How to Watch Star Trek in Order: The Complete Series Timeline

Since the debut of Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966, the franchise has captivated millions, expanding into a vast universe encompassing numerous shows, films, comics, and merchandise. This abundance of content can make navigating the Star Trek experience challenging. To simplify things, this guide provides chronological and release-order viewing options, ensuring you don't miss a single adventure.

Finding all Star Trek shows and movies used to be difficult, but Paramount+ has become the central hub for almost all past, present, and future entries, making the task much easier.

Join us on a journey through the final frontier to explore the adventures of Kirk, Picard, Janeway, Sisko, Spock, Pike, Archer, Burnham, and countless others who have made Star Trek so special over the past 57 years. Rest assured, the following is a largely spoiler-free chronological timeline, preserving the surprises of each story. A release-order list is also provided for those who prefer that approach.

Jump to:

How to Watch Star Trek in Chronological Order
How to Watch Star Trek by Release Order

How to Watch Star Trek in Chronological Order

1. Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2155)

Star Trek: Enterprise, airing from 2001 to 2005, precedes the adventures of Kirk and Spock by a century. Starring Scott Bakula as Captain Jonathan Archer, it follows Earth's first warp five-capable starship, the Enterprise NX-01. The series offers a compelling look at a crew with less advanced technology than later iterations, showcasing first contact with familiar alien species and more.

Where to Watch

2. Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 1 and 2 (2256-2258)

The first two seasons of Star Trek: Discovery, starring Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham, occur before Star Trek: The Original Series. However, subsequent seasons shift to a different timeline. To maintain chronological order, some jumping between series and films will be necessary.

Where to Watch

3. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259-TBD)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, set before Star Trek: The Original Series, builds upon Star Trek: Discovery, featuring Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Pike's backstory, initially seen in the original pilot episode "The Cage," is further explored, alongside familiar faces and new characters aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701.

Where to Watch

4. Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269)

Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969), starring William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock, laid the foundation for the franchise's enduring legacy. Despite initial cancellation, its syndication success cemented its place in television history.

Where to Watch

Bonus: Star Trek’s Kelvin Timeline (2009’s Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond)

J.J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek reboot, along with its sequels, exists in the alternate Kelvin Timeline. These films can be viewed at any point in your Star Trek journey, offering callbacks to The Original Series.

Where to Watch Star Trek: Hulu, Paramount+
Where to Watch Star Trek Into Darkness: Paramount+
Where to Watch Star Trek Beyond: Paramount+

5. Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270)

Following the success of The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974) continued the adventures of the Enterprise crew in animated form, featuring many of the original voice actors.

Where to Watch

6. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2270s)

The first Star Trek film brought back the original crew after the series' cancellation. Facing a mysterious energy cloud called V'Ger, Admiral Kirk reclaims command of a refitted Enterprise.

Where to Watch

(Continue in this format for the remaining entries, maintaining consistency in image placement, styling, and information presentation.)