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|$97,000,000 |
|$97,000,000 |
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|[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084726/business?ref_=tt_dt_bus $11,000,000] |
|[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084726/business?ref_=tt_dt_bus $11,000,000] |
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| − | |882%<ref>The profitability of ''Wrath of Khan'' is flattered, as that production made use of a substantial amount of special and visual effects assets, such as studio models, props, sets and even complete visual effects sequences produced for the previous movie, and which do not show up in its production costs.</ref> |
+ | |882%<ref>The profitability of ''Wrath of Khan'' is flattered, as that production made use of a substantial amount of special and visual effects assets, such as studio models, props, sets and even complete visual effects sequences produced for the previous movie, and which do not show up in its production costs. This also holds true, though to a lesser degree, for the subsequent four movies.</ref> |
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|$118,071,125 |
|$118,071,125 |
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|[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111280/business?ref_=tt_dt_bus $35,000,000] |
|[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111280/business?ref_=tt_dt_bus $35,000,000] |
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| − | |337%<ref>Produced back-to |
+ | |337%<ref>Produced back-to-back with its television progenitor and therefore with much of its setup already in place, the profitability of ''Generations'' is, like that of ''Wrath of Khan'', also somewhat flattered, as that production too made use of a substantial amount of special and visual effects assets, such as studio models, costumes, props, and sets produced for the television properties, which do not show up in the budget.</ref> |
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{{film|1}} (1979) reunites the [[TOS]] cast aboard the original {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}, refurbished after its five-year mission as documented in the television series. The story was originally conceived as the pilot episode of the aborted ''[[Star Trek: Phase II]]'' series, in which the now-[[Admiral]] [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]] and crew must engage with a powerful, threatening force that is heading directly towards [[Earth]]. |
{{film|1}} (1979) reunites the [[TOS]] cast aboard the original {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}, refurbished after its five-year mission as documented in the television series. The story was originally conceived as the pilot episode of the aborted ''[[Star Trek: Phase II]]'' series, in which the now-[[Admiral]] [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]] and crew must engage with a powerful, threatening force that is heading directly towards [[Earth]]. |
||
| − | {{film|2}} (1982), {{film|3}} (1984) and {{film|4}} (1986) together form a loose trilogy, beginning with the reintroduction of an old enemy from a popular TOS episode ({{e|Space Seed}}) who resumes his conflict with Kirk in epic fashion, leading to the creation of planet |
+ | {{film|2}} (1982), {{film|3}} (1984), and {{film|4}} (1986) together form a loose trilogy, beginning with the reintroduction of an old enemy from a popular TOS episode ({{e|Space Seed}}) who resumes his conflict with Kirk in epic fashion, leading to the creation of the planet {{dis|Genesis|planet}}, the death of [[Spock]] and his subsequent "burial" on Genesis, the destruction of the ''Enterprise'' during Kirk's efforts to reunite Spock's body with his ''[[katra]]'', and ultimately a time-travel adventure to [[1986]] aboard a captured [[Klingon]] vessel (''[[HMS Bounty|Bounty]]'') in order to save [[Earth]] from destruction. |
| − | {{film|5}} (1989) moves Kirk, demoted back to captain as a result of defying [[Starfleet]] orders in {{film|3}}, and crew onto the new {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A|-A}}, which is hijacked by a renegade [[Vulcan]] ([[Sybok]]) |
+ | {{film|5}} (1989) moves Kirk, demoted back to captain as a result of defying [[Starfleet]] orders in {{film|3}}, and crew onto the new {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A|-A}}, which is hijacked by a renegade [[Vulcan]] ([[Sybok]]) who pilots it to the center of [[Milky Way Galaxy|the galaxy]] in an attempt to find the source of creation. |
| − | {{film|6}} (1991) sees Kirk and crew attempting to prevent derailment of the [[Federation]]/Klingon peace talks by conspirators from both sides. As well as bringing the TOS cast to its retirement, the film also ties up various threads first established in the series (most notably, the conflict between the Federation and the Klingons) and paves the way for the story lines of [[TNG]], set some eighty years later. Produced during the fall of the communist |
+ | {{film|6}} (1991) sees Kirk and crew attempting to prevent derailment of the [[Federation]]/Klingon peace talks by conspirators from both sides. As well as bringing the TOS cast to its retirement, the film also ties up various threads first established in the series (most notably, the conflict between the Federation and the Klingons) and paves the way for the story lines of [[TNG]], set some eighty years later. Produced during the fall of the communist Soviet Union, the film's plot may be regarded as a metaphor for those events and the effect they had on international relations at that time. |
