Star Trek is one of the most popular science fiction series to ever grace movie screens. Following the popularity of science fiction in the 1970s, Star Trek was going to be rebooted as a television series before producers decided to make a movie instead. That film's success spawned sequels and helped launch the follow-up television series.

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As of this writing, there have been 13 films featuring the casts of The Original Series and The Next Generation as well as a trilogy of films set during a different timeline. While each of these films has an antagonist, not all Star Trek villains are created equally.

13 V'Ger – Star Trek: The Motion Picture

V'Ger

Star Trek: The Motion Picture follows the Enterprise crew as they try to prevent V'Ger from annihilating the Federation. V'Ger turns out to be the probe Voyager 6 that Earth sent to explore space centuries before. It had gained sentience and was trying to return to its creator.

V'Ger isn't a true villain. The probe is a threat, but it's not truly seeking to destroy the Federation. It's a misunderstanding by an inanimate object that has gained sentience. Eventually, Commander Decker merges with V'Ger to help save the Federation.

12 The Whale Probe – Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home

Whale Probe

Much like V'Ger, the Whale Probe was only a threat due to a misunderstanding and not because it was truly villainous. In Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home, the Whale Probe is endangering Earth while searching for humpback whales who have gone extinct in the Star Trek timeline.

The Enterprise crew is able to go back in time and transport two humpback whales to the future. The whales' calls caused the Whale Probe to stop causing massive damage to Earth. The Voyage Home is the rare Star Trek film where no one dies, and the entire adventure is lighthearted.

11 Sha Ka Ree – Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier

Sha Ka Ree

Sha Ka Ree is the god worshiped by Spock's half-brother, Sybok, in The Final Frontier. Sybok is bringing a starship to this god only to find out that Sha Ka Ree isn't really a god but an evil alien trying to escape the Great Barrier that had trapped it.

Sybok is the villain's representative the viewer sees throughout the film, so he is viewed by many as the villain. However, Sybok is merely a believer whose religion is manipulated by an alien. He isn't innocent, but he's still a victim.

10 Ru'afo – Star Trek: Insurrection

Ru'afo

Ru'afo is the leader of the Son'a people who wants another group of people, the Ba'ku, removed from a region of space. He manipulates Starfleet Vice Admiral Dougherty who is just trying to mitigate the fallout of the Dominion War.

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Ru'afo is essentially the Star Trek version of the evil bureaucrat trying to use eminent domain. He's a one-note villain that worked well for single episodes in Star Trek series but couldn't carry a film.

9 Shinzon – Star Trek: Nemesis

Shinzon

A clone of Captain Picard who grew up in a Reman slave mine is now leading the Remans to overthrow the Romulan government. Then, he sets his sights on Picard and destroying Earth. Shinzon is a look at what Picard might have been had he grown up under different circumstances.

Shinzon fails to be a compelling villain because so many of the things that are supposed to be intriguing about him had already been explored during The Next Generation.

8 Dr. Soran – Star Trek: Generations

Dr. Tolian Soran

In the first film to feature The Next Generation cast, Dr. Soran is a refugee who just wants to return to the Nexus. It's viewed as a way to get to paradise, and that's all Dr. Soran really wants.

What makes Dr. Soran so villainous is that he doesn't care who he hurts to reach his goal. He's willing to let millions of people die, so he can experience paradise. Plus, he ultimately brings about Kirk's death. That's an impressive run of destruction for someone who isn't inherently evil.

7 Admiral Marcus – Star Trek Into Darkness

Admiral Alexander Marcus

In the Kelvin timeline, Admiral Marcus finds Khan's ship and manipulates him into doing his bidding. Unlike the events of The Wrath of Khan, Into Darkness' Khan is more the henchman than the villain, much like Sybok to Sha Ka Ree. Admiral Marcus is the true villain by holding Khan's followers hostage.

It was a different way to introduce well-known characters to the new timeline. Khan is still ruthless, although not as charismatic, and he is more compelling as a foil for Kirk than Marcus is.

6 Krall – Star Trek Beyond

Krall

Krall is a former Federation captain who crashed on a planet that warped his appearance and his mind. After a century on this planet, he is disillusioned with the Federation and ready to destroy everything about it.

Krall embodies hatred and bitterness. He's the opposite of what hope the Federation is supposed to stand for. He wasn't always this way, but a century stranded will certainly test anyone's views. It's a compelling take on a villain.

5 Kruge – Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock

Kruge

Kruge is a Klingon mercenary who is looking to take advantage of the Genesis device Kirk launched at the end of The Wrath of Khan. Kruge is ruthless and ends up killing Kirk's son, David, before Kirk finally defeats him.

Kruge brought a renewed interest in the Klingons which became an integral part of the storytelling of future films. He wasn't seeking vengeance, but he still made his beef with Kirk personal, albeit unintentionally.

4 General Chang – Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country

General Chang

Speaking of Klingons, General Chang is a throwback to the evil Klingons of The Original Series. He is opposed to the upcoming treaty between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, so he frames Kirk for the murder of the Klingon Chancellor.

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His actions ultimately lead to peace between the Federation and Klingons, along with members of the latter group, like Worf, joining the former in future installments of the series.

3 Nero – Star Trek

Nero

When JJ Abrams chose to reboot the franchise, he needed a strong villain, something the first film in the Kelvin timeline delivered. Nero is a Romulan from the future who saw his planet destroyed in a Supernova. He decides to take revenge against Spock who was trying to prevent the Supernova from happening.

Nero travels through time and destroys Kelvin, which leaves Kirk without a father. He also destroys the planet Vulcan, killing Spock's mother in the process. Furthermore, he seriously injures Captain Pike and tries to destroy Earth. Nero is the strongest Star Trek villain of the Kelvin timeline.

2 Khan – Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

Khan

Khan was introduced during season two of Star Trek, but he made enough of an impression that he was brought back for Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan. Khan is an augment who previously conquered Earth and now wants to conquer Kirk.

Khan is seeking vengeance and is able to damage the Enterprise in a way that Spock sacrifices himself to save the ship. Kirk beat Khan in battle, but the latter ensures the former learns that some situations are no-win scenarios.

1 The Borg Queen – Star Trek: First Contact

The Borg Queen

Every Star Trek series has its signature villains, and the Borg fills this role in The Next Generation. With the introduction of the Borg Queen in Star Trek: First Contact, the view of the Borg shifted into an insect-like race with a hive mind.

She wanted every creature in the world to be Borg, and, as the Borg would say, "resistance was futile." There have been many Star Trek villains looking to conquer a planet, a race of people, or a quadrant, but the Borg was the only villain that wanted everything assimilated.

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