A worldwide cultural phenomenon was birthed on September 8, 1966 -- something no one involved with "Star Trek" could have predicted. The sci-fi series premiered on NBC that day, and almost 50 years later, it has perhaps the most enduring following of any show in TV history. A new voyage will begin in 2017 on CBS All Access. Here are some big moments in the history of "Trek."
A worldwide cultural phenomenon was birthed on September 8, 1966 -- something no one involved with "Star Trek" could have predicted. The sci-fi series premiered on NBC that day, and almost 50 years later, it has perhaps the most enduring following of any show in TV history. A new voyage will begin in 2017 on CBS All Access. Here are some big moments in the history of "Trek."
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Ten years after it went off the air, the "Trek" phenomenon was so powerful that it went to the big screen with 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." The first film is probably not anyone's favorite movie in the series, but it was a start.
Ten years after it went off the air, the "Trek" phenomenon was so powerful that it went to the big screen with 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." The first film is probably not anyone's favorite movie in the series, but it was a start.
Paramount Pictures
If anything "Star Trek" can be called a classic, it's certainly "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," with Ricardo Montalban (seen here) as the titular villain. The 1982 film works even if you know very little about "Trek."
If anything "Star Trek" can be called a classic, it's certainly "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," with Ricardo Montalban (seen here) as the titular villain. The 1982 film works even if you know very little about "Trek."
Paramount Pictures
After mixed reviews for "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," the crew of the Enterprise time-traveled to 1986 San Francisco for "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." Leonard Nimoy, left, directed the movie, which had a "save the whales" environmental message.
After mixed reviews for "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," the crew of the Enterprise time-traveled to 1986 San Francisco for "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." Leonard Nimoy, left, directed the movie, which had a "save the whales" environmental message.
Paramount/Everett Collections
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" brought a new Enterprise to television in 1987. After a rough start, Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart, seen here) and crew rivaled the original crew in popularity.
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" brought a new Enterprise to television in 1987. After a rough start, Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart, seen here) and crew rivaled the original crew in popularity.
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After the belly flop that was 1989's "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" (one that endangered the film franchise), William Shatner and cast came back for one last adventure two years later in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country." It's generally viewed as a fitting farewell to the original Enterprise.
After the belly flop that was 1989's "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" (one that endangered the film franchise), William Shatner and cast came back for one last adventure two years later in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country." It's generally viewed as a fitting farewell to the original Enterprise.
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"Next Generation" became so successful that a second spinoff, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," launched in 1993. More of a political drama than the other series (and taking place on a space station), it has its fair share of fans. It was the first "Trek" project that did not have direct involvement from creator Gene Roddenberry. It also included the franchise's first African-American lead character, Cmdr./Capt. Benjamin Sisko, played by Avery Brooks.
"Next Generation" became so successful that a second spinoff, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," launched in 1993. More of a political drama than the other series (and taking place on a space station), it has its fair share of fans. It was the first "Trek" project that did not have direct involvement from creator Gene Roddenberry. It also included the franchise's first African-American lead character, Cmdr./Capt. Benjamin Sisko, played by Avery Brooks.
CBS
The official passing of the torch took place in the 1994 film "Star Trek: Generations," with Malcolm McDowell, left, as the villain. Captain James T. Kirk died with Picard, his successor, at his side. The movie ultimately received mixed reviews.
The official passing of the torch took place in the 1994 film "Star Trek: Generations," with Malcolm McDowell, left, as the villain. Captain James T. Kirk died with Picard, his successor, at his side. The movie ultimately received mixed reviews.
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"Star Trek: Voyager" launched the now-defunct UPN network in 1995, with a smaller ship lost in the far reaches of space. Kate Mulgrew (now starring as Red on "Orange is the New Black") portrayed the first onscreen female captain, Kathryn Janeway. The crew included, from left, Tim Russ, Robert Duncan McNeill and Garrett Wang.
"Star Trek: Voyager" launched the now-defunct UPN network in 1995, with a smaller ship lost in the far reaches of space. Kate Mulgrew (now starring as Red on "Orange is the New Black") portrayed the first onscreen female captain, Kathryn Janeway. The crew included, from left, Tim Russ, Robert Duncan McNeill and Garrett Wang.
CBS
1996's "Star Trek: First Contact" is often considered the best movie with the "Next Generation" crew. Perhaps the most action-packed of all the "Trek" movies, it features a battle against Picard's archenemies, an alien race called the Borg.
1996's "Star Trek: First Contact" is often considered the best movie with the "Next Generation" crew. Perhaps the most action-packed of all the "Trek" movies, it features a battle against Picard's archenemies, an alien race called the Borg.
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When "Voyager" ended in 2001, UPN picked up a fourth spinoff, "Enterprise" (later "Star Trek: Enterprise"), which chronicled the beginnings of Starfleet, with Scott Bakula as Capt. Jonathan Archer. It was canceled in 2005, the start of a four-year period with no "Trek" projects on the big or small screen.
When "Voyager" ended in 2001, UPN picked up a fourth spinoff, "Enterprise" (later "Star Trek: Enterprise"), which chronicled the beginnings of Starfleet, with Scott Bakula as Capt. Jonathan Archer. It was canceled in 2005, the start of a four-year period with no "Trek" projects on the big or small screen.
CBS
1998's "Star Trek: Insurrection" met with mixed reviews and was followed by the final voyage of the "Next Generation" crew (especially Data, who dies a noble death) in 2002's "Star Trek: Nemesis." The "Nemesis" story, about a Picard clone (one of Tom Hardy's earliest roles), was mostly panned, but we dare you not to cry during those <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DS02T1j9qzwg" target="_blank" target="_blank">final</a> <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dx26RZetMdek" target="_blank" target="_blank">scenes</a>.
1998's "Star Trek: Insurrection" met with mixed reviews and was followed by the final voyage of the "Next Generation" crew (especially Data, who dies a noble death) in 2002's "Star Trek: Nemesis." The "Nemesis" story, about a Picard clone (one of Tom Hardy's earliest roles), was mostly panned, but we dare you not to cry during those final scenes.
Paramount Pictures
"Star Trek" returned to the big screen in a big way in 2009 with J.J. Abrams' reboot. The film featured a brand new cast -- among them Chris Pine (pictured here), Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban and Zoe Saldana -- reprising the roles of the original crew of the Enterprise. It was a critical and commercial smash and helped land Abrams a gig directing the new "Star Wars."
"Star Trek" returned to the big screen in a big way in 2009 with J.J. Abrams' reboot. The film featured a brand new cast -- among them Chris Pine (pictured here), Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban and Zoe Saldana -- reprising the roles of the original crew of the Enterprise. It was a critical and commercial smash and helped land Abrams a gig directing the new "Star Wars."
Paramount Pictures
"Star Trek Into Darkness" wasn't quite as well-received as the earlier film, though Benedict Cumberbatch, center, got to chew scenery as Khan, as Montalban did decades before. Some fans despised its callbacks to "Star Trek II," which they saw as treading on sacred ground. Trekkers voted it the worst "Star Trek" film shortly after its release in 2013.
"Star Trek Into Darkness" wasn't quite as well-received as the earlier film, though Benedict Cumberbatch, center, got to chew scenery as Khan, as Montalban did decades before. Some fans despised its callbacks to "Star Trek II," which they saw as treading on sacred ground. Trekkers voted it the worst "Star Trek" film shortly after its release in 2013.
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