There’s no single order you have to follow for Star Trek, because most shows stand on their own. The easiest way in is The Next Generation or Strange New Worlds, plus the movie The Wrath of Khan. If you want everything, release order works best: The Original Series (1966), The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise, then the modern era from Discovery (2017) to Starfleet Academy (2026). That’s 12 series, 960 episodes and 13 movies, and Paramount+ streams almost all of it.
Updated November 1, 2026 · Includes Strange New Worlds Season 4 and Starfleet Academy
Where should I start with Star Trek?
- Want the classic experience? Start with The Next Generation. Season 1 is rough; it finds its feet in Season 3.
- Want something modern? Start with Strange New Worlds. It’s the newest crew of the Enterprise, with standalone adventures and a modern look, and it leads right into The Original Series.
- Only have one night? Watch Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), still the best-loved Star Trek movie.
- Like serialized drama? Deep Space Nine, especially from Season 3 on, when the Dominion War arc takes over.
Star Trek series in release order
| Series | Years | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| The Original Series | 1966-1969 | 79 |
| The Animated Series | 1973-1974 | 22 |
| The Next Generation | 1987-1994 | 178 |
| Deep Space Nine | 1993-1999 | 176 |
| Voyager | 1995-2001 | 172 |
| Enterprise | 2001-2005 | 98 |
| Discovery | 2017-2024 | 65 |
| Picard | 2020-2023 | 30 |
| Lower Decks | 2020-2024 | 50 |
| Prodigy | 2021-2024 | 40 |
| Strange New Worlds | 2022- | 40 so far |
| Starfleet Academy | 2026- | 10 so far |
Strange New Worlds finished Season 4 on September 24, 2026, and Season 5 will be its last. Starfleet Academy premiered in January 2026. There’s also Section 31 (2025), a standalone streaming movie starring Michelle Yeoh that you can skip unless you’re a fan of her character from Discovery.
Star Trek movies in order
| # | Movie | Crew |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Motion Picture (1979) | Original Series |
| 2 | The Wrath of Khan (1982) | Original Series |
| 3 | The Search for Spock (1984) | Original Series |
| 4 | The Voyage Home (1986) | Original Series |
| 5 | The Final Frontier (1989) | Original Series |
| 6 | The Undiscovered Country (1991) | Original Series |
| 7 | Generations (1994) | The Next Generation (with Kirk) |
| 8 | First Contact (1996) | The Next Generation |
| 9 | Insurrection (1998) | The Next Generation |
| 10 | Nemesis (2002) | The Next Generation |
| 11 | Star Trek (2009) | New cast, alternate timeline |
| 12 | Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) | New cast, alternate timeline |
| 13 | Star Trek Beyond (2016) | New cast, alternate timeline |
Watch the Original Series movies after that show, and the Next Generation movies after The Next Generation. The 2009 film and its sequels take place in a separate timeline (the “Kelvin” timeline), so you can watch them anytime.
Star Trek in chronological order
For a rewatch, here’s the order the stories happen in:
| # | Show or movies | Set in |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enterprise | 2150s |
| 2 | Discovery, Seasons 1-2 | 2250s |
| 3 | Strange New Worlds | 2259 on |
| 4 | The Original Series and The Animated Series | 2265-2270 |
| 5 | Original Series movies (I-VI) | 2270s-2293 |
| 6 | The Next Generation | 2364-2370 |
| 7 | Deep Space Nine and Voyager | 2369-2378 |
| 8 | Next Generation movies (VII-X) | 2371-2379 |
| 9 | Lower Decks | 2380s |
| 10 | Prodigy | 2380s |
| 11 | Picard | 2399-2401 |
| 12 | Discovery, Seasons 3-5 | 3188 on |
| 13 | Starfleet Academy | The 32nd century |
Deep Space Nine and Voyager overlap, so you can alternate between them by air date if you’re watching both.
How long would it take to watch all of Star Trek?
About 700 hours: 960 episodes (most run around 45 minutes, the animated ones about 25) plus 13 movies and Section 31. At two episodes a night, that’s well over a year. Most fans pick one or two shows instead.
Where to stream Star Trek
Paramount+ streams every Star Trek series except Prodigy, which is on Netflix. The movies are also on Paramount+ most of the time, though some rotate to other services, so check your app.
Playing Magic’s Star Trek set?
Magic: The Gathering’s Star Trek set (out November 13, 2026, with prereleases November 6 to 12) pulls characters from almost every series on this list, from Kirk and Spock to the Lower Decks crew. See our Star Trek draft guide, the most expensive Star Trek cards and the Star Trek Commander decks.
Star Trek watch order FAQ
Do I need to watch The Original Series first?
No. Every show was made to be watched on its own. The Original Series helps with the movies and Strange New Worlds, but you can start anywhere.
What’s the best Star Trek show?
The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine top most fan rankings, with Strange New Worlds the best-liked of the modern shows.
Where do the 2009 Star Trek movies fit?
They’re set in an alternate timeline created at the start of the 2009 film, so they don’t affect the shows. Watch them anytime.
Read next: MTG Star Trek Draft Guide · MTG Star Trek Chase Cards · Lord of the Rings Watch Order
Sources: series and episode counts from Paramount+ and Memory Alpha; Strange New Worlds Season 4 dates from Paramount+ (via TVLine); in-universe years from Memory Alpha. Image: Paramount+.
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