‘Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture Collection’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – A 5-Star Release For Fans

The U.S.S. Enterprise boldly debuted on the big screen with the cast of the original Star Trek series, including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, and James Doohan.  Meticulously restored and remastered, with enhanced visual effects and state-of-the-art sound, this definitive vision of director Robert Wise has been optimized for a new generation of fans. When an unidentified alien intruder destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers, Admiral James T. Kirk (Shatner) returns to the helm of a newly transformed U.S.S. Enterprise to take command and confront an alien spacecraft of enormous power heading toward Earth.

This comprehensive 15-disc collection includes the first six big-screen adventures featuring the original series crew in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision and HDR-10. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture—The Director’s Edition also includes Dolby Atmos).  Both Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country are making their 4K Ultra HD debuts.  The set also includes access to Digital copies of each of the six films, as well as hours of new and legacy bonus content. 

For thoughts on the Star Trek: The Original 4-Movie Collection, please check out our review here. 

For additional thoughts on the Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture Collection, please check out a discussion on The Video Attic here. 

For even more thoughts on the Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture Collection, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

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Video Quality

All six films in the Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture Collection have been newly remastered from the original elements and serve as a significant step up from their previous Blu-Ray releases. The first four films in this set were released in a 4K UHD set last year, and those discs have been ported over to this release. That set has been expanded to now include Star Trek: The Motion Picture (The Director’s Edition), Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Theatrical & Director’s Cut). Star Trek: The Motion Picture (The Director’s Edition) has never been released in high definition previously, let alone 4K UHD. The latter two have had Blu-Ray releases in the past, but these new releases blow those out of the water. These new releases arrive with a magnificent 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that injects new life into these films. In an effort to not duplicate descriptions, I will largely attempt to group the films together while pointing out noticeable differences. 

The Dolby Vision provides a tremendous depth of color that pops off the screen with a lovely vibrancy that makes this set an unforgettable experience for fans. This collection will make longtime fans squeal with delight as you witness how meticulously the special effects of the Director’s Edition of Star Trek: The Motion Picture have been rejuvenated. Every film offers up a visual feast with distinct interiors and sumptuous colors when it comes to the landscapes, costumes and production design. The proper shades of certain hues that this disc is able to unlock are unbelievable, even when things are somewhat more subdued in the early films. Black levels never falter when it comes to depth, never giving into nasty, unwanted crush. Many of these films feature very little in the way of natural light, so this is especially helpful. White levels maintain their stability beautifully without coming close to blooming at any point. Compression artifacts, banding or other digital anomalies do not pop up as a notable issue.

This series remains pretty stable in terms of overall quality of transfers throughout the set. The filmic quality of the source is preserved for all the movies in the set as natural grain yields a marvelous amount of detail. Detailed textures come through in elements such as costumes and the various settings with distinct facets visible for the first time. The new 4K UHD transfers make the old Blu-rays appear somewhat lifeless in comparison with its almost three dimensional production design on display. Some of the special effects shots and optical dissolves are not exactly seamless, but this has more to do with how the shots were filmed and assembled within the film rather than an issue with the transfer. Instances of softer shots are typically short-lived, and blurring in some of the grain only pops up in a handful of shots each film. These new 4K UHD Blu-Rays are unlikely to disappoint any fans of the series. 

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray set offers the same Dolby TrueHD 7.1 presentation found on the Blu-Rays that handles the action incredibly well – now with one notable exception. The Director’s Edition of Star Trek: The Motion Picture includes a new Dolby Atmos track which builds upon the success of the 7.1 presentations of the other films, but with even more nuance and dimension to transport you on your journey. The height channels really do work well in this context, making you feel as if you are in the middle of the action. The configuring of this track has been tastefully done, and it only serves as a disappointment in the fact that it makes us wish the other films had been given the same treatment. 

