All 13 Star Trek movies ranked from worst to best

11. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

With Star Trek: The Motion Picture, we witnessed the return of the original series’ U.S.S. Enterprise and its crew – which was undoubtedly a joy for die-hard fans who had been waiting to see their favorite characters reprise their roles on the big screen. The original cast, including the iconic trio of William Shatner’s Captain Kirk, Leonard Nimoy’s Spock, and DeForest Kelley’s Dr. McCoy, came back in full force. Each actor stepped back into their roles with ease, giving us a comforting sense of nostalgia and camaraderie that immediately took us back to the original series.

But, the thrill of seeing the original cast together again aside, the movie faced criticism for its slow pacing and a perceived lack of emotional connection. The 2-hour-and-16-minute runtime was filled with long sequences of the Enterprise journeying through space and extended scenes examining the ship’s exterior. While these scenes were visually impressive and showcased state-of-the-art special effects, they came at the cost of character development and plot progression.

The storyline was often overshadowed by the special effects, leading to a movie that while visually stunning, it lacked the heart and human connection that had made the original series so engaging.