star Trek franchise has become an enduring symbol of hope, progress, and adventure, inspiring generations of fans with its message of cooperation, understanding, and exploration. Thanks to the vision of Gene Roddenberry, and the countless writers, directors, actors, and crew members who have contributed to the franchise over the years, Star Trek continues to captivate audiences and inspire imaginations around the world.
One of the reasons for the franchise's longevity is the visionary work of its creator, Gene Roddenberry. Roddenberry's vision of a future where humanity has overcome its prejudices and worked together for the betterment of all is at the core of the Star Trek universe. This optimistic and hopeful vision has resonated with fans for decades, inspiring them to imagine a future where cooperation and understanding are the norm.
Another reason for the franchise's success is its ability to adapt to changing times while staying true to its core values. From the original series in the 1960s to the latest TV shows and films, Star Trek has always been at the forefront of science fiction storytelling, exploring complex themes and ideas while remaining accessible to a broad audience. The franchise has tackled issues like war, discrimination, and social justice, while also showcasing thrilling action, adventure, and drama.
Overall, the Star Trek franchise has become an enduring symbol of hope, progress, and adventure, inspiring generations of fans with its message of cooperation, understanding, and exploration. Thanks to the vision of Gene Roddenberry, and the countless writers, directors, actors, and crew members who have contributed to the franchise over the years, Star Trek continues to captivate audiences and inspire imaginations around the world.
Here's a list of all the Star Trek films released to date:
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
- Released
on December 7, 1979
- Directed
by Robert Wise
- Lead
actors: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Mr.
Spock, DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy
- Plot:
When an unknown and powerful force threatens Earth, the crew of the USS
Enterprise must embark on a mission to stop it.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film sets the stage for the subsequent
films by introducing new elements to the Star Trek universe, such as the
character of Lieutenant Ilia and the concept of V'ger.
- US
cinematic film gross: $82.3 million
- Trivia: This was the first feature film in the Star Trek franchise, and was originally intended to be a relaunch of the television series. It was also the only film in the franchise to be directed by Robert Wise, who was best known for his work on films like "The Sound of Music" and "West Side Story."
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
- Released
on June 4, 1982
- Directed
by Nicholas Meyer
- Lead
actors: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Mr.
Spock, Ricardo Montalbán as Khan Noonien Singh
- Plot:
After being exiled to a barren planet, the genetically-engineered tyrant
Khan Noonien Singh seeks revenge on Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS
Enterprise.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film is a direct sequel to the "Space
Seed" episode of the original Star Trek series, in which Khan
Noonien Singh was first introduced.
- US
cinematic film gross: $97 million
- Trivia: This film is widely regarded as one of the best Star Trek films, and is often cited as an example of a successful sequel. It also features one of the most famous lines in Star Trek history: "Khaaaan!"
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
- Released
on June 1, 1984
- Directed
by Leonard Nimoy
- Lead
actors: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Mr.
Spock, DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy
- Plot:
After the events of "The Wrath of Khan," Captain Kirk and his
crew must find a way to bring Spock back to life.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film is a direct sequel to "The Wrath
of Khan" and continues the story of the USS Enterprise crew.
- US
cinematic film gross: $87 million
- Trivia: This film marks the directorial debut of Leonard Nimoy, who also appeared in the film as Mr. Spock. It also features a cameo by Christopher Lloyd as the Klingon commander Kruge.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
- Released
on November 26, 1986
- Directed
by Leonard Nimoy
- Lead
actors: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Mr.
Spock, DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy
- Plot:
The crew of the USS Enterprise travels back in time to 1986 San Francisco
in order to save the future.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film is a direct sequel to "The
Search for Spock" and continues the story of the USS Enterprise
crew.
- US
cinematic film gross: $133 million
- Trivia: This film is often cited as the most light
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
- Released
on June 9, 1989
- Directed
by William Shatner
- Lead
actors: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Mr.
Spock, DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy
- Plot:
Captain Kirk and his crew must face a powerful alien entity who seeks the
secret to the source of human religious belief.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film is a continuation of the story of the
USS Enterprise crew and explores themes of faith and spirituality.
- US
cinematic film gross: $63 million
- Trivia: This film was directed by William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the original series and the previous four films. It is often considered one of the weaker entries in the franchise.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
- Released
on December 6, 1991
- Directed
by Nicholas Meyer
- Lead
actors: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Mr.
Spock, DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy
- Plot:
The USS Enterprise crew must prevent a political conspiracy that
threatens to reignite a war between the Federation and the Klingon
Empire.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film is a direct sequel to the events of
"The Voyage Home" and explores themes of prejudice and
xenophobia.
- US
cinematic film gross: $96 million
- Trivia: This film marks the final appearance of the original USS Enterprise crew, and features a cameo by Christian Slater as a Starfleet officer.
Star Trek: Generations (1994)
- Released
on November 18, 1994
- Directed
by David Carson
- Lead
actors: Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, William Shatner as
Captain James T. Kirk
- Plot:
Captain Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D must stop a madman
from destroying entire star systems, with the help of an unexpected ally
from the past.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film marks the first crossover between the
original series and "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and
explores the passing of the torch from one generation to the next.