While a new Dolby Atmos presentation would have been amazing for the remaining films, the rest of the tracks are no slouch. They are not just impressive because they are loud or busy, what truly impresses is the nuance that is employed in the sound design. Directionality of sound is never an issue with this film series, and dialogue is reproduced with supreme clarity. The iconic soaring score from Jerry Goldsmith to James Horner and Leonard Rosenman fills the room in a way that never fails to stir something deep inside of you. The track offers deep immersion into the various environments so that even the subtlest elements are represented. All of the sounds are balanced well during the more active sequences so each element is distinct instead of a jumbled mess. The key set pieces and other smaller kinetic moments provide a pleasing amount of activity in the low end. The audio presentation is a wonderful experience from start to finish even without the full Atmos experience. 

Special Features

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (The Director’s Edition)

• Audio Commentary #1: David C. Fein, Mike Matessino, and Daren R. Dochterman provide a brand new commentary track recorded in 2022 in which they primarily discuss the herculean efforts taken to restore this feature in this ultra high definition version we have now. This is a great piece which goes beyond the normal analysis of the movie as you get to understand how the restoration process impacted the look of the film, what has been changed, the true value of this version and more. 

• Audio Commentary #2: Robert Wise, Douglas Trumbull, John Dykstra, Jerry Goldsmith, and Stephen Collins are featured on this archival commentary track in which these various subjects are stitched together to provide context for this updated version of the film which allows the subjects to go more into the content and background of this film rather than the restoration which dominated the newer track. 

• Text Commentary: Michael and Denise Okuda provide a text commentary track which offers consistent background detail about the film and what is happening on screen at any given moment. Fans of pop-up videos will appreciate the depth of information provided here, although it is more consistent. 

• Isolated Score Track: An option to watch the film with only the score audible in Dolby Digital 2.0.

• New Features

• • The Human Adventure: A new 48-minute documentary which explores how this Director’s Edition came to be from the remastering process, the vision of Robert Wise, adapting the sound for Dolby Atmos, enhanced CGI, the triumphant score and much more that makes for a terrific viewing experience. 
    • Preparing The Future (4:13) 
    • A Wise Choice (4:04)

• • • Refitting The Enterprise (6:57) 

• • • Sounding Off (6:47)

• • • V’Ger (6:53)
    • Return To Tomorrow (6:04)
    • A Grand Theme (7:14)

• • • The Grand Vision (6:02)

• • Deleted Scenes: Three unused scenes totaling nearly five minutes are provided here which are presented with some deficits including subtitled dialogue for some dialogue that is missing from the archive. 

• • Effects Tests: A nearly four-minute look at some raw visual effects dailies that most have not seen in decades. 

• • Costume Tests: A nearly five-minute piece which takes a look at some of the footage captured when showing off the potential costumes for the feature film along with some audio insights from archivists. 

• • Computer Display Graphics: A three-minute look at some of the display footage that was created for the monitors. 

• Legacy Features

• • The Star Trek Universe: An assortment of legacy special features are provided here which takes a look at the transition from the small screen to feature filmmaking, the direction of Robert Wise, developing the script, the production of the film and much more. 

• • • Phase II: The Lost Enterprise (12:39)

• • • A Bold New Enterprise (29:41)

• • • Redirecting The Future (14:06)

• • • The Longest Trek – Writing The Motion Picture (10:44)

• • • Special Star Trek Reunion (9:37)

• • • Starfleet Academy Scisec Brief 001 – Mystery Behind V’ger (4:24)

• • • The New Frontier – Resurrecting Star Trek (30:01)

• • • Maiden Voyage – Making Star Trek The Motion Picture (29: 13)

• • Storyboards: Three storyboard sequences are provided here.

• • Additional Scenes 1979 Theatrical Version: Seven scenes totaling 31 minutes are provided here which shows how they appeared in the theatrical cut of the film before they were altered to make this Director’s Edition. 

• • Deleted Scenes 1983 TV Version: Eleven scenes totaling eight minutes that were inserted into the television version of the film are provided here on their own. 

• • Trailers: This disc provides the Teaser Trailer (2:18) and the Theatrical Trailer (2:29) for the film. 

• • TV Spots: This disc provides eight TV spots totaling just over four minutes. 

