On what date was Star Trek: The Motion Picture released in the United States?

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Star Trek: The Motion Picture was released in the United States on December 7, 1979.

The film was the first Star Trek feature film and arrived a decade after the original television series ended. Its production followed the success of Star Wars, which renewed Hollywood interest in large-scale science-fiction adventures. Paramount developed the project with the original television cast, including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and James Doohan.

The movie was directed by Robert Wise and adapted the story of a television project that had been developed for a proposed Star Trek revival. Its plot centers on the mysterious energy cloud called V'Ger, which approaches Earth and threatens the planet. The film is known for its deliberate pace, elaborate visual effects, and Jerry Goldsmith's score.

The date is sometimes confused with the film's world premiere, which took place on December 6, 1979, in Washington, D.C. The U.S. general release followed the next day.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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