History AwesomeMusic / StarTrekTheFilms

** Aside from Music/BeastieBoys's "Sabotage", there's Creator/MichaelGiacchino's "Night on the Yorktown", a beautiful track that compliments the introduction of the Yorktown Starbase and its wonderful visuals.

** "The Enterprise," the stunning cue that plays during the "Kirk looks at the ''Enterprise'' for a thousand years"[[note]]Well, six minutes[[/note]] scene, is a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome for both Jerry Goldsmith and the orchestra itself--scoring sessions generally require multiple performances of a track, but they nailed it on '''the first take'''.[[note]]Well, technically the 2nd attempt, as during the first attempt the orchestra messed up almost as soon as they started and had to start over.[[/note]] This came after the music was rewritten, as when Goldsmith started the score, they did not yet have a definitive title theme. The original piece had been written with a nautical theme, and would not be completely out of place in a ''Literature/HoratioHornblower'' film, but it didn't feel like ''Star Trek''. That said, once they had their theme, they nailed it.

** "The Enterprise," the stunning cue that plays during the "Kirk looks at the ''Enterprise'' for a thousand years"[[note]]Well, six minutes[[/note]] scene, is a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome for both Jerry Goldsmith and the orchestra itself--scoring sessions generally require multiple performances of a track, but they nailed it on '''the first take'''. This came after the music was rewritten, as when Goldsmith started the score, they did not yet have a definitive title theme. The original piece had been written with a nautical theme, and would not be completely out of place in a ''Literature/HoratioHornblower'' film, but it didn't feel like ''Star Trek''. That said, once they had their theme, they nailed it.

** The cues as the ''Enterprise'' travels through V'Ger are equal parts [[https://youtu.be/gOs_0rj5Ik4?si=KpV61eV9PnnjyRAH ethereal]], [[https://youtu.be/kPQjYQZ7wW0?si=wtnkwLVW_mdiaPQm ominous]], and [[https://youtu.be/J1LC8KZ4ANU?si=dL-IzmUA30kKxgv0 threatening]], conveying the sheer power and mystery of the MechanicalAbomination.

** ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YgRCF1e5A0 Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]''. When it comes to popularity, the inventiveness of the instrumentation, the epic grandeur of the scoring and the benefits of modern recording, this is quite simply Goldsmith's greatest score.
** ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-LAAks_OlQ Star Trek V: The Final Frontier]]''. Another hugely enjoyable Goldsmith score in which the main theme sandwiches the Klingon theme. Goldsmith even utilizes a wailing electronic ram's horn to emulate the distinctive scream of a large bird for the villains' bird-of-prey.
** ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI8jdDMg4ZI Star Trek: Insurrection]]''. This pretty and unassuming theme sandwiched in the middle is a sweet little thing, reminiscent of the kind of lofty strings and woodwind in ''{{Film/Rudy}}'' and several other tender Goldsmith character scores, perfectly evoking the bucolic idyll of the film's locale. (Watch out, he's got an oboe and he's not afraid to use it!)
** ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1H_OwK9r5s Star Trek: First Contact]]''. Just the noble and uplifting horn theme bristling with awe inspiring thoughtful woodwinds and strings must surely rank as the most moving musical moment in any of the ''Star Trek'' films. Acknowledged by the maestro himself as his best ''Star Trek'' score.
** ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgnYU0o7aQ4 Star Trek: Nemesis]]''. The maestro's [[Film/StarTrekNemesis last venture]] to the Star Trek franchise, where "Blue Skies" is heard on a piano, and it slowly builds up into a full blown ''Star Trek'' March.

** Quite a few of the musical cues in this film would go on to become ''Star Trek'' staples. The "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58wJRrvVgZI Klingon Battle Theme]]" from the start would go on to become ''the'' primary Klingon theme (and Worf's {{leitmotif}}), several of the major musical cues would be referenced again and again in later works... and oh yeah, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI9YYe-jgHI the main theme]] to the movie became the theme song for ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', was used as the closing theme for some of the TNG movies, and was also recycled as the opening theme for ''Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier''.
** The film score received an Oscar nomination, and one of the most beautiful pieces from the film, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj4z2Y1y2Ak "Ilia's Theme"]], is all but forgotten by most non-''Trek'' fans. In fact, it was played as an overture over a black screen before the film began (much as Ligeti's "Atmospheres" played before ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey''.)

