Summary
The firstStar Trekshow debuted in 1966, making it one of the oldest entertainment franchises, which also means plenty of time to produce every kind of merch and media. Whole teams of writers, creators, designers, and directors have been working on this franchise for nearly 60 years, so it can be daunting for a new fan to choose the best way to get into theStar Trekuniverse.
Several movies are easier to get through than a whole season of a TV show or the playthrough of a video game, so this is an ideal place to start. There are currently 14 movies in theStar Trekfranchise, including the Kelvin Timeline and the recently releasedStar Trek: Section 31. A few are perfect for those new to one of entertainment’s oldest franchises.
In its time,Star Trek: The Motion Picturewas a notorious, even hilarious, box-office and critical failure. It looked great, and it still does, but the slow pace and long, wide shots were intended to mimic2001: A Space Odyssey, which was popular at the time, but the same thing didn’t work forStar Trekfans.
The good news is that this movie has aged extremely well, and recent remastered versions make it look even better. Modern audiences have a better appreciation for the design, backstory, and 1970s costuming that makes Starfleet uniforms look more like pajamas. The movie includes all the major characters from the series,with a few exceptions, and a compelling story and plot twist that references an important historical event. All together, these elements make it a great movie even for a person who doesn’t likeStar Trek.
J.J. Abrams had some fun with an alternate timeline about 15 years ago, which delved deeper into the concept of alternate timelines thanStar Trekever had before. Although most of the main characters are the same, their circumstances are very different. The universe is named after the USS Kelvin,famously James Kirk’s birthplaceaccording to the lore.
However, a rogue Romulan destroyed the famous ship, causing an alternate reality in which this story takes place. This was the first movie or TV showto explore the possibilitiesof Kirk, Spock, Uhura, and other fan favorites during their Starfleet days, and the story depicts some memorable moments.
Later installments in this series would never reach the same levels of popularity as the original, and it’s unlikely that there will be a fourth. It’s a fun way to experience all the creativity that goes into modernStar Trek.
The concept of the summer blockbuster was still in its infancy in the early 80s, but it’s safe to say thatWrath of Khanis one of the early examples. Unlike its predecessor, fans and critics raved over this sci-fi action thriller that picked up a thread from one of the original episodes and took a crazy chance by killing off a main character, even if temporarily.
Some expository information gives new fans ample backstory, but for an even better experience, the episode it’s based on is worth viewing. It’s entitled “Space Seed,” and recounts the story of finding the ship of Augments and eventually leaving them on Seti Alpha 5. It should be noted thatthe term “Augments"didn’t appear until modern Trek, but when characters onStar Trek: Strange New WorldsorStar Trek Lower Decksuse the term, this is what they mean.
As far asStar Trek: The Next Generationera goes, this is the best moviefeaturing Picard and his crew. This is the eighthStar Trekmovie overall, but when the TNG movies started, the series stopped using the numbers.
It features some interesting historical context and a bold attack on humanity by one of the franchise’s most notorious villains. The Borg go back in time to disrupt the first warp flight from Earth, which would mean the Vulcans would never see the warp signature and First Contact never happens. Not only do Picard and his crew need to figure out how to stop the Borg, but they also have to keep them from assimilating the Enterprise and her crew.
Star Trek 4is the movie that Gene Roddenberry didn’t want, but fans, critics, and history were not on his side. Not only is this the highest-grossingStar Trekmovie, it’s one of the best movies of the 20th century and many a fan favorite. Many claim it as one of the nostalgic cornerstones of their 1980s childhood, and everything from the cheesy acting to the tapered jeans and permed hair makes it a flawless product of its time.
That’s only part of the reason why it’s a great movie for new fans.Star Trek 4combines all
Star Trek
the best things aboutStar Trek, the first and foremost being an optimistic future beyond ignorance and bigotry, with a close second being the depiction of humanity’s courage and ingenuity in the face of overwhelming odds.
