Star Trek has explored the final frontier for 60 years, but its sprawling timeline can leave newcomers confused about where to start. This complete Star Trek watch order breaks down every movie and TV series in release order and chronological order, and organizes the franchise by different eras so you can easily choose how to begin in the Star Trek universe.

(Updated April 2026.)

How to watch Star Trek in release order

1. Star Trek: The Original Series (September 1966 – June 1969)
2. Star Trek: The Animated Series (September 1973 – October 1974)
3. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (December 1979)
4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (June 1982)
5. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (June 1984)
6. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (November 1986)
7. Star Trek: The Next Generation (September 1987 – May 1994)
8. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (June 1989)
9. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (December 1991)
10. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Jan 1993 – June 1999)
11. Star Trek Generations (November 1994)
12. Star Trek: Voyager (January 1995 – May 2001)
13. Star Trek: Enterprise (September 2001 – May 2005)
14. Star Trek: First Contact (November 1996)
15. Star Trek: Insurrection (December 1998)
16. Star Trek: Nemesis (December 2002)
17. Star Trek (May 2009)
18. Star Trek Into Darkness (August 2013)
19. Star Trek Beyond (July 2016)
20. Star Trek: Discovery (September 2017 – 2024)
21. Star Trek: Short Treks (October 2018 – January 2020)
22. Star Trek: Picard (January 2020 – April 2023)
23. Star Trek: Lower Decks (August 2020 – January 2025)
24. Star Trek: Prodigy (October 2021 – July 2024)
25. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (May 2022 – ongoing)
26. Star Trek: Section 31 (January 2025)
27. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (January 2026 – ongoing)

How to watch Star Trek in chronological order

1. Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2161)
2. Star Trek: Discovery (2256-2258)
3. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259-)
4. Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269)
5. Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270)
6. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2273)
7. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285)
8. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (2285)
9. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (2286 (and significant time travel elements in 1986))
10. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (2287)
11. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (2293)
12. Star Trek: Section 31 (2335)
13. Star Trek: The Next Generation (2364-2370)
14. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2369-2375)
15. Star Trek Generations (2371)
16. Star Trek: Voyager (2371-2378)
17. Star Trek: First Contact (2373)
18. Star Trek: Insurrection (2375)
19. Star Trek: Nemesis (2379)
20. Star Trek: Lower Decks (2380-2381)
21. Star Trek: Prodigy (2383)
22. Star Trek: Picard (2399-2401)
23. Star Trek: Discovery (3188-3191)
24. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (3191-)

The anthology series Star Trek: Short Treks is not included on this timeline, as it features episodes that take place throughout the Trek franchise timeline. However, it's worth noting that the climactic scenes of Prodigy season 2's finale take place contemporaneously with the Short Treks episode "Children of Mars." Meanwhile, Discovery's epilogue serves as a prologue for the Short Treks episode "Calypso."

Also, please note that, as can be seen above, Star Trek: VII – XI take place contemporaneously with part of the Deep Space Nine and Voyager timelines.

But wait, where is the J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie trilogy? That's part of a vastly different Star Trek timeline, and so belongs in its own chronology.

How to watch Star Trek's Kelvin Timeline in chronological order

1. Star Trek (2258)
2. Star Trek Into Darkness (2259)
3. Star Trek Beyond (2263)

The Kelvin timeline is established in the 2009 Star Trek movie, and is an alternate timeline created as the result of time travel. (The mechanics of this are explained in the 2009 movie, but the short version is, someone from the Next Generation era of the Prime timeline changed history and created an alternate reality.) Technically, the Kelvin timeline movies are connected to the prime Trek timeline, if we assume that the elder Spock who appears in them does indeed possess continuity with the Spock of The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, and The Original Series crew movies. However the Kelvin movies otherwise exist in a parallel continuity to the prime Trek timeline. Aside from some Easter eggs, the Kelvin timeline is not currently more directly connected to the prime Trek timeline. Nevertheless, some Trekkies are big fans of the relatively self-contained reimagining of TOS that takes place in these three movies.

Star Trek: The Original Series TV and movies in release order

1. Star Trek: The Original Series (September 1966 – June 1969)
2. Star Trek: The Animated Series (September 1973 – October 1974)
3. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (December 1979)
4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (June 1982)
5. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (June 1984)
6. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (November 1986)
7. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (June 1989)
8. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (December 1991)
9. Star Trek Generations (November 1994)

The original cast kept traveling through space for 30 years, despite the original television series being cancelled after three seasons. Technically, 1991's Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is the 'final' adventure for the full cast, but William Shatner's Kirk, along with Scotty and Chekhov, play roles in 1994's Star Trek: Generations.

Additionally, original cast members would guest on special episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, most notably 1992's Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 6 episode 'Relics,' which centers around Scotty.

