So you want to watch the Star Trek movies but have no clue where to start? Been there. My first attempt was a disaster – I accidentally watched the 2009 reboot before the classics and spoiled half the original crew's storylines. Total mess. Getting the Star Trek order of films right matters more than you'd think.
Why Trek Movie Order Actually Matters
Look, Star Trek isn't like James Bond where you can jump around randomly. There are three distinct timelines weaving through these films:
- The Original Cast films (Kirk, Spock, McCoy)
- The Next Generation era (Picard, Data, Worf)
- The Kelvin Timeline reboots (Chris Pine's Kirk)
Watch Nemesis before First Contact? You'll ruin major character deaths. Start with Star Trek (2009) without knowing Spock's backstory? Half the emotional weight vanishes. I learned this the hard way when a friend spoiled Spock's fate because I watched films out of sequence.
And get this – Paramount's own streaming service lists them alphabetically by default. Who organizes movies that way? No wonder people get confused about the proper Star Trek order of films.
The Complete Star Trek Movie Release Order
This is how they actually came out in theaters. Best for pure historical context:
| Release Year | Official Title | Cast Era | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Star Trek: The Motion Picture | Original Series | Slow-paced but visually stunning space odyssey |
| 1982 | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | Original Series | Widely considered the best Trek film ever made |
| 1984 | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock | Original Series | Direct sequel to Wrath of Khan events |
| 1986 | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | Original Series | Whale-saving time travel comedy adventure |
| 1989 | Star Trek V: The Final Frontier | Original Series | Series low point (directed by Shatner) |
| 1991 | Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country | Original Series | Political thriller ending Kirk's era |
| 1994 | Star Trek: Generations | Crossover | Kirk meets Picard in hand-off film |
| 1996 | Star Trek: First Contact | Next Generation | Borg invasion time travel story |
| 1998 | Star Trek: Insurrection | Next Generation | Smaller scale "episode-like" film |
| 2002 | Star Trek: Nemesis | Next Generation | Final TNG crew film (poor box office) |
| 2009 | Star Trek | Kelvin Timeline | JJ Abrams reboot with new actors |
| 2013 | Star Trek Into Darkness | Kelvin Timeline | Khan reimagining with controversial twists |
| 2016 | Star Trek Beyond | Kelvin Timeline | Return to exploration themes after backlash |
Fun story: My local theater ran a Wrath of Khan anniversary screening last year. Seeing Ricardo Montalban's chest-baring performance on the big screen? Absolute perfection. Makes you forgive those dodgy 80s special effects.
The Chronological Star Trek Film Order
This follows the franchise's internal timeline. Tricky because of time travel and reboots:
| Timeline Position | Film Title | Time Period | Viewing Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Trek (2009) | 2255-2258 | Reboots continuity after Romulan incursion |
| 2 | Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) | 2259-2260 | Direct sequel to 2009 reboot |
| 3 | Star Trek Beyond (2016) | 2263 | Final Kelvin Timeline entry to date |
| 4 | Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) | 2270s | Original crew's first movie adventure |
| 5 | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) | 2285 | Sets up key events for next 3 films |
| 6 | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) | 2285 | Immediately follows Wrath of Khan |
| 7 | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) | 2286 + 1986 | Time travel to "modern day" 1980s |
| 8 | Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) | 2287 | Standalone adventure |
| 9 | Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) | 2293 | Original crew's final mission |
| 10 | Star Trek: Generations (1994) | 2293 + 2371 | Kirk's death and Picard era transition |
| 11 | Star Trek: First Contact (1996) | 2373 + 2063 | TNG crew meets warp flight inventor |
| 12 | Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) | 2375 | Occurs during Dominion War (unmentioned) |
| 13 | Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) | 2379 | Final TNG chronological entry |
Confusing bit: The 2009 reboot creates an alternate reality ("Kelvin Timeline") from the moment Nero arrives in the past. So technically everything after 2009 exists separately from the original films. Blame JJ Abrams for that headache – still not sure how I feel about that creative choice.
Where to Watch All Star Trek Movies Right Now
(Updated January 2024)
- Paramount+: Every single Star Trek film available worldwide except Japan
- Netflix: Original 6 films (The Motion Picture through Undiscovered Country) in most regions
- Amazon Prime: Next Generation films (Generations through Nemesis) available for rent/purchase
- Physical Media: 4K box sets available for Original Series (1-6) and Kelvin Trilogy (2009-2016)
Pro tip: Check JustWatch.com for regional updates. Paramount loves shifting streaming rights.
