How to watch
Star Trek Movie Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch the Star Trek movies in order
Last updated: April 13 2026
Written by: ChronoAlice
With thirteen films spanning more than four decades and two distinct timelines, the Star Trek movie franchise can be intimidating for newcomers. This guide breaks down both release order and the best viewing path so you can boldly go without getting lost.
Star Trek began as a TV series in 1966 and launched its theatrical life in 1979 with an ambitious, contemplative sci-fi epic. What followed was one of Hollywood's longest-running film franchises — ten movies featuring the original crew and the Next Generation cast, followed by a modern reboot trilogy set in the alternate Kelvin Timeline. Whether you prefer the philosophical depths of The Wrath of Khan or the action-packed energy of the 2009 reboot, there's a Star Trek film for everyone.
🕐 Release Order
Release order takes you through the full evolution of the franchise, from the original crew's cinematic debut through the Next Generation era and into the Kelvin Timeline reboot.
- 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)
Story chronology within each timeline follows release order closely. The 2009 Star Trek film creates a separate Kelvin Timeline, meaning the reboot trilogy exists in a parallel universe from all previous films.
📖 Story Chronology
The Star Trek films split into two distinct timelines. The Prime Timeline covers films 1–10 and Generations bridges the two crews. The Kelvin Timeline begins with the 2009 reboot. Within each timeline, release order is also chronological story order.
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) — Prime Timeline: original crew faces a mysterious energy cloud
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) — Prime Timeline: Kirk faces his greatest nemesis
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) — Prime Timeline: the crew risks everything for a fallen friend
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) — Prime Timeline: time travel to 1980s San Francisco
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) — Prime Timeline: rogue Vulcan hijacks the Enterprise
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) — Prime Timeline: peace negotiations and conspiracy
- Star Trek: Generations (1994) — Prime Timeline: Kirk meets Picard as eras collide
- Star Trek: First Contact (1996) — Prime Timeline: TNG crew battles the Borg through time
- Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) — Prime Timeline: Picard defends a peaceful planet
- Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) — Prime Timeline: Picard faces a dangerous clone of himself
- Star Trek (2009) — Kelvin Timeline begins: young Kirk and Spock unite for the first time
- Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) — Kelvin Timeline: the crew faces a devastating threat from within Starfleet
- Star Trek Beyond (2016) — Kelvin Timeline: stranded on an alien world, the crew must fight to survive
Which Order Should You Choose?
If you're a complete newcomer and want the most accessible entry point, start with the 2009 Star Trek — it requires no prior knowledge and is a thrilling standalone adventure. From there you can watch Into Darkness and Beyond to complete the Kelvin trilogy. Once you're hooked, dive into the original films starting with The Motion Picture, though many fans recommend jumping straight to The Wrath of Khan as the gold standard of the franchise. For the full experience, follow release order from 1979 to 2016 — the journey is worth every hour.
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