Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

PG

Released Jun 4, 1982

1h 53m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

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Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

75 Reviews

90%

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50,000+ Ratings

As Adm. James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Capt. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) monitor trainees at Starfleet Academy, another vessel from the United Federation of Planets is about to try out the planet-creating Genesis Device in a seemingly deserted portion of space. In the process, two of Kirk's officers are captured by Khan (Ricardo Montalban), an enemy Kirk thought he'd never see again. Once more, Kirk takes the Enterprise's helm, where he meets Khan's ship in an intergalactic showdown.

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Critics Consensus

Considered by many fans to be the best of the Star Trek movies, The Wrath of Khan features a strong plot, increased tension, and a sharp supporting performance from Ricardo Montalban.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Using the contrast between Ricardo Montalban’s fiery Khan and William Shatner’s pasty Captain Kirk as the psychological center, [director Nicholas Meyer] keeps the movie whipping from one incident to another.

Sep 19, 2023

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Entertaining and charming in its innocent idealism.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 1, 2022

Full Review

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

The emotive finale... smartly restates the film’s themes of ageing and mortality, and provides cinema history with the unforgettable, tear-jerking line: “I have been, and always shall be, your friend.”

Rated: 4/5

Jun 17, 2022

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

This is the film that set the tone for such attempts and while it was the only one of the original films to draw on such history, it did so beautifully, providing a roadmap for how future such reverential call backs could be handled.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 6, 2025

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The Wrath of Khan does something that movies based on television shows have tried to do, but have often failed to accomplish: the film elevates the material from TV to film with appropriate gravitas.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 5, 2023

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Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

The movie that may very well have saved the Trek franchise (40th anniversary)

Rated: 4.5/5

Jun 16, 2022

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RichesMovieTrailers

Saw it in 35mm. WORTH IT!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/27/22

Full Review

Janet

Great to see Wrath of Khan on the big screen again. Also had 2 additional scenes that were in the original showing but not on the TV versions. Nice little extra. Had totally forgotten about them.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/11/22

Full Review

Richard H

Excellent in all aspects. Not just a great Star Trek film but a great film. a classic

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/09/22

Full Review

Nick

Loved it. Though there was spoilers at the end after the film for Star Trek III

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/19/22

Full Review

victor J.

This movie is my favorite and it never gets old! There will never be a great cast of talented actors in one movie again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/09/22

Full Review

Manny V

The best Star Trek movie of the franchise

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/09/22

Full Review

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Nicholas Meyer

Director

William Shatner

Admiral James T. Kirk

Leonard Nimoy

Captain Spock

Ricardo Montalban

Khan Noonien Singh

DeForest Kelley

Commander Leonard H. McCoy, M.D.

James Doohan

Commander Montgomery Scott

Movieclips: Star Trek - Spock's Best Scenes

25:54

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan: Official Clip - Kirk Beats Khan

2:09

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan: Official Clip - Old and Worn Out

1:37

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan: Official Clip - Khan's Last Breath

1:55

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan: Official Clip - Spock's Funeral

2:05

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan: Official Clip - Spock's Death

3:16

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan: Official Clip - Khan, You Bloodsucker

2:13

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan: Official Clip - Father & Son

2:01

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan: Official Clip - Khan's Worms

2:07

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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

As Adm. James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Capt. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) monitor trainees at Starfleet Academy, another vessel from the United Federation of Planets is about to try out the planet-creating Genesis Device in a seemingly deserted portion of space. In the process, two of Kirk's officers are captured by Khan (Ricardo Montalban), an enemy Kirk thought he'd never see again. Once more, Kirk takes the Enterprise's helm, where he meets Khan's ship in an intergalactic showdown.

Director: Nicholas Meyer
Producer: Robert Sallin
Screenwriter: Harve Bennett, Jack Sowards, Jack Sowards
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 4, 1982, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 26, 2013
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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