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The BBC ( British Broadcasting Corporation ) was one of the UK broadcasters of Star Trek and is the parent corporation of BBC Worldwide, which in turn operates BBC America . The corporation had the rights to show Star Trek: The Original Series , Star Trek: The Animated Series , Star Trek: The Next Generation , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , and Star Trek: Voyager . They also have the terrestrial rights to show Star Trek: The Motion Picture , Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , Star Trek Generations , and Star Trek: First Contact – the rights to broadcast Star Trek: Insurrection were obtained by Channel 5 and the remaining film rights are held by Channel 4 .

The BBC produced and broadcast two special evenings of Star Trek programming, each known as Star Trek Night , one in 1996 and another in 2001 .

The BBC is also known for producing the science fiction franchise Doctor Who .

• 1.1.1 Season 1
• 1.1.2 Season 2
• 1.1.3 Season 3
• 1.1.4 Season 4
• 1.1.5 Later airings
• 2 Spin-offs
• 3 Further reading
• 4 External links

Star Trek [ ]

Initially, the BBC was the first-run broadcaster of Star Trek ( 12 July 1969 - 15 December 1971 ). The series was not shown in airdate or production order (although unlike on NBC, the " Where No Man Has Gone Before " pilot was aired first), and the BBC edited some episodes for violent content. The series was shown in four seasons, the first on Saturday evenings at 5:15 pm (in the time slot usually taken by Doctor Who ), the second on Monday evenings at 7:10 pm. The final two seasons were shown on Wednesday evenings at 7:10 pm. Star Trek was one of BBC's bigger ratings winners and was repeated throughout the 1970s and early '80s. ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 177 , p. 33)

During their original run of The Original Series , the BBC had chosen not to show the episodes " The Empath ", " Whom Gods Destroy ", and " Plato's Stepchildren ", deeming them unsuitable for the series time slot, due to their assessment that " (...) they all dealt most unpleasantly with the already unpleasant subjects of madness, torture, sadism and disease ", as stated in a letter sent to the UK-based Star Trek Action Group in 1976. These episodes were eventually shown during the 1992 repeat run. " Miri " was not repeated by the BBC until 1993 for similar reasons, following audience complaints after its original transmission. ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 177 , p. 33)

Apart from having no commercial breaks, there were several differences in how the episodes were presented, compared to their original NBC broadasts:

Firstly, all episodes had their opening titles moved to the start, in common with many series shown by the BBC.

Secondly, all Season 1 episodes featured the cello version of the theme music. The electric violin version originally used on the earliest episodes would not be heard in the UK until the VHS release of " Where No Man Has Gone Before ".

Thirdly, William Shatner 's opening narration was heard on " Where No Man Has Gone Before ", having been absent on NBC.

Finally, the Desilu and/or Paramount closing logos were removed from all episodes, again in line with BBC policy, though it was a policy inconsistently followed as many imported series did keep their closing logos. However, ITV broadcasts still use the Desilu and/or Paramount closing logos until it fades to every ITV endcap in every ITV region.

At the time of first airing, BBC was still broadcasting in black and white. The first episode transmitted in color was " Arena ".

Following the huge success of the series in the UK, BBC subsequently repeated the series throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, but in the order which followed the original NBC schedule.

Broadcast order [ ]

Season 1 [ ].

• 12 July 1969 : " Where No Man Has Gone Before "
• 19 July 1969 : " The Naked Time "
• 26 July 1969 : " The City on the Edge of Forever "
• 2 August 1969 : " A Taste of Armageddon "
• 9 August 1969 : " Mudd's Women "
• 16 August 1969 : " Tomorrow is Yesterday "
• 23 August 1969 : " The Menagerie, Part I "
• 30 August 1969 : " The Menagerie, Part II "
• 6 September 1969 : " The Devil in the Dark "
• 13 September 1969 : " Charlie X "
• 20 September 1969 : " Shore Leave "
• 27 September 1969 : " Space Seed "
• 4 October 1969 : " The Man Trap "
• 11 October 1969 : " Dagger of the Mind "
• 18 October 1969 : " The Corbomite Maneuver "
• 25 October 1969 : " Balance of Terror "
• 1 November 1969 : " The Squire of Gothos "
• 8 November 1969 : " What Are Little Girls Made Of? "
• 15 November 1969 : " Arena "
• 22 November 1969 : " The Return of the Archons "
• 29 November 1969 : " This Side of Paradise "
• 6 December 1969 : " The Doomsday Machine "
• 13 December 1969 : " Errand of Mercy "
• 20 December 1969 : " The Conscience of the King "
• 27 December 1969 : " The Galileo Seven "

Season 2 [ ]

• 6 April 1970 : " Court Martial "
• 13 April 1970 : " The Enemy Within "
• 20 April 1970 : " Catspaw "
• 27 April 1970 : " Who Mourns for Adonais? "
• 4 May 1970 : " The Apple "
• 11 May 1970 : " Metamorphosis "
• 18 May 1970 : " Wolf in the Fold "
• 25 May 1970 : " The Changeling "
• 1 June 1970 : " The Trouble with Tribbles "
• 8 June 1970 : " Bread and Circuses "
• 22 June 1970 : " Journey to Babel "
• 29 June 1970 : " The Deadly Years "
• 6 July 1970 : " A Private Little War "
• 13 July 1970 : " Obsession "
• 20 July 1970 : " By Any Other Name "
• 27 July 1970 : " I, Mudd "
• 3 August 1970 : " Patterns of Force "
• 10 August 1970 : " The Immunity Syndrome "
• 17 August 1970 : " Return to Tomorrow "
• 24 August 1970 : " The Omega Glory "
• 7 September 1970 : " A Piece of the Action "

Season 3 [ ]

• 7 October 1970 : " The Ultimate Computer "
• 14 October 1970 : " Friday's Child "
• 4 November 1970 : " Assignment: Earth "
• 11 November 1970 : " Mirror, Mirror "
• 18 November 1970 : " The Gamesters of Triskelion "
• 25 November 1970 : " Amok Time "
• 2 December 1970 : " Miri "
• 9 December 1970 : " Operation -- Annihilate! "
• 16 December 1970 : " The Paradise Syndrome "
• 30 December 1970 : " Requiem for Methuselah "
• 6 January 1971 : " All Our Yesterdays "
• 13 January 1971 : " Day of the Dove "
• 20 January 1971 : " The Way to Eden "
• 27 January 1971 : " Let That Be Your Last Battlefield "
• 3 February 1971 : " Wink of an Eye "
• 10 February 1971 : " The Cloud Minders "

Season 4 [ ]

• 15 September 1971 : " Spectre of the Gun "
• 22 September 1971 : " Elaan of Troyius "
• 29 September 1971 : " The Enterprise Incident "
• 6 October 1971 : " And the Children Shall Lead "
• 13 October 1971 : " Spock's Brain "
• 20 October 1971 : " Is There in Truth No Beauty? "
• 27 October 1971 : " For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky "
• 3 November 1971 : " That Which Survives "
• 10 November 1971 : " The Mark of Gideon "
• 17 November 1971 : " The Lights of Zetar "
• 24 November 1971 : " The Savage Curtain "
• 1 December 1971 : " The Tholian Web "
• 8 December 1971 : " The Alternative Factor "
• 15 December 1971 : " Turnabout Intruder "

Later airings [ ]

• 19 August 1992 : " The Cage " (first broadcast in the US in 1988)
• 22 December 1993 : " Plato's Stepchildren "
• 5 January 1994 : " The Empath "
• 19 January 1994 : " Whom Gods Destroy "

Spin-offs [ ]

The first season of Star Trek: The Animated Series was broadcast from 31 August 1974 to 22 December 1974 , with the second season being incorporated into a broadcast run the following year.

Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered 26 September 1990 and ran until 6 May 1992 , up to " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II ". Many of the first season episodes were shown out of original airdate order, leading to some inconsistencies in plot lines across the first few episodes. After 1992 , the first-run rights of TNG – and later DS9 and Voyager – went to Sky One , with the BBC showing the episodes several months later.

From 26 August 1992 , the BBC instead repeated The Original Series , ending on 6 April 1994 . This screening mirrored the original US airdate order, and restored all of the edited content. The run of The Next Generation started again on 13 April 1994 , and once the run ended in 1996 the entire series repeated in its now regular Wednesday 6 pm time slot.

All of the Trek spin-offs were shown in an early-evening 6:00 pm slot – TNG on Wednesdays, DS9 on Thursdays, and VOY on Sundays – and as a result, several episodes had to be cut for violence and disturbing imagery, most notably the TNG episodes " Conspiracy " and " The Icarus Factor ". The BBC also refused to show the episode " The High Ground " due to political sensitivity over its content (stating that terrorism had succeeded in re-unifying Ireland), broadcasting the episode for the first time on 29 September 2007 , nine years after the Good Friday Agreement brought the conflict in question to a largely peaceful end.

The BBC lost out in the bidding to broadcast Star Trek: Enterprise on terrestrial re-run to Channel 4 in 2001 , and did not renew its repeat rights for the other series until 2006 , when in July, Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation returned to the screen – Star Trek in a late-night Friday slot, with The Next Generation in a mid-afternoon Saturday slot (later following on from TOS in the Friday slot). Voyager repeat rights were taken by Five in 2005 .

BBC Two stopped repeating TOS in 2007 and TNG in 2008

Further reading [ ]

• "Trek Britain: 45 years on British TV", Paul F. Cockburn, Star Trek Magazine  issue 177 , 24 July 2014, pp. 28-33

External links [ ]

• BBC.co.uk – official web site
• BBC at Wikipedia
• BBC Cult - Star Trek – archive only, no longer active
• BBC at the Internet Movie Database – distributor
• BBC at the Internet Movie Database – production company
• 3 Ancient humanoid

Star Trek: Which Episodes Were Banned in the UK?

Star Trek is one of the most influential franchises in the sci-fi genre, but why were four episodes from the original series banned in the UK?

Star Trek is one of the most popular sci-fi franchises in the world alongside Star Wars , spanning several movies and television series. The original TV show in the late 1960s ran for three seasons, but there were four episodes that were banned in the UK for some time.

As writer Stephen Bell states in his essay, Star Trek is primarily an adult program that’s not necessarily intended for young children, but kids have become fans of the franchise just as much as their parents. The four banned episodes provide curiosity as to what the UK saw in them that was offensive or unwatchable for spectators of Star Trek .

RELATED: Star Trek Voyager’s Most Unexpectedly Sad Moment

Which Star Trek Episodes Were Banned in the UK?

The Star Trek episodes that were banned in the UK were “Miri,” “Whom Gods Destroy,” “Plato’s Stepchildren,” and “The Empath.” “Miri” was an episode from season one of Star Trek: The Original Series , while the other three were from the third and final season of that show.

“Miri” was about Captain Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and the Enterprise crew encountering a dying planet in which disease causes children to stay young for hundreds of years, but then age rapidly afterward.

“Whom Gods Destroy” involves Kirk and Spock being trapped on a planet that serves as an asylum which is controlled by Garth (a former starship captain who intends to take over the Enterprise due to his intentions of being powerful and immortal). Garth is a sneaky Star Trek villain who can also change his appearance and become anyone, especially when trying to fool Kirk and his crew, so he can get on the Enterprise and commandeer the ship.

"Plato's Stepchildren" focuses on aliens with telekinetic powers who force McCoy to stay on their planet as their primary doctor (since they have no other medical professionals). When McCoy refuses, the aliens control the Enterprise crew and force them to commit rude and unruly actions.

"The Empath" is another episode in which aliens set up controlled experiments on the Enterprise crew. There's also a mute female alien named Gem, who's an Empath (meaning she can adapt her nervous system to someone else's and feel the other person's pain in her own body). Gem's power is tested in order to make the difficult decision to save her own planet or another.

Why Were the Episodes Banned?

These Star Trek episodes were banned by the UK because, according to the BBC, the subject matter was considered too intense for minors due to the themes of disease, torture, madness, sadism, and other unpleasant content that was considered controversial , especially during that time period. The BBC would continue to reject airing these episodes for several years in the 1970s and 1980s. Yet, despite the longtime ban, there were British Star Trek conventions for several fans of the show, including one American fan who brought a copy of "The Empath" to have it screened at the second convention in 1975.

In 1976, there was a convention report mentioning that both "The Empath" and "Miri" were showcased, receiving a positive reception from cheerful fans. Along with conventions, Star Trek fans set up clubs, campaigns, and petitions, writing letters to the BBC urging the corporation to reverse the ban and air all four episodes on television for UK viewers. The BBC continued to ban the episodes, but several fans were able to get their hands on copies of the episodes thanks to the evolution of rental VHS videotapes. The VCR and VHS tapes were examples of new technology that allowed fans to buy and/or rent episodes without having to wait for the BBC's approval (or disapproval), or rely on scheduled programming.

While most fans overall to see all four episodes and disagreed with the ban, there was negative criticism of certain episodes. Bell mentions in his essay that he enjoyed "Miri" and "Whom Gods Destroy," but that "The Empath" and "Plato's Stepchildren" did have distasteful and suggestive content that should be aired later in the evening for mature audiences. Another fan disliked "Whom Gods Destroy" due to the story's average predictability, unconvincing villains, and the typical concept surrounding an asylum. On the contrary, the same fan liked "Plato's Stepchildren" as a unique and outside-the-box episode with strong villains. However, they noted embarrassing moments involving Captain Kirk and his crew committing inappropriate actions, like characters being flirtatious with each other or Kirk crawling on all fours and pretending to neigh like a horse.

Gene Roddenberry (the creator of Star Trek: The Original Series along with a couple of other spin-offs) was adamant in his disapproval of the ban. However, he also stated that shows involving violence and sensual content must be done the right way without senseless inclusions or exaggerations. Gene also argues that TV shows like Star Trek will inevitably have characters and stories with pain and suffering, because everyone goes through it in their daily lives. This proves that Gene is a storyteller who deeply cared about his show and stood by how it was presented to a high-viewing public.

When Was The Ban Lifted?

The ban was finally lifted by the BBC in the early 1990s, thanks to enough complaints from fans of Star Trek to demand the airing of all four episodes. While this case was finally resolved, this is one example of the BBC and how firm the corporation is when it comes to censorship and determining what content they consider watchable and inappropriate for their UK television viewers.

The UK's standards on TV censorship seem to be stricter than those in the U.S. However, the evolution of technology (like VCRs and VHS tapes at that time) and increased fandom and conventions prove that spectators and devoted viewers of shows like Star Trek can make a case for the content they want to see. Perhaps current fandom for the DC Universe can take notice and learn from this situation, so they can argue for the DC characters and stories they intend to view more of in theaters and on the small screen.

MORE: Star Trek: What Does NCC Stand For?

How to watch Star Trek in order – both release and chronological orders

From The Original Series to Strange New Worlds, here's how to watch the entire Star Trek canon in order.

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It's a hugely exciting time to be a Star Trek fan, especially after the news that we'll be getting a new prequel movie from the director of Andor!

The Star Trek franchise has enjoyed a dramatic revitalisation in recent years, returning to its original home on the small screen to launch a sprawling shared universe of exciting shows.

Coming up next in the world of Star Trek, we've got Star Trek: Discovery season 5 to look forward to, as well as Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 after the series was saved by Netflix – and more! Meanwhile, Star Trek: Picard wrapped up with a third and final season, while we got renewals for shows like Lower Decks .

With all these interconnecting stories, it's not surprising that newcomers to the franchise want to ensure they are watching in the correct order. Fortunately, we can help with that.

Below, we've compiled how to watch Star Trek in release and chronological order, while we also weigh in on the pros and cons of each method. Once you have all the information you need, venture forth into the final frontier.

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How to watch star trek in release order.

Arguably, the most faithful way of watching Star Trek is in the order each series was made, allowing you to follow the franchise from its inception and explore its universe as the original fans did decades ago.

It makes sense to do it this way as while the shows do jump around in terms of time period, they still find ways to build on what came before in order of release.

In that sense, you're likely to get a slightly more complete picture of Star Trek by watching in this order, instead of piecing the shows together in a chronological timeline.

Star Trek release order (films listed in italics )

• Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS)
• Star Trek: The Animated Series (TAS)
• The first six Star Trek films (The Motion Picture up to Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG)
• Star Trek: Generations
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9)
• Star Trek: Voyager (VOY)
• Star Trek films 8-10 (First Contact, Insurrection, Nemesis)
• Star Trek: Enterprise (ENT)
• Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond
• Star Trek: Discovery (DSC)
• Star Trek: Short Treks*
• Star Trek: Picard (PIC)
• Star Trek: Lower Decks (LOW)
• Star Trek: Prodigy (PRO)
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (SNW)
• Untitled Toby Haynes Star Trek prequel film

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* Star Trek: Short Treks premiered after Discovery, hence the listing here. However, Short Treks season 2 sets up some plot threads picked up in Discovery season 2 and beyond, so it's best to alternate between them if you can.

Some people who watch in this order choose to skip over the first three steps and begin with Star Trek: The Next Generation. There is a belief among certain Trekkies that TNG has aged better than The Original Series, making it an easier entry point for newcomers to the franchise.

It would be worth watching the first few episodes of TOS to see what you think of it, but if William Shatner's Captain Kirk doesn't quite cut it for you, feel free to move on to the dulcet tones of Patrick Stewart's Jean-Luc Picard. The two shows have relatively few connections, so you don't need to worry about feeling lost (although they do eventually cross over in a major way in the Star Trek: Generations movie).

How to watch Star Trek in chronological order

As previously stated, the various shows in the Star Trek universe take place at different points in a sprawling timeline, so an alternative method is to watch in chronological order.

This comes with pros and cons: on the one hand, it allows you to begin with a modern show, which may be preferable to some people. But on the other hand, some of the references contained in more recent episodes may not land with you in the way they were intended.

