All 13 Star Trek Films Ranked From Worst To Best

I'm deliberately using the exact same title used by Nerdist.com for this blog post because I want people to find both these write-ups together.

Nerdist has explained why they've ranked these movies the way they have. I'll explain my ranking in a minute.

At a glance, here's how my ranking differs from theirs.

The red lines indicate movies that I have a worse opinion of than Nerdist does; the green lines indicate the opposite. (Click to expand)

Pop over to their site to read their analysis first, because I'm only going to comment on the differences between our ratings.

13. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

There really isn't too much of an argument here. Nerdist seems to think this is the second-worst movie. I think it's the worst. Not much point splitting hairs, when we essentially agree that it was terrible. I will never watch this movie again.

12. Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (1984)

Nerdist seems to think this was not so bad (07). I found it amateurish in the extreme. Spock's return was virtually guaranteed right from the end of The Wrath Of Khan, the whole adventure of stealing the Enterprise was implausible (the Federation must have very poor control systems), the Klingons' perfidy and the death of Kirk's son were a needless tragedy, replacing the actor playing the iconic Lt Saavik was a jolting experience, and the whole movie had the feel of a patch job that was necessary in order to bring Spock back. I don't think I can ever watch this movie again.

11. Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

This had a couple of interesting ideas that made me go "Hmm!". One was that Shinzon was Picard's clone. The other was the side-story of the tension between two Romulan races, and the surprisingly empathetic Remans. There was some voyeuristic and disturbing erotic tension between Shinzon and Deanna Troi. Shinzon ship Scimitar had a bit of cool to it. Next to Vengeance of Into Darkness, it's probably the coolest villain ship.

Shinzon's ship "Scimitar", very different from the standard-issue Romulan warbird

Apart from these, the movie was quite boring. I don't think I will watch this movie again.

10. Star Trek: Generations (1994)

Bringing Kirk and Picard together in one movie was an interesting idea. The Nexus is a cosmically scary concept, like the crack in the Universe that Doctor Who fans may be familiar with. But the rest of the movie was weird and dreamlike. Did they really let Troi pilot the Enterprise? No wonder it crashed. I may watch this movie sometime in the distant future, but I'm not sure.

09. Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)

Nerdist called this the worst Star Trek film! They owe it to us to explain this extreme rating, but their criticisms just sound like nitpicking. Sure, this wasn't a great movie, but calling it the worst is a stretch.

This movie had an interesting plot twist, in that two warring races were genetically identical, so it was really just a generational conflict, albeit a deadly one. This movie also tackles similar Prime Directive issues as the TNG episode Who Watches The Watchers. Some sequences are cliched, but it's watchable - once. I could watch this again, if I'm showing it to someone who hasn't seen it before, but I probably can't sit through it again alone.

08. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

Here, I'm probably being biased in hindsight, since I quite liked this movie when I saw it in the 80s. It's only after seeing it again many years later that I've started to think of it as cheesy. It now seems slow and boring, and many scenes are cringe-worthy. The only "aha" moment was when it was revealed that "Veejur" was actually the fictional "Voyager 6", which I still think was a neat plot twist. Oh, and it had Persis Khambatta. Half a point for that.

I may see this movie again, but I think I will fast-forward many scenes.

07. Star Trek Beyond (2016)

With this, we're getting started on the better movies. The reboot is generally quite good overall, and I've liked all three of them so far. I think the reason I'm ranking this the lowest of the three is that the second was so good this was bound to fall below that standard.

I'll definitely watch this again at some point, but not right away.

06. Star Trek (2009)

The first movie of the rebooted series started with a bang and established itself with class. In moviemaking terms, it was a generation ahead of all the movies that came before it as well as the various TV series. The casting was extremely good. Kirk, Spock, McCoy - all three were very ably played by the replacements to the old trio of Shatner, Nimoy and Kelley. I liked the touch of bringing back Captain Pike from The Original Series (The Cage, The Menagerie). Probably the only weak part of the movie was the villain Nero. Some villains are larger than life. Some fail to impress. Nero fell into the latter category.

