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What Is The Best ‘Star Trek’ Film Ever? Decider’s Ultimate Ranking

This weekend the Star Trek film franchise embarks once more on a mind-bending adventure a galaxy away. Star Trek Beyond is the thirteenth feature length film in the Star Trek canon and, if early reviews are to be believed, it’s one of the best. Critics say that this film combines the best and brightest qualities of JJ Abrams’ 2009 reboot with the wonder of the original ’60s series.

Though lauded as a television series, Star Trek has struggled on the big screen. Some of the films are brilliant yarns that meditate on the human soul and others are cheesy messes with unbelievable plot-twists and two-dimensional villains. We understand that you might want to prep for Star Trek Beyond by marathoning the other twelve films, but in case you want to skip the turkeys, we’ve decided to rank the films according to watchability.

(Note we are counting down to #1)

12

‘Star Trek V: The Final Frontier’ (1989)

STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER, Leonard Nimoy, Laurence Luckinbill, 1989, (c)Paramount/courtesy Eve
Everett Collection

Oh man, this is the one where we learn that Spock has a half-brother who thinks he’s a God. This one is full of weirdness and cult stuff and Uhuru doing a sexy dance to distract the enemy. It almost killed the Star Trek franchise forever. [Where to Stream Star Trek V: The Final Frontier]

11

‘Star Trek: Nemesis’ (2002)

STAR TREK: NEMESIS, Patrick Stewart, Tom Hardy, 2002.  Copyright  © 2002 by Paramount Pictures/Court
Everett Collection

The only thing you need to know about this film is that Tom Hardy plays a young clone of Patrick Stewart and this film killed the “Next Generation” portion of the Star Trek film franchise. Moving on… [Where to Stream Star Trek: Nemesis]

10

‘Star Trek Generations’ (1994)

STAR TREK: GENERATIONS, from left, William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, 1994, ©Paramount/courtesy Evere
Everett Collection

Oh boy…Star Trek Generations… Back in 1994, producers got the idea that the best way to re-energize the dying Star Trek film franchise would be to pass the torch to the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The only problem was some Trekkies were still loyal to the original crew. What to do? Create a weird time ribbon that united Kirk and Picard — and kill Kirk in the most weird way possible. It’s best we forget this one. [Where to Stream Star Trek Generations]

9

‘Star Trek: Insurrection’ (1998)

STAR TREK: INSURRECTION, LeVar Burton, Patrick Stewart, 1998, (c)Paramount/courtesy Everett Collecti
Everett Collection

Of all the “Next Gen” outings, this one has the most winks and nods to the fans. Nevertheless, it’s also a tad bit messy and silly. I mean, it’s fun, in a quaint sort of way. (ARGH, I DO NOT PERSONALLY LIKE THIS ONE, OKAY?) [Where to Stream Star Trek: Insurrection]

8

‘Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country’ (1991)

STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, from left, DeForest Kelley, Iman, 1991, ©Paramount/courtesy
Everett Collection

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was the last of the original films. We watch as Kirk and his cohorts struggle to make an uneasy peace with the Klingon empire. Unfortunately, a rogue group of Klingon terrorists kill their peace-making ambassador and frame Kirk and McCoy. Kim Cattrall and Iman appear in this one. [Where to Stream Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country]

7

‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ (2013)

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, from left: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Pine, 2013. ph: Zade Rosenthal/©Para
Everett Collection

No one expected Star Trek to be a hit, but after it was, everyone wanted its sequel to be dynamite. However, the film was haunted by the spirit of The Wrath of Khan. Instead of trying to outdo that film, JJ Abrams and his cohorts tried to re-do it…to less than stellar results. Still, there are some nice action sequences in this (SERIOUSLY). [Where to Stream Star Trek Into Darkness]

6

'Star Trek III: The Search For Spock’ (1984)

STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, from left, Deforest Kelley, Walter Koenig, William Shatner, Jam
Everett Collection

The Search For Spock is, for all intents and purposes, a Wrath of Khan sequel. The film reveals that before dying, Spock imparted his spirit into McCoy. Also, because they buried his body on the Genesis planet, Spock was reborn, as a rapidly aging child. Crazy conceit aside, it’s a fun enough film and offers up some great Star Trek lore. [Where to Stream Star Trek III: The Search For Spock]

5

'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' (1979)

STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, from left, Persis Khambatta, William Shatner, 1979, ©Paramount Pictur
Everett Collection

You might best remember the first Star Trek film as the one with the bald lady. This stylish reimagining of the TV series brought the original cast up to date with “modern” ‘70s special effects and pushed philosophy into sci-fi cinema. Though it’s often criticized for being “boring,” this is one that grows on you with time. [Where to Stream Star Trek: The Motion Picture]

4

‘Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home’ (1986)

STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Catherine Hicks,  DeForest Kelley, Ja
Everett Collection

The sweetest and most twee of all Star Trek films, this is the one about the humpback whales. Earth is about to be destroyed by an alien race that can only communicate with humpback whales. Sadly, they went extinct sometime in our near future in the Star Trek universe. The crew travels back in time to take two whales named George and Gracie back to their future. It’s cute. [Where to Stream Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]

3

‘Star Trek: First Contact’ (1996)

STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT, Alice Krige, 1996, (c)Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection
Everett Collection

After getting free and clear of Kirk’s generation, the Picard crew was free to have their own rip-roaring adventure on the big screen — and it doesn’t get better than this time travel caper that unites our heroes with their worst enemies, the Borg, at the very moment that Earth was about to create warp speed and make “first contact” with the Vulcans. Nerd stuff aside, this exciting addition to the film franchise is so fun that it garnered a positive nod in an early season of South Park. (Stan steals Riker’s pep talk to Cochrane to help motivate Jesus in the ring.) [Where to Stream Star Trek: First Contact]

2

‘Star Trek’ (2009)

STAR TREK, from left: Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, 2009. ©Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection
Photo: Everett Collection

When it was announced that Paramount was rebooting the original Star Trek for a hip millennial audience, the internet rolled its eyes. When pretty boys Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and Karl Urban were cast as the original trio, the fans were pissed off. When JJ Abrams finally delivered this fresh and suspenseful reimagining of the series, everyone was gobsmacked by how delightful it was. The Star Trek reboot was a gleeful summer smash that kept the optimistic “can do” spirit of the original series. [Where to Stream Star Trek]

1

'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’ (1982)

STAR TREK 2: WRATH OF KHAN, William Shatner, 1982. (c)Paramount. Courtesy: Everett Collection.
Everett Collection

This is it: This is the best Star Trek movie ever. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan reunited an aging Enterprise crew with one of their least memorable villains: superhuman eugenics freak Khan. If you hadn’t seen “Space Seed,” you wouldn’t even know that Khan existed, much less that he and Kirk had bad blood. Yet, the intensity of Khan’s rage is fascinating on its own. See, Kirk ruined Khan’s life, yet for the swashbuckling captain, Khan was only a footnote, the baddie of the week. The Wrath of Khan is a tumultuous look at duty, loyalty, vengeance, and the never-ending human quest to escape the sins of our past. [Where to Stream Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]