| − | {{film|7}} (1994) brings the cast of TNG to the big screen, set less than a year after the end of the series ({{e|All Good Things...}}) and filmed straight after the completion of its last episodes. [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] and the crew of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} must try to stop a brilliant [[scientist]] ([[Tolian Soran]]) from committing an act of genocide in order to enter the [[Nexus]], a mysterious |
+ | {{film|7}} (1994) brings the cast of TNG to the big screen, set less than a year after the end of the series ({{e|All Good Things...}}) and filmed straight after the completion of its last episodes. [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]] and the crew of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} must try to stop a brilliant [[scientist]] ([[Tolian Soran]]) from committing an act of genocide in order to enter the [[Nexus]], a mysterious hedonistic realm in which time has no meaning. Appearances by three of the TOS cast (Kirk, [[Montgomery Scott|Scotty]], and [[Pavel Chekov|Chekov]]) and the heroic death of Kirk who joins Picard by means of the Nexus, served to "pass the torch" from the old generation to the next; the appearance of recurring enemies [[Lursa]] and [[B'Etor]] and the revelation of their fate provides a key link with the TNG series. The film also includes the destruction of the ''Enterprise''-D. |
{{film|8}} (1996) brings back the TNG cast in their first truly independent big screen adventure aboard the new {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}}. Picard and his crew are pitted against their deadliest foe from the series, the [[Borg]], who travel back in time to prevent the first [[warp]] flight by [[Zefram Cochrane]]. |
{{film|8}} (1996) brings back the TNG cast in their first truly independent big screen adventure aboard the new {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}}. Picard and his crew are pitted against their deadliest foe from the series, the [[Borg]], who travel back in time to prevent the first [[warp]] flight by [[Zefram Cochrane]]. |
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In {{film|9}} (1998), Picard and crew discover a covert effort by Starfleet, in co-operation with the belligerent [[Son'a]], to relocate the inhabitants of a "fountain of youth" planet. Standing by his morals, Picard must take up arms against the Federation to save paradise. |
In {{film|9}} (1998), Picard and crew discover a covert effort by Starfleet, in co-operation with the belligerent [[Son'a]], to relocate the inhabitants of a "fountain of youth" planet. Standing by his morals, Picard must take up arms against the Federation to save paradise. |
||
| − | {{film|10}} (2002) sees Picard and the ''Enterprise'' ordered to investigate the sudden fall of the [[Romulan]] government, replaced by a leader from their neighboring race, the [[Reman]]s. The dark secret of this new leader, [[Shinzon]], brings Picard into conflict in a way he never thought possible, and culminates in a fight to save Earth from a terrible weapon – at great cost. With the death or departure of several main characters – [[William T. Riker|Riker]], [[Deanna Troi|Troi]], [[Data]], and [[Beverly Crusher]] – this film marks the end of the TNG cast's adventures. Much as with the (chronological) final big screen appearance of the original cast, which laid the foundations of peace between the Federation and the Klingons, this film |
+ | {{film|10}} (2002) sees Picard and the ''Enterprise'' ordered to investigate the sudden fall of the [[Romulan]] government, replaced by a leader from their neighboring race, the [[Reman]]s. The dark secret of this new leader, [[Shinzon]], brings Picard into conflict in a way he never thought possible, and culminates in a fight to save Earth from a terrible weapon – at great cost. With the death or departure of several main characters – [[William T. Riker|Riker]], [[Deanna Troi|Troi]], [[Data]], and [[Beverly Crusher]] – this film marks the end of the TNG cast's adventures. Much as with the (chronological) final big screen appearance of the original cast, which laid the foundations of peace between the Federation and the Klingons, this film implies the establishment of an alliance between the Federation and the Romulans, enemies throughout the TNG era just as the Klingons had been in TOS. |
| − | {{film|11}} (2009) creates a new timeline in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, which is tied directly to the Prime Universe, effecting a return to the [[TOS]] era, albeit one populated by an all-new cast of actors. It also features a new look, and remains in-universe by explaining all changes as being inadvertently caused by time-traveling Romulan villain [[Nero]]. This film focuses on younger versions of Kirk, Spock and the crew and showcases their very first mission aboard the ''Enterprise''. |
