Embark on a Comprehensive Star Trek Viewing Journey: Chronological and Release Order Guides
Since the debut of Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966, the franchise has expanded into a vast multimedia universe. This guide simplifies navigating its extensive content, offering both chronological and release order viewing options. Paramount+ provides convenient access to most Star Trek entries.
Chronological Viewing Order:
- Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2155): This prequel series, starring Scott Bakula as Captain Jonathan Archer, depicts Earth's first warp five capable starship, the Enterprise NX-01, and its encounters with various alien species.
- Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 1 and 2 (2256-2258): Set a decade before the original series, this series follows Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the U.S.S. Discovery as they navigate a Klingon war. Note: Seasons 3-5 deviate chronologically.
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259-TBD): A prequel focusing on Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) aboard the Enterprise NCC-1701, this series features familiar faces from The Original Series and introduces new characters.
- Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269): The seminal series, starring William Shatner as Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock, explores "strange new worlds" in its five-year mission.
Kelvin Timeline (Alternate Timeline): The J.J. Abrams reboot films (2009's Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond) exist in a separate timeline and can be viewed at any point.
- Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270): A continuation of The Original Series' adventures in animated form.
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2270s): The first Star Trek film, featuring Admiral Kirk and the refitted Enterprise confronting V'Ger.
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285): A critically acclaimed sequel pitting Kirk against Khan Noonien Singh.
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (2285): The crew's mission to recover Spock's katra.
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (2286 and 1986): A time-travel adventure to save Earth.
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (2287): Kirk and the crew confront the Vulcan Sybok.
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (2293): The final film featuring the original cast, exploring Klingon-Federation relations.
- Star Trek: Section 31 (circa 2326): A recent addition to the timeline, focusing on Section 31. Consider optional based on reviews.
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (2364-2370): The highly acclaimed series starring Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard.
- Star Trek Generations (2293 and 2371): A crossover film featuring both Picard and Kirk.
- Star Trek: First Contact (2373): The Next Generation crew confronts the Borg.
- Star Trek: Insurrection (2375): Picard and the crew protect the Ba'Ku people.
- Star Trek: Nemesis (2379): The final Next Generation film.
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2369-2375): A series set on a space station near a wormhole.
- Star Trek: Voyager (2371-2378): Janeway and her crew are stranded in the Delta Quadrant.
- Star Trek: Lower Decks (2380-2382): An animated comedy focusing on lower-deck crew members.
- Star Trek: Prodigy (2383-2385): A 3D animated series aimed at younger audiences.
- Star Trek: Picard (2399-2402): A sequel series featuring Picard and members of the Next Generation crew.
- Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 3, 4, and 5 (3188-3191): The later seasons of Discovery jump far into the future.
Release Order Viewing: This list follows the order of each Star Trek entry's release. (See original text for this list)
Upcoming Star Trek Projects: Several new projects are in development. (See original text for details)
