Best Star Trek Movies For Newcomers To The Franchise, Ranked

The first Star Trek show debuted in 1966, making it one of the oldest entertainment franchises, which also means plenty of time to produce every kind of merch and media. Whole teams of writers, creators, designers, and directors have been working on this franchise for nearly 60 years, so it can be daunting for a new fan to choose the best way to get into the Star Trek universe.

Several movies are easier to get through than a whole season of a TV show or the playthrough of a video game, so this is an ideal place to start. There are currently 14 movies in the Star Trek franchise, including the Kelvin Timeline and the recently released Star Trek: Section 31. A few are perfect for those new to one of entertainment's oldest franchises.

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5 Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Originally Intended To Be TOS Season Four

In its time, Star Trek: The Motion Picture was a notorious, even hilarious, box-office and critical failure. It looked great, and it still does, but the slow pace and long, wide shots were intended to mimic 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was popular at the time, but the same thing didn't work for Star Trek fans.

The good news is that this movie has aged extremely well, and recent remastered versions make it look even better. Modern audiences have a better appreciation for the design, backstory, and 1970s costuming that makes Starfleet uniforms look more like pajamas. The movie includes all the major characters from the series, with a few exceptions, and a compelling story and plot twist that references an important historical event. All together, these elements make it a great movie even for a person who doesn't like Star Trek.

4 Star Trek (2009)

An Introduction To The Kelvin Timeline

J.J. Abrams had some fun with an alternate timeline about 15 years ago, which delved deeper into the concept of alternate timelines than Star Trek ever had before. Although most of the main characters are the same, their circumstances are very different. The universe is named after the USS Kelvin, famously James Kirk's birthplace according to the lore.

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However, a rogue Romulan destroyed the famous ship, causing an alternate reality in which this story takes place. This was the first movie or TV show to explore the possibilities of Kirk, Spock, Uhura, and other fan favorites during their Starfleet days, and the story depicts some memorable moments.

Later installments in this series would never reach the same levels of popularity as the original, and it's unlikely that there will be a fourth. It's a fun way to experience all the creativity that goes into modern Star Trek.

3 Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

The Genesis Project, Klingons, And Augments

The concept of the summer blockbuster was still in its infancy in the early 80s, but it's safe to say that Wrath of Khan is one of the early examples. Unlike its predecessor, fans and critics raved over this sci-fi action thriller that picked up a thread from one of the original episodes and took a crazy chance by killing off a main character, even if temporarily.

Some expository information gives new fans ample backstory, but for an even better experience, the episode it's based on is worth viewing. It's entitled "Space Seed," and recounts the story of finding the ship of Augments and eventually leaving them on Seti Alpha 5. It should be noted that the term "Augments" didn't appear until modern Trek, but when characters on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds or Star Trek Lower Decks use the term, this is what they mean.

2 Star Trek: First Contact

The Lore Of The Next Generation

As far as Star Trek: The Next Generation era goes, this is the best movie featuring Picard and his crew. This is the eighth Star Trek movie overall, but when the TNG movies started, the series stopped using the numbers.

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It features some interesting historical context and a bold attack on humanity by one of the franchise's most notorious villains. The Borg go back in time to disrupt the first warp flight from Earth, which would mean the Vulcans would never see the warp signature and First Contact never happens. Not only do Picard and his crew need to figure out how to stop the Borg, but they also have to keep them from assimilating the Enterprise and her crew.

1 Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home

We Saved The Whales

Star Trek 4 is the movie that Gene Roddenberry didn't want, but fans, critics, and history were not on his side. Not only is this the highest-grossing Star Trek movie, it's one of the best movies of the 20th century and many a fan favorite. Many claim it as one of the nostalgic cornerstones of their 1980s childhood, and everything from the cheesy acting to the tapered jeans and permed hair makes it a flawless product of its time.

That's only part of the reason why it's a great movie for new fans. Star Trek 4 combines all

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Star Trek

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Created by

Gene Roddenberry

Creation Year

1966

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First Film

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

First TV Show

Star Trek: The Original Series

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the best things about Star Trek, the first and foremost being an optimistic future beyond ignorance and bigotry, with a close second being the depiction of humanity's courage and ingenuity in the face of overwhelming odds.