--- title: "Star Trek Into Darkness" year: 2013 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/star-trek-into-darkness" fi1m_score: 60 critics_score: 68 critics_reviews: 18 published: "2026-09-18T12:34:58.501242+00:00" updated: "2026-09-18T12:34:59.029770+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 Into Darkness (2013) Directed by J.J. Abrams · 2h 12m · MPA PG-13 · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction **Fi1m score: 60** · Critics 68 from 18 reviews *In a sentence:* Everyone sprints, everything flares, and the film’s best ideas turn out to be somebody else’s > J.J. Abrams’s second *Star Trek* is fast, loud and easy to like, with a cast that has grown into its uniforms and a villain who barely needs to raise his voice. Then it runs out of its own ideas and starts borrowing, and the borrowing shows. ## Synopsis The USS Enterprise is fleeing across a planet of red trees called Nibiru, where Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) has broken Starfleet’s first rule to save a primitive people from a volcano and Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto) has nearly died inside it. Back on Earth Kirk is demoted for it and Admiral Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) takes the ship back. Then a Starfleet officer called John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) blows up an archive in London and attacks a gathering of the fleet’s commanders in San Francisco. Admiral Alexander Marcus (Peter Weller) sends Kirk after him to the Klingon homeworld with 72 experimental torpedoes and orders to fire them from a distance. Spock objects to killing a man without trial, Montgomery Scott (Simon Pegg) objects to the torpedoes, and a science officer called Carol Marcus (Alice Eve) turns up unannounced. ## Review Four years after he got *Star Trek* back on its feet, J.J. Abrams has made a sequel that wants to be bigger, darker and quicker at once, and for an hour it manages two of the three. The film opens at a sprint across a planet of red trees and chalk-white natives, Kirk and McCoy fleeing a temple they have just robbed while Spock waits inside a volcano to freeze it before it erupts. We were grinning within two minutes. It is the whole film in one scene: a chase, a joke, a friend in danger and a cut before anyone can ask a question. The crew is the reason to go. Chris Pine’s Kirk is still the boy who cheated on the exam, and the script by Damon Lindelof, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci has the sense to let his superiors notice. Zachary Quinto’s Spock gets the best scene, an argument with Uhura (Zoe Saldaña) in a shuttle about why he was so calm about dying, and he plays it as a man who has been caught out. Karl Urban’s McCoy grumbles in metaphors until Kirk tells him to stop. Simon Pegg’s Scotty is given a conscience and a resignation, and Pegg plays both straight. Benedict Cumberbatch’s John Harrison first appears in a London hospital, offering a desperate father a way to save his daughter, and it is the quietest scene in the film. He speaks low and slowly and hardly moves, so when he does move, taking a Klingon patrol apart single-handed in a ruined city while the Enterprise landing party stand and watch, the film has earned the shock. For its first half it knows what it has in him. Dan Mindel shoots wide and bright, and his lens flares are back, streaking across every window and console until the white bridge seems lit from inside. Scott Chambliss builds a San Francisco of glass towers and a Klingon ruin of grey-green stone and standing water, the one place in the film that seems to have weather. Michael Kaplan puts the admirals in grey dress uniforms with peaked caps, which is meant to make us uneasy about Starfleet and does. Michael Giacchino’s brass theme swells on cue; his London music, strings over a low pulse, is the better work. Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon cut the first hour so that nothing sits still for longer than a line. The trouble is the second hour. Having set up an argument worth having, an admiral (Peter Weller, growling) who wants an enemy killed from a distance without a trial and a first officer who will not allow it, the script drops it and starts quoting. Scenes, lines and a whole climactic situation are lifted from one of the original-cast films, and we will not say which; anyone who has seen it will know within seconds, and anyone who has not will wonder why the actors have gone so solemn. We sat there feeling embarrassed on the film’s behalf. The older film had earned those moments over two hours and a decade of television, and this one asks for the same tears on two films’ acquaintance. It does not get them. There is also Alice Eve, cast as a science officer called Carol Marcus and then asked to strip to her underwear in a shuttle for no reason the film can offer. It lasts a few seconds and cost the film more of our goodwill than any hole in the plot. Anton Yelchin’s Chekov is sent to the engine room and largely forgotten. John Cho gets one good scene in the captain’s chair. Leonard Nimoy turns up to help the writers out of a corner. The 2009 film worked because it was about nothing except how these people met, and it was quick about it. This one