--- title: "Star Trek Beyond" year: 2016 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/star-trek-beyond" fi1m_score: 70 critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 26 published: "2026-09-18T12:37:24.304153+00:00" updated: "2026-09-18T12:37:24.569631+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Star Trek Beyond (2016) Directed by Justin Lin · 2h 02m · MPA PG-13 · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction **Fi1m score: 70** · Critics 71 from 26 reviews *In a sentence:* Kirk is bored of space, so the film tears his ship apart to cheer him up > Justin Lin’s third reboot film strands the crew on a rock and lets them bicker, which is the best use anyone has made of this cast. The villain is a blank and the action is cut too close, but the company is good. ## Synopsis Three years into a five-year mission, Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is bored of deep space and has applied for a desk job at Yorktown, a vast Federation starbase. Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto) has had news from home and is thinking of leaving Starfleet. At Yorktown an escape pod arrives carrying Kalara (Lydia Wilson), who says her crew is stranded on a planet inside an uncharted nebula. The Enterprise goes in and is torn apart by a swarm of small ships commanded by Krall (Idris Elba), who wants an artefact Kirk has aboard. The saucer crash-lands on the planet Altamid and the crew is scattered: Spock, wounded, with Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy (Karl Urban); Scotty (Simon Pegg) with a scavenger named Jaylah (Sofia Boutella); Lieutenant Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldaña) and Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu (John Cho) taken prisoner. ## Review Three films into the rebooted *Star Trek*, Justin Lin takes over from J.J. Abrams and does the sensible thing. He makes an episode. Kirk is three years into a five-year mission, bored of the routine, and has put in for a desk job; then a distress call takes the Enterprise into a nebula, a swarm of small ships tears it to pieces, and the crew spend the rest of the film scattered across a rocky planet trying to find each other. It is the loosest and most likeable of the three, and it has almost nothing on its mind. We have decided not to hold that against it. The script by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung understands that the cast is the point. It splits them into pairs, and putting Spock with McCoy is the best idea anyone has had for these actors. Zachary Quinto’s Spock, bleeding from a wound in his side, walks miles across scrub with Karl Urban’s Bones, who treats him for shock and irritation in roughly equal measure. Urban has been the quiet asset of these films from the start, and here he gets a whole strand to himself. We laughed more than we had at either of the previous two, and most of it was Urban muttering at a Vulcan. Pegg has also written himself a partner. Jaylah, played by Sofia Boutella under white make-up with black markings down her face, is a scavenger living alone in a wreck, and she is the freshest thing here: quick, guarded and unimpressed by Starfleet. Sanja Milkovic Hays dresses her in salvaged kit that looks worn rather than designed. Chris Pine plays Kirk lower and calmer than before, a captain who has stopped performing, and Anton Yelchin’s Chekov spends most of the film at his side. The film is dedicated to Yelchin, who died before it came out, and to Leonard Nimoy, and it handles both quietly, in a photograph and a card at the end. Thomas E. Sanders has built Yorktown, the starbase where the first act happens, as a city inside a glass ball, its streets curving up and over so that a tower on one side hangs above a park on another. It is the best new place these films have given us, and Stephen F. Windon lights it clean and bright. The planet is greens and greys under low cloud, with a ship half-buried in it. Michael Giacchino’s score reworks his own theme and, late on, lets the old television fanfare through, which did to us exactly what it was meant to. The villain does not work. Idris Elba plays Krall under heavy prosthetics, growling about how the Federation has gone soft, and for most of the film he has no reason we can see for anything he does. The reason arrives late and we will not describe it, except to say it does not carry the weight the film asks of it. Joe Taslim gets one good fight as Krall’s lieutenant Manas, and Lydia Wilson has nothing to do as Kalara beyond delivering the plot. Uhura and Sulu are captured early and spend too long standing in a cell. Then there is the cutting. Four editors are credited, Greg D’Auria, Dylan Highsmith, Kelly Matsumoto and Steven Sprung, and the action has the feel of it. The swarm attack on the Enterprise should be the centre of the film, and the idea is good, thousands of ships moving like bees. But Lin shoots it from inside tilting corridors, in close, and cuts every couple of seconds, so that we could not tell which way was up or where anyone stood. We felt nothing except noise, and then, once the ship was down, relief that the film had stopped shouting. Lin’s *Fast & Furious* films kept the geography of a chase clear; here he loses it. The old series had a moral problem every week and talked it through. This one has an argument about whether unity or strength wins, stated by both sides and then settled with a fight. It is not trying to be a film of ideas, and there is no point being cross with it for something it never promised. It is trying to be a Saturday teatime adventure with a large budget, and at that it succeeds for most of its 122 minutes. See it with someone who knows the crew and will enjoy watching them get on. It carries a 12A, the bickering is the best of it, and you will have forgotten the villain’s name before you reach the car. *Fi1m score 70, published 18 September 2026.* ### Reviews we read (26) - **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (90/100, inferred): The movie is a lively, unpretentious blast that embraces the comic and visual pleasures of space adventure, highlighted by inventive set pieces like a battle accompanied by the Beastie Boys and a striking new character in Jaylah. