When the first Star Trek feature-length film hit the big screen in 1979, the reception amongst critics and fans was lukewarm at best, despite Star Trek: The Motion Picture's overall financial success. Its follow-up film, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, was a smash hit, and 4 more followed, with varying success.
While many fans hold that only the even-numbered films are worth watching, Redshirts Always Die has its own rankings, so let's take a look from worst to best!
6. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
This film has hardly any Star Trek feel to it at all, and has so few redeeming qualities that it almost feels like a parody of the original crew. The uneven tone, the cringe-worthy slapstick moments (such as Scotty knocking himself out on a low-hanging beam right after he says he knows the ship like the back of his hand), and a recycled "Let's search for Eden" plot from the series 3d season make this the film the weakest of the bunch (and don't get me started on what the writers reduced Uhura to!)
The most incredible thing about The Final Frontier is that it feels like those who made it didn't know much about Star Trek at all. It's a mixed bag of ideas and concepts tossed into a glitchy starship, and its removal from the timeline wouldn't affect events that came after. Who else thinks Sulu took that promotion out of boredom?
5. Star Trek: The Motion Picture
This film feels so new age, and it's definitely a product of its time. In an era where film effects and technology were on the rise, Star Trek: The Motion Picture tried to fit right in by leaning into lingering shots of the Enterprise and scenes that tried for an epic, sweeping feel. Some of these scenes drag on where the time could've been spent reestablishing characters other than Spock.
4. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
I admit, I'm kind of a fan of this movie and it's the one I quote the most. While it does cheapen the ending of The Wrath of Khan, which is one of cinema's truest tear-jerkers with the death of Spock, it has a strong antagonist and some truly fine moments.
Many people poke fun at William Shatner's acting choices, but the scene in which Sarek mind-melds with Kirk to find Spock's katra, causing Kirk to relive Spock's death, and that singular "No," from him reminds me that the man can nail a scene when called to!
3. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
I struggled with the order of this and my #2 choice because they're both so good, but for different reasons. The Wrath of Khan is a fantastic and almost classic sci-fi adventure, with battles in space and a clear antagonist in Khan (kudos to the late Ricardo Montalban, who gave an incredible performance!)
While the ecological message in The Voyage Home is a bit heavy-handed, it's well-balanced within the plot and doesn't feel tacked on. The crew are all very much in character, as opposed to The Final Frontier, while they hang around in the background. This is soft Trek, comforting, likely your GenX mom's favorite.
2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
While this film usually ranks #1 when it comes to these types of lists, there's a difference between a good sci-fi tale and a good sci-fi tale set in the Star Trek universe.
It's a great action/adventure film, and choosing an antagonist from the original series provides fantastic continuity. Its one fault is that it feels unfinished in some areas, and it feels like there might be one heck of a director's cut out there somewhere!
1. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
I will perish at the crest of the steps of Mount Seleya over this ranking! The Undiscovered Country has it all: a compelling mystery, clever dialog, a dramatic bad guy with original series-levels of dramatics, lots of tense moments, and I defy anyone to remain dry-eyed when the original cast's signatures fill that starfield!