wants to be about drone strikes and the cost of revenge, raises both in dialogue and settles neither. The television programme all this descends from was slow and cheap and would stop the plot for ten minutes to have an argument. We would not want that back exactly, but we missed it. See it for the crew and for Cumberbatch’s first hour, and go in knowing the second is a cover version. It runs 132 minutes and carries a 12A, which given the body count seems generous. *Fi1m score 60, published 18 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics like it. The reviews agree that this is a brisk, good-humoured action sequel that moves faster than the 2009 film and matches or betters its scale, and that Abrams stages the set pieces with clarity and energy. Praise clusters on Benedict Cumberbatch, whose villain nearly every reviewer singles out, and on the ensemble, with Zachary Quinto’s Spock and Karl Urban named as the crew members who register most. The reservations cluster on nerve. Several reviews find the film plays safe, revisits familiar ground and never raises the bar set by its predecessor; others call the plotting clunky and the relentless pace tiring. The spread is wide. The New York Times finds it swaps the series’ humanist ideals for blockbuster action, Collider objects to its reuse of material from an earlier Star Trek film, and The Hollywood Reporter, alone among the reviews, finds Abrams’s direction flat and mechanical rather than showy. ### Reviews we read (18) - **Screen Daily** (90/100, inferred): The review praises the thrilling sci-fi adventure, stunning effects and further development of familiar yet fresh characters, highlighting Benedict Cumberbatch's terrific performance as the morally complex villain. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/star-trek-into-darkness/5054480.article) - **Variety**, Scott Foundas (90/100, inferred): Abrams delivers a sequel equal or superior to the 2009 film with grander scale, richly human characters and a pleasurable ride. Cumberbatch brings exotic grandeur as the villain in a well-crafted blockbuster. [Read](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/star-trek-into-darkness-review-1200442461/) - **Empire**, Ian Freer (85/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a blast of fun, funny, spectacular and exhilarating action cinema that follows the principles of the first reboot but amps them up further, with strong performances especially from Benedict Cumberbatch and a showman director in J.J. Abrams. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/star-trek-darkness-review/) - **Slant Magazine**, Chris Cabin (80/100, inferred): Praises the clarity and inventiveness of Abrams’s direction that keeps the drama and action percolating, along with the moral complexity and emotional rigors of the narrative. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/star-trek-into-darkness/) - **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (4/5): The critic describes it as a brisk, no-nonsense sci-fi action sequel that is modest, fun and briefly amusing with strong villain work by Cumberbatch, but notes it is a stop-gap tale that does not break new ground. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/star-trek-into-darkness) - **Total Film**, Matthew Leyland (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it fantastic fun overall, a faster-paced sequel that papers over cracks from the first film with an intriguing villain and thrilling set pieces, though it risks peril-fatigue and sidelines some characters. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/star-trek-into-darkness-review/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Betsy Sharkey (70/100, inferred): The sequel ramps up action and spectacle while leaving room for heart and emotional depth in the crew's bonds. It wears its politics and moxie openly but sometimes opts for safer choices amid the bombast. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-star-trek-into-darkness-review-20130516-story.html) - **Vulture**, David Edelstein (70/100, inferred): The plotting is clunky, but Abrams bombards the viewer into happiness with fan-service in-jokes and a vibe of fan fiction; praises the central trinity and brutal action. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2013/05/movie-review-star-trek-into-darkness.html) - **Little White Lies**, Adam Woodward (4/3/3): The critic calls it an accessible, intertextually rich and immensely fun addition to the franchise with strong central performances, but faults it for playing it safe and failing to raise the bar. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/star-trek-into-darkness) - **Sight and Sound**, Kim Newman (50/100, inferred): The critic finds the film fun and action-packed in a way the ponderous original-cast movies were not, but notes it is overly inward-looking and revisits familiar ground without breaking new ground for the franchise. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-star-trek-into-darkness) - **The Guardian**, Xan Brooks (50/100, inferred): The film is a glitzy, high-energy sequel with strong visuals but gets tangled in its own mythology and weakens the key Kirk-Spock dynamic. It excels mainly through Zachary Quinto's subtle, seriocomic performance as Spock. