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 captivated audiences worldwide. This guide helps navigate the vast Star Trek universe, offering chronological and release order viewing options.
Paramount+ simplifies access to almost all Star Trek content, past, present, and future. This spoiler-free guide ensures an enjoyable viewing experience regardless of chosen order.
Chronological Viewing Order:
- Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2155): Preceding the Original Series by a century, this series showcases Earth's first warp 5 capable starship, the Enterprise NX-01, and its captain, Jonathan Archer. It offers a glimpse into a less technologically advanced era of Starfleet and its first contacts with familiar alien species.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 1 and 2 (2256-2258): Set a decade before the Original Series, this series introduces Michael Burnham and the U.S.S. Discovery, amidst a Klingon war. Note: Seasons 3-5 deviate chronologically.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various 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 to Kirk's command.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269): The iconic series that launched the franchise, featuring Captain Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise's five-year mission.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
Bonus: The Kelvin Timeline (2009's Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond): A reboot existing in an alternate timeline, featuring familiar characters with different actors. These can be viewed at any point.
- Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270): A continuation of the Original Series' adventures, using animation.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2270s): The first Star Trek film, featuring an older Kirk and the refitted Enterprise facing a mysterious energy entity.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285): A critically acclaimed sequel pitting Kirk against Khan Noonien Singh.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (2285): The aftermath of Spock's death and the crew's efforts to recover his katra.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (2286 and 1986): Time travel to 1986 San Francisco to address a threat to Earth.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (2287): A less-favored entry featuring a search for God.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (2293): The final film with the original cast, focusing on Klingon-Federation relations.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek: Section 31 (2326): A critically panned entry focusing on Section 31, best skipped.
Where to Watch: Paramount+
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (2364-2370): The highly acclaimed series featuring Captain Picard and the Enterprise-D.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek: Generations (2293 and 2371): A crossover film featuring Picard and Kirk.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek: First Contact (2373): A confrontation with the Borg.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek: Insurrection (2375): A less-well-received film involving a planet with rejuvenating properties.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek: Nemesis (2379): The final TNG film, featuring a Picard clone.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2369-2375): Set on a space station near a wormhole, featuring Captain Sisko.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek: Voyager (2371-2378): Following Captain Janeway and her crew stranded in the Delta Quadrant.
Where to Watch: Paramount+, various digital retailers
- Star Trek: Lower Decks (2380-2382): An animated series focusing on lower-deck crew members.
Where to Watch: Paramount+
- Star Trek: Prodigy (2383-2385): A 3D animated series aimed at younger audiences.
Where to Watch: Paramount+
- Star Trek: Picard (2399-2402): A sequel series featuring Picard and members of the TNG crew.
Where to Watch: Paramount+
- Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 3, 4, and 5 (3188-3191): The later seasons of Discovery jump far into the future.
Where to Watch: Paramount+
Release Order Viewing: This list simply follows the order in which each Star Trek entry was released.
(List of Star Trek entries in release order omitted for brevity but easily compiled from the chronological list above.)
Upcoming Star Trek Projects: Several new projects are in development, including new seasons of existing series and new series and films.
Caption: Michelle Yeoh as Emperor Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek: Section 31
This guide provides a comprehensive overview to help you enjoy the vast Star Trek universe. Choose your preferred viewing method and prepare for a journey through space and time!