+ | {{film|11}} (2009) creates a new timeline in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, which is tied directly to the Prime Universe, effecting a return to the [[TOS]] era, albeit one populated by an all-new cast of actors. It also features a new look, and remains in-universe by explaining all changes as being inadvertently caused by time-traveling Romulan villain [[Nero]]. This film focuses on younger versions of Kirk, Spock, and the crew and showcases their very first mission aboard the ''Enterprise''. |
The sequel {{film|12}} (2013) picks up a year after the first film, where the crew is tested as they are sent to apprehend {{alt|Khan Noonien Singh|John Harrison}}, a traitor and mass murderer, and uncover corruption and a conspiracy to militarize Starfleet from within. |
The sequel {{film|12}} (2013) picks up a year after the first film, where the crew is tested as they are sent to apprehend {{alt|Khan Noonien Singh|John Harrison}}, a traitor and mass murderer, and uncover corruption and a conspiracy to militarize Starfleet from within. |
||
===Future=== |
===Future=== |
||
| − | :''Main article: {{film|13}}.'' |
+ | :''Main article: ''{{film|13}}''.'' |
The current cast of the films are not contracted for a fourth film: [[John Cho]] has acknowledged recasting one or two characters would be pointless, but that getting them all back together might be "tough". [http://www.craveonline.co.uk/tv/interviews/767731-exclusive-interview-john-cho-selfie-sleepy-hollow-star-trek] |
The current cast of the films are not contracted for a fourth film: [[John Cho]] has acknowledged recasting one or two characters would be pointless, but that getting them all back together might be "tough". [http://www.craveonline.co.uk/tv/interviews/767731-exclusive-interview-john-cho-selfie-sleepy-hollow-star-trek] |
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Using the figures in the above tables, a "Top 5" worldwide performance record for the movies as of 2014 is summarized in the table below, which hold a few surprises. The costs are, as expected, in accordance with the sequence the movies were produced in, with the ''Motion Picture'', being the sole exception due to [[Star Trek: The Motion Picture#Costs and revenues|various reasons]]. A bit surprising is that the best received movies are not always in concordance with them also being the highest grossing, ''The Voyage Home'', being the most consistent one. However, the biggest surprise in this regard, the bad press the movie received – among others by the studio itself, who considered the movie a failure at he time – in the 1980s and 1990s notwithstanding, is that ''The Motion Picture'' as one of the worst received movies, is concurrently also one of the highest grossing, as well as one of the most profitable movies in the franchise. |
Using the figures in the above tables, a "Top 5" worldwide performance record for the movies as of 2014 is summarized in the table below, which hold a few surprises. The costs are, as expected, in accordance with the sequence the movies were produced in, with the ''Motion Picture'', being the sole exception due to [[Star Trek: The Motion Picture#Costs and revenues|various reasons]]. A bit surprising is that the best received movies are not always in concordance with them also being the highest grossing, ''The Voyage Home'', being the most consistent one. However, the biggest surprise in this regard, the bad press the movie received – among others by the studio itself, who considered the movie a failure at he time – in the 1980s and 1990s notwithstanding, is that ''The Motion Picture'' as one of the worst received movies, is concurrently also one of the highest grossing, as well as one of the most profitable movies in the franchise. |
||
| − | The table shows that the TNG movies were the least successful ones of the franchise in critical and financial terms, ''Star Trek First Contact'' being the sole positive exception, the ''apparent'' profitability of ''Generations'' (see that movie's footnote above) notwithstanding. |
+ | The table shows that the TNG movies were the least successful ones of the franchise in critical and financial terms, ''Star Trek: First Contact'' being the sole positive exception, the '''''apparent''''' profitability of ''Generations'' (see that movie's footnote above) notwithstanding. |
| − | Yet, while there is a correlation between costs and profitability, the real surprise lies in the recent lack of positive correlation between gross revenues and profitability. That ''Nemesis'' and ''Insurrection'' occupy the first two places in the worst profitability ranking |
+ | Yet, while there is a correlation between costs and profitability, the real surprise lies in the recent lack of positive correlation between gross revenues and profitability. That ''Nemesis'' and ''Insurrection'' occupy the first two places in the worst profitability ranking is hardly a surprise, considering their poor performance at the box office. But a break occurred in the correlation with the two alternate reality movies, who were the most successful in terms of box office revenues of the franchise by far, but who also rank among the least profitable ones, making it appear that the more successful a movie is at the box office, the worse its profitability becomes. |
