SHOP STAR TREK...
IMDb >
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsnews articlesPromotional
taglinestrailers and videospostersphoto galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsStar Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
| Photos (see all 57 | slideshow) | Videos |
Overview
Tagline:
The human adventure is just beginning morePlot:
When a destructive space entity is spotted approaching Earth, Admiral Kirk resumes command of the Starship Enterprise in order to intercept, examine, and hopefully stop it. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 15 nominations moreUser Comments:
Star Trek done right! moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| William Shatner | ... | Admiral James T. Kirk | |
| Leonard Nimoy | ... | Mr. Spock | |
| DeForest Kelley | ... | Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy | |
| James Doohan | ... | Cmdr. Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott | |
| George Takei | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu | |
| Majel Barrett | ... | Dr. Christine Chapel | |
| Walter Koenig | ... | Lt. Pavel Chekov | |
| Nichelle Nichols | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Uhura | |
| Persis Khambatta | ... | Lt. Ilia | |
| Stephen Collins | ... | Cmdr. Willard Decker | |
| Grace Lee Whitney | ... | CPO Janice Rand | |
| Mark Lenard | ... | Klingon Captain | |
| Billy Van Zandt | ... | Alien Boy | |
| Roger Aaron Brown | ... | Epsilon Technician | |
| Gary Faga | ... | Airlock Technician |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Star Trek II (USA) (working title)Star Trek: Phase II (USA) (working title)
Star Trek: Planet of the Titans (USA) (working title)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Director's Edition (USA) (DVD title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG for sci-fi action and mild language.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
132 min | USA:136 min (director's cut) | USA:143 min (TV version)Country:
USAColour:
Colour (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreCertification:
Italy:T | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario - 2006) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Finland:K-10 | France:U | Ireland:G | Netherlands:12 | Norway:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:U | USA:G | USA:PG (director's cut) | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (director's cut) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating)Filming Locations:
Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA moreMOVIEmeter: 
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
In the scene where Kirk addresses the crew prior to launching, much of the crew were extras who were noted Star Trek fans, including Bjo Trimble, co-organizer of the letter-writing campaign that kept the original "Star Trek" (1966) alive for a third season. moreGoofs:
Revealing mistakes: As Kirk, Decker, Spock, McCoy, and Ilia Probe begin their journey to the V'Ger satellite, you can clearly see the outline of a hole in the matte painting of the Enterprise (1979 Version only) moreFAQ
How Fast is the Enterprise?Who invented the Klingon language spoken in this movie?
Why does the Ilea character talk of an "oath of celibacy" to Kirk?
more
more
Message Boards
Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Add a recommendation |
Show more recommendations
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Star Wars | The Transformers: The Movie | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace | Star Trek V: The Final Frontier |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Adventure section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |


















It's amazing how many Trekkies I meet describe Star Trek the Motion Picture as "A good sci-fi film, but an awful Star Trek movie."....And that's when they're feeling generous!
This statement can't be further from the truth. The story is well written and director Robert Wise makes the characters believable. The movie is not filled with the goofy jokes and ridiculous Shatner back-flip fight scenes that some Trekkies seem to enjoy. Instead, the battle with the mysterious alien entity reveals the dynamics and inner conflicts of the crew. Spock realizes that pure logic alone cannot answer all, but must be coupled with emotion in order to tap into our creative imagination and see the possibilities of our universe. Kirk is portrayed as a daring and brilliant captain, who learns that as a leader he needs to rely on the expertise of those around him. He is a more believable figure who is fallible and struggles to learn from his mistakes.
The Enterprise is not seen as an easy to fly wonder ship that requires no more than the main Trek cast to run, but as a complex machine that needs precise running of components balanced by a crew of hundreds. The scene where Spock and the engineering crew struggle with balancing the mathematical models needed to program the warp engines convey the real dangers of space flight.
Additionally, both the visual and audio effects add to the impact of this movie. For a film made in '79, before the advent of believable CGI, the special effects are superb. Believe it or not, I've noticed special effects scenes in Independence Day taken directly from Star Trek:TMP footage (scan the shots of the inside of the mother ship (ID4)when Will Smith is making his escape run).
All in all, the ingredients of good character development, believable conflict, and hard science make this movie the true precursor to Star Trek: The Next Generation. Unfortunately, Star Treks III, IV, and V avoid the hard work this movie required and depend on the silly antics of its maturing crew.