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

• Audio Commentary: Michael & Denise Okuda, Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens and Daren Dochterman provide an entertaining and informative commentary track in which the group discusses the origins of this film, the special effects, the shooting locations, the production design, the performances both large and small and more. There are large swaths of silence throughout but overall this provides a nice time. 

• Isolated Score Track: An option to watch the film with only the score audible in Dolby Digital 2.0. 

• Library Computer: An interactive experience that allows you to access more information about people, technology, locations and more within the film. 

• Production: An eleven-minute featurette which further explores the origins of this film and the process of developing the script. 

• The Star Trek Universe

• • Special Star Trek Reunion: A ten-minute piece in which a group of superfans/extras discuss reminisce about the opportunity to appear in the film. 

• • Starfleet Academy Scisec Brief 001 – Mystery Behind V’Ger: A four-minute piece in which a Next Generation officer recounts the events of the film.

• Deleted Scenes: Eleven unused scenes totaling eight minutes are provided here which features a few interesting moments fans will want to check out. 

• Storyboards: A collection of early visualizations are included here. 

• TV Spots: Seven TV Spots totaling nearly four minutes are provided here. 

• Trailers: This disc provides the Teaser Trailer (2:18) and the Theatrical Trailer (2:29). 

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

• Director’s Cut (1:56:31) and Theatrical Version (1:53:03)

• Audio Commentary (Director’s Cut & Theatrical Version): Director Nicholas Meyer delivers a nifty commentary track in which he discusses his background, the process of writing The Wrath of Khan, how the cast initially reacted to the script, the budget constraints, the nuances he injected into the film, the performances and more. 

• Audio Commentary (Theatrical Version): Director Nicholas Meyer and Producer Manny Coto provide another lively commentary track in which they provide tons of background information on the project, discuss directorial choices, bringing reality to the picture when possible, share stories about the performers and more. Coto is all a huge fan of the series as a whole, and it is helpful to have him along to ask questions fans would want to know. 
• Text Commentary By Michael and Denise Okuda (Director’s Cut – Blu-Ray): An option to view the film with boxes of information text containing tidbits of information is provided here. 
• Library Computer: An interactive experience that allows you to access more information about people, technology, locations and more within the film. 
• The Genesis Effect – Engineering The Wrath of Khan: A 28-minute retrospective piece in which cast, crew and fans of the series reflect back on how this film almost did not exist, the shaping of the script, the legacy of the film, the iconic performances, the emotional impact of the story and more. 

• Production

• • Captain’s Log: A 27-minute archival piece in which the cast and crew once again reflect back upon how this film came to be with more input from the primary actors this time around. 

• • Designing Khan: A 24-minute featurette which explores the look of the ships, the uniforms, the Genesis torpedo and more

• • Original Interviews: An eleven-minute collection of interviews with William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley and Ricardo Montalban from the original promotional tour. 

• • Where No Man Has Gone Before – The Visual Effects Of Star Trek II: An 18-minute exploration of the creation of the film’s various special effects. 

• • James Horner – Composing Genesis: A ten-minute piece in which the acclaimed composer discusses his work on the film. 

• The Star Trek Universe

• • Collecting Star Trek’s Movie Relics: An eleven-minute featurette which takes a look at some of the famous movie props used throughout the franchise. 

• • A Novel Approach: A 29-minute featurette which takes a look at the process of trying to bring the Star Trek universe to the printed page. 

• • Starfleet Academy Scisec Brief 002 – Mystery Behind Ceti Alpha VI: A three-minute piece in which a Next Generation officer recounts the events of the film.

• Farewell: A five-minute tribute to Ricardo Montalban is provided here. 

• Storyboards: A collection of early visualizations are included here. 

• Theatrical Trailer: This disc provides the two-and-a-half minute theatrical trailer. 

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

• Audio Commentary #1: Director Leonard Nimoy, writer/producer Harve Bennett, director of photography Charles Correll and actress Robin Curtis provide a commentary track that has been recorded separately and stitched together rather well. In this track there is discussion about laying the seeds for future encounters with Spock in Wrath of Khan, the themes of the story, the cast interactions and more. Nimoy shows a real passion for the material as he leads the discussion. 

