Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
58%RT Audience Score: 44%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 8 nominations
Although not terrible, the sluggishly paced Insurrection plays like an extended episode of the TV series
Star Trek: Insurrection is like a space soap opera, but with more makeup and special effects. It’s a fun ride for Trekkers, but for the rest of us, it’s a bit like watching a two-part episode that’s been stretched out to movie length. The story is formulaic, the heroics are predictable, and the humor is quirky, but it’s all in good fun. Plus, we get to see Picard rocking a leather jacket, so that’s a win in my book. Overall, it’s not the worst Star Trek film, but it’s not the best either. It’s just…fine.
Production Company(ies)
Sony Pictures, Classics Radical Media, Sen Art Films,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Convict Lake, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for sci-fi action violence, mild language and sensuality
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 38m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 11, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 11, 1999
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, directed by Jonathan Frakes, written by Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, Michael Alan Spiller, Michael Alan Spiller, action, PG, box office, $70.2M, reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum, Lisa Alspector, Joe Leydon, Peter Stack, Liam Lacey, Piers Beckley, Michael Massie, Leigh Paatsch, Shaun Munro, David Nusair, Zaki Hasan, science fiction, Star Trek, Paramount Pictures, Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital, Scope (2.35:1), Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander William T Riker, Lt Commander Data, Lt Commander Geordi La Forge, Lt Commander Worf, Commander Beverly Crusher, M.D
Worldwide gross: $112,587,658
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $206,614,228
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 675
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 22,531,541
US/Canada gross: $70,187,658
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $128,804,249
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 595
US/Canada opening weekend: $22,052,836
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $40,470,064
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 301
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $58,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $106,438,178
Production budget ranking: 374
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $57,316,959
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $42,859,091
ROI to date (est.): 26%
ROI ranking: 1,261
Jonathan Frakes – Commander William T. Riker
Brent Spiner – Lt. Commander Data
LeVar Burton – Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
Michael Dorn – Lt. Commander Worf
Gates McFadden – Commander Beverly Crusher, M.D.
Director – Jonathan Frakes
Producers – Rick Berman, Michael Piller
Writers – Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, Michael Alan Spiller, Michael Alan Spiller
Director(s)
Jonathan Frakes
Writer(s)
Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, Michael Alan Spiller, Michael Alan Spiller
Producer(s)
Rick Berman, Michael Piller
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (72) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (33)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: A
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The extravagant makeup and special effects are actually unobtrusive because they’re demanded by the pleasantly formulaic story, whose conflicts–and broad, innocuous political allegory — justify the heartwarming resolution.
May 19, 2008
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Strikes a deft balance of predictable heroics and quirky humor.
May 19, 2008
Joe Leydon
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Fun for most folks, heaven for Trekkers.
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Stack
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
More of the the same-old -same-old.
March 19, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Insurrection doesn’t quite gain the mantle of ‘Worst Star Trek Film’ from Star Trek V — but it gets a little too close for comfort.
September 10, 2001 | Rating: 1/5
Piers Beckley
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
The production values and special effects have improved significantly, giving the proceedings a shine and polish very suiting to these sci-fi adventures.
September 24, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
It’s all a bit like a deep space version of Fantasy Island, really.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 2/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Star Trek: Insurrection might’ve worked as a double episode of the series, but as a big-budget movie, it can’t help but feel dispiritingly low-effort. At least we get to see Picard rocking a leather jacket number, though.
May 31, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/5
Shaun Munro
Flickering Myth
…the movie is overflowing with appealingly small-scale interludes and subplots.
January 22, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Content to skate on the pre-existing audience’s fondness for these characters and the Star Trek brand.
April 12, 2019 | Rating: C-
Zaki Hasan
Zaki’s Corner
The problem with Insurrection [isn’t] that it’s like a two-part episode. The problem is that it’s like a one-part episode that was more than doubled in length without having nearly enough drama.
June 4, 2013 | Rating: 4/10
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy…
Plot
While on a mission to observe the peaceful Ba’ku race, Lieutenant Commander Data suddenly behaves as if having to fear for his existence. The immortal Ba’ku, whose planet offers regenerative radiation, and therefore incredible lifespans, live in harmony with nature and reject advanced technology. Their planet and their culture is secretly researched by the Federation associated with an alien race called the Son’a. But the Son’a intend to abduct the Ba’ku in order to take the planet for themselves and for the Starfleet officials who all would like to regenerate their bodies. But they did not think of the loyalty of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E to the Prime Directive.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film in the Fresh Kernels review.
Jonathan-Frakes.jpg