Star Trek chronological order (films listed in italics )

• Star Trek: Enterprise (Year: 2151-2161)
• Short Trek: The Girl Who Made the Stars (Year: 2230s)
• Short Trek: The Brightest Star (Year: 2239)
• Star Trek: The Cage – The Original Series one-off pilot episode (Year: 2254)
• Short Trek: The Escape Artist (Year: 2250s)
• Short Trek: Q&A (Year: 2253)
• Star Trek: Discovery season 1 (Year: 2256)
• Short Trek: Runaway (Year: 2257)
• Star Trek: Discovery season 2 (Year: 2258)
• Short Trek: The Trouble with Edward (Year: 2250s)
• Short Trek: Ask Not (Year: 2250s)
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Year: 2259)
• Star Trek: The Original Series (Year: 2265-2269)
• Short Trek: Ephraim and Dot (Year: 2267-2285)
• Star Trek: The Animated Series (Year: 2269-2270)
• The first six Star Trek films (Year: 2273-2293)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (Year: 2364-2370)
• Star Trek films 7-10: Generations up to Nemesis (Year: 2293-2379)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Year: 2369-2375)
• Star Trek: Voyager (Year: 2371-2378)
• Star Trek: Lower Decks (2380)
• Star Trek: Prodigy (Year: 2383)
• Short Trek: Children of Mars (Year: 2385)
• Star Trek: Picard seasons 1-3 (Year: 2399-2402)
• Star Trek: Discovery seasons 3-4 (32nd Century)
• Short Trek: Calypso (far future, year unknown)

Note – Star Trek: Short Treks was a two-season anthology series, which visits various periods on the franchise timeline. Anything listed as a Short Trek is a single episode of this show (with a runtime between 8 and 18 minutes).

It's not currently confirmed where precisely Toby Haynes' film will sit in the chronology but we do know it'll be a prequel film, taking place "decades" before Star Trek (2009).

For those wondering, the recent trilogy of Star Trek movies directed by JJ Abrams and Justin Lin – Star Trek, Into Darkness and Beyond – are set in an alternate universe, meaning they do not connect to a chronological order of the series.

They do, however, contain references to The Original Series – most notably the return of Leonard Nimoy as Spock – but can be watched at any point as standalone stories.

Star Trek: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Voyager and Deep Space Nine are available to stream on Netflix .

Star Trek: Picard is exclusive to Prime Video. Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime Video and pay £8.99 a month after that.

Star Trek: Discovery and Strange New Worlds can be found on Paramount Plus. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on tonight.

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The Four Banned Star Trek: TOS Episodes in the UK

You may be looking for the 1985 article Star Trek: The Banned Episodes published in Beta-Niobe .

For many years, the episodes "Miri," [1] "Plato's Stepchildren," "The Empath," and "Whom Gods Destroy" were banned in the UK.

Star Trek was considered a children's program and these episodes were deemed too intense for minors. The episodes' subject matter was also unacceptable "because they all [deal] most unpleasantly with the already unpleasant subjects of madness, torture, sadism and disease." [2]

• 1 The Promise in 1974
• 2 A Taste in 1975
• 3 Another Taste in 1976
• 4 Letter Writing Campaigns
• 5 1984 Comments by Roddenberry
• 6 Other Fan Reaction
• 7 Some of the BBC's Responses
• 8 Shown at Cons
• 9 The VCR Starts to Become a Game Changer
• 10 When the Episodes Were Finally Shown
• 11 Banned Star Trek Episodes in Other Countries
• 12 Other BBC Censorship
• 13.1 Starsky & Hutch
• 13.2 The Professinoals
• 13.3 Star Trek: TNG
• 13.4 Quantum Leap
• 14 Further Reading
• 15 References

The Promise in 1974

Three of the banned episodes were to have been shown at the first British Star Trek convention , something that was to have been one of its major draws.

At the last minute, Paramount England decided we couldn't have the banned episodes after all, despite the fact that they had said previously they would be available to us. However, we have since received a formal letter of apology from Paramount USA, after the visit of Mr Lou Mindling to the con, and we have been assured that we will have no such trouble next time, and that we will have their full co-operation. [3]

A Taste in 1975

According to a con report , "The Empath" was shown at the second British Star Trek convention , but only because an American fan "brought a copy over." [4]

Another Taste in 1976

From a fan's con report : "Then came the event of the day - the showing of MIRI and THE EMPATH. Remember, this was pre-video, and pre-reruns, and these two prints had been purchased by Empathy at some expense. The episodes were punctuated with considerable cheering, and the atmosphere, watching STAR TREK for the first time with other fans, was quite unbelievable. [5]

Letter Writing Campaigns

Fans were urged numerous times to write letters to television TPTB and ask for these episodes to be shown.

In January 1974, a fan urges others to write the television station. She urges fans to "be polite, but FIRM." [6]

From March 1976:

There are 400 of you receiving this newsletter. Think of the impact if the BBC received 400 letters within a week, all with the same appeal! Try to persuade your family and friends to write in too -- the more letters the better. Use plain envelopes with no slogans or stickers. We want them to look official so that they get opened and not just redirected to the Programme Correspondance section. Don't mention S.T.A.G. or any other club; we don't want to make it look like a conspiracy! [7]

The STAG newsletter in June 1976 also included a reprint of an article from The Sun from 3 April 1976 called "The Little Band of Trekkers Make the BBC Toe Their Line" about the number of letters the BBC had received from Star Trek fan clubs in the UK -- the BBC estimate: 1300 letters since 1971, the fan clubs' estimate 3000-4000 letters since 1971. [8]

In late 1977, another fan campaign was proposed:

We are hoping to start another letter campaign to the BBC... saying you would like to see the banned episodes... Those of you who know what the episodes are about (don't mention that you have seen EMPATH in Britain [9] can explain why you think they should be shown, and why it is unnecessary to ban them. Tell them that STAR TREK is an adult series and suggest they show these episodes later at night if they don't want the younger section of the audience to see them. Don't mention that you are a member of a ST organization... It is very necessary that you all write letters as there is no point in her just delivering a couple hundred. [10]

In mid to late 1980, a fan petition was sent to the BBC:

[Name redacted] wishes to thank all of the 318 people who signed the petition asking that the banned episodes be shown by the BBC. This petition has been been sent off, and [name redacted]will let us know the outcome - if any - in due course. [11]

1984 Comments by Roddenberry

These comments were made by Gene Roddenberry during an August 24th news conference in Newcastle, England where Roddenberry was asked about the controversial banning of these four episodes:

... I disagree [with the ban] very much. 'Empath' to me was a beautiful story... If someone is to say to me, 'You can't have hurt and pain', I say, 'Nonsense!' Suffering and pain are a part of life. They should be handled, and handled well. I feel the same way about violence and sex. My objection to violence and sex is on the shows where it goes on for a while and someone says, 'Well, it's going slow now, why don't you have a fist-fight, or a shooting?' Then they put it in to raise the ratings. What I hate about violence are... shows where grown men strike out and hit each other in the face with their fists... and after hitting themselves for thirty minutes with all their strength in the face, they grin and say, 'Wow, wasn't that fun!' That's not how life is! If a grown man hits another man in the face, teeth crack, bones break, knuckles get bruised. I think one of the reasons why people were willing to go into the last war, and into various wars, is that death is such a lovely thing in war, you know --- "giving my all for my country!' That's not how it is! I know! Men lie out there and scream their guts out for hours, in agony. If you're gonna do violence, do it that way. Then people will say, 'Well, yeah, we don't want our boys to do that.' And sex [is] the same way. I see nothing wrong with sex. I think copulation is a lovely thing. I think, however, you just don't bare your tits, or something, just because the film happens to be going slow at that moment... I'll tell you a story about how my feelings go. There was a convention in the United States where, to my total surprise, a young lady came out nude, and she was billed as 'The Costume NBC Wouldn't Let Mr. Roddenberry Use!' I was startled... at the same time... I was more outraged at the people who came out in costumes with zap guns, and weaponry, and those things, than a simple human body. That's how I feel about that.

Other Fan Reaction

From December 1978:

A friend of mine–not a member of any club but a fan nevertheless, recently wrote to the BBC about the re-screening, and they sent back the usual "Thank you for your interest' reply... In it, they stated that their position on the four episodes remained the same. Those episodes showed scenes of torture, cruelty, etc., entirely unsuitable for a young audience that would stay up to watch no matter what time they were shown. Personally, I fail to see how a programme recorded ten years ago, and with the American network censorship such as it was at the time, can be worse than the majority of series churned out today, and which seem to be aimed at the younger market. I feel that the stand they are taking is an attempt to justify the early decision. If they were to give in and show the episode in question, do they feel they would be admitting a mistake, losing face, or made to seem foolish? An answer to this problem eludes me. however, with a certain amount of pre-publicity they could grab themselves a slice of Friday night viewing. Imagine the viewing public discovering that certain episodes to be shown, never before seen on British TV because of their dubious content. A slightly later screening time. Advance warning that the content might be disturbing to young children. ITV would have to counter with something pretty heavy to beat that sort of package. However, I don't see that happening. [12]

From a fan in February 1985:

I believe that 'Miri' and 'Whom Gods Destroy' contain nothing to offend; but 'Plato's Stepchildren' and 'The Empath' have a certain nastiness about them, both implicit and explicit. I would not ban them, but I do believe that a later evening broadcast time would be better; certainly I do not think they should be shown in the early evening time slot of 5.10 which the BBC selected for the latest re-run. [13]

From a fan in early spring 1985:

The other night I managed to get my hands on a copy of the cassette featuring "Whom Gods' Destroy" and "Plato's Stepchildren". Td read the story of the first episode several times, but I can't find "Plato's Stepchildren" in any of my books. But I digress. I would like to skip "Whom Gods' Destroy". It was pretty average for Star Trek - a rather predictable reworking of the old story where the lunatics are in charge of the asylum. 1 found it rather strange that Kirk and Spock had gone down to deliver drugs rather than Dr. McCoy. Garth was such a comical character, that it was hard to take him seriously as a villain - on the plus side - the inmates were okay. It made a change to see real alien life forms apart from human ones. I stilt can't see why this particular episode was banned! "Plato's Stepchildren" is, to coin a phrase, something completely different, and although I can realise why this episode has never been shown here, I feel we have missed out by not seeing it. It explains a lot about the relationships between Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Although the underlying theme of the programme is meant to be sinister, I defy anyone (even the staunchest Trekkie) to sit through it without sniggering or at least crying with embarrassment. [snipped] The whole thing deteriorates at this point. We get a seranade from Spock (no disrespect to Leonard Nimoy's voice) and then the "seduction" begins - I was really embarrassed at this bit! At least Nurse Chapel was also embarrassed. I think we weren't very often subjected to mushy scenes in Star Trek. It was simply embarrassing to watch - I just about choked when a table appeared covered with chains, manacles and whips! But just in the nick of time, Kirk and Spock develop their powers, even more powerful than Parmens' ... The Platonians were real villains, much more convincing than Garth of Izar, and I realise that the Sado-Masochistic overtones of this episode were the reason why it has never been shown here. [14]

Some of the BBC's Responses

In June 1976, STAG #18 reprinted the letter the BBC sent out to fans in response to their letter campaign to have these that were banned in the UK shown. An excerpt:

After very careful consideration a top level decision was made not to screen the episodes entitled "Empath", "Whom Gods Destroy", "Plato's Stepchildren" and "Miri", because they all dealt most unpleasantly with the already unpleasant subjects of madness, torture, sadism and disease. You will appreciate that account must be taken that out of Star Trek's large and enthusiastic following, many are juveniles, no matter what time of day the series is put into the programme schedules. A further look has been taken following the recent correspondence, but I am afraid it has been impossible to revise the opinion not to show these episodes.

In August 1979, three fans reported receiving letters from the BBC in response to their inquiries about the four banned episodes. An excerpt from the BBC's response:

We have no plans to show the banned episodes as we have stated several times before. I am afraid every big organisation comes in for a little ridicule from time to time, but we are a public service broadcasting organisation with great responsibilities, and if after very careful consideration we decide not to show a particular programme, you may rest assured that it is in the best interest of viewers in this country. [15]

Shown at Cons

Some of the four original banned episodes were shown at cons time to time. Two examples: in 1975, "The Empath" was shown at the second British Star Trek convention , [16] and in 1979, "Miri" was shown at Terracon .

The lure of these banned episodes created was huge and certainly made some con attendance greater. Con reports for these conventions often described the showing of these episodes as a highlight. One fan writes:

Someone very kindly moved the auction on the 4.30 so we could all go upstairs to see Empath, so five minutes later about 200 people were trying to squeeze into a small room that just cculd not take them! As a result Empath was shown on Sunday as well as Saturday. Always a glutton for punishment, I watched it both times. [17]

The VCR Starts to Become a Game Changer

New technologies start to hint that fans in the UK may not always be dependent on the BBC and network television for what they want. A fan in 1980 writes:

I am researching into the possibilities of getting all 4 of the banned STAR TREK episodes on video cassette. I am sure that it can be done but it will be fairly expensive, therefore I would like to gauge the interest in them before-hand. If all those with V.C.H.s who would be interested in buying video cassettes of these episodes would write and let me know at the above address, I'll see if it's worthwhile going ahead. [18]

The BBC screened Star Trek part of the year every year from 1969 onwards and ended it's run with "Operation Annihilate" shown as a left over in 1981. The series didn't return to BBC1 until 1984. In the meantime, CIC Video released 2 episodes on tape. "Miri" and "The Empath" were available as a rental tape but during that time most video stores didn't stock anything that had already been shown on tv including movies . When the show returned to the BBC in 1984 CIC capitalised on the ban by bringing out "Plato's Stepchildren" and "Whom Gods Destroy" on another rental tape. Not sure it did the series any favours as it made the viewer wonder whether the BBC had actually banned them for being embarrassing rubbish. It would be a few more years until CIC started to release the uncut episodes on VHS for £9.99 a tape

For more, see Other BBC Censorship .

When the Episodes Were Finally Shown

Miri was shown by the BBC in 1970 and it was the broadcast that brought in enough complaints for its teatime slot for the BBC then to vet all episodes. Miri wasn't aired by the BBC again until the early 90's.

Ironically The Empath was billed in the Radio Times just 2 weeks after Miri was aired in December 1970 - one wonders whether it would have been screened had they run the series in a different order - the BBC order for all the 70's screenings was haphazard to say the least with episodes from all 3 seasons mixed together. All 4 of the banned episodes remained unshown until the early 90's.

When Sky One sub licenced the series from the BBC in 1990 they aired all episodes so Sky actually screened the 3 season 3 episodes for the first time ever in the UK. At that point the BBC had repurchased the entire Star Trek canon including the first 3 seasons of TNG which they aired before TOS. So unfortunately when the BBC had to supply Sky with TOS for broadcast they were stuck with the same poorly edited versions that British viewers had been watching for 20 years complete with incompetent edits that looked like they were made by a primary school kid gone mad with scissors. The BBC didn't get new copies until they ran the show in 1992 but there were shortcomings there too ( but that's another story).

According to B.A. News #41, as of November 1990, The Empath hadn't been shown in the UK even though it was "credited in Radio Times."

According to another fan in 1990: "I joined Endeavour just as Sky had decided to show the original Trek episodes in the correct order including the banned episodes." [19]

Banned Star Trek Episodes in Other Countries

The season two episode Patterns of Force was first shown on German free TV in 2011.

Other BBC Censorship

The four banned episodes were not the only evidence of the BBC's meddling with canon.

... [when] ARENA was cut, they removed all references to the ingredients of gunpowder. In a letter Theresa H received [from] Caroline Mackersey said, "Arena was minimally edited because it is not BBC practice to show the exact process by which gunpowder is made. This is to prevent the children emulating their heroes." We can understand the BBC' s feelings on this although they may be over-reacting as a child can probably look the info up in an encyclopedia if they are keen. ARENA was shown full in 1969 and 1972 but the cut version was shown in 1974. Other episodes which have been cut are BREAD & CIRCUSES (tho scene where Kirk gets the slave girl) ENEMY WITHIN (Part of the scene where Kirk attempts to rape Janice Rand may have been cut, we can't be sure as that scene was only shown in 1970) COURT MARTIAL (two scenes with Kirk and Cogley were out for no reason). [20]

The most reliable reference for which episodes the BBC edited was the run that started in 1984 as we all had VCR's by then.

The first season got through relatively unscathed . The only episode that seemed to be cut for violence was "The Man Trap" where the final confrontation with the salt vampire was badly edited with cuts to the attack on Mr Spock and all of the attack on Kirk which forced the BBC to edit more footage as it didn't make sense with just the attacks removed. Ironically viewers actually got to see more of that scene uncut several years before the BBC lifted the sanction as it played out in the "Leonard Nimoys Star Trek Memories" documentary which was aired on BBC2.

Cuts that seem to be purely for timing were made to "Court Martial" and "The Alternative Factor." I would also include "Arena." In the 1984 broadcast the episode began late and was going to run into the 6 o'clock news but the closing credits were faded out early - but the episode had a lot more missing than just gunpowder instructions. Most of the scenes showing the crew watching Kirk on the view screen were missing as well. "Return of the Archons" was also cut. Much of the "Red Hour" sequence was edited and it made the whole thing a complete mess. Just to louse it up entirely it appeared that the BBC's switching round the titles to the very start had affected the film print used. When it was aired in the early evening slot the film actually broke at the end of the teaser where the BBC had removed the credits from their proper place . There was a caption up for several minutes and when the episode restarted the BBC rather stupidly missed most of the Captains Log entry which explained the entire reason they were there in the first place so it made no sense. Further shots of the Red Hour orgy were removed completely. The BBC breakdown of this episode is available to watch on You Tube).

