Ever since the premiere of the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966, the entertainment world has been transformed. This iconic franchise has captured the imagination of millions worldwide, evolving into a vast universe that includes multiple television series, feature films, comics, merchandise, and more. With such an expansive collection of content, navigating the Star Trek universe can be daunting, whether you want to watch everything in chronological order or by release date. To help you embark on this interstellar journey, we've crafted this comprehensive guide to ensure you don't miss out on any part of the Star Trek adventure.

Thanks to Paramount+, tracking down and enjoying the entire Star Trek catalog has become significantly easier. This platform is now the go-to destination for nearly all past, present, and future Star Trek entries, making it simpler than ever to dive into the adventures of beloved characters like Kirk, Picard, Janeway, Sisko, Spock, Pike, Archer, Burnham, and many others who have contributed to the franchise's enduring legacy over the past 56 years.

Join us as we venture into the final frontier and explore how you can catch up with the entire Star Trek saga. We've created a mostly spoiler-free chronological timeline that won't spoil major plot points, ensuring you can use this guide without diminishing the excitement of what lies ahead. If you prefer to follow the release order, we've included that list as well.

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How to Watch Star Trek in Chronological OrderHow to Watch Star Trek by Release OrderHow to Watch Star Trek in Chronological Order

1. Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2155)

Star Trek: Enterprise is the earliest entry in our chronological timeline, set a century before Star Trek: The Original Series. Airing from 2001 to 2005, the series stars Scott Bakula as Captain Jonathan Archer, who commands the Enterprise NX-01, Earth's first starship capable of reaching warp five. The show offers a unique perspective on a crew without the advanced technology seen in later series, and it features the first contact with many familiar alien species from the Star Trek universe.

Star Trek: EnterpriseUPNSep 26, 2001### Where to Watch

Powered byBuyBuyBuyMore### 2. Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 1 and 2 (2256-2258)

For a chronological watch, Star Trek: Discovery introduces a bit of complexity. The first two seasons are set before The Original Series, while seasons three, four, and five leap into the future. Star Trek: Discovery follows Sonequa Martin-Green's character, Michael Burnham, a Starfleet Commander whose actions inadvertently spark a war with the Klingon Empire, leading to her court-martial and reassignment to the U.S.S. Discovery.

Star Trek: DiscoveryParamount+Jan 7, 2018### Where to Watch

Powered byBuyBuyBuyMore### 3. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259-TBD)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds continues the story before The Original Series, focusing on Captain Christopher Pike, played by Anson Mount, who first appeared in Discovery. This series explores Pike's adventures aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, introducing new characters alongside familiar faces from the original series.

Star Trek: Strange New WorldsParamount+May 5, 2022### Where to Watch

Powered byBuyBuyBuyMore### 4. Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269)

Starting with Star Trek: The Original Series, created by Gene Roddenberry, this is where the franchise began. Despite being canceled after three seasons (1966-1969), its influence grew through syndication, laying the foundation for the entire Star Trek universe. The series stars William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock, embarking on a mission "to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before."

Star TrekNBCSep 8, 1966### Where to Watch

Powered byBuyBuyBuyMore### Bonus: Star Trek’s Kelvin Timeline (2009’s Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond)

Where to Watch Star Trek: Hulu, Paramount+

Where to Watch Star Trek Into Darkness: Paramount+

Where to Watch Star Trek Beyond: Paramount+

The Kelvin Timeline, initiated with J.J. Abrams' Star Trek in 2009, offers a reboot that reimagines the universe with new actors portraying classic characters. These films, including Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond, take place in an alternate timeline created by a pivotal event in 2233, and they can be watched at any point without disrupting the main series' continuity.

5. Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270)

Following the success of The Original Series in syndication, Gene Roddenberry continued the adventures in Star Trek: The Animated Series. Airing from 1973 to 1974, this series brought back the original characters and their voices for more tales aboard the Enterprise.

Star Trek: The Animated Series [1973]NBCSep 8, 1973### Where to Watch

Powered byBuyBuyBuyMore### 6. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2270s)

Star Trek: The Motion Picture marked the return of the original crew in 1979, despite initial studio reluctance. In this film, Admiral Kirk, now in command of a refitted U.S.S. Enterprise, confronts a mysterious alien cloud known as V'Ger.

Star Trek: The Motion PictureParamount PicturesDec 7, 1979PG

Powered byRent/BuyRent/BuyRent/BuyMore### 7. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285)

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is often hailed as the best Star Trek film. Released in 1982, it pits Admiral Kirk against Ricardo Montalban's Khan Noonien Singh, a genetically engineered superhuman seeking revenge after being stranded on a remote planet by Kirk in a previous episode.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanParamount PicturesJun 4, 1982PG

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