I will definitely watch this again, perhaps in a binge-watching session of all the reboot movies.

05. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

The Borg theme in The Next Generation never failed to thrill (Perhaps the best sample was the double-episode The Best Of Both Worlds). Such a deliciously different class of villain!

First Contact was another thrilling time-travel adventure, full of action, suspense, heroism, inspiring speechmaking by Picard, and a nice saving of the day by Data. The high-suspense battle for the deflector shield by Picard, Worf and a "red shirt", with the Borg becoming increasingly aware of their activity, and a zero-G leap by Picard, is a scene for the ages.

The battle of the deflector shield has to be one of the most chilling and thrilling sequences in Star Trek

This is definitely one for my home theatre's rerun schedule.

04. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

This movie could have made it to the bottom of my list instead of the top because of one reason. Its humour could very easily have crossed the line into a lack of seriousness, making the movie a spoof of itself. But thankfully, it managed to be both serious and light at the same time, making it an excellent entertainer even for non-Trekkies.

This is in fact one of my most often played movies at home, especially when I'm introducing newbies to the Trek genre.

03. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Khan with some neat twists. Benedict Cumberbatch. The re-introduction of Carol Marcus from The Wrath of Khan. Heck, the reintroduction of Khan from The Wrath of Khan (I swear, the hairs on my neck stood up when he said, "My name is Khan!"). The Kirk-Spock death scene in reverse. Brilliantly done. I have no idea why Nerdist would consider this a bad movie!

Oh, and Vengeance is the ultimate in cool for a villain's ship.

The Dreadnought-class Vengeance compared to the Enterprise - "Twice the size, three times the speed"

This is one of my all-round favourite movies, and I can watch it again and again.

02. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

I was at my politically aware best during the last days of the Cold War, Chernobyl, and the fall of the Soviet Union. Plus I love allegorical stories. The Undiscovered Country, a movie full of allusions to both Shakespeare and the Cold War, was a work of genius.

This movie was also a classic because of its cynical lesson - that not everyone is happy with the end of a long-running conflict. Some people can be so threatened by peace that they will even team up with their counterparts on the other side to sabotage the chance for peace. This was also the first time I realised that Vulcans could be villains too.

Not only do I watch this movie repeatedly, I inflict it on guests, with frequent pauses to explain the political parallels with the former Soviet Union.

01. Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (1982)

I don't think any trekkie will disagree on the choice of this as the best Star Trek movie of all. It was close to perfect. I'd give it a less than perfect score for only one reason.

I'm Indian, and I know that "Khan Noonien Singh" is a nonsense name for a supposed Indian prince. Is the man supposed to be Muslim (Khan) or Hindu/Sikh (Singh)? And what kind of name is "Noonien"? The writers of Star Trek seem to have a thing for this name, since Data's creator is supposed to be a "Dr Noonien Soong". So now Noonien is an East Asian name as well? Aargh!

I have watched The Wrath Of Khan so many times already that I think I'll give it a rest for a while.

Anyway, that's the list.

My Favourite Episodes Of Star Trek - The Next Generation

Ever since I finished watching the entire Star Trek TNG series (all 7 seasons), I have been meaning to compile a list of my favourite episodes. But it was only today, after I was challenged by a friend to recommend a set of episodes that would not send her to sleep, that I finally stirred myself to do it.

