Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Movie, 1984, Kirk, Set in 2285
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is #5 of 26 in release order and #8 of 26 in chronological order in the Star Trek.
The story
A surprise visit from Spock's father provides a startling revelation: McCoy is harboring Spock's living essence.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock recap
The battered Enterprise returns to Earth, where it is to be decommissioned. McCoy acts strangely, and Spock's father Sarek tells Kirk that Spock placed his living spirit, his katra, in McCoy's mind before he died; both Spock's body and his katra must be brought to Vulcan. Starfleet forbids it, so Kirk and his crew steal the Enterprise. On the Genesis planet, David Marcus and Saavik find that Spock has been reborn as a child who is aging rapidly with the unstable planet. A Klingon commander, Kruge, wants the Genesis secret as a weapon and takes them hostage. Kruge's men kill David.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ending explained
Kirk sets the Enterprise to self-destruct and lures the Klingons aboard, destroying the ship, then defeats Kruge in a fight as the planet tears itself apart and takes his ship. On Vulcan, the high priestess performs a ritual that restores Spock's katra to his body. Spock recognises Kirk, though his memories are still returning.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is streaming on fuboTV, Paramount+, and Kanopy in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes 78%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, before Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
- Chronological order: after Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, before Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
What to watch before Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
In release order, the essentials before Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) are Star Trek: The Original Series (1966), Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982).
Cast
- William Shatner as Admiral James T. Kirk
- DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
- James Doohan as Captain Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott
- George Takei as Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
- Walter Koenig as Cmdr. Pavel Chekov
- Nichelle Nichols as Cmdr. Uhura
- Christopher Lloyd as Cmdr. Kruge
- Robin Curtis as Lt. Saavik
- Mark Lenard as Ambassador Sarek
- Merritt Butrick as Dr. David Marcus
- Judith Anderson as Vulcan High Priestess
- James B. Sikking as Captain Styles
Directed by Leonard Nimoy.