Growing up we have been watching different movies and series throughout our lives, one such movie among us is Star Trek. Here in this article, we will solve the question of people on how to watch Star Trek movies in order.
Watching movies is one of the favorite activities for most of us throughout the world. It is one method through which people can actually feel relaxed and are able to find a break for themselves. But when you love a movie that has different sequels, it starts getting tough to remember the chronology.
But you don’t have to worry about things like that since we are present forever for your rescue. One can find the exact Star Trek series that people should watch according to the release date of their series below in the correct format.
People can watch the Star Trek series over different platforms present over the internet. There are different websites present on the internet which tend to provide thousands of movies and web series produced throughout the world on their portal for people to watch.
These movie and series streaming websites provide these streaming services either free of charge or for some amount of money. One can opt for the type of streaming website according to their choice and ease.
But if you’re wondering how to watch the Star Trek movies in order—chronologically or by release—this is your ultimate guide.
Watching Star Trek movies in order is more than just a viewing guide—it’s a journey through time, space, and human imagination. Whether you’re a die-hard Trekkie or a curious newcomer, organizing your watch order can help you appreciate the evolution of characters like Captain Kirk, Spock, Picard, and the Federation itself.
Depending on your preference, you can watch the movies:
And just as important—where you can stream them legally, especially if you’re located outside the US.
Here’s the list of Star Trek films arranged by in-universe timeline, starting from the earliest events to the latest:
| Order | Movie Title | Year Released |
|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | Star Trek: The Motion Picture | 1979 |
| 2️⃣ | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | 1982 |
| 3️⃣ | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock | 1984 |
| 4️⃣ | Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | 1986 |
| 5️⃣ | Star Trek V: The Final Frontier | 1989 |
| 6️⃣ | Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country | 1991 |
| 7️⃣ | Star Trek: Generations | 1994 |
| 8️⃣ | Star Trek: First Contact | 1996 |
| 9️⃣ | Star Trek: Insurrection | 1998 |
| 🔟 | Star Trek: Nemesis | 2002 |
| 🔁 | Star Trek (2009) – Kelvin Timeline Begins | 2009 |
| 🔁 | Star Trek Into Darkness | 2013 |
| 🔁 | Star Trek Beyond | 2016 |
💡 Note: The 2009 reboot and its sequels form the Kelvin Timeline, an alternate universe that exists parallel to the original timeline.
If you want to watch the films exactly as they were released in theaters, here’s the release order:
🎞️ Whether you watch in timeline order or release order is a personal choice—both offer a rewarding experience.
Now one can actually get to watch the Star Trek movies in actual and correct order. Below is the correct chronology of how to watch Star Trek in Order and now one can follow the list accordingly to understand the Star Trek series.
The first part of the Star Trek movie series shows how an energy cloud is coming towards the way of earth to destroy every possible thing on its way. Although Captain Kirk and the crew discover methods to stop the arising issue and stop any upcoming destruction.
The movie is comparatively slow as compared to today and was released back in 8th December, 1979 which casted William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley
Coming second in watch Star Trek movies in order is the Wrath of Khan where Khan is retelling Moby Dick while hunting down for his nemesis Kirk.
The movie shows and amazing performance of the actors way back when it was released in June, 1982 featuring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and Ricardo Montalban.
In this part of Star Trek, the crew is sought out for the search of Spock and are working to enhance the capabilities of Spock to his new body. Even though the movie is not that amazing according to its last two versions, it is an important part of the series because of two reasons.
The first reason is that it shows the coming of Spock and his rebirth while the second reason is that it shows the death of Kirk’s son by the hands of Klingons. This part of the movie was released in June, 1984 which starred William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley
Coming forth in watch Star Trek movies in order, The Voyage Home depicts the story of creation in a funny manner. The crew here is supposed to repair the effects of short-sightedness in people.
To save the earth this time, Captain Kirk has to go back into time and do things in a different method. Released back in November, 1986, this part of the movie starred William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and Catherine Hicks.
Released in June 1989, starring the actors William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley and has a simple plot. The story describes how Spock’s half-brother hijacks the Enterprise in a try to meet God which he thinks himself to be.