The significant jump in production budget of 29% (over ten times the official inflation rate for the period 1996-1998) between the movies ''First Contact'' and ''Insurrection'', validated [[Adam Lebowitz]]'s assertion that the technique of [[CGI|computer generated imagery]] (CGI) for producing [[:Category: Visual effects companies|visual effects]], which was used almost exclusively for the latter film and contrary to popular belief, is '''''not''''' cheaper than the traditional way of producing these. "''A lot of people say, 'CGI is a lot cheaper, isn't it,' but the way I like to think of it is that CGI is not cheaper necessarily, but you get a lot more for your money and you can tweak it a lot more.''", Lebowitz has stated. ({{STTM|1|6|47}}) |
The significant jump in production budget of 29% (over ten times the official inflation rate for the period 1996-1998) between the movies ''First Contact'' and ''Insurrection'', validated [[Adam Lebowitz]]'s assertion that the technique of [[CGI|computer generated imagery]] (CGI) for producing [[:Category: Visual effects companies|visual effects]], which was used almost exclusively for the latter film and contrary to popular belief, is '''''not''''' cheaper than the traditional way of producing these. "''A lot of people say, 'CGI is a lot cheaper, isn't it,' but the way I like to think of it is that CGI is not cheaper necessarily, but you get a lot more for your money and you can tweak it a lot more.''", Lebowitz has stated. ({{STTM|1|6|47}}) |
||
''Star Trek Into Darkness'' marks the first time that a ''Star Trek'' film performed better in the foreign markets than the home market, confirming an industry trend that has started in the early 2000s. [http://www.businessinsider.com/hollywood-is-making-films-for-foreign-markets-2012-9] |
''Star Trek Into Darkness'' marks the first time that a ''Star Trek'' film performed better in the foreign markets than the home market, confirming an industry trend that has started in the early 2000s. [http://www.businessinsider.com/hollywood-is-making-films-for-foreign-markets-2012-9] |
||
| − | {|class="grey" width="100%" |
+ | {| class="grey" width="100%" |
!Ranking per 2014 |
!Ranking per 2014 |
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!Best reception |
!Best reception |
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*[[Credits for Star Trek (film)|Credits for ''Star Trek'']] |
*[[Credits for Star Trek (film)|Credits for ''Star Trek'']] |
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*[[Credits for Star Trek Into Darkness|Credits for ''Star Trek Into Darkness'']] |
*[[Credits for Star Trek Into Darkness|Credits for ''Star Trek Into Darkness'']] |
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| − | <!-->*[[Credits for Star Trek XIII|Credits for ''Star Trek XIII'']]</--> |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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Revision as of 20:18, 27 July 2015
Template:Realworld
Films
The Original Series films
Films which feature the cast of Star Trek: The Original Series.
| Title | Film # | TOS # | Stardate | US Release Date | Critical Reception[1] | Domestic Gross | Foreign Gross | Worldwide Gross[2] | Budget (est) | Profitability Gross[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Trek: The Motion Picture | 1 | 1 | 7410.2 - 7414.1 | 1979-12-07 | 45% | $82,258,456 | $56,741,544 | $139,000,000 | $35,000,000[4] | 397% |
| Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | 2 | 2 | 8130.3 - 8141.6 | 1982-06-04 | 91% | $78,912,963 | $18,087,037 | $97,000,000 | $11,000,000 | 882%[5] |
| Star Trek III: The Search for Spock | 3 | 3 | 8210.3 | 1984-06-01 | 77% | $76,471,046 | $10,528,954 | $87,000,000 | $17,000,000 | 512% |
| Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | 4 | 4 | 8390.0 | 1986-11-26 | 84% | $109,713,132 | $23,286,868 | $133,000,000 | $25,000,000 | 532% |
| Star Trek V: The Final Frontier | 5 | 5 | 8454.1 | 1989-06-09 | 21% | $52,210,049 | $17,999,951 | $70,210,000 | $27,800,000 | 253% |
| Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country | 6 | 6 | 9521.6 - 9529.1. | 1991-12-06 | 83% | $74,888,996 | $22,000,000 | $96,888,996 | $30,000,000 | 323% |
| TOS Totals | 67% (avg) | $474,454,642 | $148,644,354 | $623,098,996 | $145,800,000 | 427% (avg) | ||||
The Next Generation films
Films which feature the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Unlike the preceding TOS films, these did not carry sequel numbers ("Star Trek VII," "Star Trek VIII," "Star Trek IX" or "Star Trek X") except in pre-production. However, the numbers do appear on new disc covers.
| Title | Film # | TNG # | Stardate | US Release Date | Critical Reception | Domestic Gross | Foreign Gross | Worldwide Gross | Budget (est) | Profitability Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Trek Generations | 7 | 1 | 48632.4 - 48650.1 | 1994-11-18 | 48% | $75,671,125 | $42,400,000 | $118,071,125 | $35,000,000 | 337%[6] |
| Star Trek: First Contact | 8 | 2 | 50893.5 | 1996-11-22 | 92% | $92,027,888 | $54,000,000 | $146,027,888 | $45,000,000 | 324% |
| Star Trek: Insurrection | 9 | 3 | 52200 (approx) | 1998-12-11 | 56% | $70,187,658 | $42,400,000 | $112,587,658 | $58,000,000 | 194% |
| Star Trek Nemesis | 10 | 4 | 56844.9 | 2002-12-13 | 38% | $43,254,409 | $24,058,417 | $67,312,826 | $60,000,000 | 112% |
| TNG Totals | 57% (avg) | $281,141,080 | $162,858,417 | $443,999,497 | $198,000,000 | 224% (avg) | ||||
Alternate Reality films
Films which feature a different version of the TOS characters portrayed by a new cast, and set in an alternate reality from earlier films and series.
