Star Trek: Section 31 has launched with dismal scores on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, reflecting widespread disappointment. The latest Star Trek entry, featuring Michelle Yeoh, struggles to capture the essence of its predecessors. Fans and critics alike have been left underwhelmed.
Section 31 reviews call it ‘the weirdest Star Trek movie’
Star Trek: Section 31 recently debuted on Paramount+ after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and industry strikes. Polygon‘s Susana Polo dubbed it “the weirdest Star Trek movie ever made.” She further described it as “packed with a TV series’ worth of ideas.” While some elements reflect classic Star Trek, others stray far from the franchise’s norm. She criticized the compressed format, stating, “All these ideas could have used more room — or, perhaps, more space? — to breathe.”
IGN labeled the film as “100 minutes of generic schlock containing only trace elements of Star Trek.” The review noted its departure from the franchise’s ethos, including the absence of exploration, optimism, and intellectual depth. Empire Magazine wrote, “Section 31 makes for a disheartening send-off for a once great character,” referring to Philippa Georgiou’s portrayal.
Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times observed that the film reflects its origins as a planned TV series. He remarked, “[Almost] everything about Section 31 says ‘pilot episode’…as if the film did not want to let go of the possibility of being a TV show.” Critics agreed that underdeveloped characters and a fragmented storyline weakened the movie.
Star Trek: Section 31’s Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic Scores are terrible
Star Trek: Section 31 has been poorly received, earning a 19% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 21 critic reviews and a 36 Metascore on Metacritic. These ratings highlight widespread criticism of the movie’s lack of originality and failure to deliver the depth and thematic resonance expected from the Star Trek franchise.
The film follows Philippa Georgiou, played by Yeoh, as she joins Starfleet’s secretive Section 31 division. Despite the action-packed premise, critics note the movie lacks the philosophy and character focus that define Star Trek.
