Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

1984 • 105 minutes

About this movie

Admiral Kirk's defeat of Khan and the creation of the Genesis planet are empty victories. Spock is dead and McCoy is inexplicably being driven insane. Then a surprise visit from Sarek, Spock's father, provides a startling revelation: McCoy is harboring Spock's living essence. With one friend alive and one not, but both in pain, Kirk attempts to help his friends by stealing the U.S.S. Enterprise and defying Starfleet's Genesis planet quarantine. But the Klingons have also learned of Genesis and race to meet Kirk in a deadly rendezvous.

Ratings and reviews

Most underrated Trek film, imo. Sandwiched between two of Trek's best movies, which highlights its flaws moreso than it would be otherwise. Flows nicely from the last movie, dealing with the fallout from Trek 2, but almost to its own detriment, where it feels like Trek 2.5 instead of its own movie. Still has great character moments, and events that ripple for a few movies and tv show episodes that came after. Definitely worth watching immediately after Trek 2.

Mediocre effects, but that's not the focus of this film. Did one of sci-fi's most legendary characters really come back to life? Of course, we know the answer to this now, but back then you had to watch to find out. Defintely should own if you plan on buying II, IV & VI.

Forget what Trekies say about the odd numbered films. The heroes put their lives on the line to save one of their own. What could be more Star Trek than a group of human beings risking everything to save their alien friend? Which is more entertaining? Kirk yelling "Khaaaaan!" or Kirk kicking a Klingon in the face while shouting "I ... have had ... enough .... of YOU!" I rest my case.