| Title | Film # | AR # | Stardate | US Release Date | Critical Reception | Domestic Gross | Foreign Gross | Worldwide Gross | Budget (est) | Profitability Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Trek | 11 | 1 | 2233.04 - 2258.42 | 2009-05-08 | 95% | $257,730,019 | $127,950,427 | $385,680,446 | $140,000,000 | 276% |
| Star Trek Into Darkness | 12 | 2 | 2259.55 | 2013-05-16 | 87% | $228,778,661 | $238,602,923 | $467,381,584 | $190,000,000 | 246% |
| Star Trek Beyond | 13 | 3 | Unknown | 2016-07-08 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| AR Totals | 91% (avg) | $486,508,680 | $366,553,350 | $853,062,030 | $330,000,000 | 259% (avg) | ||||
- Footnotes:
- ↑ Approval rates as calculated by the critical film review website Rotten Tomatoes.
- ↑ These figures include worldwide box-office takes only. Every other form of revenue, such as for merchandise, home media format sales, rentals, television rights and the like, are excluded from the figures. Revenue and cost figures as submitted by the studio to the movie website IMDb
- ↑ Percentages above 100% indicate profit, below 100%, loss and at 100% means the production exactly recouped its production costs.
- ↑ In the 1980s and 1990s a figure of approximately $45 million dollar was widely propagated in numerous publications, including those licensed by Paramount Pictures. For a treatment on the apparent discrepancy, please see: The Motion Picture: Costs and revenues.
- ↑ The profitability of Wrath of Khan is flattered, as that production made use of a substantial amount of special and visual effects assets, such as studio models, props, sets and even complete visual effects sequences produced for the previous movie, and which do not show up in its production costs. This also holds true, though to a lesser degree, for the subsequent four movies.
- ↑ Produced back-to-back with its television progenitor and therefore with much of its setup already in place, the profitability of Generations is, like that of Wrath of Khan, also somewhat flattered, as that production too made use of a substantial amount of special and visual effects assets, such as studio models, costumes, props, and sets produced for the television properties, which do not show up in the budget.
Summary
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) reunites the TOS cast aboard the original USS Enterprise, refurbished after its five-year mission as documented in the television series. The story was originally conceived as the pilot episode of the aborted Star Trek: Phase II series, in which the now-Admiral Kirk and crew must engage with a powerful, threatening force that is heading directly towards Earth.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) together form a loose trilogy, beginning with the reintroduction of an old enemy from a popular TOS episode ("Space Seed") who resumes his conflict with Kirk in epic fashion, leading to the creation of the planet Genesis, the death of Spock and his subsequent "burial" on Genesis, the destruction of the Enterprise during Kirk's efforts to reunite Spock's body with his katra, and ultimately a time-travel adventure to 1986 aboard a captured Klingon vessel (Bounty) in order to save Earth from destruction.
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) moves Kirk, demoted back to captain as a result of defying Starfleet orders in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and crew onto the new USS Enterprise-A, which is hijacked by a renegade Vulcan (Sybok) who pilots it to the center of the galaxy in an attempt to find the source of creation.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) sees Kirk and crew attempting to prevent derailment of the Federation/Klingon peace talks by conspirators from both sides. As well as bringing the TOS cast to its retirement, the film also ties up various threads first established in the series (most notably, the conflict between the Federation and the Klingons) and paves the way for the story lines of TNG, set some eighty years later. Produced during the fall of the communist Soviet Union, the film's plot may be regarded as a metaphor for those events and the effect they had on international relations at that time.
Star Trek Generations (1994) brings the cast of TNG to the big screen, set less than a year after the end of the series ("All Good Things...") and filmed straight after the completion of its last episodes. Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D must try to stop a brilliant scientist (Tolian Soran) from committing an act of genocide in order to enter the Nexus, a mysterious hedonistic realm in which time has no meaning. Appearances by three of the TOS cast (Kirk, Scotty, and Chekov) and the heroic death of Kirk who joins Picard by means of the Nexus, served to "pass the torch" from the old generation to the next; the appearance of recurring enemies Lursa and B'Etor and the revelation of their fate provides a key link with the TNG series. The film also includes the destruction of the Enterprise-D.
Star Trek: First Contact (1996) brings back the TNG cast in their first truly independent big screen adventure aboard the new USS Enterprise-E. Picard and his crew are pitted against their deadliest foe from the series, the Borg, who travel back in time to prevent the first warp flight by Zefram Cochrane.
In Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), Picard and crew discover a covert effort by Starfleet, in co-operation with the belligerent Son'a, to relocate the inhabitants of a "fountain of youth" planet. Standing by his morals, Picard must take up arms against the Federation to save paradise.
Star Trek Nemesis (2002) sees Picard and the Enterprise ordered to investigate the sudden fall of the Romulan government, replaced by a leader from their neighboring race, the Remans. The dark secret of this new leader, Shinzon, brings Picard into conflict in a way he never thought possible, and culminates in a fight to save Earth from a terrible weapon – at great cost. With the death or departure of several main characters – Riker, Troi, Data, and Beverly Crusher – this film marks the end of the TNG cast's adventures. Much as with the (chronological) final big screen appearance of the original cast, which laid the foundations of peace between the Federation and the Klingons, this film implies the establishment of an alliance between the Federation and the Romulans, enemies throughout the TNG era just as the Klingons had been in TOS.
Star Trek (2009) creates a new timeline in the Star Trek franchise, which is tied directly to the Prime Universe, effecting a return to the TOS era, albeit one populated by an all-new cast of actors. It also features a new look, and remains in-universe by explaining all changes as being inadvertently caused by time-traveling Romulan villain Nero. This film focuses on younger versions of Kirk, Spock, and the crew and showcases their very first mission aboard the Enterprise.
The sequel Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) picks up a year after the first film, where the crew is tested as they are sent to apprehend John Harrison, a traitor and mass murderer, and uncover corruption and a conspiracy to militarize Starfleet from within.
Future
- Main article: Star Trek Beyond.
The current cast of the films are not contracted for a fourth film: John Cho has acknowledged recasting one or two characters would be pointless, but that getting them all back together might be "tough". [1]
On 26 June 2015, it was reported that Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine resigned new contracts with an option for a fourth feature film. [2]
Performance summary
Domestically, combined and not taking inflation into account, the Star Trek features have grossed over US$1,624,963,755. Prior to the release of Star Trek, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home had grossed more than the other films, coming in at US$109,713,132, while Star Trek: First Contact had the largest-grossing opening weekend of all the films. Star Trek surpassed both of these records, but was itself surpassed by Star Trek Into Darkness. [3]
Using the figures in the above tables, a "Top 5" worldwide performance record for the movies as of 2014 is summarized in the table below, which hold a few surprises. The costs are, as expected, in accordance with the sequence the movies were produced in, with the Motion Picture, being the sole exception due to various reasons. A bit surprising is that the best received movies are not always in concordance with them also being the highest grossing, The Voyage Home, being the most consistent one. However, the biggest surprise in this regard, the bad press the movie received – among others by the studio itself, who considered the movie a failure at he time – in the 1980s and 1990s notwithstanding, is that The Motion Picture as one of the worst received movies, is concurrently also one of the highest grossing, as well as one of the most profitable movies in the franchise.
The table shows that the TNG movies were the least successful ones of the franchise in critical and financial terms, Star Trek: First Contact being the sole positive exception, the apparent profitability of Generations (see that movie's footnote above) notwithstanding.
Yet, while there is a correlation between costs and profitability, the real surprise lies in the recent lack of positive correlation between gross revenues and profitability. That Nemesis and Insurrection occupy the first two places in the worst profitability ranking is hardly a surprise, considering their poor performance at the box office. But a break occurred in the correlation with the two alternate reality movies, who were the most successful in terms of box office revenues of the franchise by far, but who also rank among the least profitable ones, making it appear that the more successful a movie is at the box office, the worse its profitability becomes.
The significant jump in production budget of 29% (over ten times the official inflation rate for the period 1996-1998) between the movies First Contact and Insurrection, validated Adam Lebowitz's assertion that the technique of computer generated imagery (CGI) for producing visual effects, which was used almost exclusively for the latter film and contrary to popular belief, is not cheaper than the traditional way of producing these. "A lot of people say, 'CGI is a lot cheaper, isn't it,' but the way I like to think of it is that CGI is not cheaper necessarily, but you get a lot more for your money and you can tweak it a lot more.", Lebowitz has stated. (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 1, Issue 6, p. 47)
Star Trek Into Darkness marks the first time that a Star Trek film performed better in the foreign markets than the home market, confirming an industry trend that has started in the early 2000s. [4]
- Note: If inflation adjusted, a slightly different ranking in costs and revenues might occur, but this has no influence on the profitability ranking as it is a relational calculation of costs and revenues. For convenience sake the absolute figures as listed in the above tables are used.
Cast and crew listings
- Credits for Star Trek: The Motion Picture
- Credits for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- Credits for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
- Credits for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
- Credits for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
- Credits for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
- Credits for Star Trek Generations
- Credits for Star Trek: First Contact
- Credits for Star Trek: Insurrection
- Credits for Star Trek Nemesis
- Credits for Star Trek
- Credits for Star Trek Into Darkness
Background
- There have been twelve Star Trek cinematic features released between 1979 and 2013. [5]
- Three films were produced by Harve Bennett (he was also an executive producer on one), while Rick Berman produced all four films featuring the cast of TNG.
