Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - The Best Star Trek Movie Revisited

In 1979, Paramount’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture hit theatres, to a rather mixed reception from critics and audiences. While many predicted the film would be a big money loser due to the fact that the budget had gone dramatically over-budget, making it one of the most expensive films ever made up to the point, in the end the film eked out a profit. It did well enough that Paramount was willing to take another chance on the franchise, but their approach would be quite different, drastically slashing the budget and hiring fewer A-listers behind the camera. But, to the surprise of all, this proved to be exactly the right move, with the resulting film, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, a smash-hit that relaunched the franchise as a legitimate big screen property and introduced the adventures of Kirk, Spock and McCoy to a whole new generation. We dig into the greatest Star Trek movie of all in this episode of Revisited.

#StarTrek #williamshatner

[Omar-wqdz]

Spock’s death is one of the most iconic

[marpsr]

James Horner’s score is an absolute masterpiece.

[SplinkProductions]

Maybe the best death scene in movie history—and certainly, no doubt, the best “Trek” film ever. Spock’s death and farewell to Kirk is still amazing and emotional more than forty years later.

[ukmediawarrior]

Walter Koenig has stated that Khan remembered him because Chekov kept him waiting to use a toilet on the Enterprise during Space Seed and when Chekov finally exits Khan is there and tells him he always remembers a face :D

[TwistedSMF]

Wrath of Kahn is what got me into Trek. (I am 53) I watched the first one, But I just could not get into it. (I love it now) Ricardo Montalbán stole the show in that movie. All that was missing was him saying that the Captain's chair was made from rich corinthian leather. lol And Spock's death scene. Gets me tear eyed. Every single time!

[asifkhan]

This was actually one of those instances where the sequel is better than the original. It also reinvigorated Star Trek for a New Generation.

[kennethfharkin]

I saw this recently at a 40th anniversary showing in the theater. I remember seeing it in 1982 at 12 years old and have seen it since then more times that I can count. Going to a modern theater in 2022 I was a little worried about how it would hold up on the big screen.

I shouldn’t have been worried.

Seeing this again forty years later on the large screen was a real event. The effects definitely hold up, the performances draw you in and the score sends chill down your spine and raises your spirit.

Spock’s death scene, seen forty years after my first time seeing, impacted me and I am not ashamed to say brought a tear to my eye. The giant screen upon which this scene played out with Horner’s score enhancing was simply amazing.

[shainewhite]

Love the music by the late James Horner, whom wanted to do a swashbuckling space adventure.
Jerry Goldsmith was contacted to compose the score but was too busy working on POLTERGEIST, RAMBO: First Blood, and The Secret of NIHM.
Parts of Horner's score, namely the track titled Surprise Attack, had some cues taken from WOLFEN and would be used in STAR TREK 3 for the Klingons and ALIENS, namely the track Futile Escape.

[SciHeartJourney]

Why does Kirk sound so mad during that "KHAN! 😡" scene, knowing he still has a plan in action? It's like Kirk channeled William Shatner. 🤣

[SciHeartJourney]

That wasn't FAIR to Kirk to say he "abandoned his son" to pursue his career. He did what SHE WANTED. She want David to explore the INNER mysteries of existence, rather than running around the galaxy. It's clearly stated in the movie. I would have loved to have a dad like that. My Dad would have loved commanding a starship! ❤ RIP Dad.

[mikeshirleyforever]

One of the best sequels of any film franchise in my opinion. I enjoy the backstory behind the making of ST2 because of how unfamiliar Nicholas Meyer was with the franchise and how much Harve Bennett disliked the first film. It really felt like Paramount took a serious approach and the limited budget really helped with the tense story, which I always see as the sequel to Space Seed, which I often revisit because of this film. Ricardo Montalban was a fantastic actor and his portrayal of Khan is amazing. I enjoy how Ricardo admitted that after doing 7 Seasons of Fantasy Island, it was hard for him to switch to the Khan character of vengeance.
Nicholas Meyer is a very underrated writer and director. I love his sense of humour in his interviews and he really was an inspired choice to helm a Star Trek sequel, later going on to co-write ST4 (Which felt a lot like his earlier Time After Time film) and direct/co-write ST6.
The music was also a definite highlight of ST2 by the late James Horner. I have revisited a lot of his earlier career scores, especially with 'Battle Beyond The Stars' and 'Krull' and you can definitely tell the similarities that he put into ST2 and ST3. I enjoy his many motifs and the adventurous themes that he put into the films.
Thanks for this revisit into a well made and very well liked film. 👍

[artboymoy]

You should probably have pointed out that TMP's budget also had all the failed Phase 2 stuff put into it as well as having to build all the sets and models. Harve Bennet was able to reuse shots and models to help save on budget like any good TV producer.

[ericross]

In my personal Top Ten of all time. A perfect movie from start to finish

[grapeshot]

Definitely one of the best sequels of all time. You could practically feel Khan thirst for revenge. I remember watching this movie at the movie theaters when it first came out and when Spock died you heard all the women crying in the movie theater.

[wstine]

You gotta appreciate Nicholas Meyer for saving the Star Trek movie series twice. Khan is one of my favorite movies.

[chrisperry]

Easily one of my favorite films; supremely entertaining. I think I could recite the entire movie! The acting is just so juicy, lol.

[LReacts]

Revenge is a dish best served cold. And it is very cold in

[rougeneon]

Im a huge Trekie and TWOK is 110% my most re-watched movie. ALL HAIL Nicholas

[ustrekkie]

Also, Kirstie Alley is great in this movie. My wife is still blown away that Alley was in Star Trek anytime we watch Wrath of Khan.

[LordTalax]

The JJ Abrams movies were mostly about action and battles and very little about depth. The characters more often bickered like children rather than acted like adult starfleet officers.