Star Trek III – The Search for Spock (1984)

NEUTRAL

Various

74%

1984, Sci-fi, 1h 45m

RT Critics’ Score: 79% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 61%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 7 nominations

Click to Stream

Critics Consensus

Though it may be short on dazzling special effects, The Search for Spock is still a strong Star Trek installment, thanks to affecting performances by its iconic cast

Audience Consensus

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is the perfect movie for Trekkies and non-Trekkies alike. It’s got action, adventure, and even a little bit of romance (bromance, that is). Sure, the special effects may not be up to par with today’s standards, but who needs fancy CGI when you’ve got William Shatner’s over-the-top acting? And let’s not forget about Leonard Nimoy’s directing skills – he takes the franchise to new heights (literally, there’s a lot of space travel in this one). So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride – just don’t forget to live long and prosper.

Storyline

In the wake of Spock’s ultimate deed of sacrifice, Admiral Kirk and the Enterprise crew return to Earth for some essential repairs to their ship. When they arrive at Spacedock, they are shocked to discover that the Enterprise is to be decommissioned. Even worse, Dr. McCoy begins acting strangely and Scotty has been reassigned to another ship. Kirk is forced to steal back the Enterprise and head across space to the Genesis Planet to save Spock and bring him to Vulcan. Unbeknownst to them, the Klingons are planning to steal the secrets of the Genesis Device for their own deadly purpose.

Production Company(ies)
3ality Digital Entertainment,

Distributor
Paramount Pictures

Release Type

Filming Location(s)
Occidental College – 1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California, USA

MPAA / Certificate
PG

Year of Release
1984

Technical Specs

Color:

Color
Sound mix:

Dolby Surround 7.1
Aspect ratio:

2.39 : 1
Runtime:

1h 45m
Language(s):

English, Klingon, Russian, French
Country of origin:

United States
Release date:

Release Date (Theaters): Jun 1, 1984 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 12, 2009

Genre(s)
Sci-fi

Keyword(s)
starring William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, directed by Leonard Nimoy, written by Harve Bennett, produced by Harve Bennett, Sci-fi, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Jay Carr, Kevin Thomas, Richard Schickel, Variety Staff, Dave Kehr, Steven D Greydanus, Matt Brunson, Grant Watson, Mike Massie, Drew Dietsch, Shaun Munro, PG, Admiral James T Kirk, Commander Leonard H McCoy, M.D., Commander, Captain Montgomery Scott, Commander Hikaru Sulu, Commander Pavel Andreievich Chekov, Commander Nyota Uhura, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, animating spirit, Klingons, Genesis Planet, USS Enterprise, Tomatometer, audience score, Fresh Kernels, movie, TV, actors, streaming movies, TV shows, most popular, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Star Trek: Insurrection, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Innerspace, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, rent/buy from $2.99, subscription, rent/buy from $3.99, sound mix, surround, Dolby Stereo, aspect ratio, scope (2.35:1), collection, cast & crew, critic reviews, audience reviews, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, worst horror movies of all time, newsletter, Fandango

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $76,471,046
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $223,932,344
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 635
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 24,420,103

US/Canada gross: $76,471,046
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $223,932,344
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 302
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,673,295
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $48,824,885
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 239

Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $17,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $49,781,585
Production budget ranking: 800
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $26,807,383
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $147,343,376
ROI to date (est.): 192%
ROI ranking: 645

Cast & Crew

William Shatner

DeForest Kelley

James Doohan

George Takei

Walter Koenig

Admiral James T. Kirk

Commander Leonard H. McCoy

M.D.

Commander

Captain Montgomery Scott

William Shatner – Admiral James T. Kirk
DeForest Kelley – Commander Leonard H. McCoy, M.D.
James Doohan – Commander, Captain Montgomery Scott
George Takei – Commander Hikaru Sulu
Walter Koenig – Commander Pavel Andreievich Chekov
Nichelle Nichols – Commander Nyota Uhura

Leonard Nimoy

Harve Bennett

Director

Writer

Producer

Director(s)
Leonard Nimoy

Writer(s)
Harve Bennett

Producer(s)
Harve Bennett

Film Festivals

Awards & Nominations
1 win & 7 nominations

Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Jay Carr

Kevin Thomas

Richard Schickel

Variety Staff

Dave Kehr

Boston Globe

Los Angeles Times

TIME Magazine

Variety

Chicago Reader

STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK
All Critics (48) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (10)
This “Star Trek,” the liveliest and most likable of the three, will satisfy hard-core Trekkies and win more than a few new recruits to their ranks.

April 26, 2018

Jay Carr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
“Star Trek III” has a genuine spirituality, and, at its end, you may be surprised, especially if you’re not really a Trekkie, to realize how moved you’ve been.

September 7, 2016

Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
These are classic directorial occasions, and Nimoy rises to them with fervor, in effect beaming his film up onto a higher pictorial plane than either of its predecessors.

May 3, 2009

Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
An emotionally satisfying science fiction adventure.

March 26, 2009

Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
This 1984 film’s few and unimpressive special effects evidently qualify it as science fiction, but the genre it really belongs to is the male weepie: there hasn’t been a gooier buddy romance on the screen since Joe Buck took Ratso Rizzo to Miami.

June 4, 2007

Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
May be the unappreciated middle child of the Trek franchise, but it’s still one of better and more indispensable episodes.

February 11, 2006 | Rating: B+

Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
For all it does right, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock doesn’t represent the series at its best.

September 10, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4

Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Despite the grim goings-on there is still a sense of humour and fun scattered thoughout.

October 3, 2020 | Rating: 7/10

Grant Watson
Fiction Machine
The sci-fi themes are just as esoteric as before (and fitting for the universe), but the sense of adventure has vanished.

September 8, 2020 | Rating: 2/10

Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is much better than its reputation would lead you to believe.

July 13, 2020

Drew Dietsch
Giant Freakin Robot
An uneven and at times quite ridiculous follow-up to The Wrath of Khan, but still worthwhile thanks to solid performances and great character work.

May 31, 2020 | Rating: 3/5

Shaun Munro
Flickering Myth
Star Trek III does what it needs to do by restoring part of the original status quo and setting up a new one to be resolved at a later date.

April 8, 2019 | Rating: B

Zaki Hasan
Zaki’s Corner…

Plot
In the wake of Spock’s ultimate deed of sacrifice, Admiral Kirk and the Enterprise crew return to Earth for some essential repairs to their ship. When they arrive at Spacedock, they are shocked to discover that the Enterprise is to be decommissioned. Even worse, Dr. McCoy begins acting strangely and Scotty has been reassigned to another ship. Kirk is forced to steal back the Enterprise and head across space to the Genesis Planet to save Spock and bring him to Vulcan. Unbeknownst to them, the Klingons are planning to steal the secrets of the Genesis Device for their own deadly purpose.

Trivia