How Many Star Trek Films Are There

Hey there, Trekkies and casual fans alike! Let's dive into the galaxy and explore a question that's been buzzing around the final frontier: just how many Star Trek films are there?

Let's Start at the Beginning

Our journey begins in the late '70s, when Paramount Pictures decided to beam up the original TV series crew for their first big-screen adventure. "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" hit theaters in 1979, marking the start of a cinematic saga that's spanned over four decades.

But wait, you might be thinking, "I've seen more than one Trek film!" And you'd be right. You see, the Trek universe is vast, and so are its film offerings. So, let's break it down.

Kirk, Spock, and the Gang

The Original Series crew, led by Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, graced our screens in six feature films. From the aforementioned "The Motion Picture" to the time-traveling "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," these films followed the classic crew on their adventures through space and time.

But here's a fun fact for you: the sixth film, "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country," was originally titled "Horizon." The crew decided to change it after watching "2001: A Space Odyssey" and realizing that "Horizon" was the name of a spaceship in that film. Talk about a close call!

Next Generation and Beyond

In the '90s, the Next Generation crew took center stage with four films of their own. From "Star Trek Generations," which saw the original crew pass the torch to the new generation, to "Star Trek: Insurrection," these films introduced us to new worlds, new civilizations, and new life forms.

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And speaking of new life forms, did you know that the Vulcan neck pinch used in the films was originally a mistake? Actor Leonard Nimoy accidentally pinched William Shatner too hard during a scene, and the rest is history!

The Reboot Era

In 2009, J.J. Abrams gave us a fresh take on the Trek universe with the "Star Trek" reboot. This film, along with its sequels "Into Darkness" and "Beyond," introduced us to younger versions of our favorite characters, played by Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and the rest of the new crew.

But here's where things get a little tricky. See, these films are part of the "Kelvin timeline," a parallel universe to the original Trek timeline. So, when we're counting films, do we count these as separate from the original series films? The debate rages on, folks!

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The Latest Installment

And now, we come to the most recent addition to the Trek film canon: "Star Trek: No Time to Die." Wait, no, that's not right. My bad. I mean "Star Trek: Picard." No, still not right. I give up. It's "Star Trek Beyond," the third film in the reboot series, which hit theaters in 2016.

But hey, who knows what the future holds? With new Trek series like "Discovery" and "Picard" on the small screen, and rumors of more films swirling around the internet, there's no telling where our favorite franchise will boldly go next.

So, How Many Films Are There?

Alright, let's do some math. If we count the Original Series films, the Next Generation films, and the reboot films as separate entities, we're looking at a grand total of 13 Star Trek films. But remember, that's not including the animated series films, the fan films, or the countless Trek-inspired films that have come before.

So, the answer to our question is... 13. But who's counting, right? After all, in the words of the great Captain Kirk, "Risk is our business. That's what this starship is all about. That's why we're aboard her." And that, my friends, is why we keep coming back to the Trek films, time and time again.