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/may/09/star-trek-into-darkness-review) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (50/100, inferred): The critic finds it an action-packed franchise entry with a mechanically made feel, praising the human dimensions given to leads but criticizing the flat visuals and lack of style or personality in Abrams' direction. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/star-trek-darkness-film-review-451154/) - **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (30/100, inferred): The film disappoints by prioritizing blockbuster action over the series' humanist ideals and idiosyncrasy. The cast delivers sharp performances and the villain's identity cleverly nods to classic episodes. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/movies/star-trek-into-darkness-directed-by-j-j-abrams.html) - **Den of Geek**, Simon Brew (4/5): The critic praises the film's light tone, strong ensemble cast especially Spock and the villain, and calls it an exciting, entertaining blockbuster. Singles out the strong villain and character work for praise, notes some lag in the middle and gratuitous elements. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-trek-into-darkness-review-2/) - **Digital Spy**, Emma Dibdin (4/5): Praises the emotional depth, Zachary Quinto's Spock as the heart, strong villain performance by Cumberbatch, and the focus on Kirk-Spock bond. Notes relentless pace, some gratuitous elements, but overall exhilarating and pleasurable. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a477544/star-trek-into-darkness-review-digital-spy-verdict/) - **The Wrap** (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel a thrilling, upbeat adventure that incorporates post-9/11 terrorism imagery and politics without becoming dreary. Abrams is praised for maintaining high stakes and genuine threat alongside strong ensemble chemistry and impressive visuals. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/star-trek-darkness-review-thrilling-sequel-balances-fun-post-911-sensibility-91421/) - **/Film**, Germain Lussier (7/10): The critic finds it a fun but frivolous sequel that expands the scope with impressive visuals and action but lacks the inspiration of the first film; praises the cast, especially Urban and Quinto, and the action sequences. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/526112/star-trek-into-darkness-review-and-video-blog-read-and-watch-two-opinions-on-j-j-abrams-sequel/) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (D): The film amplifies the shortcomings of Abrams' first Trek outing by lacking compelling character arcs, themes, and a well-constructed plot, ultimately failing due to laziness and a fear of originality. It singles out the film's disrespectful and poorly executed repurposing of elements from The Wrath of Khan for particular criticism. [Read](https://collider.com/star-trek-into-darkness-review/) ## Details - **Director:** J.J. Abrams - **Director:** J.J. Abrams - **Writer:** Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Damon Lindelof - **Cinematography:** Dan Mindel - **Editor:** Maryann Brandon, Mary Jo Markey - **Music:** Michael Giacchino - **Production design:** Scott Chambliss - **Costume design:** Michael Kaplan - **Producer:** Bryan Burk, Alex Kurtzman, J.J. Abrams - **Cast:** Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk; Zachary Quinto as Commander Spock; Zoe Saldaña as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura; Benedict Cumberbatch as John Harrison / Khan; Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy; Simon Pegg as Lieutenant Commander Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott; Bruce Greenwood as Admiral Christopher Pike; Peter Weller as Admiral Alexander Marcus - **Runtime:** 2h 12m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 16 May 2013 - **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Science Fiction - **Budget:** $190 million - **Box office:** $467 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ1qOs7jkIQ ## Where to watch in the US - Peacock: streaming, hd, leaving 2026-10-01 - Paramount+: streaming, hd - The Roku Channel: add-on, hd - Amazon Prime Video: add-on - Apple TV: add-on, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - 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 2014: Best Visual Effects (nominated) ## If you liked this - *Star Trek* (2009), Fi1m 81: The reboot itself: the same crew meeting for the first time, with less borrowed — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/star-trek.md) - *Galaxy Quest* (1999): A parody that understands the original series better than most of its sequels do - *Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World* (2003), Fi1m 86: A ship, a captain, a doctor who argues with him; no phasers required — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world.md) - *The Expanse* (2015), Fi1m 64: Space politics taken seriously, with crews who bicker and physics that hurts — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/tv/the-expanse.md) - *Sunshine* (2007): Danny Boyle’s crew-in-peril film, small in cast and large in light --- © 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-into-darkness