• Audio Commentary #2: Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor offer an intriguing perspective on this film as writers of some of the subsequent series. There is much discussion of how material from these original films were used when sculpting what would come later, their thoughts as fans and much more that gives this an overall joyful tone. 

• Library Computer: An interactive experience that allows you to access more information about people, technology, locations and more within the film. 

• Production

• • Captain’s Log: A 26-minute archival piece in which the cast and crew reflect back upon how this film came to be, Nimoy’s increased role behind the scenes, the challenges of the shoot, where the characters are at this point in the story and more.  

• • Terraforming and the Prime Directive: A 26-minute featurette which explores mankind’s potential ability to terraform Mars. 

• • Industrial Light & Magic – The Visual Effects of Star Trek: A fourteen-minute look at the great techniques used to bring the Star Trek franchise to life. 

• • Spock – The Early Years: A six-minute look at the young actors who portrayed Spock with insights from some of the key participants. 

• The Star Trek Universe

• • Space Docks and Birds of Prey: A 28-minute featurette which explores the new models and effects used in the film and how they pulled off portraying them on screen. 

• • Speaking Klingon: A 21-minute featurette which examines the development of the Klingon language throughout the franchise. 

• • Klingon and Vulcan Costumes: A 12-minute look at some of the costumes and accessories featured in the Star Trek films. 

• • Star Trek and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame: A 17-minute exploration of the Star Trek exhibit located at the museum in Seattle, Washington. 

• • Starfleet Academy Scisec Brief 003 – Mystery Behind The Vulcan Katra Transfer: A three-minute piece in which a Next Generation officer recounts the events of the film.

• Photo Gallery: A look at behind-the-scenes moments and still from the film. 

• Storyboards: A collection of early visualizations are included here. 

• Theatrical Trailer: This disc provides the minute-long theatrical trailer. 

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

• Audio Commentary #1: William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy offer the best commentary track of the set with many amusing exchanges between the two performers and friends. They discuss the switch to a more lighthearted tone for this entry, the time travel aspect, cast camaraderie and more. 

• Audio Commentary #2: Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman provide a fun commentary track from a fan perspective in which they relay their personal connections to the franchise, the legacy of the film, the humor in the film, the special effects and much more. 

• Library Computer: An interactive experience that allows you to access more information about people, technology, locations and more within the film. 

• Production

• • Future’s Past – A Look Back: A nearly 28-minute retrospective piece in which the cast and crew discuss developing the story, thoughts on time travel, the added humor in the film, the legacy of the franchise, a dissection of some of the more famous scenes and more. 

• • On Location: A nearly eight-minute piece in which the cast and crew discuss shooting in San Francisco. 

• • Dailies Deconstruction: A four-minute look at some of the raw footage and alternate angles of specific scenes. 

• • Below-The-Line – Sound Design: A twelve-minute look at the creation of sounds within the film to fit this world. 

• • Pavel Chekov’s Screen Moments: A six-minute featurette in which actor Walter Koenig discusses his increased presence in the film. 

• The Star Trek Universe

• • Time Travel – The Art Of The Possible: An eleven-minute featurette in which prominent physicists discuss the theories of time travel.

• • The Languages Of Whales: A six-minute piece that takes an in-depth look at the communication of whales. 

• • A Vulcan Primer: An eight-minute exploration of the logical and emotionally-controlled species and Spock in particular. 

• • Kirk’s Women: An eight-minute piece featuring a series of interviews with several of the women that Kirk has romanced over the years. There is some good insight into both Kirk and Shatner. 

• • Star Trek – Three Picture Saga: A ten-minute look at the “trilogy” that runs from Wrath of Khan to The Voyage Home and how the story evolved and expanded. 

• • Star Trek For A Cause: A six-minute featurette that takes a look at the message of environmentalism in the film and how it helped spread the message to a wider audience. 

• • Starfleet Academy Scisec Brief 004 – The Whale Probe: A four-minute piece in which a Next Generation officer recounts the events of the film.

