Critics’ reviews

Star Trek: Section 31 (2025)

13 reviews from 13 publications. Critics’ score 36: 2 positive, 2 mixed, 9 negative.

Back to our review of Star Trek: Section 31

36
Positive
2
Mixed
2
Negative
9
Los Angeles Times
23 January 2025 · Robert Lloyd
55*

The film is diverting but frustrating, feeling more like a pilot episode than a complete movie due to its origins as a planned series; Yeoh remains wonderful to watch amid the tonal mishmash.

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Variety
24 January 2025 · Dennis Harvey
45*

The film is a superficially diverting but convoluted and tonally wobbly tangent that lacks the character and heart expected from Trek, falling between a series episode and a standalone feature.

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Radio Times
23 January 2025 · ★★ · David Brown
40

The critic finds the film a noisy, bombastic affair that strips away Star Trek's optimistic ethos and iconography in favor of a grungy aesthetic and standard sci-fi action plot about a destructive weapon. Some humor from the ragtag crew is noted but drowned out by explosions, with the result neither fun enough for newcomers nor satisfying for longtime fans.

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Empire
23 January 2025 · James Dyer
30*

The critic finds the film a bland comedy spacecapade that sanitises Michelle Yeoh's compelling anti-hero and feels like a middling pilot episode rather than a proper movie or series launch.

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The Hollywood Reporter
22 January 2025 · Frank Scheck
25*

The critic concludes that the film is subpar and fails to live up to the Star Trek franchise despite Michelle Yeoh's commanding presence. They single out the weak screenplay, unsuccessful attempts at humor from the quirky supporting characters, and underwhelming plot elements for criticism while noting some diversion in the action sequences.

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Total Film
23 January 2025 · David Opie
25*

The critic concludes that Michelle Yeoh deserves far better than this sci-fi spin-off, which fails to deliver on its premise.

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RogerEbert.com
22 January 2025 · Clint Worthington
20*

The film is a cynical, shrug-worthy TV movie that feels like an aborted spinoff series, failing to capture what makes Star Trek appealing and instead resembling a cheap franchise cash-in with poor chemistry and execution.

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Vulture
7 February 2025
20*

The critic finds the film sloppy, misguided, and rote, unable to capitalize on its promising elements or Yeoh's star power. They single out the obnoxious supporting characters, questionable redemption arc for a genocidal figure, poor editing, and failure to capture the soul of the franchise for complaint.

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The Telegraph
7 February 2025
10*

The critic calls the film a dire new low for the franchise and a career low for Michelle Yeoh, describing it as crass, poorly acted, deafening, absurd and dull. The review singles out the incomprehensible dialogue and inane action sequences as especially poor.

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/Film
23 January 2025 · 7/10 · Jacob Hall
70

The critic finds it an entertaining slice of B-movie action trash that is goofy, silly, and ridiculous yet delivers simple pleasure as a seedy, violent departure from typical Trek ideals. The cast, particularly Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou and Sam Richardson as the shapeshifting Quasi, is singled out for praise.

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The Wrap
22 January 2025
70*

The critic finds the film a pleasant surprise full of nuance and charm, successfully delivering a spy thriller that sticks the landing despite initial skepticism. Yeoh's complex Georgiou character and her redemption arc are singled out for particular praise, along with the fun Mission: Impossible-style set pieces.

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Collider
23 January 2025 · 4/10 · Samantha Coley
40

The critic finds it a forgettable and disappointing heist movie that wastes its premise, cast talents, and any Star Trek identity. She singles out the strong chemistry between Yeoh and Hardwick plus the immersive visuals and costumes for praise.

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Den of Geek
23 January 2025 · ★★ · Joe George
40

The critic finds the film an ugly, forgettable TV movie that applies a thin veneer of Star Trek references to derivative, poorly executed action and jokes. They single out the shaky, disinterested direction of the fight scenes and the repetitive, unfunny one-liners for complaint.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate