Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

At the end of the universe lies the beginning of vengeance.

1982 • 113 min • Action · Adventure · Science Fiction · Thriller

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Synopsis

The starship Enterprise and its crew is pulled back into action when old nemesis, Khan, steals a top secret device called Project Genesis.

Our family guide

Best from age 11

Movie Knight Score

2173 reviews

100 Reviewers · 3 · 53%
74 Audience · 2170 · 47%

Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew face their cunning old foe, Khan, who seeks revenge and a powerful terraforming device. Their space battle involves strategic maneuvers, personal sacrifices, and a thrilling confrontation with dangerous technology. This classic sci-fi adventure explores themes of leadership, aging, and the consequences of past actions.

Violence & peril: 5/10
Language: 2/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 1/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Intense space battles with explosions and ship damage
Some characters face peril and death, including a major character sacrifice
A few jump scares and tense moments, especially when characters are hunted
Khan is a menacing villain driven by revenge

What it models well

Self-sacrifice for the greater good
Loyalty and friendship
Facing the consequences of past actions
Valuing wisdom and experience

Talk about it after

What makes a good leader, especially in a crisis?
The importance of planning and adapting when things go wrong
How different characters deal with their emotions and past mistakes
The concept of life, death, and renewal in the film

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Nicholas Meyer • Crew: Jack B. Sowards, Jack B. Sowards, Harve Bennett

Trailers & clips

Reviewer notes

Recommended
Before watching this movie, we had heard it was one of the best Star Trek movies, if not the best! Compared to the first movie and all the slow scenes for the visuals and nostalgia, this movie blew that one out of the water! We loved how it actually focused on the plot! Also, the CGI and effects were outstanding, having updated the transporter effect and the phaser effects!…
hopefulreviews, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Oh, hey everybody, there is another review pointing out that this is the greatest Star Trek movie every made. And, hey, there is another review saying how much they loved how it recalled an episode from the original series and turned it into a movie with such high stakes and such a great antagonist.…
GenerationofSwine, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
This is much more like it. William Shatner leads our intrepid band of intergalactic explorers on an all action adventure to save the universe for the evil super-intellect of "Khan" (a wonderfully hammy Ricardo Montalban) as he escapes from imprisonment on a desolate desert planet and seeks violent revenge on "Admiral Kirk".…
CinemaSerf, TMDB Community