Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Movie, 1979, Kirk, Set in 2273
Star Trek: The Motion Picture is #3 of 26 in release order and #6 of 26 in chronological order in the Star Trek.
The story
When an unidentified alien destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers, Captain James T. Kirk returns to the newly transformed U.S.S. Enterprise to take command.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture recap
In 2273, a vast energy cloud destroys three Klingon ships and a Federation station on its way to Earth. Admiral James T. Kirk, now stuck behind a desk, takes back command of a refitted Enterprise from its new captain, Will Decker, who stays on as first officer. McCoy is pulled out of retirement, and Spock, who has been trying to purge his emotions on Vulcan, joins the ship after sensing a consciousness in the cloud. Inside, the Enterprise finds a huge vessel. A probe kills the navigator Ilia, whom Decker once loved, and replaces her with a robotic copy that speaks for the entity, V'Ger, which is searching for its creator. Spock mind-melds with it and learns it is pure logic with no meaning beyond its mission.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture ending explained
V'Ger is the old NASA probe Voyager 6, which travelled through a machine world and came back as a living machine looking to join with its creator. Decker volunteers to merge with V'Ger and the Ilia probe, and together they become a new life form and vanish. Earth is saved, and Kirk takes the Enterprise back into space.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek: The Motion Picture is streaming on fuboTV and Paramount+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 51%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Star Trek: The Animated Series, before Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
- Chronological order: after Star Trek: The Animated Series, before Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
What to watch before Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek: The Original Series (1966), which Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) continues.
Cast
- William Shatner as Captain Kirk
- Leonard Nimoy as Spock
- DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy
- James Doohan as Scotty
- George Takei as Sulu
- Walter Koenig as Chekov
- Nichelle Nichols as Uhura
- Stephen Collins as Decker
- Persis Khambatta as Ilia
- Majel Barrett as Dr. Chapel
- Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand
- Mark Lenard as Klingon Captain
Directed by Robert Wise.