Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Right now you can watch Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home in Australia on Paramount Plus, and in the US on fuboTV and Paramount Plus Premium — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 1,671 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. William Shatner sets the tone, and the world-building does the rest. Put it on tonight on Paramount Plus and see for yourself.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. What makes Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. When a huge alien probe enters the galaxy and begins to vaporize Earth's oceans, Kirk and his crew must travel back in time in order to bring back whales and save the planet. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy lead a cast that makes the ambitious moments land. It was released in 1986. What separates Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. William Shatner's performance is the anchor the more ambitious moments need. The world-building pays off in ways you will not anticipate on a first watch.