Contrary to the above "The Enemy Within" appeared to be uncut although that's not to say it wasn't edited when shown in the Saturday teatime slot. Season 2 had more episodes edited than season 1 but with the exception of "Patterns of Force" most of the cuts to other episodes seem to have been purely for timing although I guess the BBC thought the ritual for Kirk's recovery from the animal bite in "A Private Little War" was a tad too much. It's actually easier to name the season 3 episodes that were not cut as most were and most cuts seemed to be purely for timing although anything hinted at as being intense like the torture in "The Cloud Minders" or the dying woman in "Lights of Zetar" were usually shortened.

Many of the original screenings of season 3 were in a 45 minute slot instead of the usual 50 but these 45 minute versions prevailed into the mid 80's. "Mark of Gideon" was uncut as was "The Paradise Syndrome." One or two others might also have been but the majority were severely cut. "And the Children Shall Lead" had several minutes cut in a single chunk so all of the scene in the cave where Kirk becomes anxious is removed even though its referred back to later in the episode -- more careless BBC incompetence there.

UK Banned Episodes in Other Fandoms

Star Trek wasn't the only show the UK originally banned.

Starsky & Hutch

The Starsky & Hutch episode "The Fix" was banned for portraying explicit drug.

In 1989, a British Starsky & Hutch fan wrote: "The 'violence' that so many mundanes associate with S&H always puzzled me -- I still have the correspondence from the BBC 'explaining' why they would not be showing THE FIX or the other three 'banned' episodes. Their reasons didn't make any sense to me then, nor do they now, when the screened violence has escalated to a point when the most 'violent' S&H scene would be mild by comparison." [21]

The Professinoals

The Professionals episode "The Klansmen" was banned in the UK for its racial theme. Klansmen remains unscreened on British tv . Apparently Granada + had scheduled the episode to be aired when they started repeats in the late 90's. A fan shot himself in the foot by inquiring whether the episode would be aired which brought it to the attention of Granada + who then removed the episode and never showed it.

Star Trek: TNG

The Star Trek: TNG episode "The High Ground" had a line censored, one that was finally restored when it was shown in the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in May 2007. The scene in question was one about the subject of terrorism and described Ireland as reunited in 2024. Broadcasters in Ireland and the UK refused to screen the episode back in the 1990s as being too sensitive and it was edited when shown on Sky One.

Regarding Star Trek: TNG: the November 1990 issue of B.A. News reported that:

On 17th October, many of the tabloid newspapers carried articles about the BBC banning or editing certain TNG episodes. This probably doesn't come as a surprise to many fans. According to the articles, the BBC carefully chose the 6pm slot in order lo attract both children and adults to TNG, but now feel that some ol the scripts are unsuitable. The sort of thing that could be cut includes mention being made of British forces quitting Ulster in the 21st century after an IRA victory, bloody scenes showing an alien bursting from the stomach of a Starfleet officer, controversial storylines featuring drug abusers and Deanna Troi being forced to strip by aliens. Patrick Stewart apparently Insisted on cuts in some of the raunchier scripts before he agreed to film them because they were "blatantly and outrageously sexist." A BBC spokesman has said that four series have been bought as a package and that each programme would be subject to the BBC's strict political and ethical guidelines. Nothing considered offensive would be screened and if material was found to be unsuitable it would undergo strict censorship. It would seem that most of the 'controversial' episodes are from the second and third seasons. Paramount have said that no episodes were edited in America and that "Star Trek is a family show which is reflected in the scripts. The BBC is entitled to a different view. The terrorism episode is about the 24th century and only passing reference made to Britain and Ireland, but it would never have been intended to offend.

Actually the BBC only purchased the first 3 seasons of TNG. As usual, once a free to air channel had got audiences interested Sky stepped in and stole the series from season 4 onwards where it premiered on Sky One long before the BBC got to show it. "The High Ground" was banned by the BBC but the main problem was "Conspiracy" which was always going to be a problem with the graphic shootout. That scene was cut to bits and even Sky One edited that episode for the teatime screenings.

Quantum Leap

A fan in October 1992 wrote of the BBC's refusal to air a Quantum Leap episode:

I'm afraid I'm on the scrounge but if there is anyone out there who'll take pity on a poor QL-deprived Brit and who is willing and able to copy any of the QL tidbits I mentioned earlier? i.e., bloopers , promos, TV interviews, awards ceremonies... Anything will be appreciated, in particular the episode "Black On White On Fire" which the BBC has chosen to omit from season three due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter in the current climate of unrest both here and in the States. I'd quite like to make up my own mind about the episode if possible but sometimes it seems that the BEEB is determined to take all such decision-making out of the hands of the viewing public. Right, I'll get off the soapbox now. [22]

Further Reading

• Non-Film Score Discussion: The BBC banned Star Trek TOS episodes , post and responses, July 2010/ WebCite
• Star Trek: The Banned Episodes , an article by Stephen Bell, published in Beta-Niobe in February 1985
• ^ this episode was one the presidents of STAG had on loan, and in 1978, were able to show it in fans' homes during informal gatherings, see STAG #29 for more info
• ^ from a letter from the BBC reprinted in the March 1976 issue of STAG
• ^ from a con report by Jenny Elson in STAG #10
• ^ from IDIC #12
• ^ from IDIC #3
• ^ from STAG #5
• ^ from the March 1976 issue of STAG
• ^ Some of these letters may not have been specifically about asking to see the banned episodes, but may have also been requests to have all the episodes shown in re-run again, as some fans had still not been able to view even all the "unbanned" episodes as of 1976.
• ^ "The Empath" was shown at the second British Star Trek convention in 1975; it was "brought over" by an American fan, its legality is unknown
• ^ from the October 1977 issue of STAG
• ^ from STAG #42
• ^ from STAG #32
• ^ from Star Trek: The Banned Episodes
• ^ from Empathy Newsletter Spring 1985
• ^ but only because an American fan "brought a copy over." -- from IDIC #12
• ^ from Robin Edmond's Convention Site
• ^ from Frienz #7
• ^ from The Imaging Chamber #10
• Star Trek TOS Professional Works

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Star Trek 50th anniversary: A celebration of the original TV series and its unique vision of the future

Although it only lasted for three series, the science fiction show's first incarnation is still inspiring film-makers and fans, article bookmarked.

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On 8 September 1966, a new weekly drama series made its first appearance on American network television. “Space: the final frontier,” the voice-over intoned, as a curiously shaped vessel whooshed past. “These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise . Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.” And the theme tune, even then sounding a little creaky and old-fashioned, roared in.

Its first viewers, if they didn’t flip channels to watch something else, will have discovered a world, or maybe universe, that had already been imagined in some detail. Transporters, shuttlecraft, phasers on stun, warp engines, dilithium crystals: they are all there, right from the beginning. In other, equally important ways, though, the Star Trek universe resembles our own. The captain is a young man, good-looking, charismatic, clever, a strong leader. His second-in-command, the man with the ears, is even cleverer. The ship’s doctor is a crusty old everyman, a sawbones. The engineer is Scottish. All the women wear terrifyingly short skirts. It’s the 1960s, 300 years on.

That first episode, “The Man Trap”, wasn’t the best or most distinctive episode with which to start. It was the 10th to have been made, but it had a monster in it, and NBC wanted to start with a monster. Other science-fiction shows had monsters. Viewers liked monsters. Network executives liked monsters. Everyone knew where they were with them.

Leonard Nimoy: The 10 best Spock quotes

Science-fiction television was not an advanced form in 1966. Lost in Space , considered a kids’ show in the UK (because essentially it was), was as SF as you could get on US prime time. “Danger, Will Robinson!” said the Robot. “The pain! The pain!” said Dr Zachary Smith. And having landed on a new planet, which looked exactly like the previous week’s planet, the extraordinarily dull Robinson family would immediately be threatened by the latest monster – or as we thought of him, the man in the monster suit.

(Irwin Allen, the creator of this show, had a profitable line in SF concepts that never progressed, ever, by a single nanometre. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea found what at the bottom of the sea? Monsters, usually. In Land of the Giants , an Earth spaceship landed on a mysterious planet where everybody they encountered was 12 times larger than they were, but still spoke English in an American accent. The crew spent two years and 51 episodes avoiding giant beetles.)

Star Trek was designed to be better than this. With its sucker-thumbed, shape-changing salt vampire, “The Man Trap” was atypical, and you get the feeling that NBC never forgave or forgot. The three-year history of the series would be one of constant battles with an unsympathetic network, which never began to work out what it had within its grasp. NBC drifted out of the picture in 1969, when it cancelled the show, but Star Trek is still with us, 50 years later. To be celebrating its half-century, possibly with a glass of Romulan ale, seems bizarre. Television shows come and go, and the vast majority of them stay gone. But Star Trek has come and gone and come and gone, and it’s here once again in the form of JJ Abrams’s rebooted film series. One day, I’m sure, it really will all be over, but we may all be dead by then.

I came to Star Trek both early and late. I saw the first episode to be shown on British television and was instantly entranced. This was in the summer of 1969, and I was nine years old – so I wasn’t to know that, although I was an early adopter in the UK, the series had already run its course in the US and been cancelled. A new generation of British fans was being nurtured as their American equivalents were writing furious letters to the network and tuning tearfully into the syndicated re-runs on local television stations. But the effect, if delayed, was much the same. At my school it rapidly became clear that you were either a Star Trek fan or a Doctor Who fan – a Trekkie or a Whovian, as we might now say in moments of weakness. I was always a Trekkie. I watched Doctor Who with pleasure, and I still do, but such loyalties are imprinted young, and they neither fade nor falter.

A quick word on terms here. The word “Trekkie” has long carried a slight tone of flippancy or even disparagement, possibly from the days when to be a signed-up fan of anything was to cash in all your remaining dignity chips and settle for a life of chronic uncoolness. To be a Trekkie was to contemplate buying Star Trek uniforms and wearing them in the privacy of your own home. I never went that far, although I did buy James Blish’s novelisations and read and reread them while waiting for the episodes to be shown again. When I played Star Trek games with my friends, I always wanted to be Captain Kirk and was very disappointed if I ended up being Mr Sulu.

Some time in the 1970s, though, Trekkies became tired of people laughing at them and decided that thenceforth, they wished to be known as Trekkers. I always thought this was a bad move. The implication was that Trekkies were sad and lonely individuals with no lives, while Trekkers were more outgoing, culturally inclusive types with good jobs and attractive partners, but I’m not sure anyone was fooled. Indeed, it seemed to me that saying “I’m a Trekker, I’m not a Trekkie” was far more tragic and desperate than actually being a Trekker or a Trekkie. Who cares what anyone else thinks? It’s a great series and I have never seen any problem in acknowledging my love of it. To come out of the Trekkie closet, you need to have been in it in the first place.

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That said, the book I’ve written isn’t really aimed at the deranged Trek fan, whether Trekkie, Trekker or some other subgroup I haven’t identified. There are already hundreds of books geared towards the specialist market, from detailed histories and photographic records, to fascinating monographs on the science or design of the show, to autobiographies of the participants and, in the greatest profusion of all, spin-off novels, of which there are so many you wouldn’t know where to start. What I haven’t seen is a book aimed at the general reader, at the person who has grown up with Star Trek and watched it with enthusiasm, but has never felt the pressing need to wear a prosthetic Klingon forehead over their real head. That’s the book I’ve tried to write.

So why Star Trek , exactly? It’s a question often asked by those who don’t get the show, and answered, sometimes with difficulty, by those who do. Failure, in a television show or anything, is often too easy to diagnose and deconstruct. Success can be slightly more elusive. But taking it from the start, I think there are three significant factors.

The first was the show’s palpable seriousness. Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek ’s mercurial creator, pitched his series to NBC as “ Wagon Train to the stars”, which promised simple, solid action-adventure with an outer-space setting. But he had a higher intent. Star Trek was conceived from the beginning as a vehicle for serious dramatic themes, artfully concealed behind standard action-adventure conventions. Roddenberry’s first pilot for the show, “The Cage”, was thoughtful, talky...and a little slow. NBC said no and asked for a bit more fighting. Roddenberry learnt quickly to moderate his preachy tendencies and throw in a few space battles, but the show’s underlying seriousness was never diluted. When he unveiled the second pilot at an SF convention in early September 1966, an audience of 3,000 SF aficionados (including Isaac Asimov) applauded wildly, and asked to see more.

The second factor was the characters. The grand trinity of Kirk, Spock and McCoy took a pilot or two to come together, but once they did, their chemistry was so strong you felt they had been doing this for years. The first series of Star Trek finds its feet astonishingly quickly – you might say miraculously so. From nothing to “The City on the Edge of Forever” in less than a year is some going. It was the strength of the characters, and the absolute suitability of the actors who played them, that made this possible.

Finally, and crucially, the show’s optimism. Science fiction is a miserable old genre. Almost all of it is telling us how appalling the future is going to be. Its raw material is how appalling the present is; it then stretches and twists it and extrapolates from it, and the result can usually bring the most cheerful soul to the edge of breakdown. The great science-fiction films of the 1950s were almost all warnings of incipient catastrophe. The only previous American SF television series of note, The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits , were not so much pessimistic as nihilistic, if often playfully so. Star Trek , by contrast, really did boldly go where no man had gone before. It posited a future where, broadly, things worked. Our world had found peace, money had been abolished, poverty had disappeared, humanity had finally become civilised. Now we were venturing into deep space on a mission of peace and exploration, not to conquer but out of sheer curiosity. And every problem we encountered, we felt we had a chance of solving, mostly in less than 50 minutes of screen time. My God, even religion had been abandoned.

The late 1960s were turbulent times, and Star Trek ’s optimism, if they noticed it at all, might well have suited the NBC executives’ innate conservatism and cautiousness. Anything with a more obvious counter-cultural message would not have crept under their radar. Instead, Star Trek carried all sorts of unobvious counter-cultural messages, which its audience delighted in. Its bridge crew included a black woman in a position of responsibility. In the second series a young Russian ensign with a slightly unexpected Beatles haircut was introduced. In the future, we understood, clever and well-intentioned people would prevail. Those of us growing up who happened to consider ourselves clever and well-intentioned found this very much to our taste.

And what I think has enabled Star Trek to keep going is that there has never been anything else quite like it. One or two other shows have briefly taken up the baton, but remarkably few have been directly inspired by this most apparently fertile of formats. Maybe Roddenberry’s vision was so particular that other producers did not even try to duplicate it. Later Star Trek producers knew not to mess too much with it. Like a Borg cube, it appears to be resistant to attack.

What I’m doing is celebrating a very singular television show, for all its many and varied incarnations. That’s not to say that what I’ve written is moist-eyed with uncritical adoration, for that which we love can also drive us mad with rage and disappointment. As one episode title asks, “Is there in truth no beauty?” (“For the world is hollow and I have touched the sky”, says another.) This was at a point in the series when the episode titles were more enjoyable than anything you might see in the actual show.

Story, of course, is everything. Star Trek had some of the best stories you could see on television, but its own story is, in some ways, even better. Cancelled after three years, it stayed alive through the urgent advocacy of a smallish group of dedicated fans, who quite simply wanted more. The wholly unexpected, globe-straddling success of Star Wars gave it a second life in the cinema; the popularity of the films led to Star Trek: The Next Generation ; and the popularity of that show gave us a dizzying variety of spin-offs. Finally, when that seam appeared to have been thoroughly worked out, JJ Abrams went back to the original series and remade it with new, young actors as a big, bold, primary-coloured action film. Not everyone, I understand, has maintained contact with the show through its long and tortuous history. For the sake of the general reader, then, these are the show’s more popular incarnations: the original Star Trek series (1966-69), The Next Generation (1987-94); and the films, both ancient and modern. That’s not to say that Deep Space Nine (1993-99), Voyager (1995-2001) and Enterprise (2001-05) are inferior series, although some would say just that. (I would defend Deep Space Nine to the hilt. It took a while to find its way, but grew into a drama of epic scope and ambition.) But non-aficionados barely know them, and this is not the place to learn more than the basics.

By curious coincidence, I was finishing my book in the week that Leonard Nimoy died. Perhaps ridiculously, given that I came no closer to meeting him than to climbing Everest, I felt bereft at his passing, even though he had clearly lived long and prospered. What did surprise me, though, was that I wasn’t alone in this. There was a sense, in that week, that someone genuinely significant had gone, and with him a slice of our childhoods – or, if we’re going to be honest about this, our lives. On Facebook someone I know juxtaposed two stills from the original series. In the first, Kirk, Spock, Bones and Scotty are in the Enterprise meeting room discussing something of import. In the second, there’s a long shot of the same table and only Kirk is sitting there. Their vision of the future, we now realise, was an awfully long time ago.

Hurray, then, for DVDs and streaming services, for hard disks and for a culture that has grown to value the ephemeral telly rubbish of the distant past. Recently, I took the opportunity to introduce the original series in its remastered glory to my 14-year-old daughter, who had developed a taste for science fiction and fantasy that, in my own childhood, would not have been encouraged. She loved it, needless to say. My son, then 11, was less impressed: it was all a bit too talky and needed more action. He hopes one day to get a job as an NBC executive.

‘Set Phasers to Stun: 50 Years of Star Trek’, by Marcus Berkmann (Little, Brown, £13.99) will be published on 24 March

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Published Sep 8, 2021

How Dorothy Owens Brought Star Trek to the UK

Memories of the Empathy Star Trek Club and TerraCon give us insight into this amazing superfan's life.

Rachel Perkins

In almost all the ways, Dorothy "Dot" Owens broke the traditions for what society stereotyped as a “nerd." She was a mother to five daughters and a grandmother, who lived in a small house in Yorkshire, England, with her husband Joe, and her German Shepherd, Sheba. She wore her hair short and in curls, picked out pastel patterns to wear, and worked in retail — sometimes surviving paycheck to paycheck.

This otherwise typical woman just also happened to be the chairperson for a number of UK-based Star Trek fanzines as well as an organizer of several Star Trek conventions across England in the 1970s and ‘80s. Her events drew in international Star Trek stars such as George Takei and D.C. Fontana, as well as other familiar names in the Science Fiction circles, such as Hugo-award winner Anne McCaffrey, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy writer Douglas Adams.

