Dickens & Rumi
Cover of Star Trek: The Motion Picture

film

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

1979

When an unidentified alien destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers, Captain James T. Kirk returns to the newly transformed U.S.S. Enterprise to take command.

Ages 8+Source checked

Why this age? Science-fiction peril, frightening destruction, on-screen deaths, a disturbing transporter accident, and emotionally complex ideas about identity and purpose may be intense for younger viewers. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age8+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character3/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Romance2/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Positive messages4/5

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

No commercial product placement.

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

Several characters and spacecraft crews die, including two officers in a transporter accident and Ilia, whose death affects Decker deeply.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

A transporter malfunction is depicted as a disturbing, unsettling scene where two characters are lost, though no gore is shown.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Language is very mild and appropriate for the era's family-friendly rating.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

Contains abstract philosophical concepts regarding creators and evolution, but no specific religious practices.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Decker and Ilia have a prior romantic relationship, and their connection remains emotionally important through her robotic duplicate.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

A vast destructive energy cloud, disappearing crew members, dangerous machinery, and an unknowable alien intelligence create sustained suspense.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

There is very mild innuendo or references to past romance, but no sexual activity or nudity.

Violence2/5
Why this rating?

Alien forces destroy spacecraft, a probe attacks crew members, and characters face dangerous malfunctions, but sustained physical combat is limited.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

The crew confronts an overwhelmingly powerful entity, undertakes hazardous missions, and accepts personal sacrifice to save Earth.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Its imaginative alien intelligence, living machine, space exploration, teleportation, and questions about evolution and identity strongly invite curiosity.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

The bridge crew is portrayed as diverse in terms of origin, including human and alien characters, reflecting the series' original ethos.

Educational value3/5
Why this rating?

It encourages interest in space exploration, artificial intelligence, science, consciousness, and the Voyager probe, though it is primarily entertainment.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

The crew acts with cooperation and tries to understand the alien entity rather than immediately destroying it.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

It emphasizes curiosity, cooperation, humility, emotional connection, self-sacrifice, and finding meaning beyond accumulating knowledge.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

The crew demonstrates strong professional ethics, leadership, and a commitment to exploration.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in Star Trek: The Motion Picture would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and what caused that change?
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