- Nicholas Meyer, J. J. Abrams, Leonard Nimoy and Jonathan Frakes each directed two of the films, with the latter two also appearing as co-stars in their respective roles as Spock and William Riker. One of the films (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier) was directed by its lead actor, William Shatner, appearing as Kirk.
- Leonard Nimoy has made more appearances in the film series than any other principal cast member of any Star Trek series, appearing as Spock in the first six films together with an appearance in Star Trek and a brief cameo in Star Trek Into Darkness. William Shatner, James Doohan and Walter Koenig (Kirk, Scotty and Chekov) all appear in the first seven consecutive films. Majel Barrett has also appeared in seven of the films, albeit playing different roles: she appears as Christine Chapel in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and supplied her voice for the Enterprise computers in Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, Star Trek Nemesis, and Star Trek.
- Michael Dorn is the only member of the TNG cast to appear in more than four of the films. He plays his familiar character Worf in all four TNG-based films and has a cameo as Worf's (presumed) ancestor in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
- Owing to Worf's transfer onto the crew of DS9 prior to the events of Star Trek: First Contact, Dorn is technically the only DS9 cast member to appear in any of the films playing his usual character. Rene Auberjonois appears in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country playing a different character than his usual one on DS9; his scenes were cut for the film's original theatrical release but subsequently restored for the film's VHS, DVD and Special Edition releases. Both Armin Shimerman and Max Grodenchik filmed scenes for Star Trek: Insurrection - the former as his familiar character Quark and the latter as an unnamed Trill Starfleet officer - but these scenes were cut from the film as released.
- Kate Mulgrew, Robert Picardo, Tim Russ, and Ethan Phillips are the only VOY cast members to appear in any of the films – Mulgrew plays her familiar character in Star Trek Nemesis, Picardo plays an EMH Mark I in Star Trek: First Contact, wherein Phillips also appears – uncredited, at his own request, as a different character. (Having never before appeared in a Trek production without heavy prosthetics, he thought it would be amusing to leave fans wondering if the holographic human he played was or wasn't him.) Russ appears in Star Trek Generations as a Human USS Enterprise-B crewman.
- To date, no principal cast members from ENT have appeared in any of the films, although Peter Weller (who guest starred in two episodes of that series) plays a major role in Star Trek Into Darkness.
- Between Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and Star Trek, all the films were produced in tandem with one or more of the spin-off series. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country were made during the run of TNG; production on Star Trek Generations began while the final episodes of TNG were being shot, and while DS9 was in production; Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek: Insurrection were both produced during the runs of DS9 and VOY, and Star Trek Nemesis was made while ENT was in production. Star Trek was the first since Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home to be produced without any other Star Trek project in progress.
- Perhaps reflecting their popularity as an alien race, the Klingons appear more than any other throughout the series of films - they appear, or are mentioned, in all twelve of the films released so far. The only two in which no Klingon characters appear are Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek, although both films depict the Kobayashi Maru scenario which features Klingon ships. Scenes featuring Klingon characters were shot but not included in the latter film.
The odd number / even number phenomenon
- A number of Star Trek fans have expressed the opinion that the even-numbered films are generally better than the odd-numbered ones. Such an appraisal is obviously subjective, but it has its roots in a number of factors. The even-numbered films (apart from Star Trek Nemesis) have enjoyed relatively greater success at the box office and higher critical acclaim, as opposed to various lukewarm reviews received by the odd-numbered films (with the exception of Star Trek). Fans and critics have also noted that, in their opinions, the even-numbered films are better paced and more action-packed, with more memorable story lines, eminently quotable scripts and exciting special effects. (The first two films are often held up as examples of this trend from the outset of the series: Star Trek: The Motion Picture has very few battle or dramatic action sequences, presenting Kirk and crew with a mostly cerebral challenge, while Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is dominated by epic conflict, resulting in several battle sequences and heavy damage to the Enterprise and its crew.)
- By the time the TNG movies were being produced, the "odd/even" phenomenon was effectively regarded as a curse, with members of the production crew fearing that, despite their best efforts, future odd-numbered productions were fated to be less successful than even-numbered ones. Jonathan Frakes, when interviewed by Star Trek Monthly during pre-production for Star Trek: Insurrection, commented that he was looking forward to directing his second film "even though it's an odd-numbered Star Trek." In 2002, however, the phenomenon was broken by the release of Star Trek Nemesis, which experienced the lowest box-office takings of any Star Trek film to date and was poorly received by even long-standing fans. (Though to a few, this became an even further joke - a Star Trek film which was a multiple of five was cursed to fail catastrophically, as Nemesis pulled in poor reviews and revenue in a similar fashion to The Final Frontier.)