Dorothy was also my Nan, and right up until her death in 1984, she continued to be a big part of the Star Trek community in Britain.

She became involved in the fandom through the passion of her daughter (and my mother), Catherine, had for the series. In October 1974, at the age of seventeen, Catherine started the Empathy Star Trek Club with Barbara Kitson, who herself was only twenty two. At the end of their first year, they had already attracted press attention and were featured in their local newspaper, The Halifax Courier, which described Dot as being, “converted to the cult”.

Empathy was by no means the only UK Star Trek club around at the time; instead, it was part of a much bigger collection of community hubs, which included the Star Trek Action Group (commonly referred to as STAG), Omicron, Beyond Antares, Star Trek Correspondence Club, DeForest Kelly Appreciation Society, and many more.  But, given that Star Trek was being shown nationally on BBC1 at the time, and there were also talks of a movie featuring the original cast, many fans and clubs were deeply connected.

Yet, for my family, what started as a small semi-regular fanzine was about to become something a lot bigger.

The club began publishing new magazines such as Emanon, Contact, Tricorder, and Empathy News, the goal of which was to bring fans together. Poems, short stories, sketches, and articles were published in these periodicals— a celebration of passion and creativity that the excitement of new Trek movies and the original episodes brought. 80 pence bought an annual subscription of the regular publications, which would cover the cost of printing, with an additional 40p for special anthologies, which ran alongside. Individual issues would range anywhere between fifty to one hundred pages.

Running the magazines soon became a bigger venture. In the family home, there was a collection of stamps from subscribers, and the storage upstairs was filled with boxes of paper awaiting printing. Their first typewriter was a portable Smith Corona, used to make the stencils for the magazine. While the entire house was a base of operations for the club, the kitchen was where printing took place as it housed the stencil duplicator (also known as the mimeograph machine). Initially a manually operated Roneo brand, it was later upgraded to a Gestetner, before going electric in the 1980s. The kitchen was chosen because printing would last long into the night and the following morning. That way the noise didn’t disturb others’ sleep.

When Catherine moved to London in 1975, she briefly stayed as president of the club, but then Dorothy took over the operation and organization.

StarTrek.com

Around the same time, the Star Trek convention scene was just getting started. A fellow club, STAG, organized the first two “official” British Star Trek conventions, which set the stage for Star Trek gatherings on a much broader scale. Starting with a group of around 70 in a church basement, their conventions quickly grew, and moved to the Abbey Motor Hotel for its inaugural year as The British Star Trek Convention. Both “official” conventions were intimate events, focused on community and camaraderie which the classic series seemed to kindle. What STAG put together with their Star Trek conventions in the UK set the stage for future conventions to take place with an already established audience.

However, in 1975, following the second convention, the president of STAG (then Jenny Elson) was forced to step down due to health reasons. Her sudden departure left a void for clubs who wanted to continue the annual get-togethers. While not an experienced event planner, Dot was a working mother to five daughters and a grandmother to a growing number. Multi-tasking was second nature to her. Combined with her classic Yorkshire endurance and a passion for community, she had a working formula.

The first convention that she organized was TerraCon, often referred to as “the third British Star Trek convention”, which was held on October 9th and October 10th of 1976 at the Dragonara Hotel in Leeds. Originally reserved for 250 attendees, space filled up so quickly they were forced to make additional reservations at the nearby Queens Hotel. In the end, approximately 400 Star Trek fans descended for the weekend that scheduled a cosplay competition packed with Klingons and Romulans, an art show, a group quiz, a disco, signings, auctions, and a cinema.

Star Trek was at the heart of the convention, but filming obligations made inviting Trek stars a challenge. Instead, the convention attracted guests such as Mat Irvine, a visual effects designer for the BBC, whose credits included Blake’s 7 and (later) Doctor Who , and Nick Tate, who was starring in the British sci-fi series Space 1999 as Alan Carter. Tate would later go on to play a number of characters in Star Trek , including Liam Bilby in the Deep Space Nine episode “Honor Among Thieves,” as well as Dirgo in The Next Generation episode “Final Mission.”

Reportedly, creating the event took 16 hour days, spread across many months. The marathon of work concluded with a celebratory buffet table for the committee and stewards, put together by Dot in the closing hours.

Community was always at the heart of these events, whether it was writing and creating an anthology of fan work, or organizing conventions. It was never about personal gain, and whatever profit there was went to charity organizations such as Cancer Research UK. £308.25 was donated from the first convention alone (£2,150 in today’s currency). Special guests who attended the conventions had their travel and accommodation paid for in addition to their attendance fee. Many, if not all, the guests waived their fees, instead wanting it to also be donated to the same charity.

After the first TerraCon, some changes were made. Instead of Leeds, the convention moved west to Liverpool. It took place at the Liverpool Centre Hotel on September 10 and 11th, 1977. Flying over guests proved once again to be tricky, but George Takei signed up as the guest of honor. BBC’s Mat Irvine also returned for the second year, along with Hugo and Nebula Award winner, author Anne McCaffrey, who would become a regular guest.

By the second convention, TerraCon had started to attract the attention of the local and national newspapers, including the Daily Express who headlined an article “Trekkers Beaming For Show” the day ahead of the convention. The piece closed with a quote from Dot explaining her passion for Trek in a rare interview: “It’s basically about peace. If 400 people on a starship can live peacefully then there’s hope for the rest of the world.”

The second year proved to be more challenging than the first. Dot had a number of helpers, dubbed “Dot’s Angels,” who assisted with preparation. Those duties would range from making sure that the guests were met at the airport and escorted to the Liverpool Centre Hotel, to helping to prepare attendee packs ahead of official start. One of the convention stewards, Susan Gamble, remembers the “buzz” of the last-minute organizing rush. She told StarTrek.com, “[At] one of the cons, there was quite a little production area going in Dot's room. I was making Tribbles, others were compiling zines (using the dreaded duplicator and then spreading themselves out on the floor to put the pages together), [and] there was fancy dress making.”

After its second event, Dot and TerraCon took a short break, instead creating two smaller events: the Empathy Midi-Con in 1978, and the STAG and Empathy Star Trek Midi-Con in 1979, organized in cooperation with STAG.  While much smaller than other events, both conventions were considered “official” community gatherings, and featured special treats for attendees of the Empathy Midi-Con, including a message sent by Gene Roddenberry to STAG. In his fifteen-minute message, Roddenberry talked about the progress on Star Trek: The Motion Picture : "Everyone seems to agree that Captain Kirk's entry onto the bridge of the Enterprise , after being absent for all of those years? When those elevator doors open and he stands there and the camera goes in on his face... it is a real gripping moment. Anyone who's been in love with [a] vessel and a certain way of life will understand totally what it means to him." Likewise, the STAG event a year later started with a special half-an-hour recording with Susan Sackett, Roddenberry’s assistant, who had been previously approached to appear as a guest.

In October 1979, TerraCon returned to a rainy Leeds with special guests Rupert Evens, a former stuntman and also adviser on Star Trek: The Motion Picture , as well as notable names in the science-fiction circles, such as writer Douglas Adams and television model-maker Philip Rae. Again, the program included talks by the guests, group showings of beloved episodes, auctions, competitions and more. The cosplay competition, referred in the program as a “galactic fashion show,” drew much interest and following the event, STAG posted a wanted ad in their December newsletter asking "Wanted: Any photos of the Dancing Tribbles in the fashion show at TerraCon."

Once again, profits from the event went to charity, with the exception of raffle tickets. Keeping in tradition of community, the money for the raffle went to help purchase an electric wheelchair for a fellow fan. The prizes included four tickets to a press showing of Star Trek: The Motion Picture .

After five “official” conventions and several smaller local gatherings, Dot announced that she would retire from organizing after TerraCon 1980. For the last adventure, the con returned to the Dragonara Hotel in Leeds, with special guest D.C. Fontana, who stayed at Dot’s house during her visit to the UK. As well as taking part in community events and talks throughout the weekend, Fontana also made a surprise appearance in cosplay at the fashion show, which she helped to judge.

The event was a success, and ended with a closing ceremony that was described in a follow up report in the Beyond Antares newsletter as “charged with emotion.”  It went on to state, “those members who have never been to a convention, or who don’t know Dot, may wonder why she was given such a huge send off… Dot contributed greatly to the British fandom by arranging five excellent conventions – three in Leeds, one in Liverpool, and one in Manchester, plus many small gatherings for fans”.

But Dot’s retirement was short-lived. While TerraCon never returned, and other “official” British conventions took its place, she did return to event organizing with another committee member, Keith Jackson, for a final two conventions dubbed EmpathicCon.

The first event was held in Liverpool in April 1983 and was originally planned to be a smaller and more intimate convention from the start. While the event had Star Trek at its heart, it also celebrated science fiction as a whole and featured guests Thom Christopher (from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century ) and, once again, Anne McCaffrey. With her health declining, it was also to be Dot’s last event, although she would go on to make arrangements for a gathering the following year.

Dorothy Owens passed away from cancer in the late hours of February 1st 1984. Despite difficulties with her illness, she continued to work to arrange her final convention, EmpathicCon II. Upon her request, her collection of Star Trek magazines were donated to a convention auction further down the line, with the amount raised going to a nearby children’s hospital. The event continued in her memory, organized by the Empathy committee, stewards, and her family.

On the convention program’s first page, which was usually reserved for community creations reads simply a paraphrase of Irish poet, William Butler Yeats, “There are no strangers here - only friends you have yet to meet.” With these words dedicated to her memory, Dot’s spirit was ensured to live on

Connecting with Fans Aboard Star Trek: The Cruise

Based in London, Rachel Perkins (she/her) is a writer with a passion for Star Trek, video games, cats, and Nancy Drew. She can often be found writing for The Sudden Stop and Positively Tomb Raider. Find her on Twitter @JadenRachel.

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How to Watch Every Star Trek Movie and TV Show in Order

If you're looking to boldly go where no streamer has gone before, here's where to watch star trek tv shows and movies..

Star Trek is a multi-generational franchise and cultural touchstone that has turned into a streaming juggernaut. By subscribing to Paramount+ , you get access to every TV show in the franchise, including new Star Trek series like Discovery , Picard , and Strange New Worlds . But while the service holds the bulk of Star Trek content, many of the films are streaming elsewhere. You need a subscription to Max if you want to watch The Wrath of Khan, First Contact , and others, for example. Here is where you can find every Star Trek show and movie.

Where to Watch Star Trek TV Shows

Star Trek has always been best on television. When you think of the adventures of Kirk and Picard, episodic storytelling is what comes to mind first. In recent years, Paramount has decided to go all in on Star Trek TV in order to recapture some of the magic from past years.

If you're looking to watch some Star Trek—whether it be the classic shows or new streaming productions—you will find everything on the Paramount+ streaming service. If you don't pay for Paramount+, you can still get a taste of Star Trek through Pluto TV , a free ad-based streamer also owned by Paramount. This service only has the first season of various shows, but it's better than nothing!

Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)

• Pluto TV (Season 1 Only)

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974)

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

• Pluto TV (Season 3 Only)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)

• Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)

Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005)

Star Trek: Discovery (2017-2024)

Short Treks (2018-2020)

Star Trek: Picard (2020-2023)

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020-Present)

Star Trek: Prodigy (2021-Present)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022-Present)

Where to Watch the Star Trek Films

Even as as television-first franchise, Star Trek has always been very cinematic in nature. That's why the show lends itself so well on the big screen. Where else can you get a real sense for the epic scale of command ships and space battles than in a feature film?

While all the TV shows are on Paramount+, the films depicting the continuing adventures of the Enterprise crews from The Original Series and The Next Generation are all on Max. However, if you want to see the reboot films starring Chris Pine, those are still on Paramount+.

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)

Star Trek Watch Order

There are two main ways to watch Star Trek—release order and chronological order. Star Trek has been very linear for much of its existence. It has only been since Paramount's new Trek shows that the series has moved around the timeline.

As such, release order is the standard watch order and is recommended for anyone new to Star Trek. Advanced viewers who have gone through the series multiple times may want to change things up and stream everything in chronological order.

Release Order

By watching in release order, you get to see William Shatner as James T. Kirk in  The Original Series  before transitioning to Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard on  The Next Generation . From there, you will watch  Deep Space Nine ,  Voyager , and  Enterprise  before moving on to  Discovery ,  Picard , and the other streaming shows.

Since the original films were released after the conclusion of their associated TV shows, it's easy to slip them in to the watch order.  TNG  and  DS9  overlap to some degree, but you may want to finish the first series and its films before transitioning to  Deep Space Nine , though that's up to you.

• Star Trek: The Animated Series  (1973-1974)
• 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: The Next Generation  (1987-1994)

• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine  (1993-1999)
• Star Trek: Enterprise  (2001-2005)
• Star Trek  (2009)
• Star Trek Into Darkness  (2013)
• Star Trek Beyond  (2016)

Star Trek: Discovery  (2017-Present)

• Short Treks  (2018-2020)
• Star Trek: Picard  (2020-Present)
• Star Trek: Lower Decks  (2020-Present)
• Star Trek: Prodigy  (2021-Present)
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds  (2022-Present)

Chronological Order

Now, if you are a seasoned veteran and want to view things a little differently, try watching everything in chronological order based on when events take place in-universe. Watching things this way would have you start out with  Enterprise , then the first two seasons of  Discovery . Strange New Worlds  will then pick up here. You then have the option to watch the reboot films, or skip them entirely and head straight for  The Original Series .

Once you get to  The Next Generation , things get a little complicated. You can either watch all of  TNG  or switch off with  DS9  starting with season six. By season three of  DS9 , you can then start switching off with  Voyager  before finishing with  Nemesis . Considering the complexity, though, it's perfectly fine to silo each show before moving on. You would then pick up with  Lower Decks ,  Prodigy , and  Picard  before returning to  Discovery  for season three and beyond.

• Star Trek: Enterprise  (2151-2156)
• Star Trek: Discovery Season 1 & 2 (2256-2258)
• Short Treks (2256-2258)
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259)
• Star Trek  (2258) - Optional
• Star Trek Into Darkness  (2259) - Optional
• Star Trek Beyond  (2263) - Optional
• Star Trek: The Original Series  (2265-2269)
• Star Trek: The Animated Series  (2269-2270)
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture  (2273)
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan  (2285)
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock  (2285)
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home  (2286)
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier  (2287)
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country  (2293)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation  (2364-2370)
• Star Trek: Generations  (2371)
• Star Trek: First Contact  (2373)
• Star Trek: Insurrection  (2375)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine  (2369-2375)
• Star Trek: Voyager (2371-2378)
• Star Trek: Nemesis  (2379)
• Star Trek: Lower Decks  (2380)
• Star Trek: Prodigy  (2383)
• Star Trek: Picard (2399-2401)
• Star Trek: Discovery  Season 3 (3188-3190)

Note that before you get heavily invested here, remember that this is just for fun. Star Trek has a continuity, but it isn't vital to enjoying your time with Starfleet. Feel free to watch any movie or TV show that calls to you; it will all make sense in the end.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Star Trek timeline: All the TV shows and movies in chronological order

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Star Trek is one of the most beloved franchises in TV and movie history, spanning all the way from the original series released in the mid-1960s to the new spin-off show Strange New Worlds, set to come out this May.

Over the years, viewers have been introduced to numerous beloved cast members, from Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard in The Next Generation to Chris Pine ’s interpretation of James T Kirk in the movie reboots.

Even for dedicated members of the fandom, remembering where the releases fit into the chronological timeline can be something of a minefield at times.

Discovery , which became the first Star Trek TV release in 12 years when it premiered in 2017, started off near start of the timeline, before jumping ahead to the far-off future in seasons three and four.

With other launches over the decades including Voyager, Deep Space Nine and the animated series, the beginnings of the tale can be traced to Enterprise, which aired in the early 2000s.

Here are all the Star Trek TV series and films when following the timeline in chronological order.

Star Trek TV shows and movies in chronological order

Despite coming out almost half a century after Star Trek first began, Star Trek: Enterprise dates back the earliest in the timeline.

Set 100 years before the events of the original series, the show follows the starship Enterprise in the early days of Starfleet, leading up to the formation of the Federation.

Set around a decade before the start of the original series, Star Trek: Discovery begins with Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) being reassigned to the USS Discovery after a war erupts between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire.

Michael was raised by a Vulcan family and was the adopted sister of Spock, with the show explaining in the second season why she was never previously mentoined.

Strange New Worlds is the latest Star Trek spin-off to come out, slated for a release in May this year.

The adventure series will be a prequel to the original series, with Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, and Ethan Peck reprising their respective roles as Pike, Number One, and Spock from Discovery, and Paul Wesley set to join as James T Kirk in the second season.

Before the original series premiered in 1966, a pilot called The Cage was made in 1965, but rejected by NBC.

Eventually, the pioneering sci-fi extravaganza came out the following year, introducing the world to William Shatner as James T Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock.

After the original series was cancelled in 1969, creator Gene Roddenberry realised that there was still significant demand from fans, inspiring him to launch the animated show.

Much of the original cast returned to voice their characters, and in 1975 it won the Emmy for outstanding entertainment for a children’s series.

A decade after last playing their characters in the live-action TV series, the first of the Star Trek films was released with the original cast.

Leonard ended up directing the third and fourth films released in 1984 and 1986, while William directed the fifth film, which came out in 1989.

Star Trek’s original creator Gene decided to set The Next Generation a century after the events of the original series, following the USS Enterprise as it explored the Milky Way galaxy.

The show introduced viewers to characters including Picard (Sir Patrick), Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg), Q (John de Lancie), Lieutenant Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), Commander William T Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and android Data (Brent Spiner).

The seventh Star Trek film, released in 1994, saw the cast of The Next Generation cross paths with a few of the original cast members – William Shatner as Kirk, James Doohan as Scott, and Walter Koenig as Chekov, despite Kirk having been long presumed dead.

