For over half a century, since its creation, the universe of Star Trek has kept sparking interest among new fans, known as Trekkies. The initial series, launched in the mid-60s, has birthed numerous sequels across TV shows, animation, and movies, some of which are still being made today.
For a novice to this extensive Star Trek series, the question might arise about how much time is required to view the entire franchise. Given the numerous shows and movies available, the idea of consuming everything might appear overwhelming. Even dedicated fans may not know the exact number of Star Trek episodes. However, by categorizing the franchise, we can provide a clearer picture of how long it takes to watch all of Star Trek. This breakdown will make the task seem less daunting in the end.
3 Seasons, 65.8 Hours
It’s quite unexpected that despite being renowned for its impact on TV and pop culture, this series is actually shorter than the “five-year mission” it advertises in its introduction. Interestingly, this brevity was enough to make it eligible for syndication, which was where most of its fans initially encountered it.
As a dedicated Star Trek fan, I’ve found myself in an exciting predicament: each episode of The Original Series clocks in at approximately 50 minutes, adding up to a grand total of 3,950 minutes. That means, if I were to watch them all back-to-back without breaks, it would take me just under 66 hours – less time than a week! For those who can’t commit to marathon viewing, you still have plenty of time: watching 2-3 episodes per evening will see you finish the series in under a month.
What makes this series even more appealing is that unlike many subsequent Star Trek series, the episodes of The Original Series were designed to be interchangeable. So, if you fancy shaking things up a bit and don’t want to stick to the original airing order, feel free to mix it up! You won’t miss out on any larger plot threads, as they don’t rely heavily on the sequential nature of the episodes.
7 Seasons, 130.5 Hours
Throughout its seven-season span, the popularity of Star Trek: The Next Generation exceeds that of the original series, and it’s widely recognized as such today. By branching out from focusing solely on one crew’s adventures, this series laid the foundation for every subsequent Star Trek production to follow. The episodes of The Next Generation totaled 178, surpassing its predecessor by nearly a hundred, each episode running approximately 44 minutes in length.
Over approximately two weeks, I can comfortably finish watching “The Next Generation” series. The total run time adds up to around 7,832 minutes, which is equivalent to about 130.5 hours or just under five and a half days. Despite its more structured format compared to the original series, it’s easy to consume in short bursts as most episodes are standalone or part of a two-part arc, making them perfect for watching one or two at a time.
7 Seasons, 132 Hours
Towards the final stages of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Paramount launched another series, “Deep Space Nine,” which could coexist with it. This new show deviated from the usual “Star Trek” formula by being set on a space station called Deep Space 9, serving as a link between the Federation and the Milky Way galaxy. It delved into the ominous aspects of the final frontier, reaching its climax with the dreadful menace of the Dominion War that necessitated unity among all the powers in the Alpha Quadrant.
From 1993 to 1999, this popular show had a remarkable run of seven seasons, consisting of a total of 176 episodes. Each episode averaged around 45 minutes long, adding up to a whopping 7920 minutes or roughly 132 hours in total. If you’re willing to watch five episodes per night, you could probably finish it within a month. Notably, “Deep Space Nine” was the first “Star Trek” series to delve into longer and intricate storylines. Viewers might need to plan for extended binge-watching sessions or divide the more complex story arcs into multiple viewing periods.
7 Seasons, 129 Hours
Following the conclusion of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager became the successor, maintaining a continuous presence of Star Trek on television. The show shifted focus to the starship Voyager, commanded by Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), marking a significant milestone as the franchise’s first female lead character. Stranded and determined to return home, Captain Janeway navigates her crew through uncharted territories, leading to both groundbreaking episodes and some of the saga’s most unusual adventures.
Star Trek: Voyager was yet another triumph for Paramount and their fresh network UPN, spanning over seven seasons. Similar to its predecessor, each episode lasted approximately 45 minutes. With a total of 172 episodes, this series clocks in at around 7,740 minutes or 129 hours when watched continuously. This is another show that would take about a month to finish binge-watching. Despite its relatively flexible format, each episode can be easily enjoyed without the need for a long-term commitment during a single viewing session.
4 Seasons, 68.6 Hours
After airing several Star Trek television shows in the ’90s, the franchise was starting to lose some momentum. Eventually, Paramount decided to launch one more series, called Star Trek: Enterprise. Unlike its predecessors, this show was designed as a prequel, even predating the original series. It chronicled Earth’s initial attempts at establishing diplomatic relations with alien species. Captain Archer, portrayed by Scott Bakula, commanded the first U.S.S. Enterprise, laying the groundwork for the establishment of the United Federation of Planets.
Star Trek: Enterprise, unlike its predecessors, didn’t garner the same level of popularity, with behind-the-scenes issues affecting its run. Despite this, it aired for four seasons and produced 98 episodes, totaling approximately 68.6 hours when viewed at 42 minutes per episode. This is less than the previous three Star Trek series, but due to its longer plot arcs, fans might find themselves needing more time for binge-watching sessions to fully enjoy it.
10 Episodes, 2.5 Hours
In the Star Trek universe, not all tales require a complete forty or fifty minutes to reach a satisfying end. Taking this into account, Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman introduced Star Trek: Short Treks. This series, running concurrently with Star Trek: Discovery, offers brief episodes for those who prefer smaller stories, providing viewers with an opportunity to engage with these shorter narratives.