- The phenomenon has seemingly been broken further by the critical success of Star Trek, which has obtained a 95% on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, as well as an opening weekend gross of nearly twice the full run of Star Trek Nemesis. [6]
- In a 1999 episode of the British sitcom Spaced, the phenomenon was mentioned by the show's lead character, Tim Bisley, who was played by Simon Pegg – an irony not lost on Pegg during and after his work on Star Trek.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
- Whereas the preceding live-action television series had open endings that allowed for continuation into motion picture format, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended quite firmly and conclusively, with all its various plot lines resolved and the departure of various main characters. Any subsequent film would therefore have required a significantly different premise and different casting, departing radically from the series' format which had been so familiar to its fan base. On the possibility of a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine film ever happening, Ira Steven Behr commented: "I don't think so. I think we could do a pretty kick-ass Deep Space Nine movie, but not even in my wildest imaginations do I consider it". He also commented "The only Trek I think about is Deep Space Nine, to be honest. If they did a Deep Space Nine film, I certainly would like to be involved if that ever happened, which I doubt". [7]
- After the release of Star Trek: Insurrection, Patrick Stewart commented, "I think we should pass the mantle on to the Deep Space Nine characters. We don't want to become The Rolling Stones of the Star Trek films". [8] [9]
- Andrew Robinson commented "My feeling is that there is never going to be a Deep Space Nine movie, they still have more to go with The Next Generation. I think it ("What You Leave Behind") was really the right way to end the series. [10]
- A campaign for a Deep Space Nine film (or a miniseries) was launched in 2000 by fans Stacy Powell and Doug Wilson. Nana Visitor was thrilled to hear of the existence of the campaign and J.G. Hertzler and David B. Levinson joked with fans to "take one of these [flyers], don't throw it away or I'll come after you." [11] [12]
- Fans Terry Harris and Gisele La Roche also launched a petition for a Deep Space Nine film, receiving several positive responses from actors. Template:Brokenlink
- Notwithstanding the foregoing, elements from the series have appeared in all TNG films. The Enterprise-D crew wore the uniforms which had been introduced on Deep Space Nine (in addition to their own series' uniforms) in Star Trek Generations; the uniforms were also used on Star Trek: Voyager, which premiered several months after the film's release. The USS Defiant appears in the Battle of Sector 001 during Star Trek: First Contact, under the command of Worf (Michael Dorn), who had become a regular character on DS9 by that time; he also appears in Star Trek: Insurrection. Both Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek Nemesis contain references to the Dominion War story arc from the series. For Star Trek: Insurrection, a scene was written and filmed involving an appearance by Armin Shimerman as Quark; this was cut from the film, but a still from it can be found among the extras on the DVD release.
- In 1998, Rick Berman commented "There are a few more movies left in the Generations franchise and there's a good chance we'll see a Deep Space Nine film. What we'd like to do is introduce a few of the characters from Deep Space into the next Generations movie just to tease audiences." [13]
Star Trek: Voyager / Star Trek: Enterprise
- The conclusive endings of both these series likewise indicate little or no probability of future movies being based on them. During the run of Voyager, there was speculation amongst fans (via the internet and other media) that the series would end on a cliff-hanger, to be resolved in a theatrical motion picture, but the ultimate release of "Endgame" as the series finale proved that idea to be unfounded. The potential for continuation of the series has instead been explored in novels and fan-fiction.
- There is a gap of six years between "Terra Prime" and "These Are the Voyages..." which could serve as the setting of an ENT movie, although the timeline position of Star Trek and its sequel suggests that this would be unlikely.
- Star Trek Nemesis features a cameo by Kate Mulgrew, reprising her role as Kathryn Janeway from Voyager and thus marking the only direct big-screen appearance of any character from that series. (An EMH Mark I, played by Robert Picardo, appears briefly in First Contact, but this is not exactly the same character as the Holographic Doctor in the series.)
- Nemesis also features a graphic containing a reference to a USS Archer, named after Captain Jonathan Archer, the main character in Enterprise.
- Additionally, "Star Trek" features a reference to "Admiral Archer's prized beagle", intended by the writers to be a reference to Jonathan Archer, [14] and his beagle Porthos.
- A replica of Enterprise (NX-01) appears in Star Trek Into Darkness, marking the first appearance of any element from that series on the big screen.
See also
- Movies performers
- Movies recurring characters
- Movies directors
- Composers
- VHS releases
- LaserDisc releases
- DVD releases
- Blu-ray releases