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

Since its debut in 1966, *Star Trek: The Original Series* has irrevocably shaped the entertainment landscape. This iconic franchise, boldly going where no property has gone before, has captivated millions worldwide, expanding into a vast universe encompassing numerous shows, films, comics, merchandise, and more. The sheer volume of Star Trek content, however, can make navigating its chronological and release order a challenge. This guide simplifies the process, ensuring you don't miss a single adventure.

Finding all Star Trek shows and movies used to be difficult, but Paramount+ has streamlined things considerably, becoming the home for nearly all past, present, and future Star Trek entries.

Join us on a journey to the final frontier and learn how to catch up with the exploits 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 mostly spoiler-free chronological timeline, avoiding major plot points. Use it to catch up without ruining the surprises! A release order list is also provided below.

**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* is our earliest entry, set a century before Kirk, Spock, and the *Original Series* crew. Airing from 2001 to 2005, it stars Scott Bakula as Jonathan Archer, captain of the Enterprise NX-01—Earth's first warp 5 capable starship. Despite its uneven reception, the show offers a fascinating glimpse into a crew lacking the advanced technology of later series, featuring first contact with familiar alien species, and more.

Where to Watch

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

Here's where it gets tricky. *Star Trek: Discovery*'s first two seasons precede *The Original Series*, but Seasons 3, 4, and 5 jump significantly forward in time. To maintain chronological order, some jumping between series and films is necessary.

Set a decade before the original series, *Discovery* stars Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham, a Starfleet Commander whose actions inadvertently spark a war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Following a court-martial, she's reassigned to the U.S.S. Discovery.

Where to Watch

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

*Star Trek: Strange New Worlds* also precedes *The Original Series*, building upon *Discovery*'s introduction of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Pike, originally featured in *The Original Series*' failed pilot, "The Cage," becomes Kirk's predecessor. This series explores Pike's story and other familiar faces from *The Original Series*, alongside new characters, aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701.

Where to Watch

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

Next, we arrive at the genesis of it all—*Star Trek: The Original Series*. Created by Gene Roddenberry, this foundational series launched a cultural phenomenon. Despite initial low ratings and cancellation after three seasons (1966-1969), its syndication success and enduring legacy cemented its place in history. Many of its episodes laid the groundwork for future Star Trek installments.

Starring William Shatner as James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock, the show's iconic opening credits perfectly encapsulate its mission: “Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship *Enterprise*. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

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 launched the Kelvin Timeline, a separate continuity featuring familiar characters played by different actors. These films—2009's *Star Trek*, *Star Trek Into Darkness*, and *Star Trek Beyond*—can be watched at any point, offering callbacks to *The Original Series* and Leonard Nimoy's Spock.

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 Original Series*' cancellation, its popularity soared, leading to Gene Roddenberry's creation of *Star Trek: The Animated Series*. Airing from 1973 to 1974, this animated series continued the adventures of the *Enterprise* crew, featuring many original voice actors.

Where to Watch

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

The first *Star Trek* film marked a significant event, reuniting the *Original Series* crew after the show's cancellation. Initially facing production hurdles, the film's eventual release (1979) proved successful, abandoning plans for a new television series, *Star Trek: Phase II*. Admiral James T. Kirk reclaims command of a refitted *Enterprise* to confront V'Ger, a mysterious alien energy entity.

Where to Watch

...(continues in the same style for the remaining entries, maintaining the original formatting and image placements while improving flow and readability)