Three more films followed, with the 10th overall Star Trek film, Nemesis, saw the Next Generation stars face the threat of a Picard clone called Shinzon, played by Tom Hardy.

Deep Space Nine is set in the 24th century, with its title coming from the space station of the same name.

Avery Brooks starred as Starfleet officer Benjamin Sisko, who was placed in charge of the space station, who is introduced at the start of the series as a widower and father of a young son.

Set in the same century as Deep Space Nine, Voyager followers a Starfleet ship called the USS Voyager, as the crew attempt to make their way back to the Alpha Quadrant from the Delta Quadrant.

Orange Is The New Black star Kate Mulgrew portrayed commanding officer Kathryn Janeway, a role she reprised in the 2002 film Star Trek: Nemesis.

Lower Decks was the first animated series to be released from the Star Trek franchise since the 1970s.

The show takes a more comedic spin than its predecessors, shining a spotlight on the ‘lower deck’ members of the crew on the starship Cerritos.

Following on from Lower Decks, Prodigy became the first Star Trek animated series to use 3D animation.

The show, which saw several actors from previous Star Trek shows reprise their roles, follows a group of young aliens who take hold of an abandoned starship and embark on an adventure.

Picard offers a fascinating insight into one of Star Trek’s most beloved characters, as fans witness new layers of Jean-Luc Picard being revealed as he becomes older.

The second season, which is currently on air, sees Picard and his crew trapped in an alternate reality by familiar face Q, resulting in them having to travel back in time to fix what’s gone wrong.

While Star Trek: Discovery began near the start of the timeline, by season three the crew have been transported into the far-off future, more than 900 years after the events of the original series in the 32nd century.

In January this year, a fifth season was confirmed.

Now, you might be wondering where JJ Abrams’ Star Trek films with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldana fit into this timeline, as they’re notably absent from the chronological order.

However, those films were actually set in an alternate timeline… to make matters even more complicated.

The alternate timeline was created due to the time-travelling exploits of Nero (Eric Bana), a Romulan who served as the movie’s antagonist, and the older Spock (Leonard).

Doing this allowed the creators of the film to use original elements from the world of Star Trek that fans have known and loved for decades while also having the freedom to take the story in whichever creative direction they wished.

Following the first film in the franchise, the sequel Star Trek: Into Darkness came out four years later, with Benedict Cumberbatch cast as the villainous Khan.

In 2016, Star Trek: Beyond saw Idris Elba star as Krall and marked one of the final movie appearances of the late Anton Yelchin, who played the ship’s navigator Chekov and died one month before its release.

Star Trek: Picard season two is available to watch on Prime Video with new episodes released on Fridays.

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Watch Every Star Trek Movie And Series In Order in UK On Paramount Plus

• Last updated: January 3, 2024

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If you are a Star Trek fan, be ready to watch every Star Trek movie and series in order in UK on Paramount Plus with ExpressVPN .

All Star Trek movies and series are available in different Paramount Plus libraries . So, use ExpressVPN to explore Star Trek movies and series on Paramount Plus Uk without any geographical restrictions.

Also, for your comfort, I have prepared a separate list of Star Trek movies and series according to the timeline so you can watch them easily. Let’s explore!

How to Watch Every Star Trek Movie and Series in Order in UK on Paramount Plus 

You can watch every Star Trek movie and series in order in UK on Paramount Plus using a reliable VPN.

All the Star Trek movies and series are accessible on different libraries of Paramount+. That’s why if you are accessing them in UK, you will face geographical limitations due to copyright laws.

However, no need to freak out. I have found a perfect solution for you – ExpressVPN , which is the best VPN for Paramount Plus in UK, offering the fastest speed and safest streaming.

Also, if you are not so sure what to watch on Paramount Plus after finishing Star Trek movies and series, take it easy and check my recommendation of the best shows on Paramount Plus in UK .

Which Star Trek TV Shows are Available on Paramount+?

If you’re new to Star Trek or a devoted fan, navigating the Star Trek series in order may be hard. Don’t worry! I’ve compiled all the titles available on Paramount Plus for your exploration. Let’s find out!

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Original Series shows Captain James Kirk and his loyal crew traveling into space to explore the Milky Way.

Together, they face challenges and protect the United Federation of Planets, presenting the spirit of investigation and unity in the vast unknown.

Star Trek: The Original Series is one of the best Star Trek series to start with. So get your ExpressVPN subscription now and experience bufferless streaming in UK.

Star Trek: The Animated Series

Star Trek: The Animated Series is based on two seasons. Its storyline follows the USS Enterprise crew going on galaxy-spanning adventures, managing and reducing potential dangers in the universe.

If you are in UK and have the desire to enjoy this animated series of Star Trek on your gaming console, don’t worry! Just get ExpressVPN and watch it on Xbox , PS4, or any other device.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is a seven-season series that reveals the story of Captain Picard who leads the starship Enterprise to explore space, meeting new life and planets.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a 7 season series whose story revolves around the Starfleet crew who finds a wormhole with powerful aliens. They protect it and face clashes in this unusual part of space.

Before you settle to enjoy streaming this show, remember that Paramount Plus is a paid platform. Check Paramount Plus cost in UK and get the bundle that best suits your needs.

Star Trek: Voyager

Star Trek: Voyager follows a newly tasked Starfleet ship, following Maquis rebels, stranded on the galaxy’s far side. The crew must cross unknown space, fighting new hurdles and alien species while struggling to find a way back home.

Star Trek: Enterprise

Star Trek: Enterprise is a four-season series based on Captain Jonathan Archer’s early space explorations with the starship Enterprise. The crew goes on outer space missions, meeting various alien races and discovering new technologies.

If you want to feel this sci-fi adventure at its fullest, watch every Star Trek movie and series in order in UK on Paramount Plus. Watching these shows and movies in order will help you immense fully in the storylines.

Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery follows the story of Michael Burnham and the crew of the USS Discovery as they go into distant space, meeting new lifeforms and exploring unknown planets across its four seasons.

Star Trek: Short Treks

Star Trek: Short Treks is a two-season series. This series comprises independent stories showing significant characters and themes that seamlessly link with Star Trek: Discovery.

It’s one of the suggested best Star Trek series on Reddit. So if you are in UK, use ExpressVPN and unlock unrestricted entertainment.

Star Trek: Picard

In Star Trek: Picard, you will see a retired Jean-Luc Picard living a happy life in a vineyard. But one day, he finds a mysterious young woman who seeks assistance, revealing she holds important secrets about his past.

If you want to know the secret, watch Star Trek: Short Treks all 3 seasons on Paramount Plus using ExpressVPN .

However, don’t miss out on the full dose of entertainment; watch every Star Trek movie and series in order in UK on Paramount Plus and enjoy!

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star Trek: Lower Decks is a four-season animated series released with an adult theme. Its interesting plot is about the less important USS Cerritos and its support crew in 2380.

Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Rutherford, and Tendi must continue their duties and social lives amid sci-fi challenges. Led by Captain Carol Freeman, the bridge crew meets the complexity of the space probe.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a 3 season series that revolves around Captain Pike, Science Officer Spock, and Number One as they go on missions aboard the USS Enterprise.

Now you have all the Star Trek series watch order release dates along with the plot summary. Let’s discover Star Trek movies available on Paramount Plus. Don’t forget that if you face geo0limitations, you can use ExpressVPN to watch every Star Trek movie and series in order in UK on Paramount Plus.

Which Star Trek Movies are Available on Paramount Plus?

Star Trek fans! If you’re like me, a die-hard fan of this franchise movie, but find it difficult to guess the correct chronological order, worry not! I’ve collected a list of all the Star Trek movies available on Paramount Plus and arranged them to make it easy to follow.

Let’s explore all the Star Trek movies available on Paramount Plus below.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Star Trek: The Motion Picture is based on the mission of Admiral Kirk, who takes command of the refitted starship Enterprise to stop a mysterious alien entity coming towards Earth. The entity known as V’Ger is a sentient machine, Voyager 6, searching for its Creator.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Admiral Kirk encounters his nemesis Khan, who desires to use a strong device called Genesis for revenge. The two engage in a strategic space battle in the Mutara Nebula. Also, Spock makes a brave sacrifice to protect the crew.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, the Enterprise crew finds Spock’s spirit inside Dr. McCoy. They disobey orders, tackle Klingon’s enemies, and surrender their ship to save Spock.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is about Admiral Kirk, who is on a mission to keep the Earth safe from an alien probe. To do this, he and his crew travel back in time to carry expired humpback whales, essential to saving the planet.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Captain Kirk and his crew try to rescue Klingon and Romulan diplomats. They soon discover it’s a trick by Sybok, who wants to find God. The story follows Kirk and his team dealing with Sybok’s unique mission.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

A Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country story starts when a moon explosion becomes the reason for peace talks. But the situation takes a tricky turn when Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy are blamed for harming the Klingon leader.

The movie spotlights diplomacy challenges as the Enterprise crew works to discover the truth.

Star Trek: Generations

In Star Trek: Generations, Captain Picard and his crew uncover the devil scientist Dr. Soran, who has dark intentions.

To stop Soran’s devilish plans, Picard seeks the surprising assistance of Kirk, who is believed to be lost. Together, they unite forces to destroy Soran and face unexpected troubles.

Star Trek: First Contact

Star Trek: First Contact shows how the criminal Borg goes back in the past to stop Earth from meeting aliens. Meanwhile, we will witness the heroic actions done by Captain Picard and his crew to stop the Borg from succeeding in their mission.

Also, if you want to watch every Star Trek movie and series in order in UK on Paramount Plus for free, including this one, I have an option for you.

Try the Paramount Plus free trial in UK, which is available for the whole week.

Moreover, after you finish watching the movies and Star Trek TV series list, you can cancel Paramount Plus in UK without any hidden cost.

Star Trek: Insurrection

In Star Trek: Insurrection you will see Captain Picard and his crew searching for a fountain of youth. However, when he found out that this discovery may lead to harm, he rebelled against the order to keep everyone safe from threat.

Star Trek: Nemesis

Star Trek: Nemesis is about Captain Picard and his crew who found out about Shinzon’s dangerous plans to destroy Earth. However, they go on a mission to stop this threat to the Federation.

The movie unfolds with suspense and action as they fight the challenges to defend their home.

Star Trek (2009)

Star Trek (2009) is an Oscar-winning movie that unfolds the journey of James T. Kirk and Spock when they join Starfleet and confront a Romulan threat ruled by Nero.

A distress call leads them to a difficult situation near Vulcan, and they must work together to save Earth.

If you are wondering, how to watch Star Trek in UK? Use ExpressVPN to bypass geo-restriction and access a Star Trek movie.

Star Trek Into Darkness

Star Trek Into Darkness follows the story of Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise when they chase a dangerous enemy named Khan, a genetically created superhuman.

Admiral Marcus originally awakened him, but he turns out to be a puppet in a plot to start a war with the Klingon Empire. As the crew encounters betrayal and the threat of destruction, Kirk makes a brave move to save the ship.

The story evolves with action, suspense, and a dramatic twist, keeping viewers on the edge.

Star Trek Beyond

Star Trek Beyond is a sci-fiction adventure movie. It will take you on an incredible space adventure where Captain Kirk and his crew have to deal with danger when their USS Enterprise crashes on a planet.

They must outplay a villain named Krall to save their friends and stop a dangerous weapon. In short, packed with action, friendship, and a unique plot, this Star Trek movie is a must-watch.

Building Star Trek — Documentary

Building the Star Trek documentary will take you on a journey of discovery about the old stuff used in the original Star Trek show.

They fix these incredible things and show them off in different places all over the US. See how they bring back the Star Trek magic by taking care of the cool props.

Watching this documentary is more like taking a behind-the-scenes adventure, perfect for fans who are interested in how they keep Star Trek alive.

Woman In Motion — Documentary

Women in Motion is an inspiring documentary created to celebrate the courage and boldness of Nichelle Nichols, the iconic Lieutenant Uhura.

It takes us back to 1977 when NASA faced the problem of talent recruiting for its Space Shuttle Program. However, Lt.Uhura came forward and launched a nationwide program to hire people.

She recruited 8,000 brilliant minds, opening new gates of opportunities for the first African American, Asian, and Latino men and women to fly into space.

Now you have complete information on what order to watch Star Trek series and movies. Check the next heading to find out all series and movie timelines.

Watch Star Trek Movies and Series in Order: The Complete Series and Movies Timeline

Check each Star Trek timeline map of movie and series below:

I’ve got all the series and movie details for you. So, be ready to watch every Star Trek movie and series in order in UK on Paramount Plus .

But remember to grab an ExpressVPN subscription to avoid geographical restrictions when accessing the Star Trek list on Paramount Plus in UK.

Sign up for it now, install its app, and connect to the country server where the specific show or movie is available. Voila! You are all set to enjoy!

Meet Chris Mack, your go-to expert for the best of BBC iPlayer with a twist—he's also a cybersecurity enthusiast. Whether you're into British entertainment classics or searching for hidden gems, Chris has you covered, always with an eye for secure streaming practices. Beyond the screen, Chris blends his love for reading and exploring the outdoors with a passion for staying ahead in the world of cybersecurity, ensuring a safe viewing experience. If you're looking for top British TV picks or tips on keeping your digital viewing secure, Chris is your guide. Dive into the drama of British TV with Chris!

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Den of Geek

Star Trek Streaming Guide: Where to Watch All the TV Shows and Movies

Find out where you can stream all the voyages of sci-fi’s longest-running franchise.

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Launched on September 8, 1966 — nearly 54 years ago — the NBC-TV series Star Trek was the beginning of a new age of science fiction on television and, eventually, the big screen. The first show to echo the sophistication and vision of sci-fi literature , Star Trek was only a cult hit at the time of its initial run but refused to die even after its cancellation, with the original 79 episodes running for years in syndication.

More than five decades later, Star Trek encompasses eight TV series (a total of 764 episodes and counting) and 13 films, plus countless books, comics, games and more. It’s had its ups and downs, its high points and its misfires, but it remains one of the most beloved and durable franchises in all of pop culture.

Now, thanks to streaming, all those episodes and movies are available to watch any time (we know you diehard Trekkers have the Blu-rays and DVDs, but you don’t have to break those out anymore). Below is a handy guide to where you can stream every iteration of Trek , from The Original Series to the movies to the new Star Trek: Picard . Grab your remote and boldly go…

Star Trek TV

Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)

The one that started it all, the original Star Trek came along at a time when most screen sci-fi (movies and TV) was still just monster movies or kiddie fare ( Lost in Space , anyone?). Gene Roddenberry ’s vision of an intelligent, allegorical sci-fi series, which used actual genre writers for much of its first two seasons, was groundbreaking in ways that reverberate to this day. And its cast, led by William Shatner as Captain Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Spock and DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy, became iconic.

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Available in the US on Amazon , Hulu , Netflix , CBS All Access

Available in the UK on Netflix UK , Amazon UK * (*purchase only)

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974)

Using the voices of many of the original cast members and even employing writers from the original series, TAS had a genuine chance to extend the original show with the visual freedom animation offered. But the format turned out to be its enemy, as clunky, cheap animation and frequent reuse of shots gave the show a shoddy, amateurish reputation. Some of the stories are quite good, however.

Available in the US on Amazon , CBS All Access

Available in the UK on Netflix UK

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

Set nearly a century after the original series, with Gene Roddenberry mandating that conflict between the crew members be diminished by that point, ST: TNG proved to be enormously popular even with a brand new, unfamiliar crew. It took most of three seasons for the show to find its footing, but Captain Picard (a magnificent Patrick Stewart ) and company went on many captivating and genuinely outstanding adventures of their own.

Available in the US on Amazon , Netflix , CBS All Access , Hulu

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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)

Many fans consider DS9 the best Trek series ever , and they certainly can make a good argument for it: the first Trek show not set on a starship, but instead on a remote space station, DS9 addressed cultural divides, character conflict, religion and war in a bolder fashion that any Trek entry before it — while also utilizing the kind of serialized storytelling that is now the standard across the medium.

Available in the UK on Netflix UK , Amazon UK* (*purchase only)

Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)

Voyager found members of a Federation starship and the rebel Maquis stranded together 70,000 years from Earth in the Delta Quadrant, facing a 75-year journey home. Headed by Trek ’s first female captain , Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Voyager encountered all kinds of interesting new races as well as old enemies the Borg during the long and often compelling journey home.

Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005)

The first series to act as a prequel, set a decade before the creation of what would become the United Federation of Planets, Enterprise followed the crew of the first ship to bear that name. Uneven in quality and struggling to find resonant stories, Enterprise was canceled after four seasons and ended an 18-year run for Trek on TV. 

Available in the US on Amazon , Netflix , Hulu , CBS All Access

Star Trek: Discovery (2017- )

Set 10 years prior to TOS , Discovery ’s troubled birth (it went through numerous delays and several showrunners) led to the most polarizing show in the franchise to date. Focusing for once on a central character other than the captain — mutinous anthropologist Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), who turns out to be the adopted sister of one Mr. Spock — it has often ignored or played fast and loose with Trek continuity while painting Starfleet in a more conspiratorial light. Season 3 will debut in 2020.

Star Trek: Picard (2020- )

Like Discovery before it, Picard has divided Star Trek fans with its depiction of a Federation in decline, marked by bigotry, deception and treachery. But there is no questioning the powerful presence of Patrick Stewart, playing an older, flawed Picard for the first time in 18 years, and the thrill of seeing old friends like Seven of Nine, Will Riker and Deanna Troi. The show has certainly had its moments ; we’ll see if more are to come in the already-announced season 2 .

