Home News How to Watch Star Trek in Order: The Complete Series Timeline

How to Watch Star Trek in Order: The Complete Series Timeline

Author : Julian Feb 22,2025

Embark on a Comprehensive Star Trek Viewing Journey: Chronological and Release Order Guides

Since its debut in 1966, Star Trek has captivated audiences worldwide, expanding into a vast universe encompassing numerous series, films, comics, and merchandise. This guide simplifies navigating this extensive franchise, offering both chronological and release order viewing options. Paramount+ provides convenient access to most Star Trek content.

This guide presents a mostly spoiler-free chronological timeline, allowing you to enjoy the surprises each entry offers. A release order list is also included.

Chronological Viewing Order:

Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2155): Set a century before The Original Series, this series follows Captain Jonathan Archer and the Enterprise NX-01, Earth's first warp 5 starship. It explores early encounters with familiar alien species and the challenges of a less technologically advanced era.

Star Trek: Enterprise UPN September 26, 2001

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 1 & 2 (2256-2258): These seasons precede The Original Series, introducing Commander Michael Burnham and the U.S.S. Discovery. Note: Seasons 3-5 jump significantly forward in time.

Star Trek: Discovery Paramount+ January 7, 2018

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259-TBD): A prequel set before The Original Series, featuring Captain Christopher Pike and the Enterprise NCC-1701. This series expands on characters from The Original Series and introduces new ones.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Paramount+ May 5, 2022

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269): The foundational series, featuring Captain James T. Kirk and Spock. Its iconic opening credits encapsulate its mission: "to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before."

Star Trek: The Original Series NBC September 8, 1966

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]

Kelvin Timeline (Alternate Reality): The J.J. Abrams reboot films (Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond) exist in a separate timeline and can be watched at any point.

Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270): A continuation of The Original Series in animated form.

Star Trek: The Animated Series NBC September 8, 1973

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2270s): The first Star Trek film, bringing back the original crew.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture Paramount Pictures December 7, 1979

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285): Widely considered one of the best Star Trek films, pitting Kirk against Khan Noonien Singh.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Paramount Pictures June 4, 1982

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Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (2285): Continues the story from Wrath of Khan, focusing on Spock's resurrection.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Paramount Pictures June 1, 1984

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (2286 & 1986): Time travel adventure set partly in 1986 San Francisco.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Paramount Pictures November 26, 1986

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Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (2287): A less critically acclaimed entry featuring a quest for God.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier Paramount Pictures June 9, 1989

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Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (2293): The final film featuring the original TOS cast, focusing on Klingon-Federation relations.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Paramount Pictures December 6, 1991

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek: Section 31 (2326): (Consider skipping based on critical reception) This TV movie features Empress Phillippa Georgiou. The exact placement on the timeline is debated.

Star Trek: Section 31 Paramount+ January 24, 2025

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Star Trek: The Next Generation (2364-2370): Set a century after The Original Series, featuring Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew.

Star Trek: The Next Generation September 28, 1987

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Star Trek: Generations (2293 & 2371): A crossover film featuring both Picard and Kirk.

Star Trek: Generations Paramount Pictures November 18, 1994

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Star Trek: First Contact (2373): Features the Borg and a time travel element.

Star Trek: First Contact Paramount Pictures November 22, 1996

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Star Trek: Insurrection (2375): The third TNG film, focusing on a planet with rejuvenating properties.

Star Trek: Insurrection Paramount Pictures December 11, 1998

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek: Nemesis (2379): The final TNG film, introducing Shinzon, a Picard clone.

Star Trek: Nemesis Paramount Pictures December 13, 2002

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2369-2375): Set on a space station near a wormhole, featuring Captain Benjamin Sisko.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine January 3, 1993

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek: Voyager (2371-2378): Follows Captain Kathryn Janeway and her crew stranded in the Delta Quadrant.

Star Trek: Voyager UPN January 16, 1995

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek: Lower Decks (2380-2382): An animated comedy focusing on lower-deck crew members.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Paramount+ August 6, 2020

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek: Prodigy (2383-2385): A 3D animated series aimed at younger audiences.

Star Trek: Prodigy Netflix October 28, 2021

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Star Trek: Picard (2399-2402): A sequel series featuring Picard and several returning TNG characters.

Star Trek: Picard Paramount+ January 23, 2020

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]
Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 3, 4, & 5 (3188-3191): These seasons are set far in the future.

Star Trek: Discovery Paramount+ January 7, 2018

Where to Watch: [Streaming/Purchase Options]