--- title: "Star Trek: First Contact: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/star-trek-first-contact/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/star-trek-first-contact" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 6 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: First Contact (1996): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 6 reviews: 5 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics welcome Star Trek: First Contact as an energetic science-fiction adventure, with praise clustering around Jonathan Frakes’ direction, the special effects and the Borg’s threatening presence. The shipboard infiltration sequences draw approval for their tension and horror elements, while Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner receive repeated praise. Several reviews find that the film gives the series a convincing cinema scale without losing its humour, intimacy or interest in humanity and artificial intelligence. The reservations concern accessibility, characterisation and the mechanics of the plot. Empire finds enough memorable sequences to satisfy fans but sees thin characterisation and an extended television episode; The New York Times is more dismissive, finding the story convoluted and the imagery familiar. The AV Club’s otherwise favourable assessment questions the Borg Queen and Picard’s lingering trauma. The spread is broadly positive, though critics differ over how successfully the film moves beyond television and how much it offers newcomers. ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 December 1996. The critic calls the film enthralling, inventive and funny, one of the good Trek entries, with enthusiastic direction from Frakes and bigger, better special effects while retaining the feel of the best TV episodes. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/star-trek-first-contact-review/) ## The AV Club — Zack Handlen Rating B+. 8 September 2011. The critic finds it a competent, well-paced sci-fi adventure that feels like a proper movie more than its predecessor, with strong action sequences as the Borg invade the Enterprise. They praise the efficiency of the direction and the zombie-like horror elements but criticize plot holes, the introduction of the Borg Queen, and how it handles Picard's lingering trauma. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/star-trek-first-contact-1798169527) ## The Independent — Ryan Gilbey Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 1996. The critic finds First Contact the only Star Trek movie to truly earn its place on the big screen, praising its mix of grandeur and intimacy along with a balance of humor and darkness. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/alien-nation-5588839.html) ## Time Out — DW Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The critic notes the film's limited appeal to non-fans but highlights its effective shift into darker territory via Borg time travel, with tense ship infiltration scenes evoking Alien and strong work from Brent Spiner as Data and Patrick Stewart as Picard. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/star-trek-first-contact) ## Empire — Adam Smith Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The review notes thin characterization and a plot that feels like an extended TV episode but highlights enough classic moments, strong performances from Stewart and Spiner, and effective key sequences to keep fans happy. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/star-trek-first-contact-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan 22 November 1996. Calls it a page-turner that does everything you'd want a Star Trek film to do, with cheerfulness and style. Singles out the clever plot devices and the menacing Borg villains. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-star-trek-first-contact-review-19961122-snap-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert 22 November 1996. Praises it as one of the best Star Trek films, with top technical credits and an ingenious plot involving time travel and the Borg. Singles out the special effects, the Borg Queen, and the handling of ideas about humans, aliens, and artificial intelligence. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/star-trek-first-contact-1996) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin 22 November 1996. Finds the film derivative and less innocent than earlier entries, with a convoluted plot that will only appeal to hard-core fans. Singles out the lack of visual novelty and familiar, sometimes violent crises. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/22/movies/zap-and-off-to-do-battle-with-aliens.html) ## Variety 18 November 1996. Calls it a smashingly exciting sci-fi adventure that ranks among the very best in the franchise. Singles out Frakes' assured direction, the elaborate special effects, and strong performances especially from Stewart and Woodard. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/star-trek-first-contact-1200447622/) ## Paste — Kenneth Lowe Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 22 November 2021. The critic considers Star Trek: First Contact the most successful TNG film and argues it best captures the franchise's aspirational vision of unity and progress. He singles out the film's exploration of the Borg as the ultimate threat to individual autonomy and the Federation's ideals for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/star-trek/star-trek-first-contact-anniversary) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/star-trek-first-contact.md