Available in the UK on Amazon UK

Star Trek: 50 Best Episodes

The 15 best worst episodes of star trek: the original series, star trek movies.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

After an aborted attempt at a second TV series ( Star Trek: Phase II ), Paramount Pictures brought Trek to the big screen in a lavish, $40 million epic (the most expensive movie of its time) that reunited the original crew in a 2001 -like encounter with a massive, mysterious space probe. Slow-moving, alternately impressive and shaky visually, ST: TMP nevertheless proved that the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise could hold their own on the big screen — and strangely, the film has actually aged better than most.

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Available in the US on Amazon , Hulu

Available in the UK on NOW TV , YouTube *, Amazon UK *, Sky Store * (*purchase/rent only)

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

Still considered the finest Trek movie of all , and rightfully so, The Wrath of Khan focused — like the original show — on character and story instead of visual effects and esoteric concepts. Bringing back a deadly enemy from the first season, the generic superman Khan (Ricardo Montalban), the movie was thrilling, dramatic and, with the death of Spock at the finale, incredibly moving.

Available in the UK on NOW TV , *YouTube , *Amazon UK , * Sky Store (*purchase/rent only)

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

Even though the end of Star Trek II strongly hinted at Spock’s return, it wasn’t a given. But Leonard Nimoy did come back for Star Trek III — as director (and yes, as Spock too in the film’s closing minutes) of this somber and often underrated entry . Captain Kirk loses almost everything — his beloved ship, his commission and his newly reconciled son — to save his friend’s life in a poignant story about friendship and loyalty. And there’s a bad-ass villain too, a Klingon captain played to the hilt by Christopher Lloyd.

Available in the UK on NOW TV , * YouTube , * Amazon UK , * Sky Store (*purchase/rent only)

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

Leonard Nimoy’s second outing as director is both a comedy and an environmentally themed adventure — and it turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the franchise. This light-hearted romp sent Kirk and the gang back to 20 th century San Francisco to rescue a pair of humpback whales, and the fish-out-of-water (pun intended) antics of the crew provide plenty of laughs and a ton of heart.

Available in the US on Amazon

Available in the UK on NOW TV , * Amazon UK , * YouTube , * Sky Store (*purchase/rent only)

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

Shatner got behind the camera for this turgid, unfunny mess , which regularly rates near the bottom of any Trekker’s list. The old “alien pretending to be God” trope, a long-lost brother we never knew Spock had and the other cast members acting by and large like buffoons make this perhaps the most embarrassing of the Enterprise ’s big screen voyages. There are a few nice moments — there always are — but this nowhere near first on our revisit list.

Available in the UK on NOW TV , * Amazon UK , *YouTube , * Sky Store (*purchase/rent only)

Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

The classic Trek cast bounced back from Star Trek V with a final adventure that was also one of their best . A suspenseful, urgent meditation on aging, grievance and the end of the Cold War, Star Trek IV was a remarkable example of how Trek could show us at our finest even while facing down our lingering demons. Plus it ends with both a great space battle and one of the greatest cast send-offs ever (which was emulated by none other than Avengers Endgame ).

Star Trek: Generations (1994)

What could have been a magnificent passing of the torch from the classic Trek cast to the TNG crew ends up looking and feeling more like a tepid extended TNG episode with weak cameos from Kirk, Scotty (James Doohan) and Chekov (Walter Koenig). Patrick Stewart and his team are all solid, as is villain Malcolm McDowell, and the crashing of the Enterprise is a genuinely gripping setpiece. But the story and motivations are undercooked — as is most of the movie.

Available in the UK on NOW TV , * Amazon UK , * Sky Store , * YouTube (*purchase/rent only)

Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Easily the best of the TNG quartet, First Contact travels back in time to the very start of Earth’s push into space, where the Borg intends to cripple humanity once and for all. The crew of the Enterprise follow them to make sure history isn’t changed, even as Picard confronts his fear and hatred of the Borg . Jonathan Frakes does a nice first-time directing job, balancing the action and character work ably, while Alice Krige steals the show as the sensual Borg Queen.

Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)

Like Generations , the third TNG theatrical outing feels like a mediocre TV segment stretched to feature length; even Frakes’ direction seems uninspired. One difference: with Picard fighting a secret plan (engineered by F. Murray Abraham, above) to uproot the natives of a “fountain of youth” planet, the seeds were planted for later Trek entries that portrayed an increasingly corrupt Federation. Otherwise, this is a forgettable, often cheesy film.

Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

The final big-screen outing for the TNG cast is better than its reputation suggests , as Picard squares off against a renegade Romulan who happens to be his clone. Tom Hardy chews the scenery fabulously as the latter, and the climactic battle between his massive ship and the Enterprise is well handled by director Stuart Baird. There’s also a surprising emotional payoff for Data (Brent Spiner) that ends up being the hook for Star Trek: Picard 18 years later.

Star Trek (2009)

J.J. Abrams does what many thought couldn’t be done — he reboots Star Trek with a fresh, young cast inhabiting the original roles made iconic by Shatner, Nimoy and their crew. The new cast, led by Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock, is the best thing about the film, which also uses a clever plot device to position this timeline just slightly to the side of the original one. The reliance on action over ideas is a bit of a letdown, and unfortunately would carry over to the next two movies.

Available in the UK on Netflix , NOW TV , * Amazon UK , * Sky Store , * YouTube (*purchase/rent only)

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

One of the worst Trek films ever , right down there with The Final Frontier . STID insults both fans and casual viewers with a brain-dead script, frantic action and massive contrivances (such as the sudden ability for someone to beam across the galaxy or the screenwriters’ well-worn “magic blood” gimmick). But its most egregious offense is turning into a half-assed remake of The Wrath of Khan that’s as dumb as it is pointless. This is what happens when people tackle Trek with no understanding of it.

Available in the UK on * Amazon UK , * Sky Store , * YouTube (*purchase/rent only)

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Still too reliant on action over depth, and featuring the third revenge-driven storyline in a row, Star Trek Beyond is nevertheless better than its predecessor . It mostly works as a standalone adventure, and once again the Pine/Quinto cast delivers with heart. But even though Beyond does occasionally capture the vibe of classic Trek , there’s a vague sense of desperation at work — like the franchise knows it’s run out of gas (and crashing the Enterprise for the third time in 13 films doesn’t help).

Available in the UK on * Sky Store , * Amazon UK , * YouTube (*purchase/rent only)

Don Kaye | @donkaye

Don Kaye is an entertainment journalist by trade and geek by natural design. Born in New York City, currently ensconced in Los Angeles, his earliest childhood memory is…

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Paramount+ Launches In UK And Ireland With Legacy And New Star Trek, Including ‘Strange New Worlds’

| June 22, 2022 | By: Iain Robertson 17 comments so far

On Wednesday, June 22nd, the Paramount+ streaming service went live in the UK and Ireland. This launch brings with it three original Star Trek series along with providing access to legacy Star Trek TV shows and movies.

Strange New Britain

The big news for fans in the UK and Ireland is the availability of the new series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . The first three episodes are now available, with new episodes debuting every Wednesday. For season one the show will be running around five weeks behind Paramount+ in the USA and other markets.

Strange New Worlds on Paramount+ UK

UK fans are already starting to take in the new show, which has been widely praised here at TrekMovie and elsewhere in the media . Praise for the new show is showing up on social media, including the following post with a thank you from series star Anson Mount.

Glad you like it. https://t.co/kXUp0rtFB2 — Anson Mount (@ansonmount) June 21, 2022

Trekking in the UK and Ireland

The streaming service also includes all four seasons of Star Trek: Discovery , a series that was exclusive to Netflix internationally until the rights were bought back by Paramount shortly before the debut of season four. Season four had been shown on Paramount’s ad-supported live streaming service Pluto in the UK, but Paramount+ is now the new exclusive home for the Discovery . Also available are all ten episodes from the first season of the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy , which has also aired on Nickelodeon in the UK.

Paramount+ UK interface showing Prodigy episodes

The new original series Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Lower Decks remain as exclusives to Amazon Prime Video in the UK, but Paramount+ currently includes all of the live-action legacy Star Trek shows: The Original Series , The Next Generation , Deep Space Nine , Voyager , and Enterprise . However, currently Star Trek: The Animated Series is not available on Paramount+ (it is available on Netflix). Both TOS and TNG are remastered in HD, and  Enterprise is also in HD). There are some launch glitches as well, including misspellings (like “Where No One Have Gone Before”).

Paramount+ UK interface showing TNG episodes

Currently, the service includes eleven of the thirteen Star Trek feature films. This includes all the TOS-era films and all the TNG movies, along with the 2009 Star Trek film. Like with the USA service, which ones are available in 4K seems random (including Wrath of Khan , The Voyage Home , and Star Trek 2009 ). And as of now only the theatrical release of The Motion Picture is available and not the newly restored version of the Director’s Edition .

As can be seen in the screenshot below, Paramount+ UK also includes Showtime content. This includes the new sci-fi series The Man Who Fell to Earth , which features Voyager’s Kate Mulgrew.

Some of the Star Trek movies listed in the “Star Trek Universe” strip

In the UK and Ireland, Paramount+ is available online at paramountplus.com and via the Paramount+ app. Pricing is £6.99 per month/£69.90 per annum in the UK.

Paramount+ is also available on Sky platforms in the UK with Sky Cinema subscribers getting Paramount+ at no additional cost. Sky users can install the Paramount+ app by going to the ‘My Sky’ section and following the onscreen instructions.

More to come

Paramount+ will have more launches in Europe this year , arriving in Italy in September, followed by launches in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and France in December. Paramount has also partnered with Comcast for a new service called SkyShowtime which will also launch later this year, bringing Paramount+ original content to Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

Paramount+ promises more to come with a tweet this morning welcoming fans in the UK, Ireland, and S. Korea ( which launched last week ).

To all the @StarTrek fans in @paramountplusuk and South Korea, welcome aboard 🖖 We hope you enjoy the ever-growing library of adventures this month on #ParamountPlus ! pic.twitter.com/SZsEB4qrcl — Star Trek on Paramount+ (@StarTrekOnPPlus) June 22, 2022

Find more stories on the  Star Trek Universe .

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I have watched the first 3 episodes of Discovery S4 on Paramount+ here in Ireland. I have seen the season already on Pluto TV but wanted to watch it again. I’ll watch SNW after i finished S4 and i already have seen the latest SNW episodes but will watch them again as they release here. I just wanted to see Discovery and her crew again first because it’s my favorite show out of all the new Trek shows and imo it has better writing/characters then SNW but as i said it’s my opinion and i do find SNW a fine show that does the franchise justice.

You might change your mind about favorite Trek show after seeing Strange New Worlds…

As i have said i have already seen SNW right up to the latest episode which is episode 7. I saw them via other ways and no i haven’t changed my mind i still find Discovery to be better written, acted and has better character interaction and development. But as i said just because i find Discovery to be the better show doesn’t stop me from finding SNW a great show.

I’m not a huge fan of Discovery after the first half of S3, but the first two seasons had stronger writing, better acting, and more interesting characters than SNW so far (even Spock and Pike were better developed in Discovery than SNW). Which is interesting, because the SNW actors were awesome on Discovery – I was actually really looking forward to SNW since I loved Pike and Spock when they were in S2 of Discovery. SNW isn’t bad, it has its moments… But I do think that Discovery has better writing and acting (even when it’s by the same actors).

Re: the ST Movies… Why can’t they just give us the same content as the USA gets, why make it so complicated and disappointing!

Also, I wonder why a lot of European countries get Skyshowtime instead of P+? It’s not like they need this – those VOD services are on the internet which is… world wide.

Depending on how Paramount+ is set up under the hood they may need to build up local data centers whenever they expand to a new market. Streaming video isn’t delivered worldwide by one server, it’s a network of countless servers spread over the world (or over the region where a service is offered). Apparently, some services run their own data centers while others use cloud providers like Amazon Web Services. That has implications on how quickly a service can scale up their operations. If P+ is built on having their own infrastructure, teaming up with other existing services is a way to speed up that infrastructure expansion.

Disappointing. No Motion Picture Special Edition in 4K! No TV or PS5 app to watch content on a large home screen. Won’t be continuing my free 7 day trial, also randomly missing DS9 Season 7 Finale for some reason. Will continue to watch Strange New Worlds via ‘other’ means until they release the new eps the same day as the US. Otherwise it will be spoiled. So happy to spend my money on this service, but not right now.

Iano, invest in a VPN like ipVanish or Express VPN. With a VPN, you can spoof your devices location to make it look like you’re in the US. Then, you can enjoy the eps as they air. Or, if you use “other means” at least continue to pay for your sub. I’ve friends and acquaintances who work on these shows. Yes, the main cast won’t miss a lunch, but supporting Par+ ensures we get MORE seasons of Trek and it supports the jobs of THOUSANDS of people in my country, Canada, and the US. Look up iPvanish or Express VPN. Don’t get mad at Par+. Each market has to be navigated. Amazon Prime and Netflix had UK broadcasting rights, until recently. The UK probably has the equivalent of the FCC or CRTC, government bodies that regulate TV broadcasting in their respective country.

I hear ya. VPN doesn’t work for most streaming sites anymore, they cottoned on to that a while back. I paid for Disco Season 4 on iTunes when they released it weekly after the Netflix backlash. I have all the other series on DVD, BluRay and iTunes, and of course the other streaming sites. The fact P+ isn’t available as a TV/Console App isn’t a good start and have heard others already complaining about that. I will extend my trial just because of your friends, but the fact it doesn’t have Motion Picture Special Edition in 4K doesn’t make any logistical sense. No other TV station/streaming site has the rights to that and/or is showing it.

VPN doesn’t work if you have a P+ UK/IE account. I don’t think they know or care if you’re using a VPN, but if you have a UK/IE account and your geoloc is anything other than UK or IE, you can’t stream.

Ironically this means customers travelling overseas would need a VPN just to use their local service… assuming that actually works.

So far, I’m pretty unimpressed with P+. The SNW episodes are about a month behind, Picard and LD are absent due to Amazon UK’s existing deal, and two of the JJ era movies are missing. And as others mentioned, no 4k TMP.

Disappointing… I want to use this service and support the production, but its not that easy to justify it.

Just FYI… First Contact seems to be available in 4K on Paramount+ in the US now. At least, that’s what the description says when you select it.

Still too little,too late. We’re not starting to watch it,we’re almost done,just like the US,lol.

Cool, cool, though I’ve watched them all now “by other means”. The main thing I wanted was TMP 4K Director’s Edition. But, alas, it is the only thing not there (TAS is on Netflix). Ah well, maybe at some point.

Really annoyed they don’t have TMP Directors Edition — why the heck not, Paramount? That’s the one thing I was really looking forward to seeing.

It’s available as a Prime Video channel in the UK at least as well which means you can avoid the paramount+ app if you want to. Also means you can do downloads which for some reason weren’t available on the paramount+ app when I tried it out yesterday (amongst other problems including the ‘contact support’ button doing nothing!

the Star Trek Deep space 9 finale what you leave behind seems to be missing as season seven seems to end with the penultimate episode the Dogs of war.

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Make it so! Star Trek: The Next Generation remains radically hopeful television

As Star Trek: Picard wraps up, we take a look at the comforting and thrilling show that came first, featuring Patrick Stewart’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his Enterprise crew

• Star Trek: The Next Generation is streaming on Netflix and Paramount+. Picard is streaming on Paramount+ and Prime Video. For more recommendations of what to stream in Australia, click here
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I n the 1992 comedy Wayne’s World, Wayne Campbell makes a wise observation about the comparisons made between sparkling wine and champagne. “It is a lot like Star Trek: The Next Generation,” he notes of sparkling wine . “In many ways it’s superior, but will never be as recognised as the original.”

Wayne was right about many things, but even he couldn’t have foreseen the cultural impact of Next Gen from his vantage point in 1992.

The original Star Trek series, starring the likes of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, was great, and the Star Trek films were intermittently so too – all following a crew of spacefaring idealists exploring the universe and having velure-ensconced adventures. But in 1987 the story of Star Trek recommenced with a new series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, which skipped a century ahead and charted a fascinating new course with an all new crew on a new and improved USS Enterprise, a ship with a continuing mission to explore the universe under the steady hand of the uptight but charming Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).

“For some people it was a burden, for some it was a privilege,” says Gates McFadden, who played Dr Beverly Crusher in TNG. “For me, because I wasn’t familiar with the first show, it wasn’t a burden at all! I was like, let’s go for it!”

Picard showrunner Terry Matalas tells me that “like the original series, there is something so unbelievably comforting about TNG”.

“It could be the [Star Trek creator Gene] Roddenberry hope beamed into your living room, or the chemistry of the cast, or the freshness of those science fiction tales. But there is nothing better to have on your television on a lazy Sunday afternoon.”

TNG told a complex, thrilling and evolving story about what happens when humanity opts for hope over hopelessness: like all the other ships in Starfleet, the Enterprise is home to a diverse, multicultural crew who are free to pursue knowledge, equality and justice in a post-scarcity utopia.

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“I’ve learned as I’ve grown how crucial it is to have hope,” McFadden says. “Because otherwise, there’s no point to anything! And the hope in Roddenberry’s vision of the future was so freaking huge .”

What does she mean by “huge”? She laughs. “Well, to even get us to think about a world where we don’t have money any more, we don’t have greed, we can cure things. The idea that we can work together and all be up in space – together! – I think that reality gave people so much.”

The character development in Next Gen is an enormous part of its charm. Take Stewart’s Picard: a down-the-line man bound by duty, who comes to rely on his crew more and more. Or his first officer Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes), the jazz-loving ladies man who secretly pined for his ex and colleague, ship counsellor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis). Or Worf (Michael Dorn), a member of the war-mongering race the Klingons, who gradually becomes one of Star Trek’s most complex characters. Or Geordi LaForge (LeVar Burton), a blind and confident engineer who couldn’t talk to women to save his life. And, of course, Data (Brent Spiner): the artificial life form who longs to become human.

