Which Star Trek film was the first to use the title “The Search for Spock”?

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is the Star Trek film with that title.

Released in 1984, the movie continues directly from the events of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Spock has died, but his katra, or living spirit, has been transferred to Dr. Leonard McCoy. Kirk and the Enterprise crew learn that Spock may be restored through the effects of the Genesis Device.

Leonard Nimoy directed the film, making it his first feature-film directing assignment in the Star Trek series. The plot also introduces the destruction of the original USS Enterprise and the capture of the Genesis planet by Klingon commander Kruge.

The title is sometimes remembered as though Spock is simply missing. In fact, the search concerns both his body and his katra, and the film’s story depends on the connection between those two elements.