Star Trekmovies are now seemingly back in limbo afterStar Trek: Section 31, which is a huge disappointment after nearly a decade of waiting for moreStar Trekcinematic adventures. Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi and written by Craig Sweeny,Star Trek: Section 31premiered on July 08, 2025, on Paramount+.Section 31was headlined byAcademy Award winner Michelle Yeoh, and it was the firstStar Trekmovie made for streaming and the firstStar Trekmovie sinceStar Trek Beyondin 2016.
Star Trekbegan and continues as a juggernaut TV franchise, first on NBC, then syndication, and today, on Paramount+ and Netflix’s streaming services. In 1979,Star Trek: The Motion Picturebrought the Starship Enterprise to the big screen and launched a highly successful franchise ofStar Trekmovies.Fans have enjoyedStar Trekmovies every decade since 1979, from the adventures ofStar Trek: The Original Seriesto the voyages ofStar Trek: The Next Generation,andStar Trekreboot movies produced by J.J. Abrams.
However,Star Trekmoviescame to a dead stop after the Justin Lin-directedStar Trek Beyondunderperformed in 2016 relative to the J.J. Abrams-directed blockbustersStar Trek(2009) andStar Trek Into Darkness. “Creative differences"led to multiple directors, includingQuentin Tarantino, departingStar Trek 4.Star Trek: Section 31and the advent ofStar Trekstreaming movies appeared to open up a hopeful new future, butnow all of it remains a frustrating question without encouraging answers.
Section 31 May Have Ended Paramount Plus’ Star Trek Streaming Movie Plan
Star Trek Hoped For A New Streaming Movie Every 2 Years
Star Trek: Section 31was met with poor reviewsand an online backlash from Star Trek fans. OnRotten Tomatoes,Star Trek: Section 31’s performance is devastating, coming in at 17% Rotten with critics and a 16% audience score.Star Trek: Section 31did rank as the #2 movie on Paramount+ (behindGladiator II) the week it premiered, but it soon vanished from the streamer’s top 10 altogether.Star Trek: Section 31’s dim reception casts a pall over futureStar Trekstreaming movies on Paramount+.
Star Trek: Section 31 Movie Ending & All Twists Explained
Star Trek: Section 31 introduces a new threat to the Federation Emperor Georgiou must defeat. Here’s what Section 31’s ending means.
When Paramount+ announced Star Trek: Section 31asStar Trek’s first made-for-streaming movie, there was a hopeful plan that a new movie would follow every two years. This would have potentially included a sequel toStar Trek: Section 31, which was originally planned as a TV series, andstreaming movies about otherStar Trekcharactersand concepts.The most prevalent hope by fans is a movie aboutStar Trek: Legacy, the unrealized spinoff ofStar Trek: Picardseason 3.
Netflix also has the potential to orderStar Trek: Prodigystreaming movies as well as season 3.
Star Trek: Section 31’s dismal returns seem to be a photon torpedo to moreStar Trekstreaming movies.HadSection 31been the hit it was intended to be, it’s likely Paramount+ would have quickly announced moreStar Trekstreaming movies. Now, it appears the streamer is licking its wounds and pondering what to do next (which is, hopefully, not ‘nothing.')Perhaps doubling down on a new movie about aStar Trekidea fans are clamoring for, likeStar Trek: Legacy,would turn the franchise’s fortunes around.
Star Trek’s Origin Prequel Movie Has No Update Since Last Year
Will A Star Trek Movie Hit Theaters In 2026?
In March 2024, aVarietyarticle about theStar Trekfranchise included details about a potentialStar Trek Originprequel movie directed by Toby Haynes and written by Seth Grahame-Smith.According toVarietya year ago, Haynes’Star Trek Originsprequel was"on track to start preproduction by the end of the year.“In April, Paramount officially announced Toby Haynes’Star Trekprequel movie at Cinemacon, projecting a potential 2025 or 2026 release date. Since then, there has been no update onStar Trek Origin’s status.
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Toby Haynes’Star Trekprequel movieis said to be set"decades before"J.J. Abrams’Star Trekand involves the beginnings of the United Federation of Planets and a new alien enemy for Starfleet to face. However, Haynes, who directed theStar Trekspoof “USS Callister” forBlack Mirror,reportedly returned to direct the “USS Callister” sequel episode forBlack Mirrorseason 7, whichperhaps delayed hisStar Trek Originsmovie.
J.J. Abrams is also a producer of Toby Haynes’Star Trek Originsmovie.
Star Trek’s 60th anniversary in 2026would have been ideal to feature a newStar Trekmovie premiering in theaters, which would also mark 10 years sinceStar Trek Beyond.It’s possible Toby Haynes’Star Trek Origins movie could still make a 2026 release dateand mark 60 years ofStar Trek.However, the absence of news about the nextStar Trektheatrical movie is discouraging.
Star Trek 4 Is Still In Development Hell
There’s No Sign Chris Pine’s Starship Enterprise Will Warp Back Into Theaters
Star Trek 4continues to be mired in frustrating development hell. After an internal study from Paramount Pictures found that audiences were still interested in seeing theStar Trekmovie castled by Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk,multiple attempts to get a fourth J.J. Abrams-producedStar Trekmovie off the ground have continually failed. This is despite Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, and Sofia Boutella publicly stating their eagerness to reunite on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.
Star Trek 4 is veritably assured to miss the 60th anniversary of Star Trek in 2026.
Like Toby Haynes’Star Trek Originsmovie, the last update aboutStar Trek 4was inVariety,which reported that Steve Yockey (The Flight Attendant) was hired to write a new draft ofStar Trek 4. Nothing has been reported about the progress ofStar Trek 4since. Considering how long it takes to produce and film aStar Trekmovie,Star Trek 4is veritably assured to miss the 60th anniversary ofStar Trekin 2026, withno end in sight to the long wait for Chris Pine’s Kirk and the USS Enterprise’s return.
Why Star Trek Movies Are Still Important
Many Of Star Trek’s Greatest Moments Happened In Movies
Star Trekis generally best on television, the medium of the franchise’s inception. Episodic and serialized TV allowsStar Trekto delve into complex characters, moral and ethical conundrums, and fosters a deeper relationship between audiences and their beloved Starfleet heroes. YetStar Trekmovies have delivered some of the most memorable and iconic momentsof the franchise.
Star Trek TV Shows Are Set Until 2026 Or Later, But Why Does It Feel Like The Franchise Is Failing?
Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy guarantee more Star Trek is on the way, and yet it seems like the franchise is on the wane.
From Admiral Kirk’s (William Shatner) and the dying Spock’s (Leonard Nimoy) tearful goodbye and declaration of eternal friendship inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, to Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) seething,“The line must be drawnhere!“inStar Trek: First Contact, to Chris Pine’s Kirk becomingCaptain of the Enterpriseat breakneck speed inStar Trek(2009), Star Trekmovies have greatly enriched the franchise. What’s more,Star Trekmovies can be a bridge to encourage new audiences to become fans.
Hopefully, Paramount+ and Paramount Pictures have plans in place to restore the Star Trek movie franchise to its former glory.
Both as theatrical events and streaming spectacles,Star Trekmovies have proven to be invaluable for nearly the entire existence ofStar Trek. Star Trek: Section 31may not have been the movie event fans hoped for, butStar Trekmovies are too important to jettison. Hopefully, Paramount+ and Paramount Pictures have plans in place to restore theStar Trekmovie franchise to its former glory.
