In these days of streaming services, fans are learning who owns what copyrights to track down their favorite shows. The Star Trek franchise changed hands a few times in the past generation or two but is now more or less home in the hands of Paramount, and the brand has returned to dominate not only this production company but also the cable networks that handle the shows for conventional television.
You don't have to be a Trekker to Star Trek and chill, especially with the variety of shows Paramount+ currently has to offer. Not every Star Trek property ever made is here, with Netflix and CBS All Access also taking a share, but it's still an impressive list.
13 Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
It was considered to be a failure in its time, but modern viewers are finally giving this movie the credit it deserves.
The visuals are a sight to behold, with the design, music, and long shots reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey than Star Wars, which is one of the reasons people didn't see it.
12 Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan (1982)
Most people mistakenly think this was the first Star Trek movie because it made a much bigger impact than the previous one.
The idea of taking a dropped story thread from The Original Series was brilliant, and the action and intrigue resonated better with audiences.
11 Star Trek 3: The Seach For Spock (1984)
An adventure that ties up the unresolved issues of the previous one, Star Trek III: The Seach For Spock is more fantasy than science.
A small deviation to bring back everyone's favorite character, however, is something that audiences can tolerate.
10 Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home (1986)
The ultimate crowd pleaser and still the most successful movie in this franchise to date, this is the movie where the crew of the Star Trek Enterprise (using another ship, however) saves the whales, the world, and most of the known universe.
That's an actual description of the plot, and it has to be seen to understand how well it works.
9 Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier (1989)
As if to balance out the success of the last movie, the fifth installment made less of a positive impact and fueled fan rumors of the odd-numbered curse.
It's still not exactly the worst movie ever, focusing mostly on Spock, and still has a few fun and classic Trek moments in a mostly weak plot.
8 Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
A Star Trek story that uses political intrigue and real-world stakes, it might not be the most exciting installment, but it holds its own as a compelling movie.
It makes sense for more dialogue and less action since this was the last mission the crew would complete together before pulling into spacedock for the last time.
7 Star Trek 7: Generations (1994)
Star Trek: The Next Generation was one of the most popular shows on television in the 1990s, and it made perfect sense that the new captain and crew would take over.
At least it seemed to make perfect sense, but this is another time when Star Trek goes more fantasy than science. The Klingon characters and the exposition connected to their race is an interesting feature.
6 Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
It's a shakey Borg-related plot with more fanservice than reality, this might have worked better as a two-part TV special than a Hollywood-financed big-ticket film.
This isn't the last movie made using the main timeline, but a lot of people think it is because Star Trek: Nemesis was notoriously bad and seems to have fallen off the radar of any streaming services, including Paramount+.
5 Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005)
Ironically, the Star Trek show for a new millennium turned out to be a prequel. Star Trek: Enterprise was about the pre-Federation days of space exploration.
The adventures of Captain Jonathan Archer and the crew of the United Earth Ship Enterprise weren't for everyone, but it was an interesting look into an obscure but of galactic history.
4 Star Trek: Discovery (2017- )
Apparently, Spock had a sister, and her adventures were so amazing that her very existence was classified. Despite a meandering storyline there is a lot of cool stuff to see in Discovery.
A stellar cast and some impressive set designs made this a popular show, and it's still running on both CBS and Paramount+.
3 Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020- )
There hasn't been an animated Star Trek series since the one from the 1970s that's only available on Netflix, and that was a drama as opposed to a comedy.
Star Trek: Lower Decks isn't about the officer class but the ensigns and conscripts that do the packing, driving, and fixing for the rest of the ship. Even though it's animated, this isn't a show for kids.
2 Star Trek: Prodigy (2021- )
Another animated offering, but with 3D CGI as opposed to traditional 2D animation, and this is the first Star Trek show designed and intended for children.
It was produced for both Paramount+ and Nickelodeon. Most of the characters are new creations, but Captain Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager also makes an appearance.
1 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022- )
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Strange New Worlds is a Discovery spin-off that was prompted by the popularity of Christopher Pike, the captain who took the helm of the Enterprise in the years before James Kirk.
It takes a more traditional approach to the story of Star Trek, using one-and-done type episodes and plotlines that include exploring the galaxy and discovering new life and new civilizations.