** They couldn't afford to bring back Music/JerryGoldsmith for the sequel, so they took a chance on an up-and-comer named Music/JamesHorner... who [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxEl_fBlXWU proceeded]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeS0Eo8fAnw to]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KilBvojsMdw kick]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1PejM57F8s ASS.]] As Nicholas Meyer would say, he hired Music/JamesHorner because he couldn't afford Music/JerryGoldsmith; but by the time they made ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'', Horner had become so successful that he hired Cliff Eidelman because he couldn't afford Horner.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1PejM57F8s "Genesis Countdown"]], whose motif at 0:49 was so awesome, it got recycled into "Stealing the Enterprise" in the next film. To say nothing of his little homage to Ligeti's "Atmospheres" at 4:32.
** Oh, and listen to "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeS0Eo8fAnw Enterprise Clears Moorings]]", too.
** No mention of ''[[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan TWOK]]'' is complete without [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KilBvojsMdw "Battle in the Mutara Nebula"]]. Particularly at 0:55, 1:56, and 2:05.
** ''Wrath of Khan'''s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoit0OdKt-I Surprise Attack]], particularly the cellos at 3:22 onwards - the track gives an utter sense of terror and dread at being ambushed.

* ''Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s5lQ-bGe6c "Stealing the Enterprise"]] is AWESOME! Was there a more in-series triumphant moment than immediately after "We have cleared space doors"? Triumphant, yet chilling, knowing what fate lies ahead for the ''Enterprise''.

** Leonard Rosenman's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJzt_ZbNQOk opening theme]] contains snippets from his score from ''WesternAnimation/TheLordOfTheRings''.

** The score by Music/JerryGoldsmith. He returned after 10 years and gave it his full orchestra treatment. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2iUHRBg-5E The Mountain]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na76Mrl89Rs A Busy Man]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kmu-aO5yxM Cosmic Thoughts]]
** Creator/NichelleNichols' cover of Hiroshima's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvTwqcGZhAE The Moon's a Window to Heaven]]" is very good, too. [[FanDisservice The fan dance, not so much.]]

** While Cliff Eidelman's score is awesome in general, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT-wunjnEXA "Overture"]], played during the opening credits especially qualifies as such simply because it builds to a climax that is topped off with Praxis exploding. Meyer wanted him to use Gustav Holst's ''The Planets'' as an inspiration; "The Overture" uses "Mars, the Bringer of War" as its basis. The Overture was used as a temp track on the 2002 ''Film/SpiderMan1'', for when the Green Goblin first makes his appearance over Times Square. It's a go-to temp track for picture editors who need a low ominous build. Director Nicholas Meyer had wanted Music/JamesHorner to return as composer, but the production could not afford him. Meyer is reported as saying that Horner was hired for ''The Wrath of Khan'' because they couldn't afford Music/JerryGoldsmith, but Horner had become such an in-demand composer in the interim that they couldn't afford Horner for this film!
** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r-GudqSdw4 Clear All Moorings]]" is a light, warm piece as the old crew of the ''Enterprise'' enjoy one last launch, the music swelling as Scotty watches the impulse engines humming.

** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlezUNB3I The Battle for Peace]]" accompanies the entire battle over Khitomer. In particular, the slow but steady build up in the track as the ''Enterprise'' takes more and more damage, and Spock and [=McCoy=] are desperately trying to finish modifying the torpedo to take out Chang's modified Bird-of-Prey.
* Regardless of how one feels about ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'', it is hard to deny that the score, one of composer Dennis [=McCarthy=]'s few cinematic offerings, is first-rate. For example, the haunting "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hePNun577vM The Nexus/Christmas Hug]]" track, where Picard finds himself in a comfortable home with wife and children, with subtle discordant musical cues letting him know that all is not right. It's warm and heartbreaking at the same time.
%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooIUtXEuTYQ Here's the main theme]].

** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM1X2TcGMb4 Red Alert]]" is just one ThemeMusicPowerUp after another.
** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEJZeh9U-xI The Dish]]" reworks the Borg theme over and over to new heights of awesome.
** Plus Cochrane blasting Music/{{Steppenwolf}}'s "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4WiyxXpyZc Magic Carpet Ride]]" across the base as the ''Phoenix'' lifts off.
* ''Film/StarTrekInsurrection'': The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QigWNr2bS0k theme]] for the [[BigBad Son'a]] is just ''grand'' and ''epic''.

** The main theme "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO1FZEUbZJE Enterpising Young Man]]", especially in the opening credits. Something about that crystalline, somber yet uplifting horn solo sends chills down your spine every time.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9nJspo7yKo John Harrison/Khan's theme]] is a beautiful song that goes darker as it progresses.
** The ultimate TearJerker, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28mu6J6tvBc "Buying the Space Farm"]].
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwdWeY4DsTo "The San Fran Hustle"]]. Not least for the cameo from ''that'' fighting music from "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E1AmokTime Amok Time]]" at 1:57.

