The originalStar Trekseries was revolutionary. It changed how people thought of sci-fi on television, and it pushed the envelope in other ways as well. It was social commentary, and it wasn’t pulpy or campy like what had come before.
The influence ofStar Trekis clear to see in much of the sci-fi that came after. Either explicitly, or in a more subtle way that even the creator might not realize. So I thought I’d boldly suggest a list of movies that have a little bit of the genes created by the late, great Gene Roddenberry.
I haven’t only included movies on this list with a more official or generally-acceptedStar Trekinspiration, but also ones that I personally just feel have something in common with the franchise. This list isn’t ranked, by the way, except for the number one movie, which is the best one in my opinion.
1977
Runtime
2 hours 1 minute
Given that there’s sometimes this weird rivalry between Star Trek and Star Wars fans, you might be surprised to hear that the firstStar Warsfilm has any connections to Star Trek. After all, Star Wars is (by George Lucas' own admission) a science-fantasy franchise rather than being science fiction.
And yet, Lucas is on record saying thatStar Wars stood on the shoulders of Star Trek. It’s not that Star Wars was inspired so much by it narratively, but that the popularity of Star Trek created fertile ground for something like Star Wars to happen. Today, we get to enjoy both franchises and it doesn’t look like either of them are going anywhere.
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
The movie that started it all, this is the original story of how Luke Skywalker discovers his destiny is more than just being a desert planet moisture farmer.
1972
1 hour 29 minutes
Silent Runningis one of my favorite classic sci-fi films, and it has a mundane and straightforward connection toStar Trekthrough its director Douglas Trumbull. He’d later go on to create special effects scenes forStar Trek: The Motion Picture. So much of the visual language ofSilent Runningwould end up in the DNA of the first Trek film.
However, that’s inspiration in the opposite direction, so how exactly do I think that the originalStar Trekinspired this film? To me, it’s all about the message and vibe. Silent Running isn’t a guns-blazing space opera. It’s a slow-paced eco-warrior film that gently wags a finger at us collectively. I really think thatStar Trek’smore cerebral vibe and focus on social issues of the day, like racism or the futility of war, really does make it feel likeSilent Runningis part of post-Trek sci-fi landscape on screen.
Silent Running
A potentially prescient film about man’s destruction of Earth’s biosphere, one man tries to save the last forest in the solar system, hanging on to life in a spaceborne greenhouse.
1985
1 hour 48 minutes
Based on a 1979 novella by Barry Longyear of the same name,Enemy Minedid poorly at the box office, but later became an influential cult-classic. This is another personal favorite, but how is it inspired byStar Trek? Well, I can’t speak to whether Longyear was inspired by Trek directly, but the plot ofEnemy Mineis very in-line with the types of stories that Star Trek told.
Humans are at war with an alien race, and a human and alien pilot are stranded together on a desolate planet, forced to work together in order to survive. By learning about each other, and understanding each other’s perspective, the two races make progress in their conflict because two individuals took that first step.
Longyear’s novella itself was pretty influential, and, ironically, I think you can see its influence in later Trek episodes, such as “Darmok”, the legendary 1991 TNG episode where captain Picard and a Tamarian ship’s captain have to overcome a communication barrier to avoid death. The Tamarians even have a strong resemblance to the aliens inEnemy Mine.
Enemy Mine
A timeless story of two races at war finding common ground and understanding.
1974
1 hour 32 minutes
The brainchild of Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek screenwriter Gene L. Coon,The Questor Tapesisn’t so much inspired byStar Trekthan birthed from the same womb. There’s also a fair bit of Asimov’sFoundationin there as well, but it starts off with a mysterious missing professor who leaves behind an advanced android no one else can understand. You know, sort of like Dr. Noonien Soong and a certain android named Data.
The plot ofThe Questor Tapescould easily have been a Trek episode, dealing with the upliftment of more primitive species, but without direct interference. Ancient civilizations working in the background, and a fish out of water learning what it means to be human. This made-for-TV movie was actually a stealth TV pilot for a series that was in fact greenlit, but disagreement between Roddenberry and the network led to the project being dropped. Interestingly enough, Leonard Nimoy was considered for the role of the titular android, doing makeup tests. Considering that Data was effectively the Spock stand-in in TNG, that just makes this pre-TNG Roddenberry film all the more interesting.
You can buyThe Questor Tapeson Blu-ray or DVDor watch it for free onThe Internet Archives.