The series commenced in the year 2018, initially consisting of four episodes, followed by another season comprising six episodes a year later. To date, it spans across 150 minutes, divided into ten episodes that range from 8 to 18 minutes each. This allows fans to binge-watch the entire series over a weekend. The episodes are structured in a way that makes for convenient viewing sessions and can also be paired with episodes of Discovery.
3 Seasons, 22.5 Hours
In recent years, viewers have been introduced to numerous new characters within Star Trek, but the latest phase has chosen to delve into a previous era. The year 2020 marked the beginning of this journey with Star Trek: Picard, which brought forth a fresh narrative involving Admiral Jean-Luc Picard since the Star Trek: The Next Generation films. Initially, Picard’s storyline featured an unfamiliar cast not linked to the original series, but as the series progressed, some of the iconic characters from the past started making reappearances.
The TV show titled “Star Trek: Picard” spanned across three seasons from the year 2020 to 2023, featuring ten episodes in each season, totalling thirty episodes in all. Due to its streaming on CBS All Access, episode lengths fluctuated significantly, ranging from approximately 39 minutes to 62 minutes. To put it into perspective, the entire series amounts to a total watch time of 1,350 minutes, which equates to around 22.5 hours – that’s about one continuous weekend dedicated to marathon viewing or a week’s worth of relaxed episode-watching. Similar to “Star Trek: Discovery“, each season of “Picard ” revolves around a main storyline, enabling viewers to comfortably binge through around 10 hours of content per season.
3 Series, 27 Hours
In the early ’70s, Star Trek: The Animated Series ran for only two seasons, producing 22 episodes that were each 24 minutes long. This series was initially rejected by franchise creator Gene Roddenberry, making it scarce for a long time. However, it has since regained its place in the canon and is now seen as the extended fourth and fifth years of the original Enterprise’s five-year mission. To put it simply, The Animated Series spans 528 minutes or approximately 9 hours when watched in full. It can be easily consumed within a day, with individual episodes often paired alongside those from the original series.
The first season of Lower Decks consists of 10 episodes, each lasting 25 minutes, which totals approximately 4 hours and 10 minutes. Seasons 2 through 4 also contain 10 episodes each, resulting in a total running time of around 1000 minutes. A fifth season is forthcoming, increasing the total runtime to roughly 1250 minutes. Furthermore, Very Short Treks, the latest animated Star Trek series, features 5 episodes, each approximately 10-15 minutes long. Combined, these three animated series would require about 1600 minutes or approximately 27 hours to watch.
3 Series, 231+ Hours
Currently, only three “Star Trek” series are currently airing or have concluded not too long ago: “Star Trek: Discovery”, “Star Trek: Prodigy”, and the latter. Seasons one and two of “Prodigy” have already been released, totaling 40 episodes that add up to 960 minutes, which is equivalent to 16 hours. Notably, “Star Trek: Discovery has recently finished its fifth and final season, accumulating a total of 65 episodes and a running time of approximately 3,138 minutes or 52.3 hours.
In the streaming era, episode lengths can vary greatly, but generally, they last around 45 minutes each. Just like in Picard, Discovery uses season-long story arcs (although it was initially planned as an anthology series). This means that if you choose to, you can watch an entire season in a single day without any hassle. Furthermore, there’s a spin-off movie, Star Trek: Section 31, which delves deeper into the character of Michelle Yeoh’s Philippa Georgiou, who was first seen in Discovery. This film runs for approximately 95 minutes, extending the runtime of this era by over an hour and a half.
| Series: | Length: |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: Discovery | 3,138 Minutes |
| Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | 1,082 Minutes+ |
| Star Trek: Prodigy | 480 Minutes+ |
| Section 31 | 95 minutes |
| Total Runtime: | 13,910 Minutes+ |
To summarize, “Strange New Worlds” currently has two seasons, each containing ten episodes, adding up to approximately 18 hours of content. This makes it perfect for a full-day marathon viewing. The series focuses on standalone episodes, making it convenient for short viewing sessions, such as one or two episodes at a time. Excitingly, a third season is scheduled for release in 2025, with a fourth already being produced. This means that the total number of episodes will double to 40, extending the series significantly.
6 Films; 11.5 Hours
A decade after “The Original Series” concluded, Captain Kirk’s adventures continued on the silver screen. The films based on “TOS” played crucial roles in the franchise, featuring significant events such as Mr. Spock’s demise (and resurrection) and the formal farewell of the original cast at the end of their six-film series.
| Movie: | Runtime: |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: The Motion Picture | 132 Minutes |
| Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | 113 Minutes |
| Star Trek III: The Search For Spock | 105 Minutes |
| Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home | 122 Minutes |
| Star Trek V: The Final Frontier | 106 Minutes |
| Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country | 110 Minutes |
| Total Runtime: | 688 Minutes |
The duration of each movie’s screening mirrors its initial theater release, with minor variations if any extended or alternate versions are being shown. For instance, Star Trek: The Motion Picture lasts for 132 minutes, widely regarded as the franchise’s best film. The length of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, directed by Leonard Nimoy, is 105 minutes, while Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home runs for 122 minutes. William Shatner’s Star Trek V: The Final Frontier has a run time of 106 minutes, and Nicholas Meyer’s The Undiscovered Country lasts for 110 minutes. Collectively, the original series spans a total of 688 minutes, equivalent to 11 hours and 28 minutes.
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2025-05-06 06:41