- 10
[Director] Abrams envisions a Trek that's cool, not kitschy, opening with-and maintaining throughout-a burning intensity previously absent from the series, while preserving the principles and characterizations that first seduced pudgy, hyperhidrotic social mutants decades ago.
—Jordan Burchette Maxim
- 9
Paced at warp speed with spectacular action sequences rendered brilliantly and with a cast so expert that all the familiar characters are instantly identifiable, the film gives Paramount Pictures a new lease of life on its franchise.
—Ray Bennett Hollywood Reporter
- 9
...a clever and infectious reboot of the amazingly enduring sci-fi classic...
—Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly
- 9
Trekkies and civilians ... alike can rejoice: Not only does this Star Trek proffer smart thrills and slick kicks, but it builds upon the original's history...
—Robert Wilonsky Village Voice
- 9
Part sequel, part prequel, all clever reboot.
—Luke Y. Thompson E!
- 9
...a blast in every sense of the word.
—Leah Rozen People
- 9
...rockets along like a beautifully engineered vehicle you can?t help but admire for its design and performance. It shifts gears often but always smoothly, and accelerates again and yet again when you suspect it might be tempted to ease up for good.
—Todd McCarthy Variety
- 8
...isn't just a pleasurable rethink of your geek uncle's favorite science-fiction series. It's also a testament to television's power as mythmaker, as a source for some of the fundamental stories we tell about ourselves, who we are and where we came from.
—Manohla Dargis New York Times
- 8
With one film, J.J. Abrams has made Star Trek younger, flashier, sexier, funnier, and less intelligent, but more exhilarating than it has been in decades.
—Sean O'Connell filmcritic.com
- 8
...a smart, epic and eye-popping reboot.
—Lou Lumenick New York Post
- 8
...the sort of Abrams-patented combination of gripping action and vulnerable heroes writ large. It boldly goes somewhere different and makes it hard to leave the film not hoping for a return voyage soon.
—Keith Phipps Onion AV Club
- 8
With one film, J.J. Abrams has made Star Trek younger, flashier, sexier, funnier, and less intelligent, but more exhilarating than it has been in decades.
—Sean O'Connell Reel
- 8
Star Trek creates an alternate universe you want to get lost in. It's an irresistible invitation for fun. What more can you ask of a summer movie?
—Peter Travers Rolling Stone
- 7
...breathlessly paced bordering on manic, but propulsively entertaining.
—Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune
- 7
...it is pleasant to report that though it's not perfect, the reconstituted Star Trek is successful enough for everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.
—Kenneth Turan Los Angeles Times
- 7
...delivers some telling back stories about the young Enterprise crew.
—Peter Rainer Christian Science Monitor
- 7
...an energetic sci-fi extravaganza, with spectacular action sequences and nifty visuals.
—Claudia Puig USA Today
- 6
The new movie essentially intends to reboot the franchise with younger characters and carry on as before. The movie deals with narrative housekeeping. Perhaps the next one will engage these characters in a more challenging and devious story, one more about testing their personalities than re-establishing them. In the meantime, you want space opera, you got it.
—Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times
- 6
Like the original cast's best movie, The Wrath of Khan, this Star Trek essentially turns out to be a war film, with the occasional philosophical timeout to discuss love, friendship, and duty until the next bone-crunching fistfight or multi-weapon rumble with the Romulans.
—Bill Weber Slant Magazine