All 14 Star Trek Movies Ranked from Worst to Best
Screen Rant ranks every Star Trek feature film from the 1979 debut to the 2025 streaming release, evaluating each movie's success in balancing character
Screen Rant has published a definitive ranking of all 14 Star Trek movies. The list spans from the original crew's first cinematic outing in 1979 to the franchise's first streaming movie in 2025, judging each film on its ability to translate Star Trek's core appeal into blockbuster entertainment.
The Bottom of the List
The ranking places the 2025 film Star Trek: Section 31 at the very bottom. According to the source, the Michelle Yeoh-led streaming movie was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews. It is criticized for feeling disconnected from the qualities that make Star Trek distinctive, lacking the character depth of Discovery and failing to develop a convincing identity of its own.
Just above it is Star Trek V: The Final Frontier from 1989. The source calls it the weakest outing for the original crew, citing uneven effects and an increasingly bizarre final act. It notes that William Shatner's directorial ambition, sending the crew in search of God, never fully coheres despite some strong character moments.
The final Next Generation crew film, Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), is ranked 12th. Screen Rant states it delivered a grim action movie that never fully understands what made that era special, favoring explosions over exploring the intriguing clone storyline featuring Tom Hardy as Shinzon. Data's sacrifice provides emotional weight but cannot rescue the disappointing farewell.
Middle of the Pack
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) is often criticized for feeling like an extended TV episode. The source acknowledges this but argues it remains recognizably committed to Star Trek's ideals, placing Picard in a classic moral dilemma over the forced relocation of the Ba'ku.
The historic meeting of Kirk and Picard in Star Trek Generations (1994) earns it the 10th spot. The source calls it a successful changing-of-the-guard event, highlighted by the spectacular destruction of the Enterprise-D and a memorable villain in Malcolm McDowell's Tolian Soran. However, the plot mechanics are described as convoluted, and Kirk's final fate remains divisive.
The film that started it all, Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), lands at number 9. Its famously deliberate pacing is noted as a challenge, but Screen Rant argues its ambition has aged well. The source praises director Robert Wise for giving the Enterprise a remarkable sense of scale and creating an unusual antagonist in V'Ger.
J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) is ranked 8th. The source calls it enormously entertaining as a blockbuster but criticizes its over-reliance on referencing The Wrath of Khan once Benedict Cumberbatch's character is revealed. "The cast nearly pulls it off," the article states, "but the movie ultimately demonstrates why referencing a classic is much easier than matching one."
The Top Tier
The ranking for the top seven films is as follows:
| Rank | Movie Title | Release Year | Key Note from Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock | 1984 | A deeply personal adventure where Kirk sacrifices nearly everything for Spock. |
| 6 | Star Trek Beyond | 2016 | The Kelvin-timeline movie that finally felt comfortable in its own skin. |
| 5 | Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country | 1991 | A smart farewell to the original cast, inspired by the end of the Cold War. |
| 4 | Star Trek (2009) | 2009 | A brilliantly executed reboot that made the franchise feel vital again. |
| 3 | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | 1986 | The most purely fun Star Trek movie, a culture-clash comedy that works. |
| 2 | Star Trek: First Contact | 1996 | The perfect blend of action and classic Star Trek themes for the Next Generation crew. |
| 1 | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | 1982 | Sets the standard for everything that followed, a perfect character-driven story. |
Leonard Nimoy's directorial debut, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), is praised for its emotional power. The source highlights the tremendous cost Kirk pays to restore his friend, including the loss of his son and the destruction of the Enterprise.
Star Trek Beyond (2016) is celebrated for being a self-contained adventure that captures the optimism and camaraderie of classic Star Trek without copying it. The source argues it understands the cast's greatest strength is their chemistry, creating fun pairings like Spock and McCoy.
The original crew's farewell, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), is called one of the franchise's smartest movies. Director Nicholas Meyer used the end of the Cold War as inspiration for a story about political change, with the real drama coming from Kirk confronting his own prejudices.
J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot is credited with making the franchise feel vital again through brilliant execution and a stellar new cast. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) is highlighted as the most purely fun entry, successfully built around a culture-clash comedy premise. Star Trek: First Contact (1996) is described as the perfect blend of action and classic themes for the Next Generation crew, delivering the cinematic event that era deserved.
Topping the list is Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan from 1982. Screen Rant declares it the standard-setter for all subsequent films, a perfect character-driven story that balances high stakes with the franchise's philosophical heart. Its legacy continues to define the high point of Star Trek on the big screen.