This movie also displays the characters of Kirk, Spock and McCoy even when they were not on duty as captains.
In this part of watching Star Trek movies in order, the Klingon moon of Praxis explodes and every possible person on Klingon is about to go extinct. Here people can also see the situation of Kirk since the people of Klingon were responsible for the death of the son of Kirk.
It was released back in December 1991 which showed the actors William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Christopher Plummer.
This part of Star Trek was released in November, 1994 and features the actors Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner.
This movie signified the pass on from the original crew to the next generation. It showed how Soran lost his family and Nexus made a meeting between Kirk and Picard. It showed the basic introduction of the next generation and eventually moved with the story plot.
In the question, watch Star Trek movies in order, this part of Star Trek has to be the best one. It moves with the plot that they have to move back into the time during the first contact where the earth’s first foray is taking place.
It also features the fight of Borag with the Enterprise which is worth the watch for Star Trek fans. It was released back in November, 1996 and featured Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Alice Krige.
Released back in December, 1998 depicting the movie through Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, F. Murray Abraham. It shows the conspiracy of the Federation to dismiss the planet’s population. It also reveals the rekindling of the romance between Riker and Troi. People can view the following series of Star Trek accordingly.
In this part, Shinzon is dying which can only be safe by the transfusion of Picard’s blood. The intention of Shinzon also is to completely destroy the planet Earth and some other planets as well.
This part of Star Trek is famous for killing Data and was released back in December, 2002 and starred the actors Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Tom Hardy.
Coming back to the beginning, the movie shows Romulan named Nero who was trying to destroy earth. This part of the movie starts the Prime Timeline series of the Star Trek where Spock tries to save Romulus but eventually fails.
It was released back in May, 2009 and featured the actors Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban.
In this plot of Star Trek, Khan features in many scenes in the Darkness but does not take it out with Kirk. Here, the Street Admiral is forcing Khan towards mass destruction. Moving further, Kirk manages to kill Captain Pike but on the same hand had to sacrifice himself to save his crew.
This is the last movie on the list to watch Star Trek movies in order. It was released in July, 2016 and featured the actors Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Idris Elba. In this part, the enterprise is attracted by the Altamid falsely.
Moreover, it also showed the passing away of Spock and concludes the mission of the Enterprise which started the series back in 1966.
Finding all Star Trek movies in one place can be tricky, especially with licensing restrictions by region. Here’s where you can stream or rent each one:
| Movie | US Streaming Platforms | Global Availability |
|---|---|---|
| The Motion Picture → Nemesis | Paramount+ | Available in most regions (use VPN if unavailable) |
| Star Trek (2009) → Beyond | Paramount+, Amazon Prime (rent) | Netflix (select regions), Paramount+ |
| Individual Rentals | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play | Worldwide |
🎥 Best Platform Overall: Paramount+ – It has the entire Star Trek movie library and most series under one roof.
If you’re outside the US and can’t find some movies in your local streaming library, don’t worry—you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to access the full Star Trek catalog on platforms like Paramount+ or Netflix US.
🛡️ A VPN helps bypass geo-restrictions, protects your privacy, and prevents ISP throttling while streaming.
There are currently 13 Star Trek movies, from 1979 to 2016.
The Internet is a vast pool of information where people can find multiple streaming websites. Similarly, there are many OTT platforms or online streaming platforms where people can find Star Trek movies in order. Some of such platforms are FMovies, AZMovies and famous platforms like Netflix and Hotstar.
Either works! Newcomers often prefer release order, while fans might enjoy timeline order for a fresh perspective.
Yes! Start with Star Trek (2009) if you’re new, or go classic with Wrath of Khan (1982).
From the philosophical musings of The Motion Picture to the high-octane adventures of the reboot trilogy, the Star Trek movie saga has something for everyone. Whether you’re watching for the nostalgia, the futuristic vision, or the character arcs, these films are timeless.
And thanks to streaming platforms like Paramount+, Netflix, and Amazon, plus a reliable VPN, you can enjoy every film from anywhere in the world.