I had yet to reach my teens when Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan hit theaters, and it wasn't until I caught a big-screen re-release a few years ago that I realized the breadth and depth of this film.
At this point, more televised Star Trek was still five years away, with Star Trek: The Next Generation not appearing until 1987. Even after subsequent films in the franchise came out after The Wrath of Khan, this second movie in the original series universe remains the favorite of fans all over the world, but what is it about this film that keeps fans coming back to it, first on VHS and then on Blu-ray and streaming?
Let's take a look back and find out.
Theoretical and philosophical themes thrilled fans of the original series
Fans of the original series who appreciated the theoretical, social, and moral lessons of early sci-fi likely embraced Wrath of Khan for its own themes of aging, dealing with loss, and hanging onto hope when there doesn't seem to be anything to hope for. These themes also appeared in original series episodes such as "The City on the Edge of Forever" (S1E28), "The Deadly Years" (S2E12), and "The Menagerie." S1E11-12). Despite the pulse-racing action in this film, it still has the sci-fi heart so many fans remember fondly.
Khan was the callback fans wanted after Star Trek: The Motion Picture
While Star Trek: The Motion Picture has beautiful cinematography and the fandom touchstone of V'ger, it's likely that fans of the original series remembered Khan Noonien Singh better. This genetically-enhanced superhuman, a result of the genetics wars on Earth, was both charming and deadly. Who can forget the way he charmed Marla McGivers and the way he very nearly took over the Enterprise?
In The Wrath of Khan, Admiral Kirk's old foe may have aged, but he's no less intelligent, cunning, and resourceful. One callback fans particularly notice as an effective callback is the broken Delta shield necklace Khan wears. Since we know he has little love for Starfleet or the Federation, it's no doubt in memory of his wife, who had to have been Marla McGivers. The look of bitter joy in Khan's eyes when he uses the Ceti eels to attack Chekov and Terrell with the beings that killed her is an amazing moment!
An enduring message of hope
Despite Spock's heart-wrenching death at the end of the film, The Wrath of Khan leaves us with a message of hope. The birth of the Genesis Planet and hints at Spock's eventual resurrection remind us fans that there's always something to hope for.