The Ultimate ‘Star Trek’ Guide: How to Watch the Series?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 premiers on July 17, 2025 on Paramount+. But what if you've been curious about diving into this iconic sci-fi universe, but feel overwhelmed by nearly six decades of content spanning multiple series, timelines and captains?

Don't worry, we've created the definitive guide to help newcomers get into the Star Trek universe without needing a lot of thinking.

Why Release Order Is Your Best Choice in ‘Star Trek’

There is a lot of debate about whether to watch the franchise chronologically or in a release order. We think that the release order is the way to go. You'll experience the franchise as it developed and see how visual effects and the universe itself evolved over time.

Besides: newer shows often contain references to earlier ones, even if they're set chronologically before them.

The Complete ‘Star Trek’ Series Viewing Order

1. The Original Series (1966-1969). Where it all began with Captain Kirk, Spock, and the iconic Enterprise. Despite the dated effects, the stories remain powerful.

2. The Animated Series (1973-1974). Often overlooked but featuring the original cast voices and some genuinely creative stories that wouldn't have been possible with live-action budgets of the era.

3. The Next Generation (1987-1994). Captain Picard's crew brought Star Trek back to television with a fresh perspective on the Federation's values.

4. Deep Space Nine (1993-1999). The series offers a darker, more complex look at the Federation during wartime.

5. Voyager (1995-2001). Following a ship lost in the Delta Quadrant, trying to find its way home.

6. Enterprise (2001-2005). A prequel set before the formation of the Federation, showing humanity's first steps into deep space.

7. Discovery (2017-2024). The series that brought Trek back to television after a long hiatus.

8. Short Treks (2018-2020). Brief standalone stories that expand the universe and characters.

9. Picard (2020-2023). Patrick Stewart's return to his iconic role.

10. Lower Decks (2020-2024). An animated comedy focusing on the lower-ranking crew members of a less prestigious starship.

11. Prodigy (2021-2024). An animated series aimed at younger viewers but enjoyable for all ages.

12. Strange New Worlds (2022-present). The newest live-action series, returning to the episodic format and optimistic tone of classic Trek.

The ‘Star Trek’ Movie Marathon Guide

In case you're not into diving into seasons and episodes, here is an ultimate movie guide for a marathon that may or may not take several weeks.

1. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). Reuniting the original crew for a visually stunning but slow-paced cosmic adventure.

2. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982). Widely considered the best Trek film, featuring an unforgettable villain and genuine emotional stakes.

3. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984). A direct continuation of Wrath of Khan's storyline.

4. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). The lighthearted adventure that became surprisingly accessible to non-Trek fans.

5. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989). A lot of philosophical questions about faith and belief.

6. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991). The original crew's final adventure deals with Cold War allegories and changing times.

7. Star Trek Generations (1994). The torch-passing film where Captains Kirk and Picard meet across time.

8. Star Trek: First Contact (1996). The Next Generation crew battles the Borg.

9. Star Trek: Insurrection (1998). Picard and crew defend a peaceful planet against exploitation.

10. Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). The final Next Generation film deals with Picard confronting a younger clone of himself.

11. Star Trek: Section 31 (2025). Focuses on the Federation's secretive intelligence agency.

And then there is also a reboot, consisting of Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016).