• Visual Effects: A nearly 18-minute examination of two special effects sequences in the film and how they were brought to life. 

• Original Interviews: Archival interviews are provided with William Shatner (14:33), Leonard Nimoy (15:40), and DeForest Kelley (13:02). 

• Tributes

• • Roddenberry Scrapbook: An eight-minute reflection on series creator Gene Roddenberry courtesy of his son. 

• • Featured Artist – Mark Lenard: A 13-minute reflection on actor Mark Lenard courtesy of his family. 

• Production Gallery: A four-minute look at behind-the-scenes moments from the film. 

• Storyboards: A collection of early visualizations are included here. 
• Theatrical Trailer: This disc provides the two-and-a-half minute theatrical trailer. 

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

• Audio Commentary #1: William Shatner and Liz Shatner, who wrote a book about the making of this film, offer a solid commentary track which focuses heavily on the creation of this film with William Shatner in the role of director and star. You get many tidbits about the challenges of making this feature, the themes they wanted to explore, the relationship between Kirk, Spock and McCoy, making this story work within their budget and more. 

• Audio Commentary #2: Michael and Denise Okuda, Garfield and Judy Reeves-Stevens, and Daren Dochterman provide a very entertaining commentary track in which they discuss the various obstacles that presented themselves as something of a challenge for audiences to enjoy this film. The group talks about production delays, creative disagreements, background detail of performers and more that you will want to hear. 

• Library Computer: An interactive experience that allows you to access more information about people, technology, locations and more within the film. 

• Production

• • Harve Bennett’s Pitch To Sales Team: A two-minute message from the producer explaining the Vulcan salute. 

• • The Journey – A Behind-The-Scenes Documentary: A great 29-minute documentary which takes a look at the production of the film, the jettisoning of some infamous footage, the direction of Shatner and more. 

• • Makeup Tests: A ten-minute look at some screen tests for the hair and makeup. 

• • Pre-Visualization Models: A two-minute look at some models that were created to visualize some scenes. 

• • Rockman In The Raw: A nearly six-minute look at the infamous abandoned climactic sequence which includes a look at early sketches, rough models and test footage. 

• • Star Trek V Press Conference: A 14-minute piece which has the cast attending a press conference and answering questions about the film. 

• The Star Trek Universe: 

• • Herman Zimmerman – A Tribute: A 19-minute featurette which honors the famed production designer 

• • Original Interview – William Shatner: A nearly 15-minute interview with Shatner as he discusses the production of the film. 

• • Cosmic Thoughts: A 13-minute featurette which takes a philosophical look at what potentially lies beyond the heavens. 

• • That Klingon Couple: A 13-minute piece in which actors Todd Bryant and Spice Williams discuss their history and experiences playing Klingons. 

• • A Green Future?: A nearly ten-minute look at the place of Yosemite Natural Park in the film and how it ties into human nature. 

• • Star Trek Honors NASA: A ten-minute look at the natural symbiosis between the classic Roddenberry property and the influence it has had on careers at NASA. 

• • Hollywood Walk Of Fame – James Doohan: A three-minute spotlight on the dedication ceremony for the beloved performer. 

• • Starfleet Academy Scisec Brief 005 – Nimbus III: A three-minute piece in which a Next Generation officer recounts the events of the film.

• Deleted Scenes: Four unused scenes totaling four minutes are provided here.

• Production Gallery: A four-minute look at moments from the production of the film. 

• Storyboards: A collection of three early visualizations are included here. 

• Trailers: This disc includes the Theatrical Trailer #1 (2:42) and Theatrical Trailer #2 (1:34).

• TV Spots: Seven TV spots totaling just over three minutes are provided here. 

• Gag Reel: A minute-long collection of some goofy moments from the set. 

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

• Director’s Cut (1:53:21) and Theatrical Version (1:49:55)

• Audio Commentary #1 (Theatrical Version): Director Nicholas Meyer and Screenwriter Denny Martin Flinn offer a great commentary track in which they discuss the background of the film, the origins of the film’s title, the thematic elements drawn from society at the time of the conception of the narrative, the production design and costumes, the performances in this installment, and so much more. 