This is my list. ("s01e01" means "Season 1, Episode 1")

s01e01 &

s01e02 Encounter at Farpoint (Introduction, drama, moral)

s01e11 Haven (Somewhat humorous)

s01e12 The Big Goodbye (First holodeck episode, thrill factor)

s02e03 Elementary, Dear Data (Moriarty-Holodeck episode)

s02e04 The Outrageous Okona (mild mystery, Teri Hatcher)

s02e09 The Measure of a Man (Philosophy, moral)

s02e16 Q Who (First encounter with the Borg)

s02e20 The Emissary (Klingons, K'Ehleyr)

s03e03 The Survivors (Mystery)

s03e04 Who Watches the Watchers (Prime Directive, good)

s03e09 The Vengeance Factor (Mystery)

s03e10 The Defector (Drama, sad)

s03e13 Deja Q (Some humour)

s03e14 A Matter of Perspective (A Rashomon-like story)

s03e15 Yesterday's Enterprise (Drama, and good for Tasha fans)

s03e16 The Offspring (Another Data & humanity story, sad)

s03e21 Hollow Pursuits (Lt Barclay episode, some humour)

s03e26 &

s04e01 The Best of Both Worlds (Classic Borg episodes)

s04e02 Family (Picard family drama)

s04e04 Suddenly Human (Drama, moral)

s04e05 Remember Me (Mystery, Dr Crusher starrer, personal favourite)

s04e06 Legacy (Mystery, Ishara Yar)

s04e07 Reunion (K'Ehleyr, sad)

s04e08 Future Imperfect (Mystery, good)

s04e11 Data's Day (Humorous)

s04e13 Devil's Due (Anti-superstition, Ardra)

s04e14 Clues (Mystery)

s04e18 Identity Crisis (Mystery)

s04e21 The Drumhead (Philosophy, drama, moral)

s04e23 The Host (Philosophy, drama)

s05e03 Ensign Ro (Drama, redemption, introduces Ro Laren, political commentary)

s05e05 Disaster (Drama, Ro Laren story, some humour)

s05e11 Hero Worship (Data, philosophy, mystery)

s05e14 Conundrum (Mystery, Ro Laren story, very good)

s05e17 The Outcast (Philosophy, drama, parallels to homophobia)

s05e18 Cause and Effect (Drama, very good)

s05e19 The First Duty (Philosophy, drama)

s05e21 The Perfect Mate (Drama, Kamala, sad Picard love story, very good)

s05e23 I, Borg (Borg story, good)

s05e24 The Next Phase (Ro Laren story, mystery, action)

s05e25 The Inner Light (Philosophy, acclaimed, but also a bit weird)

s05e26 &

s06e01 Time's Arrow (Time travel, interesting)

s06e04 Relics (Scotty episode, interesting Picard lesson on usefulness)

s06e09 The Quality of Life (Philosophy)

s06e12 Ship in a Bottle (Moriarty-Holodeck episode, drama, very good)

s06e14 Face of the Enemy (Drama, Deanna Troi as a Romulan!)

s06e15 Tapestry (Philosophy, drama, moral, very good)

s06e18 Starship Mine (Action like Under Siege)

s06e19 Lessons (Yet another sad Picard love story)

s06e20 The Chase (Mystery, philosophy, theory of everything, very good)

s06e22 Suspicions (Mystery)

s06e24 Second Chances (Philosophy, drama)

s06e25 Timescape (Drama, action, mystery)

s07e02 Liaisons (Philosophy, drama, mystery)

s07e03 Interface (Drama, mystery)

s07e07 Dark Page (Troi family drama)

s07e08 Attached (Picard-Crusher drama, some humour)

s07e10 Inheritance (Philosophy, Data family drama)

s07e11 Parallels (Time travel, drama, very good)

s07e12 The Pegasus (Mystery, drama, acclaimed)

s07e14 Sub Rosa (Mystery, "ghost story", sad Crusher love story)

s07e15 Lower Decks (Drama, sad)

s07e16 Thine Own Self (subplot of Deanna Troi is interesting)

s07e18 Eye of the Beholder (Mystery, very good)

s07e21 Firstborn (Philosophy, time travel)

s07e23 Emergence (Drama, good)

s07e24 Preemptive Strike (Drama, philosophy, last Ro Laren episode)

s07e25 &

s07e26 All Good Things (Mystery)

There are some who will swear by s06e10 and s06e11 "Chain of Command" as among the best. I haven't included these because the scenes of Picard's torture were too disturbing for me. And the villain didn't even die, which is the least I would expect at the end of such stories. But yes, the double episode had its moments, and one of the best was the change in Deanna Troi's wardrobe. She's smartly dressed from this episode on.