1987
1 hour 36 minutes
OK, so clearly this cult-classic parody by Mel Brooks is largely riffing offStar Wars, butthanks to the hilarious transporter gag and the character Snotty, this technically counts, and it gives me a legitimate excuse to putSpaceballson this list so that people who haven’t watched it can correct this regrettable gap in their pop culture knowledge.
Spaceballs
A hilarious, quotable send-up of sci-fi movies and shows by the legendary Mel Brooks.
1980
1 hour 45 minutes
This Roger Corman cult classic (featuring visual effects by a young James Cameron) is largely “inspired” byStar Wars, as anyone will tell you. However, although the plot echoes much of George Lucas' film, it’s not really that bit that Corman plucked from a galaxy far, far away. Since both films draw heavily on Kurosawa films such asThe Hidden FortressandSeven Samurai,it’s more like they both draw inspiration from the same source. No, for me the biggest Star Wars influence is in the visuals. It’s the look and sound of the blasters. The cinematography of the space battles, and the epic parts that are most obviously trying to look and feel likeStar Wars, but on a much smaller budget.
It’s when we switch to the interior of the ships, in scenes between the multi-species crew, that I get strong Trek TV series vibes. It might be completely accidental, but this movie, from a purely visual and production perspective, feels likeStar Wars on the streets, butStar Trek in the sheets. As an aside, this movie shares a composer withStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khanin the form of James Horner, and you can hear similarities for sure.
Battle Beyond the Stars
This Roger Corman budget Star Wars “tribute” features special effects by a young James Cameron and a plot stolen from Kurosawa. Just like Star Wars did. Great fun!
2016
1 hour 56 minutes
Yes, despite being a relatively recent film, I absolutely considerArrivala classic sci-fi film, albeit amodernclassic. It’s based on a 1998 short story titledStory of Your Lifeby Ted Chiang and tells the story of an alien race that makes first contact with humanity, bearing gifts, but expecting us to help them in the future. That sounds a lot like how the Vulcans made first contact with Earth inStar Trek, and then later formed a federation with humans and other species.
I also think it’s very Trek to have the heroes be academics and scientists. I have no idea if Chiang actually likes Trek or was directly inspired by it, but his writing definitely echoes the same progressive themes as Trek, so I think Gene Roddenberry would have liked his work.
Arrival
Aliens make first contact with humanity, but no one can understand what the heck they’re saying. So it’s time for the work of a heroic linguist.
2005
1 hour 59 minutes
Serenityis a film meant to bring some closure to fans of the belovedFireflyTV series, which was infamously canceled after what looked like network sabotage. Honestly, I think the strongest influence on the show and film was probablyCowboy Bebop, but for me the connection with Trek is that this universe is basically the anti-Trek. It feels like a reaction to a similar premise.Star Trekwas also envisioned as a space Western, or at the very least the space version of explorers on the frontiers of civilization. You know, the “final frontier”.
In the world of Serenity, however, it’s the Wild West, and humans haven’t made any progress towards moving beyond their greed, fear, and prejudice.
Serenity
Capping off the sadly canceled TV seriesFirefly, this bittersweet film gives the crew of the titular Firefly-class ship their final great challenge. One which has galactic implications.
2019
2 hours 21 minutes
I bet you didn’t expect to see the climactic resolution to the grand superhero movie arc that started with the firstIron Manfilm here, butEndgamedraws from a broad spectrum of influences, andStar Trekis, in my mind, undoubtedly one of them.
Endgame’s second half is a full-blown Star Trek time travel episode. From the science-talk-heavy mission briefings to the “don’t touch the past, or you’ll mess up the timeline” rules, it plays out like a crossover between The Avengers and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
Avengers: Endgame
The climax of the first MCU phase is one for the ages. It won’t mean much to you if you haven’t seen everything leading up to it though. So maybe get on that?
1999
1 hour 42 minutes
BeforeThe Orvillethere wasGalaxy Quest.A parody not just ofStar Trek, but also of the culture of the fandom and the lives of the actors that became famous for a somewhat cheesy yet influential sci-fi show.
The thing about this movie is that, while it pokes fun atStar Trekand its fans, it also manages to be an excellentStar Trekmovie, which often lands it an unironic honorary spot on lists of the best Trek movies. It has the right spirit, the performances by the cast are phenomenal, and there’s a reason that, as a core Trek fan, I watch this movie at least once a year.
Galaxy Quest
The best non-Star Trek, Star Trek movie. So popular some fans consider it an honorary part of the family.
Trekcontinues to evolve and influence sci-fi to this day, whle being influences by fresh voices in the genre itself. I’ll alwayslove TNGas “my” Trek, but I’m open to almost anything. Well, except forLower Decks. One must have some sort of standard.