- US cinematic film gross: $118 million
Star
Trek: First Contact (1996)
- Released
on November 22, 1996
- Directed
by Jonathan Frakes
- Lead
actors: Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Brent Spiner as
Lieutenant Commander Data
- Plot:
Captain Picard and the USS Enterprise-E crew must stop the Borg from
assimilating Earth in the past, while also dealing with the emotional
aftermath of the events of "Generations."
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film is a direct sequel to the events of
"Generations" and explores the theme of revenge.
- US
cinematic film gross: $92 million
- Trivia: This film was directed by Jonathan Frakes, who also played Commander Riker on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." It is often cited as one of the best entries in the franchise.
- Review of First Contact
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
- Released
on December 11, 1998
- Directed
by Jonathan Frakes
- Lead
actors: Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Brent Spiner as
Lieutenant Commander
- Data
- Plot:
Captain Picard and the USS Enterprise-E crew must protect a peaceful
alien race from the machinations of a rogue Starfleet admiral who seeks
to harness their youth-preserving technology for his own purposes.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film is a standalone story that explores
themes of morality and the Prime Directive.
- US
cinematic film gross: $70 million
- Trivia: This film was shot on location in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, and features a musical score by Oscar Winer Jerry Goldsmith, who composed the music for the original Star Trek film and several others in the franchise.
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
- Released
on December 13, 2002
- Directed
by Stuart Baird
- Lead
actors: Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Brent Spiner as
Lieutenant Commander Data, Tom Hardy as Shinzon
- Plot:
Captain Picard and the USS Enterprise-E crew must confront a dangerous
clone of Picard, who seeks to destroy Earth and the Federation.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film is a direct sequel to "First
Contact" and explores themes of identity and redemption.
- US
cinematic film gross: $67 million
- Trivia: This film marks the final appearance of the USS Enterprise-E crew in a feature film, and features a young Tom Hardy in one of his earliest screen roles.
Star Trek (2009)
- Released
on May 8, 2009
- Directed
by J.J. Abrams
- Lead
actors: Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Mr. Spock,
Zoe Saldana as Lieutenant Uhura
- Plot:
The USS Enterprise crew, led by a young and brash Captain Kirk, must stop
a rogue Romulan from destroying the Federation in an alternate timeline.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film is a reboot of the original Star Trek
franchise, featuring a new cast and alternate timeline.
- US
cinematic film gross: $257 million
- Trivia:
This film was directed by J.J. Abrams, who went on to direct two more
Star Trek films and later directed several entries in the Star Wars
franchise.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
- Released
on May 16, 2013
- Directed
by J.J. Abrams
- Lead
actors: Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Mr. Spock,
Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan Noonien Singh
- Plot:
The USS Enterprise crew must stop a terrorist who has infiltrated
Starfleet and seeks to start a war with the Klingon Empire.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film is a direct sequel to the 2009 reboot
and features a controversial twist on the character of Khan, who was
previously featured in "The Wrath of Khan."
- US
cinematic film gross: $228 million
- Trivia: This film was shot in several locations around the world, including Los Angeles, London, and Iceland. It also features a cameo by Leonard Nimoy as the older Spock.
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
- Released
on July 22, 2016
- Directed
by Justin Lin
- Lead
actors: Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Mr. Spock,
Zoe Saldana as Lieutenant Uhura
- Plot:
The USS Enterprise crew becomes stranded on an alien planet and must
fight to survive against a powerful enemy.
- Connections
to other Star Trek films: This film is a standalone story that celebrates
the 50th anniversary of the original Star Trek series.
- US
cinematic film gross: $158 million
- Trivia: This film was dedicated to the memory of Anton Yelchin, who played Chekov in the reboot films and died tragically in a car accident before the film's release. It also features a new character, Jaylah, played by Sofia Boutella, who was praised for her performance and became a fan favorite.
Trek Film Trivia
- The original Star Trek film was initially intended to be a TV pilot, but was expanded into a feature film after the success of Star Wars.
- "The Undiscovered Country" was released in 1991, the same year the Soviet Union dissolved, leading to comparisons between the film's theme of Cold War tensions and the real-life events of the time.
- "Generations" marked the first on-screen meeting between Captain Kirk and Captain Picard, and featured a major plot twist involving the destruction of the USS Enterprise-D.
- "Insurrection" was the only Star Trek film to be directed by Jonathan Frakes, who played Commander Riker in the TV series.
- "Nemesis" marked the final appearance of the USS Enterprise-E crew in a feature film, and featured a young Tom Hardy in one of his earliest screen roles.
- "Beyond" was dedicated to the memory of Anton Yelchin, who played Chekov in the reboot films and died tragically in a car accident before the film's release.
- The USS Discovery from "Star Trek: Discovery" was designed to be a hybrid of the USS Enterprise and the USS Defiant from previous Star Trek series.
- The original Star Trek series was cancelled after three seasons due to low ratings, but gained a cult following in syndication and inspired numerous spin-off series and films.
- "Deep Space Nine" was the first Star Trek series to feature a predominantly non-Federation setting, and explored themes of war and politics.
- "Voyager" was the first Star Trek series to feature a female captain, Captain Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew.