How to Watch Star Trek Movies in Order [Quick Guide 2024]

Ever since its release, the Star Trek franchise has been the epicenter of sci-fi fans’ enthrallment. The franchise is expanding at an exponential rate, with new releases under the banner of Paramount Pictures in the upcoming years.

So, trust us that now is the apt time to watch all the fascinating and binge-worthy Star Trek movies in order and be part of this captivating pop culture. This article is your guide to watching Star Trek Movies in Order. This article includes a thorough description of 13 Star Trek Movies in Order.

Star Trek is a staggering series of 13 timeless motion pictures and 9 intriguing TV shows. It is a beautifully interconnected story with plot twists and a rollercoaster of emotions and inquiry. The chronicle of multiple parallel universes and alternate timelines can become overwhelming for the newbie Star Trek follower.

Therefore, to know what order The Star Trek Movies go in, you should watch The Star Trek Movies in Order so that you don’t feel excluded and lose track of the events occurring in the storyline.

The Best Guide to Watching Star Trek Movies with Release Dates

Star Trek is a 55-year-old sci-fi chronicle of time traveling and a parallel multiverse. The only way to completely grasp the concept and nuances of the franchise is by watching new Star Trek movies in order. For better comprehension.

The following is the pattern for how to watch Star Trek Movies in 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)
• Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
• Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Binge-Worthy Star Trek Movies in Chronological Order:

Here you Go!

1. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

• Release year: 1979
• Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy
• Runtime: 2h 23m

This is the first motion movie of the Star Trek franchise, in which the protagonist takes over the charge of a renovated USS Enterprise. Captain James (the Protagonist) scrutinizes a cloud of robust energy heading toward Earth. The movie revolves around the actor’s attempt to re-route the cloud and learn to control an unfamiliar USS Enterprise.

2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

• Release year: 1982
• Genre: Sci-fi
• Runtime: 1h 53m

The sequel to the infamous Star Trek franchise is about the villain Khan Noonein Singh’s attempts to steal the secret and essential device Genesis while he perseveres to flee from the planet. The protagonist takes over the USS Enterprise and must stop Khan before his evil plan comes true. This part certainly grasped the enormous audience’s attention and lived up to the name of the Star Trek franchise.

3. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

• Release year: 1984
• Genre: Sci-fi/Action
• Runtime: 1h 45m

The story takes an unprecedented turn when the USS Enterprise returns to Earth after the conquest with Khan, and one of the protagonist’s team members starts acting weirdly. The team member is held captive, and upon investigation, it is found that Spock has transmitted his Katra to the team member before his demise.

The crew must scour Spock’s body to get rid of Katra and save McCoy from fatality. Meanwhile, Klingon Kruge is on the loose to take control of the Genesis device.

4. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

• Release year: 1986
• Genre: Sci-fi/Adventure
• Runtime: 1h 59m

A mysterious vessel starts revolving around the earth and is devastating the power sources. The crew must time travel to 1986 to get a humpback whale because they believe the vessel will listen back to the melodies of a humpback whale.

5. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

• Release year: 1989
• Genre: Sci-fi/Action
• Runtime: 1h 47m

Captain, along with his teammates Spock and Bones, leaves on a mission to save the hostages from planet Nimbus III. There is a plot twist waiting for the crew on the planet, and they realize they must do everything in their power to save the hostages.

6. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

• Release year: 1991
• Genre: Sci-fi/Action
• Runtime: 1h 53m

Captain Kirk is commanded to save the Klingon ambassador, but instead, he is accused of a harrowing murder. The assassins successfully murder the ambassador, and based on the accusation, the protagonist is imprisoned on an asteroid. Spock must find the culprit and save the protagonist from this haphazard.

7. Star Trek: Generations (1994)

• Release year: 1994
• Genre: Sci-fi/Action
• Runtime: 1h 58m

The movie introduced new crew members while also keeping the nuance of the older series. The story is plotted around Dr. Soran and Nexus, an energy ribbon. Captain Kirk saves Soran, and later the true nature and ability of Nexus are unraveled in the story.

8. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

• Release year: 1996
• Genre: Sci-fi/Action
• Runtime: 1h 51m

Captain Jean Luc commands the USS Enterprise and defeats Borg Cube. However, the Cube released smaller ships in the vortex before it was annihilated. Soon they realized that Borg had time-traveled to destroy the whole planet. The story has an interesting take on humanity’s first interaction with an alien race, Vulcans.

9. Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)

• Release year: 1998
• Genre: Sci-fi/Action
• Runtime: 1h 43m

The story is about a planet that radiates unique rays to make its residents (Ba’ku) immortal. Brent Spinner’s crew is sent to understudy immortality. The crew uncovers a beguiling conspiracy that can cause Ba’ku to evacuate their planet, and the USS Enterprise must stop the following conspiracy to protect them.

10. Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

• Release year: 2002
• Genre: Sci-fi
• Runtime: 1h 57m

The USS Enterprise crew and Captain Picard go to meet the enigmatic leader of Romulans, Shinzon. Upon reaching, they figured out that Shinzon is a clone of Captain Picard and that Romulans are planning to dominate the Federation. Later, Shinzon created his starship and aimed to annihilate the human race by emitting poisonous radiation.

The crew must stop Shinzon before he destroys the human race with his diabolical plans.  This is one of the best Star Trek movies in order.

11. Star Trek (2009)

• Release year: 2009
• Genre: Sci-fi/Action
• Runtime: 2h 7m

The USS Kelvin is attacked by Nero, a Romulan commander. Upon the death of Captain Kirk’s father, George, the responsibility of saving Earth and humanity is handed over to George. He must give up his rivalries and conjure up a way to defeat Nero before he destructs the human race. This movie was highly recognized by the viewers and the box office.

12. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

• Release year: 2013
• Genre: Sci-fi/Action
• Runtime: 2h 12m

USS Enterprise is intoxicated with issues that have ruined everything it stands for, leaving the world in acute crisis. Whereas Captain Kirk leads a mission to a war zone where he has to take control of one-man mass destruction ammunition. Moreover, Kirk must battle emotionally to save his family and his crew. This is one phenomenal Star Trek movie in order.

13. Star Trek Beyond (2016)

• Release year: 2016
• Genre: Sci-fi/Action
• Runtime: 2h 2m

This is the last Star Trek Movie in order in which Krall plans a surprise ambush on outer space due to which USS Enterprise crashes on a mysterious planet. Krall is a lizard-like alien fascist whose energy is refilled by sucking the life out of his victims. The USS Enterprise crew must come up with a way to combat the diabolical alien and flee from the hostile planet.

Summing Up

As a newbie, this is your insightful guide to watching all the Star Trek Movies in Order. Every Star Trek movie is smartly written with cutting-edge plot twists that will keep you on your toes. It is going to be one amazing and immersive cinematic experience. Let the Star Trek binge party begin.

Gary Wilson

Gary is a geeky-binge watcher who loves to pen down all that he watches. The night-owl has just got two hobbies, binge-watching all the latest shows and writing everything about them.