While no film quite matches the magic of Star Trek: The Next Generation, these five sci-fi movies each successfully capture at least one of the qualities that made the show so beloved. Star Trek: The Next Generation excelled at combining compelling characters, thought-provoking social issues, humor, and imaginative science fiction, making it a standout among all Star Trek series. Many critics and fans consider the show, which aired from 1987 to 1994, to be one of the greatest science fiction programs ever made.
It’s difficult to find a single movie that captures everything fans loved about Star Trek: The Next Generation. A better approach is to look for different films that each offer a piece of what made the show great, even if they’re all quite different in style. Dark Star and Galaxy Quest have the same kind of friendly characters and humor, Dune and Arrival offer the same thoughtful and serious take on science fiction, and Serenity delivers the exciting adventures that kept viewers hooked on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Dark Star
Released in 1974, Dark Star was an unexpectedly quirky first film for director John Carpenter and writer Dan O’Bannon. While Carpenter later became famous for horror classics like Halloween and The Thing, and O’Bannon would go on to write Alien, Dark Star is a much more lighthearted and bizarre science fiction comedy that focuses on satire and absurdity instead of scares.
Though it explores big, philosophical questions about space travel, the film Dark Star feels similar in tone to some of the funnier episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Despite its quirky and unusual style, Dark Star realistically portrays the growing frustration between its astronauts. When the crew is at their most stressed and ineffective, they’re reminiscent of the crew of the USS Enterprise when they were having a bad day.
Serenity
Following the short-lived but beloved TV show Firefly, the movie Serenity brings back the original cast for a new story. Set in the year 2517, the film centers on the crew of the spaceship Serenity as they try to survive by smuggling goods after a civil war. While it explores more complex and gritty themes than Star Trek: The Next Generation, Serenity still delivers the same exciting sense of adventure and danger.
While Dark Star has a similar feel to the show’s comedies, Serenity is closer in tone to the most serious episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It features heartbreaking deaths, intense fights, and unexpected plot twists, but the strong bond between the crew members always remains evident, even during difficult times.
Dune
Dennis Villeneuve’s film Dune might seem like an odd comparison to Star Trek: The Next Generation. While one is a dark science fiction epic and the other a more optimistic series, both deeply explore the complexities of alien cultures. Both Dune and Star Trek use fantastical settings and creatures to reflect issues and ideas relevant to our own world today.
Arrival
Similar to Dune, Arrival (released in 2016) was directed by Dennis Villeneuve. However, it’s perhaps less surprising to find it on this list, as the film’s core idea draws inspiration from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The movie centers on a group of experts who must find a way to communicate with mysterious alien creatures, called heptapods, that have appeared worldwide. Like Star Trek: The Next Generation, Arrival offers a hopeful and clever story about how humanity would react to alien contact – with intelligence, curiosity, and a welcoming attitude.
Galaxy Quest
Among the films mentioned, 1999’s Galaxy Quest might seem the most predictable choice. Directed by Dean Parisot, who also made Bill & Ted Face the Music, it’s a loving parody of Star Trek. The movie follows the actors of a cancelled *Star Treklike sci-fi show when they’re unexpectedly called upon to fight a real alien war years after the show ended.
When washed-up actors from a cheesy sci-fi TV show discover an alien race has built their entire civilization around the show’s teachings, they’re forced to become the heroes they once pretended to be. Featuring a fantastic cast including Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, and Sam Rockwell, Galaxy Quest is a funny and heartwarming tribute to Star Trek – especially perfect for fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
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2026-03-18 21:40