** Music/{{Rihanna}}'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXhIT4MpRis Sledgehammer]] is a chilly electropop song that plays during the closing credits.

** Plus Cochrane blasting Steppenwolf's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4WiyxXpyZc Magic Carpet Ride]]" across the base as the Phoenix lifts off.

** While Cliff Eidelman's score is awesome in general, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT-wunjnEXA "Overture"]], played during the opening credits especially qualifies as such simply because it builds to a climax that is topped off with Praxis exploding. Meyer wanted him to use Gustav Holt's "The Planets" as an inspiration; "The Overture" uses the Mars Suite as its basis. The Overture was used as a temp track on the 2002 ''Film/SpiderMan1'', for when the Green Goblin first makes his appearance over Times Square. It's a go-to temp track for picture editors who need a low ominous build. Director Nicholas Meyer had wanted Music/JamesHorner to return as composer, but the production could not afford him. Meyer is reported as saying that Horner was hired for ''The Wrath of Khan'' because they couldn't afford Music/JerryGoldsmith, but Horner had become such an in-demand composer in the interim that they couldn't afford Horner for this film!

* Regardless of how one feels about ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'', it is hard to deny that the score, one of composer Dennis [=McCarthy=]'s few cinematic offerings, is first-rate. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooIUtXEuTYQ Here's the main theme]].
** Then there's the haunting "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hePNun577vM The Nexus/Christmas Hug]]" track, where Picard finds himself in a comfortable home with wife and children, with subtle discordant musical cues letting him know that all is not right. It's warm and heartbreaking at the same time.

** While Cliff Eidelman's score is awesome in general, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT-wunjnEXA "Overture"]], played during the opening credits especially qualifies as such simply because it builds to a climax that is topped off with Praxis exploding. The Overture was used as a temp track on the 2002 ''Film/SpiderMan1'', for when the Green Goblin first makes his appearance over Times Square. It's a go-to temp track for picture editors who need a low ominous build. Director Nicholas Meyer had wanted Music/JamesHorner to return as composer, but the production could not afford him. Meyer is reported as saying that Horner was hired for ''The Wrath of Khan'' because they couldn't afford Music/JerryGoldsmith, but Horner had become such an in-demand composer in the interim that they couldn't afford Horner for this film!

** Special mention goes to the ultimate TearJerker, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28mu6J6tvBc "Buying the Space Farm"]].
** And [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwdWeY4DsTo "The San Fran Hustle"]]. Not least for the cameo from ''that'' fighting music from "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E1AmokTime Amok Time]]" at 1:57.

** And [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwdWeY4DsTo "San Fran Hustle"]]. Not least for the cameo from ''that'' fighting music from "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E1AmokTime Amok Time]]" at 1:57

* ''Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock'': Was there a more in-series triumphant moment than immediately after "We have cleared space doors"? Triumphant, yet chilling, knowing what fate lies ahead for the ''Enterprise''.

* Music/JamesHorner almost manages to top Goldsmith with the scores for ''Film/{{Star Trek II|The Wrath of Khan}}'' and ''[[Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock III]]''. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s5lQ-bGe6c "Stealing the Enterprise"]] is AWESOME!

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1PejM57F8s "Genesis Countdown"]], whose motif at 0:49 was so awesome, it got recycled into "Stealing the Enterprise" in the next film. To say nothing of his little homage to Ligeti's "Atmospheres" at 4:32.

* ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'':

** They couldn't afford to bring back Music/JerryGoldsmith for the sequel, so they took a chance on an up-and-comer named Music/JamesHorner... who [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxEl_fBlXWU proceeded]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeS0Eo8fAnw to]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KilBvojsMdw kick]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1PejM57F8s ASS.]] As Nicholas Meyer would say, he hired Music/JamesHorner because he couldn't afford Music/JerryGoldsmith; but by the time they made ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'', Horner had become so successful that he hired Cliff Eidelman because he couldn't afford Horner.

** While most of the soundtrack is just all right, Cliff Eidelman's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT-wunjnEXA Overture]] piece, played during the opening credits qualifies simply because it builds to a climax that is topped off with Praxis exploding. The Overture was used as a temp track on the 2002 ''Film/SpiderMan1'', for when the Green Goblin first makes his appearance over Times Square. It's a go-to temp track for picture editors who need a low ominous build. Director Nicholas Meyer had wanted Music/JamesHorner to return as composer, but the production could not afford him. Meyer is reported as saying that Horner was hired for ''The Wrath of Khan'' because they couldn't afford Music/JerryGoldsmith, but Horner had become such an in-demand composer in the interim that they couldn't afford Horner for this film!