Trekkies

PG

Released Oct 18, 1997

1h 26m

Documentary

List

86%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

70%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

The science fiction TV franchise "Star Trek" has had a seismic impact on the lives of its most obsessive fans. Known as Trekkies, these diehard devotees wear their Starfleet costumes in public, speak in Klingon and even redecorate their offices and homes to mimic the look of the "Star Trek" world. In this documentary, former "Star Trek" actress Denise Crosby travels the country interviewing famous fans like Barbara Adams and exploring the reasons behind the show's enduring appeal.

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Critics Consensus

To fan or not to fawn over: this lifelong and prosperous journey into a sometimes cringeworthy world makes Trekkies the lovable center of its universe.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 3/4

Mar 19, 2002

Full Review

Susan Stark

Detroit News

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

That Trekkies doesn’t take a more socially critical look at its topic and resolves to be merely light entertainment is the documentary’s biggest flaw, especially considering how fandom and nerd culture has evolved since the film’s release.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 5, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Why does Star Trek boast the most devoted fans of any franchise in television history? That question gets answered -- sort of -- in this entertaining documentary.

Rated: 3/4

May 27, 2022

Full Review

John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews

gain a little greater appreciation for the genius of Roddenberry's phenomenon

Rated: B

Dec 8, 2009

Full Review

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Audience Member

Upon release a film like Trekkies was a long overdue look at a global phenomenon. The main issue with it is its need to look at the extreme sides of fandom for the sake of entertainment. I can understand why some fans may feel it exploits them. From a content point of view it would of course be less interesting but maybe more of an effort to look at the less extreme side of fandom would present a more rounded documentary. The lack of interviews with anybody outside of America is also disappointing, showing a bias on the filmmaker's part. It's something that would be rectified in the sequel. There's a lot to enjoy here but it seems to have a lot to unload (making the doc running time feel a lot longer than it should do) without giving us much depth to the people we meet. As mentioned already Trekkies is an amazing time capsule into a period were Star Trek was at the height of what it could do both creatively and commercially before franchise fatigue and horrible reboot attempts soured what made the franchise strong during the 20th Century. The most revealing statement made is regarding diversity. For all this talk about needing inclusivity and diversity in Star Trek today one fan makes the important point that the series always showed diversity through its alien life forms or cultures. It was a lesson to be tolerant and accepting of others that don't look like you. It just goes to show that it's not who you cast in a series that provides diversity but making that message accessible through writing. It's easy to laugh at the people featured in this documentary, saying "what have you done with your lives" but considering the diehard fandom for something like football or baseball exists those supposed ‘crazy' people could easily turn around and ask us what have we done with our lives? Over the years more than anything actual Star Trek has managed to bring people together regardless of their backgrounds, uniting and offering a universe to engage with others like themselves. One kid late in the documentary sums up the franchise best when he says Star Trek allows every age group of person regardless if they're a child or an adult a reason to goof off. I couldn't have put it better myself.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

i like this documentary. it was a good documentary showing how insane fans of a thing can be. i like star trek but i dont know if im a Trekkie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A funny look into a whole different world. It is so in depth it even becomes exhausting.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A really fun, eccentric & objective look at Star Trek fans as a whole. Quirky & hilarious, uncomfortable & awkward. As a lifelong Star Wars fan, this little film brought out nothing but respect for the Star Trek fans & its community.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Educational, but quickly becomes dated.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Live long and prosper!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

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Roger Nygard

Director

Denise Crosby

Self

Barbara Adams

Self

Denis Bourguignon

Himself (as The Denis Bourguignon Family)

David Greenstein

Self

Laurel Greenstein

Self

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Synopsis

The science fiction TV franchise "Star Trek" has had a seismic impact on the lives of its most obsessive fans. Known as Trekkies, these diehard devotees wear their Starfleet costumes in public, speak in Klingon and even redecorate their offices and homes to mimic the look of the "Star Trek" world. In this documentary, former "Star Trek" actress Denise Crosby travels the country interviewing famous fans like Barbara Adams and exploring the reasons behind the show's enduring appeal.

Director: Roger Nygard
Producer: Michael Leahy, Joel Soisson
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount
Rating: PG
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 24, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $317.2K
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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