Since its debut in 1966 with Star Trek: The Original Series, this iconic franchise has transformed entertainment, captivating audiences worldwide with its bold exploration of uncharted territories. Spanning multiple series, films, comics, and merchandise, Star Trek has built a vast universe. However, navigating its extensive catalog can be daunting. This guide simplifies the process, offering a clear path to enjoy Star Trek in either chronological or release order, ensuring you experience every adventure seamlessly.
Finding all Star Trek content was once a challenge, but Paramount+ now serves as the central hub for nearly all past, present, and future entries, making it easier to dive into the franchise.
Join us on this journey to the final frontier and discover how to follow the iconic voyages of Kirk, Picard, Janeway, Sisko, Spock, Pike, Archer, Burnham, and more, who have made Star Trek a cultural phenomenon over nearly six decades.
Rest assured, the timeline below is mostly spoiler-free, preserving the excitement of major plot twists. Use this guide to catch up without missing the surprises awaiting you. For those who prefer watching Star Trek in release order, that option is also provided below.
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How to Watch Star Trek in Chronological OrderHow to Watch Star Trek by Release OrderSet a century before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Enterprise is the earliest chapter in the timeline. Airing from 2001 to 2005, it follows Captain Jonathan Archer, played by Scott Bakula, commanding Earth’s first warp-five-capable starship, the Enterprise NX-01.
Despite its mixed reception, the series offers a unique perspective on a crew navigating without advanced technology, encountering familiar alien species, and forging early alliances in the Star Trek universe.
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Star Trek: Discovery’s first two seasons are set a decade before The Original Series, but its later seasons leap far into the future. To follow the chronological order, you’ll need to alternate between series and films.
The show centers on Michael Burnham, portrayed by Sonequa Martin-Green, a Starfleet Commander whose actions inadvertently spark a war between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, leading to her court-martial and reassignment to the U.S.S. Discovery.
Star Trek: DiscoveryParamount+BuyBuyBuyMoreStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, set before The Original Series, builds on Star Trek: Discovery, introducing Captain Christopher Pike, played by Anson Mount, who first appeared in the unaired pilot “The Cage.” The series follows Pike and the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 crew, blending familiar faces with new characters.
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The cornerstone of the franchise, Star Trek: The Original Series, created by Gene Roddenberry, aired from 1966 to 1969. Despite early cancellation due to low ratings, its syndication success laid the groundwork for all future Star Trek stories. Starring William Shatner as James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock, it follows the Enterprise’s five-year mission to explore new worlds and civilizations.
As Kirk famously said in the opening credits: “Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”
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Where to Watch Star Trek Into Darkness: Paramount+
Where to Watch Star Trek Beyond: Paramount+
Directed by J.J. Abrams, 2009’s Star Trek launched a rebooted era, featuring familiar characters portrayed by new actors in an alternate Kelvin Timeline, diverging from the main continuity due to a pivotal event in 2233.
These films—Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond—can be watched at any point, but they include nods to The Original Series, enhanced by the return of Leonard Nimoy as Spock.
Following the cancellation of The Original Series, its growing popularity in syndication led Gene Roddenberry to continue the Enterprise NCC-1701’s adventures in animated form. Airing from 1973 to 1974, Star Trek: The Animated Series reunited many original cast members for two seasons of galactic exploration.
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The first Star Trek film, released in 1979, reunited the original crew after the series’ cancellation. Initially doubted by Paramount, its production was greenlit following the success of films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, scrapping plans for a new series, Star Trek: Phase II.
In Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Admiral James T. Kirk resumes command of a refitted U.S.S. Enterprise to confront a mysterious alien energy cloud known as V’Ger.
Star Trek: The Motion PictureParamount PicturesPGRent/BuyRent/BuyRent/BuyMoreAfter the mixed reception of the first film, Paramount replaced Gene Roddenberry with Harve Bennett and Jack B. Sowards for the script, and Nicholas Meyer as director. The result, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, is widely regarded as the finest Star Trek film. It depicts Admiral James T. Kirk and the Enterprise crew facing off against Khan Noonien Singh, a genetically enhanced superhuman exiled by Kirk years earlier, now seeking vengeance.
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Star Trek III: The Search for Spock continues the saga from The Wrath of Khan, exploring the aftermath of Spock’s death. Kirk discovers Spock’s spirit resides in Dr. McCoy, leading to a daring mission involving a stolen Enterprise, encounters with Spock’s father Sarek, and clashes with Klingons.
