Based on the wildly popular cult TV show, the cinematic reincarnation of Star Trek reunited nine members of the original cast for an original motion picture. The syndication and fan base of the 1960s series created the perfect atmosphere for a movie. But attempts to do so stalled in 1974 and for several years after that, largely due to the search for the correct story. Harlan Ellison wrote a draft where reptilian aliens alter Earth’s past to make snakes the dominant species. Series creator Gene Rodenberry had a story where an unidentified spacecraft comes to Earth claiming to be God. The closest to actually being produced was a story in which the crew goes back in time and become the titans of Greek mythology. Ironically, in 1977, Michael Eisner (then head of Paramount) scrapped the production of the Star Trek: Phase II television show that was nearing production so that its pilot episode, “In Thy Image,” could be adapted into the film. The film underwent near-daily rewrites up to and even throughout production as writers and creators clashed over the subject matter. Citizen Kane editor and The Andromeda Strain director Robert Wise was chosen to direct the film.

When a hostile energy cloud destroys three Klingon vessels and a Federation monitoring station on its way toward Earth, the Enterprise is forced to make necessary repairs and diagnostics on route to investigate. After surviving the cloud’s first attack, the Enterprise makes contact with a massive ship at its center. One of the crew members is abducted and replaced by an identical clone who claims to be sent from V’ger in order to study the “carbon units.” While attempting to learn more on a space walk, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) learns that V’ger is the vessel itself, a living entity of pure, cold logic.

After traveling inside the vessel, the crew discovers that V’ger is in fact Voyager 6, an Earth-launched probe from the twentieth century that had been found by a race of living machines. Misinterpreting Voyager’s mandate, the aliens gave it the ability to “learn all that is learnable” until it had achieved a consciousness all its own. But without the ability to give itself a purpose, it threatens to destroy all in its path on its quest for more.

The success of Star Trek: The Motion Picture was in more than just its box office numbers. The film revitalized an entire franchise, leading to nine sequels and four separate television series. The revitalization brought an entirely new generation of fans to the series while at the same time respecting the passion of those who had been with it from the beginning. Merchandising was also a significant aspect of the film, as Star Trek: The Motion Picture holds the designation of being the first film ever promoted in a McDonald’s Happy Meal. The Oscar-nominated score, by Barry Goldsmith, was later adapted for future films and television shows, becoming synonymous with the adventuresome spirit of the franchise. While some claim that the film focuses too much on plodding special effects and not enough on character, many nevertheless consider it to be the most accurate depiction of Gene Rodenberry’s vision of the future.