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Star Trek III - The Search for Spock

Star Trek III - The Search for Spock (1984)

tomatometer

77

Average Rating: 6.4/10
Reviews Counted: 39
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 9

Though it may be short on dazzling special effects, The Search for Spock is still a strong Star Trek installment, thanks to affecting performances by its iconic cast.

86

Average Rating: 6.6/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 1

Though it may be short on dazzling special effects, The Search for Spock is still a strong Star Trek installment, thanks to affecting performances by its iconic cast.

audience

61

liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 62,188

My Rating

Movie Info

When last we left the crew of the star ship Enterprise, they were heading home following a skirmish with the despotic Khan. The unpleasant incident had cost the life of Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy)--or so it seemed. Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) is informed by Spock's father Sarek (Mark Lenard) that his son is being kept alive in the thoughts of one of the crew members. It now becomes necessary to search for Spock's body, so that flesh and soul can be rejoined on Vulcan. It turns out that Spock's

PG,

Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Apr 18, 2000

Paramount Pictures

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Star Trek III - The Search for Spock Trailer & Photos

Critic Reviews for Star Trek III - The Search for Spock

All Critics (39) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (10) | DVD (33)

These are classic directorial occasions, and Nimoy rises to them with fervor, in effect beaming his film up onto a higher pictorial plane than either of its predecessors.

May 3, 2009 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An emotionally satisfying science fiction adventure.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This 1984 film's few and unimpressive special effects evidently qualify it as science fiction, but the genre it really belongs to is the male weepie: there hasn't been a gooier buddy romance on the screen since Joe Buck took Ratso Rizzo to Miami.

June 4, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comments (5)
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Decent SFX, but a little more action wouldn't have gone amiss.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This is a good but not great Star Trek movie, a sort of compromise between the first two.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The humanity of the Star Trek series, unexpected as it is in a sci-fi setting, remains the series' best feature.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Stirring but sad science-fiction enterprise.

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Charles Cassady
Common Sense Media

Without falling into some of the silliness and self parody of the next movie, this one manages to show genuine emotion and sentiment. (Blu-ray Collection)

May 16, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis
John J. Puccio
Movie Metropolis

...a somber, mournful installment of the Star Trek franchise. And when the defining trait of your series is dullness, this isn't exactly the best strategy.

March 25, 2009 Full Review Source: LarsenOnFilm | Comments (2)
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm

christopher lloyd!

July 5, 2008 | Comment (1)
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
sbs.is

Not bad, but the series would boldly go to better places.

May 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4
Film4

It's reasonably entertaining fare for non-fans.

June 4, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide
TV Guide's Movie Guide

One of the best of the series.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

It has the physique and will of a bold adventurer, but it's afflicted with acute brain-stem damage. Mixed in among some of Trekdom's best moments are some of the canon's sloppiest choices...

April 8, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDJournal.com
Mark Bourne
DVDJournal.com

May be the unappreciated middle child of the Trek franchise, but it's still one of better and more indispensable episodes.

February 11, 2006 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | Comment (1)
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide

Contrived but involving.

June 12, 2004
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
View all critic reviews (39)

Audience Reviews for Star Trek III - The Search for Spock

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Going back to the original roots of slow pacing and a basic story, "Star Trek III - The Search for Spock" is a little more layered that the first Star Trek film, but I enjoyed it just as much, meaning it needs work. All the idea of this film was kind of an excuse to throw in tons of backstory for new characters while the audience awaits the return of Spock. This film does a fine job of keeping me interested in what was going on, but it felt very very slow. It is the shortest of all the films, and in my opinion, it's the least exciting so far. This third instalment boasts great visuals, great acting, and a solid story, which is everything you could ask for from a Star Trek picture, but compared to the standards sent by it's predecessor, it fell flat on it's face a few times!
October 16, 2010
KJ Proulx
KJ Proulx

Super Reviewer

Much like the second Star Trek film the immediate follow-up may cause nostalgic feelings among those fans who saw it when it originally came out, but from today's point of view it is not much to write home about. The story fits on a beer coaster, most of the characters remain underused and uninteresting and the final fight between Kirk and his enemy is a joke. Even the special effects look rather lousy compared to some pretty decent films from that era. Hardcore fans might wipe away a tear when Spock finally returns in the last act, everyone else is looking forward to the next films, that ended up much more entertaining.
June 14, 2006
ironclad1609
Jens S.

Super Reviewer

Star Trek III - The Search for Spock Quotes

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    1. "Mr. Adventure": Well -- what are we going to do about it?!
    2. Uhura: I am going to do nothing about it. You are going to sit in the closet.
    – Submitted by Christian S (10 months ago)
    1. James T. Kirk: My God Bones, what have I done?
    2. Leonard "Bones" McCoy: What you had to do. What you always do. Turn death into a fighting chance to live.
    – Submitted by Dann M (15 months ago)
    1. Hikaru Sulu: The word sir?
    2. James T. Kirk: The word? Is no. I am therefore going anyway.
    – Submitted by Blair S (16 months ago)
    1. Capt. Styles Excelsior: Ah, Mister Scott... Calling it a night?
    2. Montgomery "Scotty" Scott: Ah, yes, sir.
    3. Capt. Styles Excelsior: Turning it in myself, looking forward to breaking some of the Enterprise's speed records tomorrow.
    4. Montgomery "Scotty" Scott: Ah, yes, sir... Good night.
    5. Elevator Voice: Level please.
    6. Montgomery "Scotty" Scott: Transporter room...
    7. Elevator Voice: Thank you.
    8. Montgomery "Scotty" Scott: Up your shaft...
    – Submitted by Blair S (16 months ago)
    1. Hikaru Sulu: Don't call me tiny.
    – Submitted by Kane S (19 months ago)
    1. James T. Kirk: You Klingon bastards, you've killed my son.
    – Submitted by King Tut o (21 months ago)

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Latest News on Star Trek III - The Search for Spock

April 27, 2009:
Trekking With Tim, Day Three: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Before I get into my assessment of Star Trek: The Search for Spock, allow me a brief moment of...

July 25, 2007:
Has Abrams Found His Spock?
The guy's done a LOT of TV, but you'd probably remember him best from 24 or Heroes. And now it looks...

February 28, 2007:
New "Star Trek" Flick to Hit Theaters on Christmas (2008)
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