<P> Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry first suggested the idea of a Star Trek feature in 1969 . When the original television series was cancelled, he lobbied to continue the franchise through a film . The success of the series in syndication convinced the studio to begin work on a feature film in 1975 . A series of writers attempted to craft a suitably epic script, but the attempts did not satisfy Paramount, so the studio scrapped the project in 1977 . Paramount instead planned on returning the franchise to its roots with a new television series, Star Trek: Phase II . The massive worldwide box office success of Star Wars in mid-1977 sent Hollywood studios to their vaults in search of similar sci - fi properties that could be adapted or re-launched to the big screen . When Columbia's Close Encounters of the Third Kind had a huge opening in late December 1977, Paramount was convinced that science fiction films other than Star Wars could do well at the box office, and production of Phase II was cancelled in favor of making a Star Trek film . </P> <P> Principal photography for Star Trek: The Motion Picture commenced August 7, 1978 with director Robert Wise helming the feature . The production encountered difficulties and slipped behind schedule, with effects team Robert Abel and Associates proving unable to handle the film's large amount of effects work . Douglas Trumbull was hired and given a blank check to complete the effects work in time and location; the final cut of the film was completed just in time for the film's premiere . The film introduced an upgrade to the technology and starship designs, making for a dramatic visual departure from the original series . Many of the set elements created for Phase II were adapted and enhanced for use in the first feature films . It received mixed reviews from critics; while it grossed $139 million the price tag had climbed to about $35 million due to costly effects work and delays . </P> <P> The Motion Picture's gross was considered disappointing, but it was enough for Paramount to back a sequel with a reduced budget . After Roddenberry pitched a film in which the crew of the Enterprise goes back in time to ensure the assassination of John F. Kennedy, he was "kicked upstairs" to a ceremonial role while Paramount brought in television producer Harve Bennett to craft a better--and cheaper--film than the first . After watching all the television episodes, Bennett decided that the character of Khan Noonien Singh was the perfect villain for the new film . Director Nicholas Meyer finished a complete screenplay in just twelve days, and did everything possible within budget to give The Wrath of Khan a nautical, swashbuckling feel, which he described as "Horatio Hornblower in outer space ." Upon release, the reception of The Wrath of Khan was highly positive; Entertainment Weekly's Mark Bernadin called The Wrath of Khan, "the film that, by most accounts, saved Star Trek as we know it". </P> <P> Meyer declined to return for the next film, so directing duties were given to cast member Leonard Nimoy for the third film . Paramount gave Bennett the green light to write Star Trek III the day after The Wrath of Khan opened . The producer penned a resurrection story for Spock that built on threads from the previous film and the original series episode "Amok Time". Nimoy remained director for the next film in the series . Nimoy and Bennett wanted a film with a lighter tone that did not have a classic antagonist . They decided on a time travel story with the Enterprise crew returning to their past to retrieve something to save their present--eventually, humpback whales . After having been dissatisfied with the script written by Daniel Petrie Jr., Paramount hired Meyer to rewrite the screenplay with Bennett's help . Meyer drew upon his own time travel story Time After Time for elements of the script . Star William Shatner was promised his turn as director for Star Trek V, and Nicholas Meyer returned as director / co-writer for Star Trek VI . </P>

What's the order of the star trek movies