Star Trek: The Next Generation TV and movies in release order

1. Star Trek: The Next Generation (September 1987 – May 1994)
2. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Jan 1993 – June 1999)
3. Star Trek Generations (November 1994)
4. Star Trek: Voyager (January 1995 – May 2001)
5. Star Trek: Enterprise (September 2001 – May 2005)
6. Star Trek: First Contact (November 1996)
7. Star Trek: Insurrection (December 1998)
8. Star Trek: Nemesis (December 2002)
9. Star Trek: Picard (January 2020 – April 2023)

It's perhaps a cheat to include Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise as part of 'The Next Generation' in the above list, but the shows shared producers and, in the case of Deep Space Nine and Voyager, a timeframe and, occasionally, cast. The controversial finale of Star Trek: Enterprise — technically a prequel to the franchise at the time of its creation — also included an unexpected Next Generation nod, and so it makes it onto the list.

Star Trek: Picard, despite being made almost three decades later, is a purposeful sequel to, and continuation of, Star Trek: The Next Generation. 

Star Trek: The Paramount+ era TV and movies in release order

1. Star Trek: Discovery (September 2017 – 2024)
2. Star Trek: Short Treks (October 2018 – January 2020)
3. Star Trek: Picard (January 2020 – April 2023)
4. Star Trek: Lower Decks (August 2020 – January 2025)
5. Star Trek: Prodigy (October 2021 – July 2024)
6. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (May 2022 – ongoing)
7. Star Trek: Section 31 (January 2025)
8. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (January 2026 – ongoing)

Unlike the earlier two television eras for Star Trek, the Paramount+ era — a loose term to denote the Star Trek shows and projects made for the streamer since 2017's franchise relaunch with the first season of Star Trek: Discovery — do not share a specific timeframe nor even production method: both Lower Decks and Prodigy are animated shows, with the rest being live action. 

Do I need to watch Star Trek: Enterprise first?

The short answer is: no. While it is a prequel to the rest of the franchise, Star Trek: Enterprise draws heavily from the shows that preceded it. For this reason, it may actually be a more challenging to begin with Enterprise rather than one of the other shows.

Other shows that more heavily rely on preceding stories include Star Trek: The Animated Series, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Short Treks.

What Star Trek show or movie should I start with?

There are several Star Trek shows that are ideal for newcomers. While The Original Series works well enough, it naturally carries the aesthetic and narrative sensibilities of the 1960s. If this is alienating, later Trek series may serve as a better point of ingress. Furthermore, many Trekkies cite Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan as an excellent point of entry into the franchise, even if it is technically a sequel to the The Original Series episode 'Space Seed'.

While DS9 and Voyager are spinoffs of The Next Generation, any of the three could serve as an introduction to the Franchise. If one of the captains or crews is particularly appealing, leaning into the preference can indicate the best starting point. If you are already a fan of the 1990s Trek era and are looking for a re-entry point, the aesthetic and philosophy of the TNG time period continue on Lower Decks, set just after Nemesis. Meanwhile, Picard carries many of the storylines from those shows into the 25th Century.

Several of the shows from the Paramount+ streaming era are designed to be welcoming to new viewers. The series that launched the current era, Discovery, can serve as an excellent entry point to the franchise. Meanwhile, Star Trek: Prodigy intentionally introduces the tropes of Trek to potentially unfamiliar viewers of all ages. And while SNW may follow a cast that includes returning characters and creatures, its episodic nature and optimistic energy certainly have the potential to capture the attention of new audience members, as well.

Star Trek FAQs

What’s the difference between the Trek movies and Star Trek shows?

With the exception of the three movies in the Kelvin timeline, the Trek movies and the Trek shows take place on the same timeline. However, as a general rule, the movies tend to be more action oriented than their small-screen counterparts. Nevertheless, the events of the movies are included in Trek television continuity.

What is the next Star Trek show or movie to come out?

At the moment, there are two ongoing Star Trek series. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The fourth season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is expected to begin at some point in mid-late 2026, with the second season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy expected at some point in 2027.

A new Star Trek movie is in development, with no release date announced.

Where are the Star Trek movies and TV shows streaming?

All of the Star Trek TV shows and movies are also available centrally on the Paramount+ streaming service, with one exception. All 40 episodes of Prodigy seasons 1 and 2 are currently available for streaming on Netflix. Additionally, Paramount+ is the home for every upcoming Star Trek TV show (although that may change).

Space may be the final frontier, but there's no end to Popverse's love of the Star Trek universe. Hop aboard the starship Enterprise with our Star Trek watch order, explore strange new worlds with our upcoming Star Trek TV shows and movies list, seek out the new life of the franchise, and boldly go where no Star Trek film has ever gone before - with Quentin Tarantino?