Star Trek: The Original Series in order Star Trek: The Original Series Marathon
Page Last Modified:
27 December 2025
Most Recent Release:
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country - 1991
Total Runtime:
4664 Minutes
Total Items:
7
Average User Score:
(6.9)Star Trek: The Original Series in order
If you're ready to teleport your popcorn and fire up the warp drive, this Star Trek: The Original Series marathon is exactly what you need. But where do you even begin? Which do you think is better, the original series or the films? And why does Star Trek II suddenly seem more important than the rest? Don't worry, we've mapped out the logical, chronological viewing order for you, including all the TOS movies, Easter eggs, character moments, and legendary space showdowns. Hey, be sure to power up your tricorder because this is the only guide you'll need to binge Star Trek TOS the right way.
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Star Trek Tv Show 3982 min. 1969Space. The Final Frontier. The U.S.S. Enterprise embarks on a five year mission to explore the galaxy. The Enterprise is under the command of Captain James T. Kirk with First Officer Mr. Spock, from the planet Vulcan. With a determined crew, the Enterprise encounters Klingons, Romulans, time paradoxes, tribbles and genetic supermen led by Khan Noonian Singh. Their mission is to explore strange new worlds, to seek new life and new civilizations, and to boldly go where no man has gone before.USER SCORE 7.3 -
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Star Trek: The Motion Picture Movie 131 min. 1979When an unidentified alien destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers, Captain James T. Kirk returns to the newly transformed U.S.S. Enterprise to take command.USER SCORE 6 -
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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Movie 112 min. 1982The starship Enterprise and its crew is pulled back into action when old nemesis, Khan, steals a top secret device called Project Genesis.USER SCORE 7 -
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Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Movie 105 min. 1984A surprise visit from Spock's father provides a startling revelation: McCoy is harboring Spock's living essence.USER SCORE 7 -
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Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Movie 118 min. 1986When a huge alien probe enters the galaxy and begins to vaporize Earth's oceans, Kirk and his crew must travel back in time in order to bring back whales and save the planet.USER SCORE 7 -
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Star Trek V: The Final Frontier Movie 106 min. 1989A renegade Vulcan with a startling secret hijacks the U.S.S. Enterprise in order to find a mythical planet.USER SCORE 6 -
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Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Movie 110 min. 1991After years of war, the Federation and the Klingon empire find themselves on the brink of a peace summit when a Klingon ship is nearly destroyed by an apparent attack from the Enterprise. Both worlds brace for what may be their deadliest encounter.USER SCORE 7
Star Trek: The Original Series
Everything starts here. "Space, the final frontier..." These words kept a generation of dreamers up at night and changed sci-fi forever. Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) is pure vintage sci-fi with an iconic cast: William Shatner as the always impulsive James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as the logical Spock, DeForest Kelley as the fiery Dr. McCoy, and of course, the rest of the bridge crew: Uhura, Scotty, Sulu, and Chekov. This series sets the stage for everything that follows: moral dilemmas, the Prime Directive, diplomatic tensions with the Klingon Empire and Romulan Star Empire, and an endless hunger for space exploration. No film can stand without this foundation, so don't skip TOS if you truly want to understand the saga.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
After the original series ended, Kirk and his crew return in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The vibe is different, more mellow, almost meditative, but it feels like a long-awaited reunion. The USS Enterprise has been remodeled into the legendary Enterprise refit, and the crew is back together to investigate a mysterious alien phenomenon heading toward Earth. It's known for its slow pace, which makes it a key film to watch if you're trying to understand the series and the movies that came later. It also starts to look into Spock's personal struggles and his connection to Vulcan philosophy, a theme that keeps coming up in the later movies.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
This is where you realize your marathon has really begun. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is one of the best TOS films out there, and it's widely considered to be one of the greatest sci-fi sequels ever made. Ricardo Montalbán returns as Khan Noonien Singh, a genetically engineered superhuman from the TOS episode "Space Seed." The film is sharp, emotional, and features the iconic Mutara Nebula battle that every Star Trek fan knows by heart. The Genesis Device is a technology that drives the plot of this film and also lays the groundwork for the next two films.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
After the dramatic climax of Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, directed by Leonard Nimoy, picks up right where it left off. It goes deep into the Vulcan katra arc, where the soul, or "katra," is a key part of the story. Christopher Lloyd really shines as Klingon captain Kruge, and the Enterprise crew basically ignores every Starfleet order to save their friend. It's a film about loyalty, sacrifice, and the importance of friendship, with a few epic explosions thrown in, of course.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Time for something different. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, also directed by Nimoy, flips the tone 180 degrees. The dark battles and moral dilemmas are in the past. This is a time-travel film full of humor, environmental awareness, and (surprisingly) whales. Yes, really. The crew travels back to the 1980s to save the planet from an alien whale probe that only communicates with humpback whales. Catherine Hicks plays the brilliant veterinarian Gillian Taylor, and every scene feels like a wink to the audience. It's the lightest film in the series, but it's absolutely essential for wrapping up the "Genesis trilogy."
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Okay, let's be honest: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier isn't the fan favorite. William Shatner directed the film, which looks into the search for God in a literal way. Despite the mixed reviews, this film has its moments. The dynamic between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy is strong, and Laurence Luckinbill's performance as Sybok, Spock's half-brother, adds a surprisingly spiritual layer. If you're short on time, it might not be the best pick, but for a full marathon, it's a great addition. Let's be real: even the not-so-great parts can be fun when you're with friends and the popcorn is going everywhere.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
We end with a bang. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, directed by Nicholas Meyer, is the perfect example of a film that brings everything together: political intrigue, intergalactic diplomacy, and a farewell to the original crew that truly resonates. The explosion on Praxis and the Klingon peace treaty that followed led to a story that directly connects to The Next Generation. David Warner plays Chancellor Gorkon, Kim Cattrall surprises as Valeris, and the plot is filled with Shakespearean quotes, conspiracies, and character development. This is how you end a saga with style, weight, and one last mission for the ages.
Trek Facts for Your Marathon
Here are a few quick insider facts to make your marathon even more enjoyable. Did you know that Harve Bennett played a key role in restructuring the TOS movies after the mixed reception of The Motion Picture? Or that Robin Curtis took over the role of Saavik from Kirstie Alley between parts II and III? The connection between the films is strong, with similar characters, technology like warp drive, transporters, and tricorders. Also, keep an eye out for the recurring Kobayashi Maru test motif, a philosophical dilemma that Kirk "solves" in his own way. And yes, you can perfectly follow the Star Trek timeline with this order. Ready for launch?
Pop that popcorn, gather your crew, and set your screen to full-screen. This Star Trek: The Original Series marathon is the ultimate deep dive into a legendary sci-fi franchise that has stood the test of time. Whether you're meeting the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 for the first time or embarking on your hundredth rewatch, this viewing order gives you the perfect mix of nostalgia, insight, and space drama. Hey, ready to take a leap of faith and go where no one's gone before? Engage.