Which 2009 film rebooted the Star Trek franchise?

The 2009 film Star Trek rebooted the franchise for a new generation. Simply titled Star Trek, it introduced younger versions of the original series characters, played by a new cast including Chris Pine as James T. Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock.

J. J. Abrams directed the film, with a screenplay by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. Rather than erase the earlier movies completely, the story created an alternate reality after the original Spock traveled into the past. This continuity later became known as the Kelvin Timeline, allowing the filmmakers to reinvent familiar characters while preserving a connection to established Star Trek history.

The film was the franchise's eleventh theatrical movie and arrived after a long break following Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002. Its energetic style, large-scale action, and accessible introduction to the characters helped revive interest in the series.

A common mix-up is naming a sequel as the reboot. Star Trek Into Darkness followed in 2013, while Star Trek Beyond arrived in 2016.