The "Star Trek" movie franchise was almost a one-and-done fiasco. Paramount had the highest of hopes when they released "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" on December 7, 1979, and, at first, it appeared as though their commercial expectations would be exceeded. The film scored the biggest opening of the year with a gross of $11.9 million (slightly better than the openings for "Alien" and "Moonraker"), but mixed reviews and ho-hum word of mouth (particularly from non-fans) kept it from being the runaway blockbuster it needed to be given its then exorbitant $44 million budget. It wound up being the fourth highest grossing film of 1979 behind "Kramer vs. Kramer," "The Amityville Horror" and "Rocky II").
The film's primary problem was its length and lack of action. At 132 minutes, Robert Wise's movie kind of lumbered; there are long, reverent shots of the U.S.S. Enterprise that, for many in the audience, quickly went from awe-inspiring to tedious.
The film's primary problem was its length and lack of action. At 132 minutes, Robert Wise's movie kind of lumbered; there are long, reverent shots of the U.S.S. Enterprise that, for many in the audience, quickly went from awe-inspiring to tedious.
- 11/19/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
In 1979, Paramount’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture hit theaters to a somewhat mixed reception from critics and audiences. Many had predicted that the film would be a big money loser because it had gone dramatically over-budget, making it one of the most expensive films ever made up to the point. In the end, the film eked out a profit. It did well enough that Paramount was willing to take another chance on the franchise. Still, their approach would be pretty different, drastically slashing the budget and hiring fewer A-listers behind the camera. But, to the surprise of all, this proved to be precisely the right move, with the resulting film, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, a smash-hit that relaunched the franchise as a legitimate big-screen property and introduced the adventures of Kirk, Spock and McCoy to a whole new generation.
When Paramount Pictures was preparing for a sequel,...
When Paramount Pictures was preparing for a sequel,...
- 4/9/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
What is the secret to the enduring success of “Star Trek”? Any fan can tell you that it’s the creative and humanitarian vision of its creator Gene Roddenberry.
This is no more apparent than in a letter Roddenberry sent to Paramount Pictures’ Harve Bennett, who was hired to take over the “Star Trek” motion picture franchise after the first film. Bennett, who was taken with the character of Khan from the series’ episode “Space Seed,” proposed a story called “The Genesis Project” that would become the basis for “The Wrath of Khan.”
Read More: ‘Star Trek’: 50 Years of Films and TV, Ranked From Worst to Best
Roddenberry was not pleased with the first draft, since many elements went against all things “Star Trek” holds dear. As part of Project 366, Roddenberry Entertainment is releasing never-before-seen “Star Trek” content from the archives, including this exclusive-to-IndieWire letter from Roddenberry to Bennett...
This is no more apparent than in a letter Roddenberry sent to Paramount Pictures’ Harve Bennett, who was hired to take over the “Star Trek” motion picture franchise after the first film. Bennett, who was taken with the character of Khan from the series’ episode “Space Seed,” proposed a story called “The Genesis Project” that would become the basis for “The Wrath of Khan.”
Read More: ‘Star Trek’: 50 Years of Films and TV, Ranked From Worst to Best
Roddenberry was not pleased with the first draft, since many elements went against all things “Star Trek” holds dear. As part of Project 366, Roddenberry Entertainment is releasing never-before-seen “Star Trek” content from the archives, including this exclusive-to-IndieWire letter from Roddenberry to Bennett...
- 9/9/2016
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
While "Star Trek" is now a huge, beloved franchise, recently reinvigorated by J.J. Abrams' reboot (and, fingers crossed, next year's sequel to that film), it wasn't always like that. The original 1960s series had low ratings, and only lasted three seasons, and while success in syndication let to a film version being greenlit in the aftermath of "Star Wars," that film, 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," proved hugely expensive, and less profitable than Paramount had hoped.
Instead, it was the second film, 1982's "Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan," that really cemented its place in pop culture. Made for a quarter of the budget of the original, it won rave reviews, thanks to a faster pace and less reverent approach from non-Trekker director Nicholas Meyer, and earned the all-time biggest opening weekend up to that point, and is still held up as a high watermark for the franchise.
Instead, it was the second film, 1982's "Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan," that really cemented its place in pop culture. Made for a quarter of the budget of the original, it won rave reviews, thanks to a faster pace and less reverent approach from non-Trekker director Nicholas Meyer, and earned the all-time biggest opening weekend up to that point, and is still held up as a high watermark for the franchise.
- 6/4/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
The cast that made the original series a cult classic, returned to the silver screen time and again to create a definitive film anthology in sci-fi culture. William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, James Doohan, DeForest Kelley, Walter Koenig, George Takei and Nichelle Nichols overcome enormous odds with each film to prove that galloping around the cosmos isn’t just a game for the young. The Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy takes three classic films that have stood the test of time and gives them a high-definition overhaul.
Among trekkies, the Star Trek films follow an odd pattern: the odd numbered films are bad; the even numbered films are great. The Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy on Blu-ray takes advantage of this theory and includes Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Not only does this...
Among trekkies, the Star Trek films follow an odd pattern: the odd numbered films are bad; the even numbered films are great. The Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy on Blu-ray takes advantage of this theory and includes Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Not only does this...
- 5/20/2009
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Chicago – It’s a cliched line, but the Blu-Ray release of “Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy” has something for everyone. It’s a release that will satisfy a generation that grew up in the prime theatrical era of this franchise and give young viewers who fall in love wiht J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” more of their new favorite series of films.
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0 Buyers unfamiliar with the history of the franchise would naturally assume that “Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy” consists of the first three films in the now-eleven film series. Nope. Paramount cuts out the first film, the mediocre “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” and focuses on what is easily the most beloved sub-series in the entire theatrical run of the Enterprise - “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “Star Trek III: The Search For Spock,” and “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home”.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture...
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0 Buyers unfamiliar with the history of the franchise would naturally assume that “Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy” consists of the first three films in the now-eleven film series. Nope. Paramount cuts out the first film, the mediocre “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” and focuses on what is easily the most beloved sub-series in the entire theatrical run of the Enterprise - “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “Star Trek III: The Search For Spock,” and “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home”.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture...
- 5/8/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
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