Exploring the Number of Star Trek Movies

Exploring the Number of Star Trek Movies

Discovering the cinematic universe of Star Trek through the lens of 2 timelines and 3 crews. How many Star Trek movies exist in total? Let's delve into the expansive world of Star Trek films.

With two different Star Trek timelines and three different Enterprise crews, it can be difficult to keep track of how many Star Trek movies have been made. From 1979 to 2016, Star Trek captured the hearts of audiences on both the big screen and the small screen. Both versions of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation had their own movie series, each with varying levels of success.

The most successful Star Trek movies in terms of box office earnings were the three films produced by J.J. Abrams, which were released between 2009 and 2016. However, the financial success of these movies brought its own set of challenges. Concerns over the box office performance of Star Trek Beyond made it difficult to bring Star Trek 4 to theaters. As a result, there have been no new movies in the franchise since 2016. Nevertheless, recent reports indicate that Paramount is looking to make up for lost time by planning to release three new Star Trek movies, adding to the current total of thirteen films.

There Are 13 Star Trek Movies (So Far)

Star Trek Motion Picture Poster - There Are 13 Star Trek Movies (So Far)

Star Trek Motion Picture Poster - There Are 13 Star Trek Movies (So Far)

Thirteen Star Trek movies were released between 1979 and 2016. The Original Series cast led six of these movies, starting with Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979 and ending with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country in 1991. Following this, the Next Generation cast took over and led four films until Star Trek Nemesis faced challenges, leading to a reevaluation of the movie franchise.

As a result, a decision was made to revamp the franchise with a new Star Trek timeline featuring a younger Kirk and Spock, portrayed by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. Although only three Kelvin Timeline movies have been produced so far, a fourth installment has been promised since 2016. While the fourth Kelvin Timeline movie is still in the works, Paramount has opted for a different approach for the upcoming fourteenth Star Trek movie.

Every Star Trek Film From 1979 to 2016

Title

Year of Release

Writer

Director

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

1979

Screenplay by Harold Livingston

Robert Wise

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

1982

Screenplay by Nicholas Meyer

Nicholas Meyer

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

1984

Screenplay by Harve Bennett

Leonard Nimoy

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

1986

Screenplay by Steve Meerson & Peter Krikes and Harve Bennett & Nicholas Meyer

Leonard Nimoy

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

1989

Screenplay by David Loughery

William Shatner

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

1991

Screenplay by Nicholas Meyer and Denny Martin Finn

Nicholas Meyer

Star Trek Generations

1994

Screenplay by Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga

David Carson

Star Trek: First Contact

1996

Screenplay by Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore

Jonathan Frakes

Star Trek: Insurrection

1998

Screenplay by Michael Piller

Jonathan Frakes

Star Trek Nemesis

2002

Screenplay by John Logan

Stuart Baird

Star Trek

2009

Screenplay by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman

J.J. Abrams

Star Trek into Darkness

2013

Screenplay by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof

J.J. Abrams

Star Trek Beyond

2016

Screenplay by Simon Pegg & Doug Jung

Justin Lin

The Next Star Trek Movie Is Made For Paramount Plus

Michelle Yeoh as Section 31's Philippa Georgiou - The Next Star Trek Movie Is Made For Paramount Plus

Michelle Yeoh as Section 31's Philippa Georgiou - The Next Star Trek Movie Is Made For Paramount Plus

The upcoming Star Trek movie will not be shown in theaters. Instead, it will be a special streaming event exclusively on Paramount+. The movie, titled Star Trek: Section 31, has Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh in the lead role. Production started on January 30, 2024, with a planned release on the streaming platform in 2025. The story will follow Emperor Philippa Georgiou from Star Trek: Discovery as she becomes part of Starfleet's secretive Section 31.

Star Trek Movies Rumored To Happen

If Star Trek: Section 31 proves to be a hit, it could pave the way for more exclusive movies on the streaming platform. Some may question whether streaming exclusives like Section 31 should be compared to the big-budget theatrical Star Trek films. Nonetheless, Star Trek: Section 31 is being treated as a movie, with added credibility from the participation of Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh.

Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard and Chris Pine as James T Kirk - Star Trek Movies Rumored To Happen

Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard and Chris Pine as James T Kirk - Star Trek Movies Rumored To Happen

Exciting news has surfaced about the development of two new Star Trek movies. One of them is said to be an origin story, with Seth Grahame-Smith and Toby Haynes on board as the writer and director. Although Paramount has not officially confirmed this project yet, many fans speculate that it could be released in time for Star Trek's 60th anniversary in 2026. This would be a fitting tribute considering that Star Trek: First Contact, which marked the franchise's 30th anniversary, showcased the historic first warp flight and the initial encounter between humans and Vulcans.

A new report mentioned that the fourth and final movie for Chris Pine's Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise is currently in development. However, there have been talks about a Star Trek 4 for the past eight years, so fans might be a bit skeptical about this news. Rumors about a Star Trek: Picard movie have also been circulating, but these seem to stem from a misinterpretation of a 2023 interview with Patrick Stewart. Whether Jean-Luc Picard will have a final movie or not remains uncertain, but it's evident that the number of Star Trek movies will soon surpass thirteen.

You can now watch all ten Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation movies on Max.

All three Kelvin Timeline Star Trek movies are streaming now on Paramount+.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the Star Trek movie franchise, highlighting the two timelines and multiple Enterprise crews that have graced the big screen. Despite the varying levels of success, the series has captivated audiences for decades. The recent news of Paramount planning to release three new movies is exciting, especially considering the addition of a streaming exclusive film, "Star Trek: Section 31." The article also touches on rumored projects, including an origin story and a potential fourth installment in the Kelvin Timeline, leaving fans eager for more updates.

It is interesting to note the different approaches taken by the franchise over the years. While the original series and Next Generation casts led multiple films, the Kelvin Timeline brought a fresh perspective with its younger counterparts. The upcoming "Section 31" movie, exclusive to Paramount+, marks a shift towards streaming, which could potentially open up new opportunities for storytelling and audience engagement. As the Star Trek universe continues to expand, it will be fascinating to see how these different timelines and formats coexist and shape the future of the franchise.