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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Series

Star Trek

Star Trek is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry that began with the 1966 television series of the same name.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Star Trek is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry that began with the 1966 television series. It follows Starfleet crews exploring space, encountering alien civilizations, and tackling ethical and political questions in a future interstellar setting.

What it is

Star Trek is set in a future universe where humanity and other species explore space as part of Starfleet, an organization within the United Federation of Planets. Stories centre on exploration, first contact, and moral or political conflicts. The franchise is known for its optimistic view of the future and for tackling social, scientific, and ethical issues.

Key television and film entries

The franchise began with Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–1969). It has since expanded into 13 television series, including live-action and animated entries. The film franchise launched with Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) and continued through multiple sequels and reboot-era movies featuring both original and Next Generation storylines.

Why it matters

Star Trek has become one of the most recognizable science fiction brands globally. It is widely associated with themes of exploration, diplomacy, and futuristic social ideals. The franchise has a significant Canadian audience and has been produced in part through Canadian film and television production ecosystems, especially in later series and streaming-era productions.

In short

  • The franchise began with The Original Series in 1966.
  • Central premise: Starfleet crews exploring space on missions.
  • 13 television series are listed in the franchise.
  • Known for optimistic future and exploring social issues.
Canadian angle

Star Trek has a significant Canadian audience and has also been produced in part through Canadian film and television production ecosystems, especially in later series and streaming-era productions.

Quick questions

What is Star Trek about?
Star Trek is about Starfleet crews exploring space, meeting alien civilizations, and facing scientific, ethical, and political challenges in a future setting.
Who created Star Trek?
Star Trek was created by Gene Roddenberry.
How many Star Trek series are there?
The provided sources list 13 television series in the franchise.

Sources

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek
    Supports: Franchise creator, premise, and list of television series.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Star-Trek-series-1966-1969
    Supports: Creator, original series premise, and film franchise context.
  3. Star Trek Official Sitehttps://www.startrek.com/get-to-know
    Supports: Franchise themes and overview.
  4. Netflixhttps://www.netflix.com/title/70136140
    Supports: Presence of Star Trek title on Netflix.
  5. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Original_Series
    Supports: Original characters and series context.