Movie · 2013 · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction · 2h 12m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 4.8/10 (801.5K ratings)
Beyond the darkness, lies greatness.
Overview
When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.
Ratings
Curator score: 4.8/10
IMDb: 7.7/10
Letterboxd: 3.37/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Metacritic: 72
TMDB: 7.3/10
Director
J.J. Abrams
Production
Bad Robot, Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media
Cast
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldaña, Benedict Cumberbatch, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Bruce Greenwood, Peter Weller, Alice Eve, Anton Yelchin, John Cho, Leonard Nimoy, Noel Clarke, Nazneen Contractor, Amanda Foreman, Jay Scully, Jonathan Dixon, Aisha Hinds, Joseph Gatt, Jeremy Raymond
Where to watch
Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, fast-moving sci-fi action sequel with strong chemistry between the leads, big set pieces, and plenty of franchise fan service. It’s worth watching if you want sleek blockbuster momentum and don’t mind a plot that leans hard on twists, borrowed gravitas, and some controversial character choices.
Best for
fans of polished studio sci-fi
viewers who like buddy-cop style hero chemistry
people in the mood for big set pieces and propulsion
audiences who enjoy franchise lore and callbacks
Skip if
you want airtight plotting
you dislike heavy lens-flare-era blockbuster style
you’re sensitive to retcons and fan-service cynicism
you prefer the more exploratory side of Star Trek
Overview
Star Trek Into Darkness is the kind of sequel that knows exactly how to move: it’s sleek, loud, and constantly in motion, with J.J. Abrams turning the Enterprise into a high-gloss action machine. The best material comes from the crew dynamic, especially the Kirk-Spock relationship, which gives the movie a real emotional center even when the plot starts stacking twists on top of twists.
Worth noting
It’s also a movie that has earned its backlash. The mystery-box structure feels overengineered, the villain reveal is divisive, and the film often seems more interested in quoting better Star Trek stories than building its own identity. Still, the craftsmanship is undeniable in the moment-to-moment spectacle, and the cast sells the urgency well enough that the ride stays entertaining.
Bottom line
If you want a smart, character-driven space adventure, this is probably not the definitive Trek movie. If you want a muscular, modern blockbuster with strong banter, striking visuals, and a few genuinely memorable scenes, it lands better than its reputation suggests.
Top Letterboxd reviews
mulaney (3.5★) · 1114 likes
i'll be honest, if this movie was only the window hand scene with kirk & spock on loop i would give it five stars without batting an eye
Bill Chambers (0.5★) · 974 likes
I hate this movie for all its cutesy quoting of Wrath of Khan while trying and spectacularly failing to sublet its gravitas. I hate it for casting the whitest actor on Earth as a man named Khan Noonien Singh. I hate it for the way that every shot in the back half is a three-ring circus of lens flares, cluttered sets, and CGI embellishments. I hate it for turning Spock into Sheldon from "The Big Bang Theory". I hate it… more I hate this movie for all its cutesy quoting of Wrath of Khan while trying and spectacularly failing to sublet its gravitas. I hate it for casting the whitest actor on Earth as a man named Khan Noonien Singh. I hate it for the way that every shot in the back half is a three-ring circus of lens flares, cluttered sets, and CGI embellishments. I hate it for turning Spock into Sheldon from "The Big Bang Theory". I hate it… more
Branson Reese · 829 likes
Wish I had just said this sucked. Oh well. I'm using this site to put down my thoughts, not trying to ignite a discourse.
chloe 💓 (4★) · 529 likes
colour grading the blue tones in the film to match chris pine’s eyes?????? please send my compliments to the chef
Matt Singer (2★) · 452 likes
There are some lovely character moments here, lots of fun references to the history of the series, and some of the coolest shots of the Enterprise ever. Unfortunately, in order to enjoy them, you have to wade through the half of the movie featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as John Harrison/Character Redacted, which is just beyond dumb. His plan is dumb, his mystery benefactor’s plan is dumb, the way Kirk and Spock stop him is dumb, and the repetition of scenes from… more There are some lovely character moments here, lots of fun references to the history of the series, and some of the coolest shots of the Enterprise ever. Unfortunately, in order to enjoy them, you have to wade through the half of the movie featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as John Harrison/Character Redacted, which is just beyond dumb. His plan is dumb, his mystery benefactor’s plan is dumb, the way Kirk and Spock stop him is dumb, and the repetition of scenes from… more
2012 · Thriller, Action, Adventure · 2h 11m · PG-13 · Curator 0.5/10 (394.9K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A louder, sillier cousin in the modern military-sci-fi lane, built around escalation and hardware spectacle.