How to Watch All theStar TrekMovies in Order (Including the Surprising Timeline of Michelle Yeoh'sSection 31!)

Mar. 15, 2025

The cast of the motion picture ‘Star Trek’ (1979).Photo:Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Star Trekis still living long and prospering, almost 60 years after the series first aired.

The showgained such a huge following that it was later continued with an animated sequel series that ran for two seasons from 1973 to 1974. Much of the original cast reprised their roles in the animated series, and in 1979 they gathered together once again — this time for a big-budget, live-action Hollywood movie.

Since then, 14 moreStar Trekfilmshave premiered, including Paramount+’s Jan. 24 release ofStar Trek: Section 31, in whichMichelle Yeohreprises her role as Philippa Georgiou.

The complicatedStar Trekuniverse and its dual timelines — called “Prime” and “Kelvin” — make it difficult to know how to watch the movies in storyline order. Here’s a complete guide on how to catch up on theStar Trekfilm franchise in chronological and release order.

Original “Prime” Timeline

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: Section 31(2025)

Alternate “Kelvin” Timeline

Star Trek(2009)

Star Trek Into Darkness(2013)

Star Trek Beyond(2016)

Star Trek 4(TBA)

James Doohan and Leonard Nimoy ‘Stark Trek’ (1979).Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

In the movie, the crew must identify a mysterious energy cloud that’s heading towards Earth. What they discover is that it’s actually an ancient NASA satellite that gained sentience after encountering an alien race.

WatchStar Trek: The Motion Pictureon Paramount+

Kirstie Alley in ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan’ (1982).Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

The secondStar Trekfilm gave the world the iconic“Khaaaaan!”scream and is often ranked as a fan favorite.

The Wrath of Khanis a sequel to theStar Trekseason 1 episode “Space Seed” — but viewers can still understand the movie without seeing the episode. In the film, the genetically engineered villain Khan seeks revenge against Kirk for being exiled to a remote inhospitable world 15 years prior.The Wrath of Khanalso served asKirstie Alley’s first major role.

WatchStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khanon Paramount+

After Spock has to sacrifice himself inThe Wrath of Khanto save the crew amid the explosion of the Genesis Device, a planet was created to help reanimate him.

But the Klingons believe the Genesis Device could also be used as a powerful weapon, so theEnterprisecrew must save their friendandfight off a Klingon army at the same time. Nimoy not only reprised his role as Spock in the film, but he also directed it. Plus,Christopher Lloydjoined the cast as the film’s villain.

WatchStar Trek III: The Search for Spockon Paramount+

Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner in ‘Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home’ (1986).AJ Pics / Alamy

AJ Pics / Alamy

In the fourthStar Trekfilm, a giant cylinder-shaped space object lingers over Earth’s orbit, emitting sounds of extinct humpback whales. The probe causes massive disasters on Earth, so theEnterprisecrew must travel back in time to the ’80s to find whales and bring them to the future.

Despite its wild premise, seeing theStar Trekcrew in 20th-century San Francisco was a fresh take for fans. It also served as Nimoy’s second time directing aStar Trekfilm, and he helped write the script.

WatchStar Trek IV: The Voyage Homeon Paramount+

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and Deforest Kelley in ‘Star Trek V: The Final Frontier’ (1989).Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

ForThe Final Frontier, Shatner took over directing duties and helped write the story. In the film, theEnterprisecrew answers a distress call from a rogue Vulcan named Sybok (spoiler alert: he’s Spock’s half-brother) who is on a quest to discover God.

Sybok believes God is hiding behind an energy barrier in the middle of the universe. Unfortunately, what they uncover isn’t God, but actually an evil being and that energy barrier was designed as a prison. Even worse, the Klingons have been secretly following them, hoping to finally kill Kirk.

WatchStar Trek V: The Final Frontieron Paramount+

George Takei in ‘Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country’ (1991).Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

InThe Undiscovered Country, a series of disasters have forced the Klingons to suspend their war against the Federation and take part in peace talks. But unknown members of the Federation unexpectedly attack the Klingons, causing them to believe they’ve been betrayed.

As always, it’s up to theEnterprisecrew to find out who the imposters are and stop a full-scale war from breaking out.The Undiscovered Countryalso serves as the final film for the original, or “Prime," timeline before the franchise introduced the cast ofThe Next Generationinto the film series.

WatchStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Countryon Paramount+

Michelle Yeoh in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ (2025).Paramount+

Paramount+

Section 31takes place during Earth year 2333, putting it in betweenThe Undiscovered Country(in 2293) andGenerations(in 2371).