See also my posts on Captain Picard's Finest Moments and The Most Attractive Women of Star Trek TNG.

Star Trek Review

(Warning - spoilers ahead)

I saw Star Trek over the weekend at Castle Towers Megaplex.

In short, the only thing that prevented me from being wowed by the movie was the fact that all the reviews I had read had prepared me to expect something pretty good. The fact that the movie lived up to the hype was ironically a bit of an anticlimax.

I've been a Star Trek fan since the early eighties, when the series started showing on Indian TV. The only thing that managed to knock Star Trek down my list of favourite TV shows was Star Trek - The Next Generation, which began airing in the mid-nineties :-).

The new movie directed by JJ Abrams takes us back to the original story and provides us a newly-minted background to the characters of the Enterprise crew. It's very slickly done, although I do have a few quibbles. I would hardly be a Trekkie if I didn't ;-).

I don't have to provide a standard synopsis of the movie. There are plenty of others available. Here are my quibbles alone, but keep in mind that they in no way detract from the impact and appeal of the movie. You should go and see it on the big screen, even if you aren't familiar with the genre. It's very beginner-friendly.

On to nitpicking, then.

1. A prequel should try and be consistent with its future history. To a large extent, Star Trek succeeds in "backporting" its future characters' idiosyncrasies back to their newly-presented roots, but there are glaring exceptions. In Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home, the crew lands on Vulcan, and Spock has a conversation with his mother. JJ Abrams's prequel not only kills off Spock's mother but all 6 billion denizens of Vulcan, along with the planet itself. It's going to be hard to watch The Voyage Home again without feeling acutely uncomfortable. Abrams shouldn't have done this to us.

2. Captain Pike is in a wheelchair at the end of Abrams's movie, and has already become Admiral. The Cage and The Menagerie are still ahead of him. Is he demoted, does he get out of the wheelchair only to go back to it in time for The Menagerie, or is this another Pike? Highly illogical.

3. The human-Vulcan quandary affecting Spock seems to be resolved too soon. It's not until The Voyage Home that Spock is supposed to "feel" fine.

4. Spock designed the Kobayashi Maru test. I'm fine with that. But the point of it was for the cadets to learn fear? Spock wants Starfleet officers to learn lessons through an emotion? Illogical again.

5. And what's with the Uhura business, anyway? There's not a hint of anything between Spock and Uhura in any of the original episodes, so how are they going to explain the cooling off that surely must have happened after the Abrams movie? Perhaps there will be sequels to the prequel that will resolve this. Advice to the director: don't start anything you can't finish.

There were many nice touches I did enjoy. Bones gives us another variation of his "I'm a doctor, not a " with physicists duly lining up for the honour this time. On the other hand, there were many opportunities for him to say, "He's dead, Jim," but he passed them all up.

Jim Kirk can't resist anything in a skirt, even as he's about to pass out in sickbay. It's pretty hilarious, though I've often wondered if that isn't a fatal character trait for a ship's captain. (Picard, by contrast, is a gentleman who will even carry his guests' bags and he gets my vote over Kirk every time.)

Spock's reluctance to say "Live long and prosper" to his own past self on the grounds that it would be "self-serving" is pretty wry and shows that Vulcans understand humour after all.

The villain Nero is very casual whenever he hails Federation ships. He's so informal you'd almost expect him to go, "How'ya doin'?"

One final nitpick. I would have appreciated an explanation of why there are no seatbelts on starships in the twentythird century. I was hoping the prequel would explain that. Oh, well.