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William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, George Takei, James Doohan ... see more see more... , Walter Koenig , Nichelle Nichols , David Warner , Laurence Luckinbill , Charles Cooper , Cynthia Gouw , Todd Bryant , Spice Williams , Rex Holman , George Murdock , Cynthia Blaise , Bill Quinn , Melanie Shatner , Harve Bennett , Steve Susskind

Kirk (William Shatner), McCoy (DeForest Kelley), and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) are enjoying a vacation in Yosemite National Park when duty calls. Vulcan cult leader Sybok (Laurence Luckinbill) and his fol... read more read more...lowers have invaded a "planet of peace," where delegates from hostile races coexist in a sort of intergalactic United Nations. Ordered to quell the crisis, the Enterprise crew discovers that it's a ruse perpetrated by Sybok, who takes over the ship, piloting it toward the "Great Barrier," an energy field at the galaxy's rim. Sybok, who is revealed to be Spock's half-brother, possesses the ability to help people face their "inner pain." He also believes that God lies beyond the Great Barrier. Once arriving there, however, Sybok and the Enterprise crew discover only an imprisoned alien entity. Shatner wrote the story and made his directorial debut with the film, failing to ape the success that his colleague Nimoy enjoyed with his pair of Trek directing forays. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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36% liked it

55,693 ratings

Critics

21% liked it

42 critics

PG, 1 hr. 47 min.

Directed by: William Shatner

Release Date: June 9, 1989

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DVD Release Date: April 20, 1999

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Stats: 2,242 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,242)

  • FilmFanatik
    November 15, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    Ok, ok, yeah, you can see my rating, and I can't even begin to really defend it in any way. Having never seen Star Trek V: The Final Frontier before, I had been led to believe that it was an unwatchable pile of crap. Of course, the same was said of Star Trek: Generations, but I s... read moretill managed to enjoy that... even though I know it's not a highlight of the series. I think the problem with this entry is that it can't make up its mind what its underlying theme is, and I think it throws people. I think if it had a more concrete understanding of itself, it might fare better with people. I personally enjoyed it, and liked the ideas it was brought up, but I can still understand that it's not the best of the series and enjoy it anyway.
  • cosmo313
    October 29, 2011
    cosmo313
    I agree with everyone who says that this is the worst Trek film, but I didn't end up hating it nearly as much as I was led to believe I would. Don't get me wrong, the film isn't good, but it wasn't an awful heap of poo either. It is a mediocre mess, but it is a bit entertaining, ... read moreand does have its moments.

    The story revolves around a renegade Vulcan who captures the Enterprise (any ship would do, but it's the one that he ends up with) and uses it to go on a quest to discover the deepest secrets of the universe, primarily the existence of God. The film actually does have some neat ideas, concepts, and themes, but the way it is handled and presented is where the film falters.

    I don't think Shatner had the skills as a director, and they should have gone with someone else. Also, the script is a shambling mess that's uneven, all over the place, and doesn't really present or do anything all that exciting and unique. There's humor, which is fine, but it goes overboard, and most of the jokes fall flat, and there's a ton of silly and ridiculous crap all over. DeForest Kelley actually saves it as far as the zingers go, but aside from him, all of it falls flat.

    I get that this film had re-writes and all sorts of issues during production, so maybe some of this could be excused, but even then, the film is just really nutty and overblown, and it felt like a lot of this was incomplete and put together poorly and hastily. The presence of David Warner helps things a bit, but sadly he's underused and barely seen, so it's more of a waste than anything.

    I wasn't bored, but I didn't really care. It was hard for me to take a lot of this seriously, because it was obvious that there was a lack of care and passion behind it all. Like I said though, it had some good ideas, it just comes up really, really short.

    The cinematograhy is nice, and the music is really good, and, like I said, Kelley is funny, but the reast just stinks. Unless you feel obligated to see this one, just skip it.
  • ajv2688
    April 2, 2011
    ajv2688
    This Star Trek sequel is directed by Shatner, who does a fine job, not great but pretty good. It's more funny than exciting, for at least the first half of the movie. The story is okay, but I'd only recommend this movie to Star Trek fans.
  • garyX
    January 21, 2011
    garyX
    The crew of the Enterprise are sent to rescue three diplomats from the neutral zone, but their captor's true motive is to steal the ship to aid his quest to find God. Star Trek films are very much like the series; the ones you thought were brilliant at the time date really, REAL... read moreLY quickly, yet the awful ones just seem to become more and more endearing! The laughable script, naive direction and iffy effects also echo the TV show, but somehow the likable cast, knockabout charm and sense of humour win through. William Shatner is clearly not an experienced director, but the pacing is fine and the enduring friendship between the central characters that forms the core of the film shines through. It does suffer for the fact that the actors are clearly refusing to grow old gracefully, the action scenes being more than a little embarrassing and watching a middle aged, portly Nichelle Nichols doing a fan dance still results in carrot chunks reappearing in my mouth. But just like Shatner himself, its sense of humour and fact that it doesn't take itself remotely seriously make for a lot of kitsch entertainment value and a few genuinely laugh out loud moments. Anyone who still laughs at "Double dumb ass on you!" cannot fail to like this too!
  • blacksheepboy
    April 7, 2010
    blacksheepboy
    This one is considered by many to be the worst of the Star Trek films. Although it does have a few problems, The Final Frontier is rather enjoyable and presents some memorable moments that just don't raise it to a higher level only on account of a lack of better polishing.
  • SirPant
    September 21, 2009
    SirPant
    Not the best of the Star Trek films but certainly the best for funny quotes!
    What does God want with a Starship?
    I NEED MY PAIN!!!!
  • stormyweather980
    September 14, 2009
    stormyweather980
    The classic Enterprise crew from The Original Series (Kirk, Spock, McCoy, etc.) are enjoying a fun shore leave. What could be better? Captain Kirk is off scaling mountains without protective gear, Spock is flying around with something like jet-propelled shoes, and Dr. McCoy is in... read more a rather grumpy mood. But all's not bad. The three later have a nice campfire set up as they do things such as try to teach Spock "Row Row Row Your Boat" and share tastes in a secret McCoy recipe.

