Is Star Trek Into Darkness the 3rd Movie?

When it comes to the Star Trek movie franchise, there can be some confusion about the order of the films. One of the most debated topics is whether Star Trek Into Darkness is considered the third movie in the series. Let’s dive into this topic and see if we can come to a conclusion.

What is Star Trek Into Darkness?

Star Trek Into Darkness is a 2013 science fiction film directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and Damon Lindelof. It stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, and Benedict Cumberbatch in lead roles.

The Original Series Movies

To understand where Star Trek Into Darkness falls in the series, we need to take a look at the original movies. The first six movies are often referred to as “The Original Series” movies and feature the cast from the 1960s television series.

  • Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
  • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
  • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
  • Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
  • Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
  • Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

These movies follow the adventures of Captain Kirk and his crew on board the USS Enterprise.

The Next Generation Movies

After “The Original Series” movies ended, a new set of films were created based on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” television series.

  • Star Trek Generations (1994)
  • Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
  • Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
  • Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

These movies feature Captain Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D.

Where Does Star Trek Into Darkness Fit In?

Now that we know the order of the previous movies, let’s take a look at where Star Trek Into Darkness fits in.

Star Trek Into Darkness is actually the twelfth movie in the franchise. It is a sequel to the 2009 film Star Trek and features the same cast. The movie takes place after the events of Star Trek and follows Captain Kirk and his crew as they hunt down a terrorist named John Harrison.

The Confusion

So why is there confusion about whether Star Trek Into Darkness is considered the third movie? The confusion comes from a misunderstanding about how to count the movies.

Some people believe that because there were only two “The Original Series” movies before “The Next Generation” movies started, that Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness must be considered the first two in a new series. However, this is not accurate.

The Conclusion

To sum up, while some may argue that Star Trek Into Darkness is the third movie in a new series, it is actually just another sequel in a long line of films. It follows after “The Original Series” movies and “The Next Generation” movies, making it number twelve overall.

In Conclusion:

It’s important to understand where each movie falls in the franchise timeline to fully appreciate its place in the series. With so many great films to choose from, it can be challenging to keep them all straight. However, with a little research, it’s easy to see that Star Trek Into Darkness is just one of many exciting adventures for fans of the franchise.