The Good, the Bad, and the Cringe: Ranking Trek Films
Let's be brutally honest – not all Trek films are equal. My personal ranking after marathoning them last winter:
Top Tier (Essential Viewing):
- The Wrath of Khan (1982)- Perfect balance of space battles and character drama. Spock's death wrecked me as a kid.
- First Contact (1996)- Picard vs Borg. Patrick Stewart's finest movie performance.
- The Undiscovered Country (1991) - Smart political thriller and perfect farewell to original crew.
Solid Entertainment:
- Star Trek (2009) - Best reboot of any franchise ever? Chris Pine nailed young Kirk.
- The Voyage Home (1986) - Surprisingly funny fish-out-water story. Chekov asking for "nuclear wessels" never gets old.
- Beyond (2016) - Course correction after Into Darkness. Felt like a great TOS episode.
Flawed But Interesting:
- The Motion Picture (1979) - Beautiful but SLOW. Better after director's cut release.
- Generations (1994) - Kirk/Picard meetup deserved better writing.
- Insurrection (1998) - Feels like two-part episode rather than movie.
The Rough Ones:
- The Final Frontier (1989)- "What does God need with a starship?" Ugh. Shatner's ego trip.
- Nemesis (2002) - Killed franchise for years. Tom Hardy's weird Shinzon performance haunts me.
- Into Darkness (2013) - Lazy Khan rehash with plot holes you could fly a starship through.
Which Star Trek Film Order Should YOU Choose?
Depends entirely on your goals:
For First-Time Viewers
Start with release order. Why? The filmmakers assumed you'd seen previous entries. Wrath of Khan hits harder if you saw The Motion Picture. The 2009 reboot's emotional moments rely on knowing original Spock's history. Avoid chronological order until later – jumping between timelines will scramble your brain.
For Rewatching Purists
Chronological order is fascinating once you know the stories. Seeing the Kelvin Timeline first actually makes the Original Series films feel like "what could've been." Warning: The tonal whiplash between Abrams' flashy 2009 film and the slow-paced Motion Picture is jarring. Maybe pour yourself a Romulan ale first.
Short on Time?
Just watch these five essentials in this sequence:
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
- Star Trek: First Contact
- Star Trek (2009)
This covers peak original crew, best TNG adventure, and the reboot that saved the franchise. You'll miss nuances but get the core experience in under 12 hours.
Commonly Overlooked Details in the Star Trek Film Order
Even hardcore fans debate these points:
Where Generations Fits
Starts in 2293 (right after Undiscovered Country) then jumps 78 years. That Nexus ribbon? Doesn't neatly fit anywhere in continuity. I've argued about this at cons for hours.
The DS9 Problem
Deep Space Nine overlaps with TNG films timeline-wise but never crosses over. Weird they never mentioned the Dominion War in Insurrection.
Voyager's Absence
Janeway's crew never got films despite ending with highest Trek ratings ever. Criminal omission if you ask me.
Star Trek Movie Order FAQs
Do I need to watch the shows to understand the films?
Not really. The Original Series films stand alone well. For TNG movies, at least watch the Borg episodes (Q Who? + Best of Both Worlds). Kelvin Timeline requires zero prior knowledge – that's why it succeeded as a reboot.
Are the Star Trek movies connected to Picard?
Yes, but awkwardly. Picard S3 ignores the TNG films' ending for Nemesis. Typical Trek continuity mess.
Will there be more Star Trek films?
Paramount keeps announcing then delaying them. A final Kelvin film with Pine/Quinto is stuck in development hell. A new prequel film is rumored for 2026.
What's the longest gap between films?
7 years between Nemesis (2002) and Star Trek (2009). The current gap since Beyond (2016) will soon break that record.
Why do people hate Into Darkness?
Three words: Khan. Blood. Magic. That ridiculous scene where Kirk gets resurrected by magic blood? Violated Trek's sci-fi logic more than any alien god in Final Frontier.
Making Sense of the Chaos
After all this, what's the definitive Star Trek order of films? Doesn't exist. Your best bet:
First-timers: Release order skipping Final Frontier and Nemesis
Rewatchers: Chronological order full marathon
Casual fans: Essential five films listed earlier
Personally? I watch Wrath of Khan every Christmas Eve. Weird tradition, but Spock's sacrifice hits different when it's snowing outside. Whatever order you choose, avoid my rookie mistake – don't google anything until you've finished the original crew's arc. Spoilers lurk behind every asteroid.
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