(written from a Production point of view)
The Star Trek films have been released on VHS in numerous countries since Star Trek: The Motion Picture premiered in 1979.
| VHS releases |
|---|
| The Original Series • The Animated Series • Star Trek films • The Next Generation • Deep Space Nine • Voyager • Enterprise |
| Releases in the United Kingdom • Releases in the United States • Star Trek documentaries and specials |
US releases[]
Original Series films[]
The movies began release on VHS in 1980 in the United States, with the release of the original theatrical cut of Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the film's Special Longer Version, also known as the 1983 TV Version. Both versions were released in pan-and-scan format. Copies of the "Special Longer Version" in pan-and-scan are more common than the original theatrical version of the film, which has only been widely available since the 1991 widescreen release.
The price for the first three movies at the times of their release in 1980, 1982, and 1985, respectively, averaged out at a price of US$79.95 each with Star Trek III: The Search for Spock initially released at US$29.95. In 1986, the films were lowered to US$29.95 each, and eventually lowered down to US$14.95 by the early 1990s.
Throughout the 1980s, each Star Trek film was reissued on VHS numerous times, normally accompanying the VHS release of a newer film, and using the same packaging design. An exception came in 1987 when Paramount released signature editions of several of its films, among them Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
The first VHS release of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, in the summer of 1987, also featured a promotional ad for the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
In 1991, the first five films were released for the first time in a new 25th Anniversary set where the spines form a picture of the Enterprise. In addition, the films were released in widescreen format for the first time. Both sets were reissued in 1992 with the VHS release of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, using similar packaging design to match with the first five films.
Also in 1992, a special "Director's Series" of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was released on VHS featuring an introduction by Leonard Nimoy, and the widescreen release of the film was released on VHS. Nimoy's introduction was included on the original DVD release of the film, but was not included in the 2003 Special Edition of the film.
The VHS release of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country also added scenes not seen in the original theatrical version. The original theatrical version was never released on VHS.
The final VHS release from the first six movies was a widescreen release of The Director's Edition of Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 2001.
The Next Generation films[]
Star Trek Generations was released to VHS for rental outlets in the summer of 1995. However, a retail release did not follow until February 1996. This first retail release featured a lenticular holographic cover using the film's theatrical poster. Later reissues omitted the lenticular cover. Generations was also the first film in the series to have a widescreen release at the same time. The general VHS release featured a 30th anniversary trailer with Kate Mulgrew, along with a trailer for the Patrick Stewart-narrated "From Infinity to Beyond".
Star Trek: First Contact followed a similar pattern, with rental release in May 1997, and retail in November of that year. The packaging of the general release featured a hologram of Picard changing to Locutus of Borg. The general release of the film featured a trailer for Event Horizon and a look at Star Trek: The Experience, while rental releases added a trailer for Star Trek: Borg.
Star Trek: Insurrection was released to rental in spring 1999 with a special lenticular cover. Retail release followed in October of that year, omitting the lenticular cover, but featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the film. The retail DVD was released before the retail VHS.
Star Trek Nemesis was released for both rental and retail in June 2003, and was the final VHS release of any Star Trek film in the United States.
Boxsets[]
- Star Trek: The Movies - 25th Anniversary Collectors Set
- Star Trek - The Screen Voyages (limited edition)
- Star Trek: The Movie Collection
- Star Trek: The Starfleet Collection (limited edition)
- Star Trek: The Seven Screen Voyages
- Star Trek Generations/Star Trek: First Contact
- The Ultimate Star Trek Movie Collection
- Star Trek: The Next Generation Collector's Set
UK releases[]
In the UK, the movies have been released several times, most notably in 1998 when the entire set to date was re-released in updated packaging. Box sets of the movies typically accompany any new release.
- Star Trek films
- Star Trek: The Movies - 25th Anniversary Collectors Set
- Star Trek - The Screen Voyages
- Star Trek - 30th Anniversary Movies Box Set
- Star Trek - The Movies
- Star Trek - Movie Collection
- Star Trek: First Contact/Star Trek: Insurrection
Dutch releases[]
Dutch box sets include:
French releases[]
French box sets include:
- Star Trek Les Films - Coffret Anniversaire
- Star Trek - Les Films L'integrale
- Star Trek - L'intégrale Cinéma (1999)
- Star Trek - L'intégrale Cinéma (2000)
German releases[]
German box sets include:
- Star Trek - Teil I, II und III
- Star Trek - Teil IV, V und VI
- Star Trek - Universe Box
- Star Trek - Die Kinofilme (two boxes)
Australian releases[]
Australian box sets include:
- The Star Trek Collector's Edition 1
- The Star Trek Collector's Edition 2
- Star Trek - Limited Edition
| VHS • VCD • LaserDisc • DVD • Blu-ray • 4K Ultra HD • Digital |