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 encompassing numerous shows, films, comics, and merchandise. This guide simplifies navigating this 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): Preceding the Original Series by a century, this series follows Captain Jonathan Archer aboard Earth's first warp 5 capable starship, the Enterprise NX-01. It explores early encounters with familiar alien species and the challenges of a less technologically advanced era.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 1 & 2 (2256-2258): Set a decade before the Original Series, this series introduces Commander Michael Burnham and the U.S.S. Discovery, embroiled in a war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Note: Seasons 3-5 deviate significantly in timeline.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259-TBD): A prequel to the Original Series, featuring Captain Christopher Pike and the Enterprise NCC-1701, bridging the gap between Discovery and the Original Series.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269): The iconic series that launched the franchise, featuring Captain Kirk, Spock, and the crew of the Enterprise NCC-1701, exploring "strange new worlds" across the galaxy.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270): A continuation of the Original Series' adventures, utilizing animation to expand the storytelling possibilities.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2270s): The first Star Trek film, featuring the Original Series crew facing a mysterious alien entity.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285): A critically acclaimed sequel pitting Kirk and the Enterprise against the genetically enhanced Khan Noonien Singh.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (2285): The crew embarks on a mission to recover Spock's katra and revive him.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (2286 & 1986): Time travel takes center stage as the crew journeys to 20th-century Earth to save the planet.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (2287): The Enterprise crew confronts a Vulcan seeking God.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (2293): A political thriller focusing on Klingon-Federation relations.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: Section 31 (approx. 2326): A controversial entry focusing on the secretive Section 31 organization. Timeline placement is debated.
Where to Watch: Paramount+.
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (2364-2370): Captain Picard and the crew of the new Enterprise-D explore the galaxy.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: Generations (2293 & 2371): A crossover film uniting the crews of the Original Series and The Next Generation.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: First Contact (2373): The Enterprise confronts the Borg in a time-travel adventure.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: Insurrection (2375): Picard and his crew defend a peaceful alien civilization.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: Nemesis (2379): The final Next Generation film, featuring a clone of Picard.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2369-2375): Set on a space station near a wormhole, this series features Captain Benjamin Sisko and explores conflicts between the Cardassians, Bajorans, and the Dominion.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: Voyager (2371-2378): Captain Janeway and her crew are stranded in the Delta Quadrant, striving to return home.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
- Star Trek: Lower Decks (2380-2382): An animated comedy focusing on the experiences of lower-deck crew members.
Where to Watch: Paramount+.
- Star Trek: Prodigy (2383-2385): A 3D animated series aimed at younger audiences, following a group of young aliens aboard a Starfleet ship.
Where to Watch: Paramount+.
- Star Trek: Picard (2399-2402): A sequel series revisiting Picard and many Next Generation characters.
Where to Watch: Paramount+.
- Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 3, 4, & 5 (3188-3191): The later seasons of Discovery jump far into the future.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various streaming services and digital retailers.
Release Order Viewing: This list follows the order of the franchise's release.
- Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)
- Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974)
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)
- Star Trek: Generations (1994)
- Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)
- Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
- Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
- Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005)
- Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
- Star Trek (2009)
- Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
- Star Trek Beyond (2016)
- Star Trek: Discovery (2017-2024)
- Star Trek: Picard (2020-2023)
- Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020-2024)
- Star Trek: Prodigy (2021-TBA)
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022-Present)
- Star Trek: Section 31 (2025)
Upcoming Star Trek Projects: Several new projects are in development, including new seasons of existing shows and entirely new series and films.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview to assist your Star Trek viewing journey. Remember, the Kelvin Timeline films can be enjoyed at any point.