• Audio Commentary #2 (Theatrical Version): Larry Nemecek and Ira Steven Behr provide a lively commentary track from a fan perspective in which they relay their personal connections to the franchise, the legacy of the film, their questions about the film, the special effects and much more. 

• Text Commentary (Director’s Cut): Michael and Denise Okuda provide a text commentary track which offers consistent background detail about the film and what is happening on screen at any given moment. Fans of pop-up videos will appreciate the depth of information provided here, although it is more consistent. 

• Library Computer: An interactive experience that allows you to access more information about people, technology, locations and more within the film. 

• The Perils Of Peacemaking: A nearly 27-minute look at how science fiction can help audiences examine contemporary world issues through the medium of visual entertainment. 

• Stories From Star Trek VI

• • It Started With A Story: A ten-minute look at the parallels between the narrative of the film and the political happenings around the time of the development of the film. 

• • Prejudice: A five-minute look at how the film tackles racism within its narrative and how the cast felt about some of the depictions. 

• • Director Nicholas Meyer: A six-minute featurette which pays specific attention to the directing style of Meyer and how it buoyed the film. 

• • Shakespeare & General Chang: A six-minute piece which takes a specific look at these distinct portrayals in the film. 

• • Bringing It To Life: A nearly 24-minute look at the construction and execution of various scenes with interviews from the cast and crew. 

• • Farewell & Goodbye: A seven-minute examination of the final shot from the film and the larger thematic resonance behind it. 

• The Star Trek Universe

• • Conversations with Nicholas Meyer: A ten-minute interview with the director in which he discusses his work in a larger sense and on this movie specifically. 

• • Klingons – Conjuring The Legend: A 21-minute look at the place of Klingons in the Star Trek lore and how they have been portrayed over the years. 

• • Federation Operatives: A five-minute look at some performers who have appeared in numerous Star Trek projects over the years in various roles. 

• • Penny’s Toy Box: A six-minute peek into the prop department filled with many iconic costumes, weapons and more. 

• • Together Again: A five-minute examination of the friendship between Christopher Plummer and William Shatner. 

• • Tom Morga – Alien Stuntman: A five-minute look at the work of a long-running Star Trek stuntman. 

• • To Be Or Not To Be – Klingons and Shakespeare: A 23-minute featurette which takes a look at a very special Shakespeare performance in Minnesota in the “original” Klingon. This is a fun and unique addition to the set. 

• • Starfleet Academy Scisec Brief 006 – Praxis: A three-minute piece in which a Next Generation officer recounts the events of the film.

• Farewell: DeForest Kelley – A Tribute: A 13-minute reflection on the life and career of the beloved actor and his iconic character. 

• Original Interviews: A collection of fun interviews in which the performers answer questions about their characters and their role in the movie.

• • William Shatner (5:05)

• • Leonard Nimoy (6:26)

• • DeForest Kelley (5:00)

• • James Doohan (5:33)

• • Nichelle Nichols (5:39)

• • George Takei (5:28)

• • Walter Koenig (5:28)

• • Iman (5:04)

• Production Gallery: A nearly four-minute look at moments from the production of the film. 

• Storyboards: A collection of early visualizations are included here. 

• Promotional Material: This disc provides the Teaser Trailer (1:28), Theatrical Trailer (2:23) and 1991 Convention Presentation by Nicholas Meyer (4:43).

Final Thoughts

Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture Collection brings together all of the adventures of our favorite space trailblazers for the first time in 4K UHD in one package. Not every outing hits it out of the park, but each one at least has certain elements that are commendable. Even when they are flawed, most of these films remain a lot of fun to return to again and again. The new 4K UHD Blu-Ray set from Paramount Home Entertainment offers a spectacular A/V presentation and a magnificent array of new and legacy special features. Fans will be happy to own these classic films on the best format possible, and we can only hope this leads to the Next Generation crew being afforded the same respect in the next year or so. Highly Recommended 

Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture Collection is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.  

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Paramount Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.