    But little do they know that Spock's half brother, a fellow Vulcan, has a goal of capturing the Enterprise ship and then going on a venture to find God. Will he be one of the crew's fiercest enemies ever? So much for shore leave!
    There's not much, if anything, that hasn't already been said in the many reviews for "Star Trek V - The Final Frontier." Its plot is sort of bleh, the main enemy doesn't even seem like an enemy the majority of the time, the special effects are underwhelming, and there are many other things about the movie that are a bit subpar. Yep, I agree that this is the worst Star Trek movie that includes the original members.

    However, there are some good times to be had. I thoroughly enjoy the shore leave scenes, especially the ones that take place around the campfire. It's this good-natured humor and reminiscing about the past (Kirk saying he misses his old chair, McCoy getting into his usual arguments with Spock, etc.) that will remind you of the Original Series episodes of Star Trek. I also thought that the character development was done fairly well.

    All in all, "Star Trek V - The Final Frontier" is an average movie at heart, but, like all the bad episodes of Star Trek and the other not so spectacular movies, it's worth seeing. If, for nothing else, IT'S STAR TREK. You may not want to own it, but if you're a Trekkie, you KNOW you want to see it. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2003. What can you say, not one of the better Star Trek films, but it has many classic scenes to give it some brownie points.
  • puffchunk
    July 15, 2009
    puffchunk
    Hmmm...I got to admit, these films have some pretty outrageous plots: Saving whales from the past, resurecting Spock, fighting the Voyager probe, and now it is flying to the center of the universe to shoot God in the face with a spaceship. WTF. Stars alone for being strange.
  • Redlats
    May 2, 2009
    Redlats
    One of the lamer Star Trek's. The Row, row, row your boat one. Sybok with his BB guns somehow captures Kirk and Spock (in all Enterprise's previous missions, has the Enterprise ever been captured before?). They wander off and find God, and when that doesn't work, the movie wri... read moreters bring in a rogue Klingon ship for interest.
  • sononothing
    May 2, 2009
    sononothing
    A Star Trek film subtitled "The Final Frontier" would have to be the most spectacular film ever produced. Well I'm here to inform you that this film is a cheap piece of garbage directed by Captain Kirk himself, who obviously couldn't handle being directed by Spock for another pic... read moreture. The film follows Spock's half brother looking for God. Hilarity ensues as he hijacks the Enterprise and takes them on a journey to hang out with God.

    You know there's going to be problems from the start when this appears on the screen:

    Directed by William Shatner

    To be honest Shatner can't direct himself out of a paper bag. I've seen better direction in animal sex footage. He also had a hand in the story, which starts out ridiculous and ends up stupid. The camping scene in the beginning, which could have been pretty good, fails horribly. Horribly. Stupid dialogue, bad acting, and shoddy effects ruin this sequence and continue to hamper the film throughout.

    I've seen better entertainment going into a public toilet and noticing the last occupant did not know how to flush after a night of Taco Bell and vodka. The toilet has better production values, definitely.

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
May 19, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

William Shatner's inauspicious feature directing debut is a double letdown. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
May 19, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

[The] special effects, despite the hefty budget, look strictly bargain basement. Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Captain Kirk and his crew go where too many film makers have too often gone before. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Bloated, bombastic and maddeningly pretentious.

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The whole point of the movie has something to do with the search for God and Eden, but the theme is presented in the most mundane fashion imaginable. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

A snoozola of astronomic proportions. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Of all of the Star Trek movies, this is the worst. Full Review

Charles Cassady
December 15, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

Worst in series; some tricky religious content. Full Review

Scott Nash
July 1, 2010
Scott Nash, Three Movie Buffs

Easily the weakest of the original cast Star Trek films. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
August 26, 2009
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

Final Frontier is a warmly crafted picture only lacking a sophisticated technical and dramatic finesse the earlier features held in abundance. The film is never aggressively odious, just undernourished. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Leonard "Bones" McCoy: Jim, you don't ask the Almighty for his I.D.
    • James T. Kirk: Prepare for emergency landing plan.. B.
    • Pavel Chekov: What's "Emergency Landing Plan B"?
    • Montgomery "Scotty" Scott: I haven't got a clue...
    • James T. Kirk: B, as in barricade!
    • Montgomery "Scotty" Scott: He can't be serious...
    • James T. Kirk: All I ask for is a tall ship, and a star to steer her by...
    • Leonard "Bones" McCoy: Melville.
    • Mr. Spock: John Masefield.
    • Leonard "Bones" McCoy: Are you sure about that?
    • Mr. Spock: I am well versed in the classics, doctor.
    • Leonard "Bones" McCoy: Then how come you don't know 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat'?
    • James T. Kirk: Um, excuse me... What does God need with a starship?
    • James T. Kirk: Damn it Bones you're a doctor!
Submit a Fact | View All

Star Trek V - The... : Watch Free on TV

Star Trek V - The Final Frontier Trivia

  • Which movie has the tagline: " Why Are They Putting Seatbelts In Theaters This Summer? " ?  Answer »
  • Which Star Trek movie was directed by William Shatner?  Answer »
  • As shown in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Spock's half-brother is named:  Answer »
  • In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, the crew is forced to travel to the center of the galaxy by a madman hoping to find:   Answer »
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