In his first four Star Trek movie appearances, Kirk began as an Admiral before being demoted back to Captain of the USS Enterprise, the position that is Jim's first, best destiny. Captain Kirk remained in the Starship Enterprise's center seat for the final two movies starring the cast of Star Trek: The Original Series. In J.J. Abrams' Star Trek trilogy, Kirk began as a Starfleet Cadet and meteroically rose to become Captain.
Whether he's Admiral Kirk or Captain Kirk, and played by William Shatner or Chris Pine, James T. Kirk retains his heroic core and a tendency to leap where angels fear to tread. Yet Kirk is also deeply loyal, complex, and, at times, lonely, when he's not surrounded by his found family aboard his beloved Starship Enterprise. Here are my 7 favorite Captain Kirk Star Trek movie moments.
7Captain Kirk Gives Nero An Agonizing Death
Star Trek (2009)
As red matter consumed Nero's starship, the Narada, into a black hole, Captain Kirk offered the Romulan assistance in the interest of peace (to Spock's objection). When Nero prefers to "die in agony," Kirk replies, "You got it." It's a jaw-dropping and rousing moment of Kirk unapologetically agreeing to give Nero the fate he requested. Among his many dynamic scenes in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies, this was the moment Chris Pine's James T. Kirk became Captain.
6Captain Kirk Realizes He Was Wrong To Hate Klingons
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Captain James T. Kirk was filled with existential dread at the thought of peace with the Klingon Empire at the start of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Kirk was so disturbed, he uncharacteristically told Spock (Leonard Nimoy), "Let them die." Kirk felt even worse when he was forced to host the Klingons at dinner before he was framed for assassinating Chancellor Gorkon (David Warner).
5Captain Kirk Is Right To Question "God"
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
William Shatner directed Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, so it's not too surprising that Captain James T. Kirk has the most memorable - if not the single best - line in the film. When Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Sybok (Lawrence Luckinbill) land on Sha Ka Ree to meet God (George Murdock), the Almighty entity is assured by Sybok that the stolen Starship Enterprise can carry God's message to the galaxy.
4Captain Kirk Gives Captain Picard Advice
Star Trek Generations
Captain James T. Kirk meeting Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) was the historic moment that Star Trek Generations hinged on. While consensus is not kind to how Star Trek Generations killed Captain Kirk, Jim's few minutes with Picard are magic. Especially when Kirk offers his hard-earned advice to the current Captain of the Enterprise:
Don't let them promote you, don't let them transfer you, don't let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship, because while you're there, you can make a difference.
Kirk learned this lesson the hard way because he came to regret giving up the Starship Enterprise to become an Admiral. Kirk fought to get back to the bridge of the Enterprise, and it cost him dearly. William Shatner's sheer charisma stole Star Trek Generations, and he charmed his way through his scenes, culminating with Kirk's parting his wisdom to Picard.
3Admiral Kirk Mourns Spock's Death
Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
Kirk had never been so defeated and so forlorn.
Kirk's love for Spock has never been laid so bare. Compounding the tragedy of the Vulcan's death, the glass separating them to protect Kirk and Engineering from radiation poisoning meant Jim couldn't touch and comfort his best friend during Spock's last moments. Kirk had never been so defeated and so forlorn as he slinked beside Spock, finally facing a death he couldn't cheat.
2Admiral Kirk's Reaction When His Son Dies
Star Trek III: The Search For Spock
In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Admiral Kirk essentially tossed aside his Starfleet career in the hope that Spock could be resurrected. As Kirk risked everything to reverse his loss of Spock in Star Trek II, Jim did not expect to face what was perhaps an even more painful death: the murder of Kirk's son, David Marcus (Merritt Butrick), by the Klingons.
When Kruge (Christopher Lloyd) ordered David's death, Kirk, who was on the bridge of the Enterprise, was completely helpless to stop it. William Shatner's performance is visceral and filled with anguish, as Kirk literally loses his equlibirum and falls backward from the shock of his son's sudden, senseless murder. It's a remarkable Kirk moment, and Shatner at his best.
1Admiral Kirk's Fury At Khan
Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
Perhaps the signature Admiral Kirk moment - not just in Star Trek movies but overall - is Jim screaming Khan's name in fury in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. At this point in Nicholas Meyer's classic Star Trek sequel, Khan believes he has marooned Admiral Kirk and his crew on the Regula I planetoid, just as Kirk stranded Khan on Ceti Alpha V almost 20 years prior.As Khan gloats that he has left Kirk "buried alive," Jim snarls "Khaaaannn!" into his communicator in what has become a meme and an indelible part of pop culture. In Star Trek II, it was also the pivot point that fully jumpstarted Admiral Kirk into action, as he and Spock implement their own secret plan to defeat Khan. Chris Pine and William Shatner are so charming and charismatic, they make virtually any Captain Kirk moment stand out, but these are my favorites in their Star Trek movies.