Star Trek III: The Search for SpockParamount PicturesPGRent/BuyRent/BuyRent/BuyMoreAfter saving Spock, Kirk and his crew face consequences for stealing and losing the Enterprise. A new threat to Earth forces them to travel back to 1986 San Francisco, marking a shift from space exploration to a time-travel adventure.
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Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, often considered one of the weaker entries, sees the original crew’s shore leave disrupted by a mission to confront the Vulcan Sybok, who searches for a divine entity at the galaxy’s center.
Star Trek V: The Final FrontierParamount PicturesPGRent/BuyRent/BuyRent/BuyMoreThe final film featuring the full original cast, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country centers on the Klingons. After a catastrophic explosion on the Klingon moon Praxis, Chancellor Gorkon seeks peace with the Federation, leading to a mission echoing the Cold War’s end and providing a fitting farewell to beloved characters.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered CountryParamount PicturesPGRent/BuyRent/BuyRent/BuyMoreStar Trek: Section 31, the latest film, is considered one of the weaker modern entries, criticized for disappointing fans and lacking broad appeal. It follows Empress Philippa Georgiou, played by Michelle Yeoh, with its timeline placement around 2326 based on her movements, though this remains unconfirmed.
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Widely regarded as one of the best Star Trek series, Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994) spans seven seasons and 178 episodes. Led by Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, it introduces iconic characters like Riker, Data, Worf, and Crusher, many of whom return in Star Trek: Picard. Set a century after The Original Series, it follows the U.S.S. Enterprise’s new adventures.
Star Trek: The Next GenerationBuyBuyBuyMoreStar Trek Generations unites Captains Jean-Luc Picard and James T. Kirk in a long-awaited crossover. They confront Dr. Tolian Soran, an El-Aurian obsessed with returning to the Nexus, leading to an emotional farewell to The Original Series cast.
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Directed by Jonathan Frakes, Star Trek: First Contact sees the Next Generation crew battling the Borg, who aim to conquer Earth by altering history. The film explores Picard’s trauma from his assimilation as Locutus and celebrates the historic first warp flight.
Star Trek: First ContactParamount PicturesPG-13Rent/BuyRent/BuyRent/BuyMoreStar Trek: Insurrection, the least favored Next Generation film, follows Picard and his crew defying Federation orders to protect the Ba’Ku, a race living on a rejuvenating planet threatened by the Son’a. Critics noted its resemblance to an extended series episode rather than a cinematic epic.
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The final Next Generation film, Star Trek: Nemesis, introduces Shinzon, a Romulan praetor revealed to be Picard’s clone, played by Tom Hardy. While it offers memorable moments, it revisits familiar themes and falls short of expectations as a send-off.
Star Trek: NemesisParamount PicturesPG-13Rent/BuyRent/BuyRent/BuyMoreStar Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999), the fourth series, was the first without Gene Roddenberry’s direct involvement. Running concurrently with The Next Generation, it features crossovers with characters like Worf and O’Brien. Set on a space station near a wormhole, it stars Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko, exploring conflicts with the Cardassians, Bajorans, and the Dominion.
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The fifth series, Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001), follows Captain Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew, and her crew, stranded in the Delta Quadrant. Their journey home introduces new alien races and the Borg, with Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine becoming a fan-favorite character.
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Star Trek: Lower Decks, launched in 2020, is the first animated series since 1973. Focusing on the lower-ranking crew, it offers lighter, humorous adventures. Its crossover with Strange New Worlds blends live-action and animation, with its final season concluding in 2382.
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Star Trek: Prodigy, a 3D animated series aimed at younger audiences, follows a group of alien youths discovering the abandoned U.S.S. Protostar. Kate Mulgrew reprises her role as Janeway, appearing as a holographic advisor. The series spans 2383-2385, with its second season recently released.
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Star Trek: Picard continues the story of Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, 20 years after Nemesis. Retired to his family vineyard, Picard is drawn back into action, reuniting with former crew members for a thrilling three-season journey through space and time.
Star Trek: PicardParamount+BuyBuyBuyMoreStar Trek: Discovery’s later seasons leap to the 32nd Century, where Captain Michael Burnham and her crew work to restore the weakened Federation. The series concluded in 3191 with its fifth season.
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