The entire Enterprise crew are united by their principles, and TNG shows what happens when these principles meet practicality. There’s the United Federation of Planets, the ideologically driven group of planets united in peace, and Starfleet, who explore the universe while upholding the ideals of non-interference and discovery. The crew of the Enterprise believe in these ideals, but frequently the show challenges their resolve. Picard himself, in the superb Star Trek film First Contact, is confronted by his old enemies, the Borg, and is challenged when it becomes apparent he’s actually enjoying killing them. “Where were your evolved sensibilities then?” one character screams at him. It is in those moments of frisson, when the characters are torn between their ideals and reality, that Next Gen truly shines.

After a sublime seventh season and several films, the TNG story stopped. Then a few years ago we got two pretty wonky seasons of Picard, a show set 29 years after the final TNG film. But the third and final season of Picard – the finale of which is about to air – has, without spoiling anything, done something miraculous. Matalas took over from author Michael Chabon as showrunner alongside Akiva Goldsman in season two; in the third he has – if you’ll forgive the pun – single-handedly landed the ship.

The last season of Picard is peak Star Trek; it is TNG’s long-awaited eighth season. It reunites the classic cast for one last adventure, and is everything that makes Trek so prescient, so vital, and so timely, distilled down to a single whip-smart, passionate and emotionally articulate season of television. The performances are next level, the storytelling is breathtaking and the emotional heft is staggering. The world of TNG would be immeasurably poorer without it.

As a fan, it is wonderful to see the TNG story continue with such effortlessness after all these years. The common thread that links TNG and the final season of Picard is an idea: that together, we’re stronger.

“For me, that’s the most positive thing about Star Trek,” Gates says. “That if we work together, if we collaborate, if we stop being rigid, judgmental and open ourselves up to the possibility of learning something new or even being wrong! If we do that, and give love … we can achieve anything. That’s the genius of Star Trek.”

Gates McFadden is also the host of the podcast Gates McFadden Investigates: Who do you think you are? , where she interviews friends and colleagues, including cast members from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

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June 22 will bring “Strange New Worlds,” “Children of the Comet,” and “Ghosts of Illyria” to UK viewers, with future episodes following five weeks after their US, Canada, and Australian release dates — the  Strange New Worlds Season 1 finale will debut July 7 in the United States; the staggered schedule looks to bring that finale episode to the UK on Wednesday, August 10.

We have confirmed directly with Paramount+ UK that all four seasons of  Star Trek: Discovery and the first ten episodes of  Star Trek: Prodigy will all be available in the UK at launch on June 22. TrekCore is currently working to find out if the recently-remastered Star Trek: The Motion Picture — Director’s Edition will be part of the service’s initial UK offerings.

( Star Trek: Picard and  Star Trek: Lower Decks are currently available as Prime Video exclusives in the UK and Ireland.)

Paramount+ will be available in the UK via the Paramount+ on June 22; users will be able to sign up for the service for £6.99/month (or £69.90/year) following a free seven-day trial. Pricing for Ireland has not yet been announced. In addition to the app, Paramount+ will launch on Sky platforms in the UK, with Sky Cinema subscribers getting access to the streaming service at no additional cost.

Strange New Worlds is not the only Paramount+ original series to be impacted by this type of delayed release in the UK; the recently-concluded season of HALO will also debut with three episodes at launch (and a weekly rollout following), as will the Paramount+ adaptation of The Man Who Fell to Earth  — likely to keep viewers from using the 7-day trial period offered to watch all that new content in the first free week.

Hopefully this is just part of the initial launch strategy for Paramount+ in the UK; it seems likely that future seasons of Discovery ,  Strange New Worlds , and  Prodigy will be released simultaneously with the US release schedules once the regional debut is behind… but only time will tell.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds  returns with “Spock Amok” on Thursday, June 2 on Paramount+ in the United States, Australia, Latin America, and the Nordics, as well as on CTV Sci Fi Channel in Canada.

The series will arrive to the UK and Ireland on Paramount+ on June 22; additional international distribution has not yet been announced.

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How to Watch Star Trek in Order: The Complete Series Timeline

The full star trek timeline, explained..

Ever since 1966’s premiere of the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, the entertainment world has never been the same. This franchise that has boldly gone where no property has gone before has captured the hearts and minds of millions around the world and has grown into a space-faring empire of sorts filled with multiple shows, feature length films, comics, merchandise, and so much more. That being said, the amount of Star Trek out in the world can make it tough to know exactly how to watch everything it offers in either chronological or release order so you don’t miss a thing. To help make things easier for you, we’ve created this guide to break down everything you need to know about engaging with this Star Trek journey.

It used to be a bit trickier to track down all the Star Trek shows and movies you’d need to watch to catch up, but Paramount+ has made it a whole lot easier as it has become the home of nearly all the past, present and future Star Trek entries.

So, without further ado, come with us into the final frontier and learn how you can become all caught up with the adventures of Kirk, Picard, Janeway, Sisko, Spock, Pike, Archer, Burnham, and all the others that have made Star Trek so special over the past 56 years.

And, in case you're worried, everything below is a mostly spoiler-free chronological timeline that will not ruin any of any major plot points of anything further on in the timeline. So, you can use this guide as a handy way to catch up without ruining much of the surprise of what’s to come on your adventure! If you’d prefer to watch everything Star Trek as it was released, you’ll find that list below as well!

How to Watch Star Trek in Chronological Order

• How to Watch Star Trek by Release Order

1. Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2155)

Star Trek: Enterprise is the earliest entry on our list as it takes place a hundred years before the adventures of Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the crew of Star Trek: The Original Series. The show aired from 2001 to 2005 and starred Scott Bakula as Jonathan Archer, the captain of the Enterprise NX-01. This version of the Enterprise was actually Earth’s first starship that was able to reach warp five.

While the show had its ups and downs, it included a fascinating look at a crew without some of the advanced tech we see in other Star Trek shows, the first contact with various alien species we know and love from the Star Trek universe, and more.

2. Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 1 and 2 (2256-2258)

This is where things get a little bit tricky, as the first two seasons of Star Trek: Discovery take place before Star Trek: The Original Series but Seasons 3 and 4 take us boldly to a place we’ve not gone before. We won’t spoil why that’s the case here, but it’s important to note if you want to watch Star Trek in order, you’ll have to do a bit of jumping around from series to movie to series.

As for what Star Trek: Discovery is, it's set the decade before the original and stars Sonequa Martin-Green’s Michael Burnham, a Starfleet Commander who accidentally helps start a war between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. She gets court-martialed and stripped of her rank following these events and is reassigned to the U.S.S Discovery.

3. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259-TBD)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds also begins before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series and is set up by Star Trek: Discovery as its captain, Anson Mount’s Christopher Pike, makes an appearance in its second season. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Pike first appeared in the original failed pilot episode “The Cage” of Star Trek: The Original Series and would later become James T. Kirk’s predecessor after the original actor, Jefferey Hunter, backed out of the show.

Fast forward all these years later and now we get to learn more about the story of Christopher Pike and many other familiar faces from The Original Series alongside new characters. It’s made even more special as the ship the crew uses is the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, the very same that would soon call Kirk its captain.

4. Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269)

The fourth Star Trek series or movie you should watch in the order is the one that started it all - Star Trek: The Original Series . Created by Gene Roddenberry, this first Star Trek entry would kick off a chain reaction that would end up creating one of the most beloved IPs of all time. However, it almost never made it to that legendary status as its low ratings led to a cancellation order after just three seasons that aired from 1966 to 1969. Luckily, it found great popularity after that and built the foundation for all the Star Trek stories we have today.

Star Trek: The Original Series starred William Shatner as James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock, but the rest of the crew would go on to become nearly as iconic as they were. As for what the show was about? Well, we think Kirk said it best during each episode’s opening credits;

“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise . Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

5. Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270)

While Star Trek: The Original Series may have been canceled after just three seasons, its popularity only grew, especially with the help of syndication. Following this welcome development, Gene Roddenberry decided he wanted to continue the adventures of the crew of the Enterprise NCC-1701 in animated form, and he brought back many of the original characters and the actors behind them for another go.

Star Trek: The Animated Series lasted for two seasons from 1973 to 1974 and told even more stories of the Enterprise and its adventures throughout the Milky Way galaxy.

6. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2270s)

The first Star Trek film was a very big deal as it brought back the crew of Star Trek: The Original Series after the show was canceled in 1969 after just three seasons. However, even it had a rough road to theaters as Roddenberry initially failed to convince Paramount Pictures it was worth it in 1975. Luckily, the success of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and other factors helped finally convince those in power to make the movie and abandon the plans for a new television series called Star Trek: Phase II, which also would have continued the original story.

In Star Trek: The Motion Picture, James T. Kirk was now an Admiral in Starfleet, and certain events involving a mysterious alien cloud of energy called V’Ger cause him to retake control of a refitted version of the U.S.S. Enterprise with many familiar faces in tow.

7. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285)

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had a sequel to Star Trek: The Motion Picture written, but Paramount turned it down after the reception to that first film was not what the studio had hoped for. In turn, Paramount removed him from the production and brought in Harve Bennett and Jack B. Sowards to write the script and Nicholas Meyer to direct the film.

The studio’s decision proved to be a successful one as Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is considered by many, including IGN, to be the best Star Trek film. As for the story, it followed the battle between Admiral James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise vs. Ricardo Montalban’ Khan Noonien Singh. Khan is a genetically engineered superhuman and he and his people were exiled by Kirk on a remote planet in the episode ‘Space Seed’ from the original series. In this second film, after being stranded for 15 years, Khan wants revenge.

8. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (2285)

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock continues the story that began in Wrath of Khan and deals with the aftermath of Spock’s death. While many on the U.S.S. Enterprise thought that was the end for their science officer, Kirk learns that Spock’s spirit/katra is actually living inside the mind of DeForest Kelley’s Dr. McCoy, who has been acting strange ever since the death of his friend. What follows is an adventure that includes a stolen U.S.S. Enterprise, a visit from Spock’s father Sarek, a run-in with Klingons, and so much more.

9. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (2286 and 1986)

While it is undoubtedly great that Kirk and his crew saved Spock, it apparently wasn’t great enough to avoid the consequences that follow stealing and then losing the Enterprise. On their way to answer for their charges, the former crew of the Enterprise discover a threat to Earth that, without spoiling anything, causes them to go back in time to save everything they love. The Voyage Home is a big departure from the previous films as, instead of space, we spend most of our time in 1986’s San Francisco.

10. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (2287)

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier once again brings back our favorite heroes from Star Trek: The Original Series, but it’s often regarded as one of the weakest films starring Kirk, Spock, McCoy, etc. In this adventure, our crew’s shore leave gets interrupted as they are tasked with going up against the Vulcan Sybok, who himself is on the hunt for God in the middle of the galaxy.

11. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (2293)

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is the final movie starring the entire cast of Star Trek: The Original Series, and it puts the Klingons front and center. After a mining catastrophe destroys the Klingon moon of Praxis and threatens the Klingon’s homeworld, Klingon Chancellor Gorkon is forced to abandon his species' love of war in an effort to seek peace with the Federation. What follows is an adventure that calls back to the fall of the Soviet Union and the Berlin Wall and serves as a wonderful send-off to characters we’ve come to know and love since 1966, even though some will thankfully appear in future installments.

12. Star Trek: The Next Generation (2364-2370)

After you make it through all six of the Star Trek: The Original Series movies, it’s time to start what many consider the best Star Trek series of all time - Star Trek: The Next Generation . The series, which starred Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, ran from 1987 through 1994 with 178 episodes over seven seasons.

There are so many iconic characters and moments in The Next Generation, including William Riker, Data, Worf, Geordi La Forge, Deanna Troi, and Dr. Beverly Crusher, and many of these beloved faces would return for Star Trek: Picard, which served as a continuation of this story.

While we are once again on the U.S.S. Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation, this story takes place a century after the events of Star Trek: The Original Series. However, there may just be a few familiar faces that pop up from time to time.

13. Star Trek Generations (2293)

While Star Trek Generations is the first film featuring the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew, it also features a team-up that many had dreamed of for years and years between Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Captain James T. Kirk.

Our heroes are facing off against an El-Aurian named Dr. Tolian Soran, who will do whatever is necessary to return to an extra-dimensional realm known as the Nexus. Without spoiling anything, these events lead to a meeting with these two legendary captains and a heartfelt-at-times send-off to The Original Series, even though not every character returned that we wished could have.

14. Star Trek: First Contact (2373)

Star Trek: First Contact was not only the second film featuring the crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation, but it also served as the motion picture directorial debut for William Riker actor Jonathan Frakes. In this film, the terrifying Borg take center stage and force our heroes to travel back in time to stop them from conquering Earth and assimilating the entire human race.

This movie picks up on the continuing trauma caused by Jean-Luc Picard getting assimilated in the series and becoming Locutus of Borg, and we are also treated to the first warp flight in Star Trek’s history, a shout-out to Deep Space Nine, and more.

15. Star Trek: Insurrection (2375)

Star Trek: Insurrection, which unfortunately ranked last on our list of the best Star Trek movies, is the third film starring the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew and followed a story involving an alien race that lives on a planet with more-or-less makes them invincible due to its rejuvenating properties. This alien race, known as the Ba’Ku, are being threatened by not only another alien race called the Son’a, but also the Federation. Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew disobey Federation orders in hopes to save the peaceful Ba’Ku, and while it sounds like an interesting premise, many said it felt too much like an extended episode of the series instead of a big blockbuster film.

16. Star Trek: Nemesis (2379)

The final Star Trek: The Next Generation movie is Star Trek: Nemesis , and it also isn’t looked at as one of the best. There are bright parts in the film, including Tom Hardy’s Shinzon who is first thought to be a Romulan praetor before it’s revealed he is a clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, but it also features a lot of retreaded ground. There are some great moments between our favorite TNG characters, but it’s not quite the goodbye many had hoped for. Luckily, this won’t be the last we’ll see of them.

17. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2369-2375)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is the fourth Star Trek series and it ran from 1993 to 1999 with 176 episodes over seven seasons. Deep Space Nine was also the first Star Trek series to be created without the direct involvement of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, but instead with Rick Berman and Michael Piller. Furthermore, it was the first series to begin when another Star Trek Series - The Next Generation - was still on the air.

The connections between The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine don’t end there, as there were a ton of callbacks to TNG in Deep Space Nine, and characters like Worf and Miles O’Brien played a big part in the series. Other TNG characters popped up from time to time, including Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and certain Deep Space Nine characters also showed their faces in TNG.

Deep Space Nine was a big departure from the Star Trek series that came before, as it not only took place mostly on a space station - the titular Deep Space Nine - but it was the first to star an African American as its central character in Avery Brooks’ Captain Benjamin Sisko.

Deep Space Nine was located in a very interesting part of the Milky Way Galaxy as it was right next to a wormhole, and the series was also filled with conflict between the Cardassians and Bajorans, the war between the Federation and the Dominion, and much more.

18. Star Trek: Voyager (2371-2378)

Star Trek: Voyager is the fifth Star Trek series and it ran from 1995 to 2001 with 172 episodes over seven seasons. Star Trek: Voyager begins its journey at Deep Space Nine, and then it follows the tale of Kate Mulgrew’s Captain Kathryn Janeway (the first female leading character in Star Trek history!) and her crew getting lost and stranded in the faraway Delta Quadrant.

The episodes and adventures that follow all see the team fighting for one goal: getting home. Being so far away from the Alpha Quadrant we were so used to letting Star Trek be very creative in its storytelling and give us situations and alien races we’d never encountered before.

That doesn’t mean it was all unfamiliar, however, as the Borg became a huge threat in the later seasons. It’s a good thing too, as that led to the introduction of Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine, a character who would continue on to appear in Star Trek: Picard and become a fan favorite.

19. Star Trek: Lower Decks (2380-TBD)

Star Trek: Lower Decks debuted in 2020 and was the first animated series to make it to air since 1973’s Star Trek: The Animated Series. Alongside having that feather in its cap, it also sets itself apart by choosing to focus more on the lower lever crew instead of the captain and senior staff.

This leads to many fun adventures that may not be as high stakes as the other stories, but are no less entertaining. There have already been three seasons of Star Trek: Lower Decks, and the fourth season is set to arrive later this summer.

The series is also worth a watch as it is having a crossover with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds that will mix the worlds of live-action and animation.

20. Star Trek: Prodigy (2383-TBD)

Star Trek: Prodigy was the first fully 3D animated Star Trek series ever and told a story that began five years after the U.S.S. Voyager found its way back home to Earth. In this series, which was aimed for kids, a group of young aliens find an abandoned Starfleet ship called the U.S.S. Protostar and attempt to make it to Starfleet and the Alpha Quadrant from the Delta Quadrant.

Voyager fans will be delighted to know that Kate Mulgrew returns as Kathryn Janeway in this animated series, but not only as herself. She is also an Emergency Training Holographic Advisor that was based on the likeness of the former captain of the U.S.S. Voyager.

The second season of Star Trek: Prodigy was set to arrive later this year, but it was not only canceled in June, but also removed from Paramount+. There is still hope this show may find a second life on another streaming service or network.

21. Star Trek: Picard (2399-2402)

Star Trek: Picard is the… well… next generation of Star Trek: The Next Generation as it brings back not only Partick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard, but also many of his former crew members from the beloved series. The story is set 20 years after the events of Star Trek Nemesis and we find Picard retired from Starfleet and living at his family’s vineyard in France.

Without spoiling anything, certain events get one of our favorite captains back to work and take him on an adventure through space and time over three seasons and 30 episodes.

The show had its ups and downs, but the third season, in our opinion, stuck the landing and gave us an “emotional, exciting, and ultimately fun journey for Jean-Luc and his family - both old and new - that gives the character the send-off that he has long deserved.”

22. Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 3 and 4 (3188-TBD)

While Star Trek: Discovery begins around 10 years before Star Trek: The Original Series, the show jumps more than 900 years into the future into the 32nd Century following the events of the second season. The Federation is not in great shape and Captain Michael Burnham and her crew work to bring it back to what it once was.

