What is the name of the first Star Trek film released in theaters?

What is the name of the first Star Trek film released in theaters? The answer is Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture was the franchise’s first theatrical film, released in 1979. Directed by Robert Wise and produced by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, it reunited the principal cast of the 1966–1969 television series, including William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock.

The film follows the crew of the USS Enterprise as they investigate a vast energy cloud approaching Earth. Inside it is a mysterious intelligence connected to the Voyager 6 probe, allowing the movie to explore identity, evolution, and the relationship between humans and technology. Its emphasis on spectacle and extended visual sequences gave it a more contemplative tone than many later installments.

Production was expensive and difficult, particularly because of the extensive visual-effects work. Douglas Trumbull was brought in to help complete the effects. The film opened in North America on December 7, 1979. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan followed in 1982 and is often more familiar to audiences, but it was the second theatrical film.