For the film, which premiered on Jan. 24, 2025, Yeoh reprises her role as Emperor Georgiou from the seriesStar Trek: Discoveryand joins “a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and face the sins of her past,” per an official synopsis of the movie.

WatchStar Trek: Section 31on Paramount+

Malcolm McDowell in ‘Star Trek: Generations’ (1994).Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

While the film series was still focusing on the originalStar Trekcast, on television,Star Trek: The Next Generationhad been airing since 1987 and was a huge hit.Star Trek Generationspremiered in November 1994, a few months followingThe Next Generation’s series finale after airing for seven seasons.

The film bridged the gap between the original series andThe Next Generation,showing that Kirk has been trapped in an otherworldly realm known as the Nexus, allowing him to live beyond his years.

Eventually, he encounters the crew of theEnterprise-D(theTNGcrew) and must help them defeat the evil Soran (Malcolm McDowell). During the final battle, Kirk is fatally injured and dies at the end of the movie, officially passing on the franchise’s torch to theTNGcrew.

WatchStar Trek Generationson Paramount+

Alfre Woodard, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden and Patrick Stewart in ‘Star Trek: First Contact’ (1996).Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

InFirst Contact, the crew of theEnterprisetime travel so they can prevent the Borg from taking over earth.

WatchStar Trek: First Contacton Paramount+

Patrick Stewart and LeVar Burton in ‘Star Trek: Insurrection’ (1998).Elliott Marks/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Elliott Marks/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

InInsurrection, theEnterprisecrew finds themselves in a battle between two races. In the film, the crew encounters the Ba’ku people who, despite knowing about advanced technologies, have completely rejected them for unknown reasons.

It turns out that their planet has special properties that make them virtually immortal, leading them to flaunt modern technologies. However, a banished tribe of Ba’ku whodidembrace technology called the Son’a have destroyed their physical bodies in their quest for immortality. Filled with resentment and rage, the Son’a now want revenge.

WatchStar Trek: Insurrectionon Paramount+

Released in 2002,Star Trek: Nemesisis the final film in the originalStar Trektimeline.

WatchStar Trek: Nemesison Paramount+

Star TrekAlternate “Kelvin” Timeline

Chris Pine in ‘Star Trek’ (2009).Paramount/Bad Robot/Kobal/Shutterstock

Paramount/Bad Robot/Kobal/Shutterstock

The new cast also includedChris Pine, who played Kirk,Zoe Saldaña, who played Uhura,Simon Peggas Scotty,Anton Yelchinas Chekov and John Cho as Sulu. In the film, theEnterprisecrew must fight off the vengeful Romulan Captain Nero (Eric Bana) to keep the Federation safe.

WatchStar Trekon Paramount+

Benedict Cumberbatch and Karl Urban in ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ (2013).Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

In the 2013 sequel, the Federation believes that the Klingons have attacked a Section 31 outpost on Earth, which could ignite a full-blown war. But as Kirk and theEnterprisecrew dig deeper, they discover a secret conspiracy and at the center of it is the infamous Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch).

Netting over $467 million at the box office,Into Darknessis currently the highest-grossingStar Trekmovie of all time.

WatchStar Trek Into Darknesson Paramount+

Zoe Saldana and John Cho in ‘Star Trek Beyond’ (2016).Paramount Pictures/Bad Robot/Kobal/Shutterstock

Paramount Pictures/Bad Robot/Kobal/Shutterstock

With it, Krall can build a massive weapon he hopes to use against the Federation.Star Trek Beyondmarks the first film without Prime Spock asNimoy died in 2015, a year before the film premiered.

WatchStar Trek Beyondon Paramount+

Star Trek 4

Chris Pine attends the 2024 iHeartPodcast Awards on March 11, 2024 in Austin, TX ; Zachary Quinto during the 2024 TCA Summer Press Tour on July 14, 2024 in Pasadena, CA ; Zoe Saldana attends Kering And Cannes Film Festival Official Dinner on May 19, 2024 in Cannes, France.Rick Kern/Getty ; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty ; Daniele Venturelli/Getty

Rick Kern/Getty ; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty ; Daniele Venturelli/Getty

In 2022, Paramount announced that it had greenlita fourthStar Trekfilmin the Kelvin timeline and expected the original cast to reprise their roles. However, as of January 2025, the movie is in the very early stages of development with the script still being written.

In December 2024, Saldaña gave an update during aDeadlineinterview, saying, “I wish we were able to do it sooner rather than later. I feel like a lot of us have a full head of gray hair, so we need to do this quickly, if this is the same cast that’s going to reprise it again.”

source: people.com