How to Watch Star Trek in Order: The Complete Series Timeline

Embark on a Comprehensive Star Trek Viewing Journey: Chronological and Release Order Guides

Since the debut of Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966, the franchise has expanded into a vast multimedia universe. This guide simplifies navigating this extensive collection, offering chronological and release order viewing options. Paramount+ now provides convenient access to most Star Trek content.

This spoiler-free guide helps you experience the adventures of Kirk, Picard, Janeway, and more, in two ways: chronologically or by release date.

Chronological Viewing Order:

1. Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2155): Set a century before the Original Series, this series follows Captain Jonathan Archer and the Enterprise NX-01, Earth's first warp 5 capable starship. It explores early encounters with familiar alien species and the challenges of a less technologically advanced era.

   Star Trek: Enterprise, UPN, Sep 26, 2001

   [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

2. Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 1 & 2 (2256-2258): These seasons precede the Original Series, introducing Michael Burnham and the U.S.S. Discovery. Note: Seasons 3-5 jump significantly forward in time.

   Star Trek: Discovery, Paramount+, Jan 7, 2018

   [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

3. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259-TBD): A prequel to the Original Series, featuring Captain Christopher Pike and the Enterprise NCC-1701, bridging the gap to Kirk's command.

   Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Paramount+, May 5, 2022

   [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

4. Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269): The foundational series, introducing Kirk, Spock, and the iconic five-year mission.

   Star Trek: The Original Series, NBC, Sep 8, 1966

   [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

Kelvin Timeline (Alternate Reality): The J.J. Abrams reboot films (2009's Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond) exist in a separate timeline and can be viewed at any point.

5. Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270): Animated continuation of the Original Series adventures.

   Star Trek: The Animated Series, NBC, Sep 8, 1973

   [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

6. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2270s): The first Star Trek film, bringing back the Original Series crew.

   Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Paramount Pictures, Dec 7, 1979

   [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

7. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285): Often considered the best Star Trek film, featuring the iconic conflict between Kirk and Khan.

   Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Paramount Pictures, Jun 4, 1982

   [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

8. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (2285): The sequel to Wrath of Khan, dealing with Spock's death and subsequent resurrection.

   Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Paramount Pictures, Jun 1, 1984

   [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

9. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (2286 and 1986): A time-travel adventure taking the crew to 1986 San Francisco.

   Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Paramount Pictures, Nov 26, 1986

   [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

10. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (2287): A less critically acclaimed entry, focusing on a search for God.

    Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Paramount Pictures, Jun 9, 1989

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

11. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (2293): The final film featuring the original TOS cast, exploring Klingon-Federation relations.

    Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Paramount Pictures, Dec 6, 1991

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

12. Star Trek: Section 31 (2326): (Consider skipping this one based on critical reception).

    Star Trek: Section 31, Paramount+, Jan 24, 2025

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

13. Star Trek: The Next Generation (2364-2370): The highly acclaimed series featuring Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D.

    Star Trek: The Next Generation, Sep 28, 1987

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

14. Star Trek: Generations (2293 and 2371): A crossover film featuring both Picard and Kirk.

    Star Trek: Generations, Paramount Pictures, Nov 18, 1994

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

15. Star Trek: First Contact (2373): A Next Generation film focusing on the Borg threat.

    Star Trek: First Contact, Paramount Pictures, Nov 22, 1996

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

16. Star Trek: Insurrection (2375): A Next Generation film dealing with a planet's rejuvenating properties.

    Star Trek: Insurrection, Paramount Pictures, Dec 11, 1998

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

17. Star Trek: Nemesis (2379): The final Next Generation film, introducing Shinzon, a Picard clone.

    Star Trek: Nemesis, Paramount Pictures, Dec 13, 2002

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

18. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2369-2375): A series set on a space station near a wormhole, featuring Captain Sisko.

    Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Jan 3, 1993

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

19. Star Trek: Voyager (2371-2378): Follows Captain Janeway and her crew stranded in the Delta Quadrant.

    Star Trek: Voyager, UPN, Jan 16, 1995

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

20. Star Trek: Lower Decks (2380-2382): An animated comedy focusing on the lower-deck crew.

    Star Trek: Lower Decks, Paramount+, Aug 6, 2020

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

21. Star Trek: Prodigy (2383-2385): A 3D animated series aimed at younger audiences.

    Star Trek: Prodigy, Netflix, Oct 28, 2021

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

22. Star Trek: Picard (2399-2402): A sequel series bringing back Picard and several Next Generation characters.

    Star Trek: Picard, Paramount+, Jan 23, 2020

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

23. Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 3, 4, & 5 (3188-3191): These seasons jump far into the future.

    Star Trek: Discovery, Paramount+, Jan 7, 2018

    [Where to Watch](Links to streaming services and purchase options would go here)

Release Order Viewing: This list follows the order of the shows and films' initial releases. (The list would then follow with the release order as presented in the original text).

Upcoming Star Trek Projects: (List of upcoming projects as presented in the original text). Remember to replace bracketed information with actual links.