Star Trek: The Motion Picture
1979 · Movie · G · 131 min · ★ 6.5 · 51% critics
An unidentified alien destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers, putting Earth on alert as it travels toward home. Captain Kirk returns to lead a revamped Enterprise and investigate the vast mystery—before the danger reaches everyone.
Based on In Thy Image
Also known as Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Director's Edition · La Patrouille du Cosmos
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Watch free on Kanopy — also streaming on Paramount+ and fuboTV.
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Details
- Years
- 1979
- Release date
- 1979-12-07
- Language
- English
- Rated
- G
- Runtime
- 131 min
- Critic score
- 51/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.5/10 (1,929 votes)
- Box office
- $144,000,000
- Budget
- $44,000,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy this slow-burn sci-fi revival if you want grand wonder and deep themes, not nonstop momentum; Not for you if you prefer faster action, lighter fun, or quick plot payoffs like Star Trek: Generations or Mission to Mars.
Pros: awe-inspiring space scale; strong Trekkie heart; big sci-fi ideas | Cons: slow, stretched pacing; not enough plot; lots of ship viewing
Themes
- spacecraft
- man vs machine
- artificial intelligence (a.i.)
- self sacrifice
- teleportation
- san francisco, california
- starship
- space opera
- reunited friends
- outer space
- lighthearted
- didactic
- +3 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Visual Effects · 1980 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Original Score · 1980 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Production Design · 1980 · nominated
Cast & crew
William Shatner
as Admiral James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy
as Mr. Spock
DeForest Kelley
as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
James Doohan
as Cmdr. Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott
George Takei
as Lt. Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
Walter Koenig
as Lt. Pavel Chekov
Nichelle Nichols
as Lt. Cmdr. Uhura
Stephen Collins
as Captain William Decker
Persis Khambatta
as Lt. Ilia / The Probe
Majel Barrett
as Dr. Christine Chapel
Directed by Robert Wise