Star Trek: Discovery is set to end after the upcoming fifth season, which will debut on Paramount+ in 2024.

How to Watch Star Trek by Order of Release

• Star Trek: The Original Series (1966 - 1969)
• Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973 - 1974)
• 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 (1984)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987 - 1994)
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993 - 1999)
• Star Trek: Generations (1994)
• Star Trek: Voyager (1995 - 2001)
• Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
• Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
• Star Trek: Enterprise (2001 - 2005)
• Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
• Star Trek (2009)
• Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
• Star Trek Beyond (2016)
• Star Trek: Discovery (2017 - Present)
• Star Trek: Picard (2020 - 2023)
• Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020 - Present)
• Star Trek: Prodigy (2021 - TBA)
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022 - Present)

For more, check out our look at the hidden meaning behind Star Trek’s great captains, why Star Trek doesn’t get credit as the first shared universe, if this may be the end of Star Trek’s golden age of streaming, and our favorite classic Star Trek episodes and movies.

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What Star Trek Titles Are Streaming on Netflix?

Star Trek is a name that almost everyone recognizes, it has been around for decades and has inspired millions around the world. It’s had extensive coverage in all manner of media formats but one of the biggest has been its TV and movie presence. Since its inception, there have been 726 individual Star Trek episodes spread out across decades. We’ve also seen 13 feature-length movies too.

We are also lucky enough to welcome a new Netflix Original  Star Trek: Discovery. The first new Star Trek TV show in 16 years will be coming to UK Netflix on the 25th of September (with new episodes releasing every Monday). But for our viewers from the United States, the show will debut on September 2nd on CBS  and made available on their streaming service, CBS All Access.

The new show stars  The Walking Dead ‘s Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham, first officer of  The Discovery . The series is set 10 years before the original ventures of Kirk and Spock of the Enterprise.

The premise for the majority of the shows stays relatively similar. It takes place throughout the Universe onboard an intergalactic ship, For example, the Enterprise or the Voyager. Over the years we have been introduced to many crews, comprised of different actors and actresses. There is much debate on which adaptation of Star Trek is the best, but one thing is for sure. It has developed a cult following and even has a university degree dedicated to learning the language in the show.

As the Star Trek universe has expanded, it has become increasingly more difficult to keep track of all the content streaming on Netflix. But don’t worry, we’re here to cover every Star Trek title currently available, due to release in the future, and has sadly left our Netflix screens.

To see the entire catalog of different Star Trek we suggest you head over to Wikipedia who has the best catalog.

We would like to explain that the list below only refers to what’s available on  US Netflix.

Streaming to Netflix Right Now

• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1993 – 7 Seasons)
• Star Trek: Voyager (2000 – 7 Seasons)
• Star Trek (1963 – 3 Seasons)
• Star Trek: Enterprise (2004 – 4 Seasons)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1999 – 7 Seasons)
• Star Trek: The Aminated Series (1973 – 2 Seasons)

Coming Soon to Netflix Streaming

• Star Trek: Discovery  from 25th September

Has Streamed on Netflix at some point but left

Back in July of 2016, 7 Feature Length Star Trek Movies tragically left US  Netflix. Along with this blow, it seems like other the months, all the Star Trek movies have been removed from American Netflix.

Feature Length Movies

• Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
• 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: Insurrection (1998)
• Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
• Star Trek (2009)
• Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

If you are slightly disappointed in hearing that so many of the classic films are no longer available to stream, remember if you are lucky enough to have a Netflix DVD account,  it is likely that you can rent all the classics.

Although, if you live in either the UK or Australia  you are in luck! You will soon be welcoming the entire backlog of Star Trek titles. So soon you’ll have more content than you know what to do with.

We’ll keep this post updated over time with every single Star Trek title as things tend to come and go from the service regularly.

Alex Hirlam has been a contributor to What's on Netflix and provided weekly roundups for Australia and Canada as well as other features. Alex came to What's on Netflix for an apprenticeship where he spent a year and a half maintaining the libraries of the two regions as well as contributing content. Resides in Norwich, UK.

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike.

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Episodes 31

• Captain Christopher Pike …

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• Trivia Bruce Horak , the actor who plays Hemmer, is legally blind, just like his character's species, the Aenar, who are also blind.
• Goofs There are some rank insignia mistakes. Number One is introduced as "Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley" yet she is wearing the rank insignia of a full commander: two full stripes. A Lieutenant Commander's rank insignia is a full stripe under a thin stripe (in TOS it is a full stripe and a staggered stripe). It is not uncommon for a ship's first officer to be a Lt. Commander if they have not been in the position long. Spock at this point is a Lieutenant but he is wearing Lieutenant Commander's stripes; a Lieutenant just has one stripe. La'an is the ship's chief of security and the ship's second officer. She is also wearing Lt. Commander stripes but is addressed as a Lieutenant, but it would make more sense for her to be a Lieutenant Commander. Either way both of their rank insignia are not matching the rank they are addressed by. Ortegas is addressed as a Lieutenant but is wearing Lieutenant Commander's strips. A Lieutenant Commander may be addressed as a Commander or Lieutenant Commander but never as just a Lieutenant, so either her rank insignia or the manner she is addressed by the rest of the crew is in error.

[opening narration]

Captain Christopher Pike : Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

• Connections Featured in Nerdrotic: Woke Hollywood is FAILING, and That's a Good Thing (2022)

Technical specs

• Runtime 52 minutes
• D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Atmos

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The Star Trek Origins Movie Is Officially Moving Forward, But I Have Two Serious Concerns About It

Am I the only one wondering about these things?

If you have a Paramount+ subscription , you know full well how the Star Trek franchise has been thriving on TV again for many years now. Streaming has allowed the shows like Discovery , Picard , Strange New Worlds , Prodigy (which is now housed at Netflix) and Lower Decks to be made, and there are more upcoming Star Trek TV shows on the way, as well as the Michelle Yeoh-led Section 31 movie . However, not the franchise’s theatrical film side of things, we haven’t seen anything since 2016’s Star Trek Beyond , but apparently that’s about to change. Paramount Pictures is officially moving forward with that Star Trek origins movie that was reported about earlier this year , though after hearing this news, I can’t help but have two serious concerns about it.

During the Paramount presentation at CinemaCon today that CinemaBlend attended, it was mentioned that this Star Trek movie, which will be directed by Andor ’s Toby Haynes and written by Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter ’s Seth Grahame-Smith, is set to begin production later this year and is expected to be released sometime in 2025. Beyond that, no other details were revealed, so the only other thing we know about this project is that it’s set decades before the events of 2009’s Star Trek , i.e. the movie that kicked off the alternate timeline which follows Chris Pine’s James Kirk, Zachary Quito’s Spock and more.

Therein lies my first concern with this origins movie: exactly how is this going to function as a prequel? Not to get too nerdy, but the point of divergence between the Kelvin timeline and the main Star Trek timeline occurs when Nero’s ship’s came back in time to the former reality, which also happened to be the same day James Kirk was born. Everything before that day happened the same way in both timelines, including the events of the TV show Star Trek: Enterprise . So because that series chronicled Starfleet’s first deep-space exploration and ended with the formation of the United Federation of Planets, what origin is there to tell?

The main thing I can think of at the moment is we’d learn how Starfleet and the United Federation became the powerhouse forces they are by the time the 2009 Star Trek movie begins. But even setting aside the fact that this doesn’t need to be classified as a Kelvin timeline exclusive-story since again, such events would have happened the same way in both realities, would this make for a compelling enough cinematic event? With talent like Haynes and Grahame-Smith behind it, I hope so.

My second concern with this Star Trek origins movie is what this means for Star Trek 4 , i.e. the Star Trek Beyond follow-up. We’re coming up on 10 years of this project trying to get off the ground, with various behind-the-scenes creative talent boarding and exiting it, including director Matt Shakman, who left to helm The Fantastic Four . It seems like Star Trek 4 can’t catch a break, and I’m worried that this origins movie will result in it being shelved for good.

Now to be fair, when this origin story’s existence was revealed, it was mentioned that Star Trek 4 was still in “active development’ and is intended to be “the final chapter of the series.” So on face value, Paramount reportedly intends to give this version of the USS Enterprise crew a proper farewell, but given how many attempts to move Star Trek 4 forward have failed, will prioritizing the Star Trek origins movie will once again result in the other movie falling by the wayside? At this point, if Star Trek 4 does get made, it’s not coming out until well over a decade after Beyond . Is it even worth being remotely optimistic about its chances anymore?

As a longtime Star Trek fan, I’ll end up seeing this origins movie regardless, but these concerns will keep weighing on my mind until more information comes to light. Naturally we’ll pass along any major updates that come in, but for now, you can look through our 2024 movies schedule to stay on top of the cinematic entertaining coming out later this year.

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A Star Trek origin story movie is officially on the way from Andor and Black Mirror director

It's set to take place decades before 2009's Star Trek

Paramount has officially announced a new Star Trek movie – but it's not Star Trek 4.

The Untitled Star Trek Origin Story was unveiled at CinemaCon, with J.J. Abrams set to produce (H/T The Wrap ). The film will take place decades before 2009's Star Trek, with Andor's Toby Haynes set to direct and Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter author Seth Grahame-Smith set to pen the script. Plot details have yet to be released. Deadline first announced the film earlier this year.

Haynes directed the popular Black Mirror episode U.S.S Callister, which acts as a Star Trek parody. Black Mirror season 7 will feature a sequel to U.S.S Callister , though it has not yet been announced who will direct.

Paramount also stated that the origin pic would begin production later this year to make it in time for a 2025 theatrical release. Star Trek 4, the sequel to Abrams' 2009 flick, is still in development. WandaVision's Matt Shakman was previously attached to direct, but  left the project  in August 2022  around the same time he was announced as the new Fantastic Four director. Last month, Variety reported that Sucker Punch and Supernatural writer Steve Yockey would pen the fourth Star Trek film, which intends to bring back Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and the rest of the cast.

The Untitled Star Trek Origin Story does not yet have a release date. For more, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies in 2024 and beyond, or, skip right to the good stuff with our list of movie release dates .

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Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ currently based in the Midwest. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.

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The Star Trek “Origin” Movie Is Finally Going Into Production

The new Star Trek prequel movie is set to be revealed on the big screen. Probably.

For 30 years — from 1979 to 2009 — the longest wait between new Star Trek feature films was seven years. And, for most of that period, from the release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) to Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), there was almost always a new Star Trek movie in theaters every two to four years. But after the wildly successful J.J. Abrams-directed reboot film in 2009, the release clip for Trek movies went from maximum warp to impulse power, to glacially slow. And now, by the time the next Star Trek movie hits theaters, it will have been about 10 years since the previous one — Star Trek Beyond — beamed into cinemas in 2016.

Since that time, for Trekkies, updates of a new Star Trek film have been very similar to the game football Lucy plays with Charlie Brown; just when a hypothetical movie sounds real, it gets snatched away. But now, there’s a glimmer of hope. Thanks to reports out of CinemaCon 2024, it looks like, the next Trek film is scheduled for release in either 2025 or 2026. But what’s it about? And will it really happen?

Star Trek 14 is “an untitled origin story”

The new “origin story” will be set before the 2009 reboot. But how many decades before?

During CinemaCon 2024, Paramount confirmed several in-development projects including a live-action GI Joe / Transformers crossover (teased in 2023’s Rise of the Beasts ), a hardcore Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live-action movie, a remake of the sci-fi thriller The Running Man (from Edgar Wright), the confirmation of an Avatar trilogy, and the assertion that a new Star Trek feature film will go into production this year, with a release date soon to follow.

Since 2016 to now, there have been at least five different attempts to make a new Star Trek film, either as timey wimey direct sequel to Beyond (“Star Trek 4”) a one-off space mobster movie (Quentin Tarantino’s script) or something else entirely (Noah Hawley and Matt Shakman’s attempts that remain undisclosed). But now, although Paramount is reportedly developing a sequel to Beyond — which would feature the reboot cast from the 2009 film one last time — the next Star Trek movie is not that sequel, but instead, as previously reported , an “origin story” that “takes place decades before the 2009 Star Trek film that rebooted the franchise.” This movie has been confirmed to be directed by Toby Haynes ( Andor, Doctor Who ) with a script from Seth Grahame-Smith ( The Lego Batman Movie , Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter) .

Wait? Wasn’t the 2009 film an “origin story?” While the answer to this question is technically a “yes,” the 2009 film (just titled Star Trek ) was also partially a time-travel sequel to the canon established in The Next Generation , and literally everything else in the Trek franchise up until that point. By saying the new prequel film takes place “decades before” the first reboot, this could hypothetically mean that the movie takes place in both the Prime and Kelvin timelines simultaneously.

TLDR: The Trek timeline diverged in the first reboot movie, beginning in the year 2233, so, a story set even a few decades before that divergence, in the 2210s or 2220s or earlier, would be consistent with all versions of Trek's future history. Presumably, the “origin story” won’t take place in the two decades between the prologue of the 2009 film (2233) and the main story (2258), because honestly, even for hardcore Trekkies that’s a big canon headache. So, sometime in the early 2200s, but before the 2230s is probably the best bet. And, even if the movie was set a bit earlier than that — say in the late 2180s or 2190s — we’d still be dealing with a very early point of Starfleet history that has never been depicted and that we know almost nothing about. Hence, if you squint — and don’t think about the prequel series Enterprise (2151-2161) too much — then yes, we’re looking at an origin story in which pretty much anything could happen.

Star Trek “origin” movie release date

One of the earliest shots of the USS Enterprise — from the 1964 Star Trek pilot episode “The Cage.” The new prequel film will likely be set half a century before this moment.

While some tweets out of CinemaCon seemed to indicate that the new Star Trek movie could hit next year in 2025 , TrekMovie confirmed that the “Untitled Star Trek Origin Story,” is on the Paramount slate for 2025 or 2026. TrekMovie also predicted that 2026 is more likely, writing, “If Paramount can move fast enough they could get the origin movie into theaters by 2026 — in time for Star Trek’s 60th anniversary.” Then again, 2025 is not impossible, it’s just cutting it a little close.

It should also be noted that the entire corporate entity of Paramount is reportedly close to a merger that would see it purchased by Skydance Media, the same production company behind the three existing J.J. Abrams-produced Star Trek reboots. If that deal is finalized soon, then, yes, this Star Trek feature film might actually happen very quickly. And if it doesn’t, there will still be plenty of new Star Trek shows streaming , not to mention the first direct-to-streaming standalone Star Trek movie, Section 31 , starring Michelle Yeoh, which will hit Paramount+ sometime later this year.

All the reboot Star Trek films (2009-2016) are currently streaming on Paramount+. The previous ten films (1979-2002) are all on Max.

Ryan Britt's new book on the history of Star Trek's biggest changes. From the '60s show to the movies to 'TNG,' to 'Discovery,' 'Picard,' Strange New Worlds,' and beyond!

• Science Fiction

Screen Rant

Star trek origin movie officially announced by paramount for 2025 release.

Paramount Pictures officially announces the next Star Trek movie at CinemaCon, which will arrive in movie theaters in 2025.

• Paramount Pictures announces new Star Trek movie for 2025, directed by Toby Haynes and written by Seth Grahame-Smith.
• Chris Pine-led Star Trek 4 remains in development, while the new film is an origin story set decades before Abrams' 2009 movie.
• Alongside the Star Trek origin movie, Paramount reveals a packed slate of exciting films for 2025-26 at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

Paramount Pictures officially announces the next Star Trek movie, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2025. As reported in January, the next Star Trek movie isn't the long-delayed, Chris Pine-led Star Trek 4 produced by J.J. Abrams, which remains in development at Paramount. Rather, the next Star Trek movie is an origin story directed by Toby Haynes ( Star Wars: Andor ) and written by Seth Grahame-Smith (A braham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter ).

Screen Rant' s Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) is at CinemaCon in Las Vegas where Paramount Pictures confirmed the next Star Trek movie , currently called Untitled Star Trek Origin Story , to be released in 2025. J.J. Abrams is also producing Untitled Star Trek Origin Story, which takes place decades before Abrams' Star Trek 2009 movie. See Rob Keyes' Tweet below:

Paramount also confirmed Untitled Star Trek Origin Story will begin production later this year for theatrical release in 2025.

Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show

Star trek's new movies in theaters and paramount plus explained, star trek is finally making movies again.

After nearly a decade, Star Trek i s back to making movies. Star Trek on Paramount+ has created a television renaissance for the franchise, but the theatrical side of Star Trek overseen by Paramount Pictures has languished in development hell since Star Trek Beyond bowed in the summer of 2016. Toby Haynes' Untitled Star Trek Origin Story is yet another prequel, but as it's said to be set decades before Star Trek 2009, it could very well be set after Star Trek: Enterprise 's mid-22nd century voyages but otherwise be an origin story for both Star Trek 's Prime and alternate Kelvin timelines .

Meanwhile, J.J. Abrams' Star Trek 4 , which is the "final chapter" of the USS Enterprise crew led by Chris Pine's Captain James T. Kirk and Zachary Quinto's Spock, has seen some movement with a new screenwriter, Steve Yockey ( The Flight Attendant ), tackling the long-delayed sequel. Pine and his fellow Star Trek actors, including Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, and Sofia Boutella, have all expressed their eagerness to return if Star Trek 4 can come together.

It's a positive sign that Star Trek movies are finally coming back.

Paramount+ is making their own Star Trek movies, with the recently-wrapped Star Trek: Section 31 awaiting a release date. Starring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh, Section 31 i s the first made-for-streaming Star Trek movie, and it is reportedly set during Star Trek 's "lost era" with connections to Star Trek: The Next Generation. Section 31 could get a sequel if successful, and the Star Trek: Picard spinoff dubbed Star Trek: Legacy may also become a streaming movie instead of a series. However all this shakes out, it's a positive sign that Star Trek movies are finally coming back.

Source: Rob Keyes Twitter