Star Trek has delivered a half-dozen prequels in the form of TV series and movies, set in two different timelines, in the last 24 years. Star Trek: The Original Series, which premiered in 1966, began the forward progression of Star Trek's timeline in the 23rd century. Following the cancellation of Star Trek in season 3, its success in syndication (and Star Wars becoming a cinematic blockbuster) led to Paramount reviving Star Trek, turning the voyages of the USS Enterprise into a movie franchise.
Star Trek: The Next Generation established the 24th century, significantly expanding the Star Trek universe. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager followed as Star Trek: The Next Generation jumped to feature films. Together, the three Star Trek series pushed the 24th century timeline forward by fifteen years, from TNG's launch in 2364 to the end of Star Trek: Nemesis in 2379.
However, Star Trek went backwards in 2001. Star Trek: Enterprise debuted as the franchise's first prequel, retconning Star Trek history by introducing Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula), whose NX-01 Enterprise preceded Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) USS Enterprise by 100 years. Since then, Star Trek has mixed several prequel movies and shows with new TV series on Paramount+ that push the timeline forward. Here are Star Trek's 6 prequels ranked, worst to best.
6Star Trek Into Darkness
Set In 2259 In The Kelvin Timeline
Star Trek Into Darkness picks up one year after the events of Star Trek (2009) in the alternate Kelvin Timeline. Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and the USS Enterprise learn that Starfleet Admiral Alexander Marcus (Peter Weller) has revived a 20th-century genetically engineered villain, Khan Noonien Singh (Benedict Cumberbatch). Marcus' plan to manipulate Khan to militarize Starfleet and start a war with the Klingons backfires when Khan is unleashed and seeks his revenge.
Star Trek Into Darkness' chaotic ending belied the numerous issues that plagued J.J. Abrams' sequel, which rehashed Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Though propulsive and visually stunning, Star Trek Into Darkness infuriated Star Trek fans by proving itself to be a hollow, funhouse mirror remake of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Star Trek Into Darkness overloads on relentless action, and audiences were left numb by the absurdity of Spock (Zachary Quinto) brawling with Khan while Captain Kirk dies and is instantly resurrected. Star Trek's hallmarks of moral and ethical quandaries were blown out of the USS Enterprise's airlock in favor of empty spectacle.
5Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1 & 2
Set In 2256-2258 In The Prime Timeline
Star Trek: Discovery season 1's premiere revealed itself to be a prequel set a decade before Star Trek: The Original Series, and immediately, there were problems that irate Star Trek fans never got past. Star Trek: Discovery's visual style and advanced technology like holograms were lightyears beyond what was seen in Star Trek: The Original Series, which is supposed to be in its future. Discovery's reinvented Klingons also incensed audiences, as did Disco's grim absence of Star Trek's trademark optimism in the wake of the bloody Klingon War.
Star Trek: Discovery premiered 7 years ago, and it was a new vision for Star Trek that is still equal parts revolutionary and troubling.
There was a marked improvement in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, which reintroduced Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck), and the USS Enterprise. Still, Discovery season 2's Red Angel story arc was about preventing an AI-driven intergalactic apocalypse that was even more disheartening than the Klingon War. Star Trek: Discovery's ultimate solution was to jump the series into the 32nd century, which put an end to its woes as a Star Trek prequel.
4Star Trek Beyond
Set In 2263 In The Kelvin Timeline
Star Trek Beyond follows Captain James T. Kirk as the Starship Enterprise reaches the halfway point in its five-year mission of galactic exploration. As a dejected Kirk contemplates becoming Vice Admiral of Starbase Yorktown, the Enterprise is attacked and destroyed by Krall (Idris Elba), who strands Kirk and his crew on the planet Altamid. With the help of a new ally, Jayla (Sofia Boutella), Kirk escapes Altamid, learns Krall's secret, and stops the alien villain from destroying Starbase Yorktown.
Star Trek Beyond captures the idealism of Star Trek. which is best summed up by Spock: "We find hope in the impossible."
The closest of the J.J. Abrams-produced Star Trek movies to replicate the spirit of Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek Beyond is a thrilling adventure that reaffirms the loyalty of Captain Kirk and his USS Enterprise crew. Like all of the Star Trek reboot movies, Star Trek Beyond is visually stunning and an action-packed thrill ride. Most importantly, Star Trek Beyond captures the idealism of Star Trek, which is best summed up by Spock: "We find hope in the impossible."
3Star Trek 2009
Set In 2258 In The Kelvin Timeline
Star Trek (2009) is the origin of Captain James T. Kirk and the Starship Enterprise crew, albeit in the alternate Kelvin Timeline. Star Trek (2009) is also a total reboot of the Star Trek movie franchise, with director J.J. Abrams upgrading Star Trek's visual style to become a true cinematic blockbuster (yes, with lens flares). While Star Trek (2009) includes numerous time jumps, the film's main story is set in 2258 as Kirk leads the young crew of the Enterprise on its first mission to save Earth from the villainous Romulan time traveler, Nero (Eric Bana).
J.J. Abrams' Star Trek 2009 saw the young Kirk and Spock join forces to save Earth. A deep dive into how Star Trek 2009 ended and what it all means.
There is no better entry point for general audiences than Star Trek (2009), which is an inviting and thrilling outer space adventure with a spectacular cast. J.J. Abrams' reboot proved it was possible to recast the actors from Star Trek: The Original Series, as Chris Pine and his fellow actors captured the essence of Star Trek's iconic space heroes. Star Trek (2009)'s alternate universe conceit is that the Kelvin Timeline is more technically advanced than the Prime Timeline, but it all works wonderfully as a pure summer movie thrill ride.
2Star Trek: Enterprise
Set From 2151-2155 In The Prime Timeline
Star Trek's first prequel premiered on the United Paramount Network (UPN) in 2001. Enterprise was executive producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga's solution to the increasingly complex and self-referential Star Trek: The Next Generation era. Originally titled simply Enterprise, the Scott Bakula-led prequel purposefully made Captain Jonathan Archer and the NX-01 Enterprise crew feel more contemporary. These were imperfect 22nd century astronauts who were in over their heads in a galaxy hostile to humans.
1Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Set From 2259 Onward In The Prime Timeline
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds kicked off with accolades: It was the first Star Trek on Paramount+ show that fans actually clamored for after becoming infatuated with Anson Mount's Captain Pike, Ethan Peck's Lt. Spock, and Rebecca Romijn's Number One in Star Trek: Discovery season 2. Strange New Worlds is also the longest pilot-to-series order in TV history, as it has its roots in "The Cage," the original 1965 Star Trek pilot episode that was rejected by NBC and retooled into Star Trek: The Original Series.With its colorful nostalgia and embracing of Star Trek's episodic storytelling, but with a scintillating serialization of character arcs and a bold willingness to take chances and defy genres, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the perfect Star Trek prequel series. Strange New Worlds is what Star Trek: The Original Series would be if it were made today. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds honors the past, revels in the present, and plans wide-eyed for Star Trek's future.