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/08/01/star-trek-beyond-and-indignation) - **Empire**, Chris Hewitt (80/100, inferred): The critic welcomes the shift back to fun, old-fashioned Trek that feels like an extended TV episode, praising the focus on the Kirk-Spock-Bones trio, Justin Lin's direction, and reverence for the franchise legacy while noting some flaws with the villain. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/star-trek-beyond-review/) - **Little White Lies**, Anton Bitel (3/4/4): Simon Pegg's script detail and Justin Lin's dynamic action reinvigorate the franchise by returning to its roots of ensemble teamwork and adventurous feats. The film rattles along apace, is very funny, and restores the series' mojo without reinventing the wheel. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/star-trek-beyond) - **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (★★★★): Director Justin Lin regains the drive lost in the previous film and delivers some of the most thrilling sights in the Trek canon along with character-driven humour. It is a superior addition to the series and summer blockbuster perfection. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/star-trek-beyond-review-a-perfect-summer-blockbuster-to-rival-the-best-of-the-franchise/) - **Time Out** (4/5): The film feels like a classic TV episode and delivers fun all the time with wisecracks, fisticuffs, explosions and eye-popping effects. Justin Lin proves a better straight-up action director than his predecessor, though the villain remains a weak point. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/star-trek-beyond) - **The AV Club**, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky (B): The critic calls it a diverting, self-aware entry that goes where the franchise has gone before but with a wink, reimagining the crew as a family unit in the mold of Fast & Furious. It notes the film pushes Star Trek further from being a franchise of ideas while delivering physics-defying action and pithy one-liners. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/beyond-has-fun-going-where-star-trek-has-gone-before-1798188370) - **Financial Times**, Danny Leigh (75/100, inferred): Brisk and fun with spectacular digital effects and affectionate nods to the TV series. The script's political parallels and high-end action are highlighted. [Read](https://www.ft.com/content/2fb4c1e2-4f40-11e6-88c5-db83e98a590a) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (75/100, inferred): The critic sees the film as welcome relief from stale summer popcorn, regaining momentum under Justin Lin with muscular action and welcome humor true to Gene Roddenberry. It praises the young cast's loose, warm camaraderie and the emotional tributes to Leonard Nimoy and Anton Yelchin. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/star-trek-beyond-film-review-911141/) - **Evening Standard**, David Sexton (70/100, inferred): The critic finds it a faithful, souped-up rehash of classic TV episodes that Trekkies will love, praising Chris Pine's Kirk and the retro charm while noting some irritations like Simon Pegg's performance. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/star-trek-beyond-review-to-boldy-go-retro-a3302036.html) - **IndieWire**, Eric Kohn (B-): The critic finds Justin Lin's entry lighter and funnier than prior installments but ultimately a spectacular movie about nothing, lacking depth or substance despite its spectacle. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/star-trek-beyond-review-chris-pine-zachary-quinto-1201706261/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (70/100, inferred): The result is a serviceable, fan-pleasing sequel that delivers expected value through strong action set pieces and impressive alien world designs, even if it feels somewhat pro forma and careful overall. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-star-trek-beyond-review-20160718-snap-story.html) - **Sight and Sound**, Kim Newman (70/100, inferred): The film is a transitory episode that breaks little new ground but plays to its strengths as a regular TV-style adventure. Director Justin Lin's fast-and-furious approach is a mixed blessing, though the space environments and action are well realised. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/review-star-trek-beyond) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (70/100, inferred): A very decent, watchable franchise episode that motors along thanks to its crew's inter-relationships. Zachary Quinto's Spock is singled out as the real star. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jul/15/star-trek-beyond-review-zachary-quinto-spock-anton-yelchin) - **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (70/100, inferred): The film sticks closely to the established Star Trek formula and brand conventions without taking major risks or venturing into new territory, but this familiarity is not necessarily a flaw and allows for enjoyable ensemble dynamics and inventive action sequences. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/22/movies/review-star-trek-beyond.html) - **The Times**, Kate Muir (★★★★☆): Delivers thrills and Vulcan jokes as satisfying sci-fi comfort food. Justin Lin's direction and the Enterprise crash sequence stand out. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/star-trek-beyond-hn3k3jf7k) - **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (70/100, inferred): The critic describes it as a lively, unapologetic action-adventure that trades deliberate pacing for kinetic energy in the style of Fast & Furious, praising the director's visual imagination and spatial fight choreography while noting it stays within familiar territory. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/review-the-lively-star-trek-beyond.html) - **Total Film**, Matt Maytum (65/100, inferred): The critic notes that Justin Lin proves a safe pair of hands, delivering a fun, self-contained romp with spirited adventure and strong teamwork dynamics that feels very much like Star Trek, though not essential summer viewing. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/star-trek-beyond-review/) - **Slant Magazine** (2.5/4): The critic notes the film emphasizes interpersonal dynamics and team-building like the Fast & Furious series but faults the director for shooting action in close-up, resulting in disorienting space that distances viewers from the characters. It praises the return of agency to the crew and a modest tribute to loss and socialization. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/star-trek-beyond/) - **Screen Daily** (60/100, inferred): With Justin Lin at the helm the third reboot instalment offers a strong cast and a familiar mix of effects-heavy action, humour and musing that gets safely through its voyage. The mix is not fresh enough to bring many new fans but Idris Elba's villain casting may help broaden the audience slightly. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/star-trek-beyond-review/5106791.article) - **The Telegraph** (3/5): Fails to boldly go anywhere new but preserves the franchise's baseline amiability. The manic action set pieces and Sulu's gay storyline are noted. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/07/15/star-trek-beyond-review/) - **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (50/100, inferred): Justin Lin brings energetic action and a nostalgic retro vibe to this most prosaic of the reboot-era entries, which succeeds as a diverting team-focused placeholder but fails to boldly go anywhere truly new. [Read](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/star-trek-beyond-review-chris-pine-anton-yelchin-1201814942/) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (B+): The critic praises how Justin Lin’s film captures the essence of Star Trek better than the previous reboots by emphasizing the crew dynamics and sense of discovery over overt fan service. It highlights the strong pairing of Spock and Bones for particular praise while noting that Kirk’s personal arc is not fully developed. [Read](https://collider.com/star-trek-beyond-review/) - **/Film**, Ethan Anderton (7.5/10): The critic finds it a satisfying blend of classic Trek elements and modern blockbuster action, with strong entertainment value from Justin Lin's direction and the cast's chemistry. They single out the villain's underdeveloped motivation as a weak point. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/545493/star-trek-beyond-review/) - **Deadline** (70/100, inferred): The film is the most action-oriented Trek yet, with strong effects and a memorable villain in Idris Elba's Krall, though it may appeal more to casual viewers than die-hard fans. The script by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung preserves the humor and philosophical elements of the franchise. [Read](https://deadline.com/2016/07/star-trek-beyond-review-chris-pine-justin-lin-j-j-abrams-1201788354/) - **The Wrap**, Russ Fischer (70/100, inferred): Justin Lin steers the film into familiar territory that captures the original series' appeal through strong ensemble interplay in a straightforward story rather than bold innovation. The action set pieces and cast chemistry, especially newcomer Sofia Boutella, stand out positively. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/star-trek-beyond-review/) - **Den of Geek**, Ryan Lambie (3/5): The critic finds it a breezily entertaining survival adventure with great character interactions and more of an Original Series feel than prior entries, but faults the rote villain and overly fussy action sequences, resulting in something fun but frivolous. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-trek-beyond-review-2/) ## Details - **Director:** Justin Lin - **Director:** Justin Lin - **Writer:** Simon Pegg, Doug Jung - **Cinematography:** Stephen F. Windon - **Editor:** Greg D'Auria, Dylan Highsmith, Kelly Matsumoto, Steven Sprung - **Music:** Michael Giacchino - **Production design:** Thomas E. Sanders - **Costume design:** Sanja Milkovic Hays - **Producer:** J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Roberto Orci - **Cast:** Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk; Zachary Quinto as Commander Spock; Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy; Zoe Saldaña as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura; Simon Pegg as Lieutenant Commander Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott; John Cho as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu; Anton Yelchin as Ensign Pavel Chekov; Idris Elba as Krall - **Runtime:** 2h 02m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 22 July 2016 - **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Science Fiction - **Budget:** $185 million - **Box office:** $343 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwpvjQKdpvI ## Where to watch in the US - Paramount+: streaming, hd - Peacock: streaming, hd, leaving 2026-10-01 - Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd - The Roku Channel: add-on, hd - Apple TV: add-on, uhd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd - Apple TV: buy $7.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $7.99, uhd *Checked 2026-09-18.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Academy Awards 2017: Best Makeup and Hairstyling (nominated) ## If you liked this - *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan* (1982), Fi1m 85: The Kirk, Spock and Bones the reboots keep chasing, with a villain who has reasons — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-ii-the-wrath-of-khan.md) - *Galaxy Quest* (1999): The affectionate parody that understands exactly why people love a crew like this - *Fast Five* (2011): Lin’s best chase film; the geography stays clear and the gang is a family - *Forbidden Planet* (1956): The 1950s adventure the original series borrowed from, ideas and all - *Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World* (2003), Fi1m 86: A captain, his doctor and a ship, with the friendship carrying the film — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/star-trek-beyond