Star Trek and the 1980s - Episode 137

70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s

Just three weeks after the premier of Star Trek The Motion Picture, the decade of the 1980s began.

With the new decade came an explosion in popularity for the Star Trek franchise and it all happened with The Motion Picture.

For most critics and moviegoers, though, the film was a disappointment. It didn’t live up to the expectations.

But luckily, the film brought in enough money for Paramount executives to consider making a sequel. It kicked off what would become an incredible, multi-million dollar franchise throughout the ‘80s and into the ‘90s.

The film proved to Paramount that a substantial audience would come out and see a Trek film, which urged them to make more.