WhenStar Trekfirst aired on network television on September 8th,1966, no one could’ve ever guessed that it would become one of the greatest science fiction franchises of all time. Only lasting three seasons, the original series failed to gain a firm foothold over television audiences at the time, but onceStar Trekmovedto the big screen, the world never took it for granted again. Now, with more than half a century of television spin-offs, blockbuster movies, comic books, and novels fully fleshing out the universe, it’s clear that the most iconic stories of the franchise have alwayscentered around the starshipEnterpriseand the legendary captains that command its crews. But, to make this list of elite on-screen captains, you can’t just be an acting commander, or given the chair in an act of emergency; no, you have to be the real deal. With that out of the way, here’s a list of the best onscreen captains to ever command theUSS Enterprise.
7Captain April
While Captain April may be the most unknown of starship captains to make this list, he’s also regarded as one of the most important, carrying the distinction as the first captain to ever command the Enterprise after its christening. Having taken command of the very first Enterprise commissioned by the United Federation of Planets on April 11th, 2245, April makes his on-screen debut in 1974’sStar Trek: The Animated Series,The Counter-Clock Incident,where as commodore he travels with the Enterprise to the dilithium-rich world of Babel to usher in his retirement, and reminisce to Captain James T. Kirk about his time aboard as captain of theEnterprise. Not much is known of him if you only visit his on-screen appearances, butStar Treklore is filled with references to him in novels, comic books, and encyclopedias, filling in the blanks of his legendary career. His most recent onscreen appearance occurs in the newStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' television series, where he makes his live action debut, and serves as an admiral in Starfleet.
6Captain Spock
Spock is best known for his loyal service as first officer aboard the starship Enterprise, and even more so for the timeless friendship he shared with Captain James T. Kirk. His decorated career as first officer overshadows his short stint onscreen as captain of the Enterprise, but as one of the mosticonic characters of theStar Trekmythos, his service in that capacity should not be diminished. Our first glimpse of Spock as captain of the Starfleet flagship comes at the beginning ofStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,where he’s been training a new generation of crew members aboard the Enterprise.When the Enterprise receives a distress signal from Regula I, Admiral James T. Kirk assumes command of the Enterprise,and enacts Spock as his first officer. But, what isn’t well known, is that Spock had been serving as captain of the Enterprise since 2280, having taken command five years before the events ofThe Wrath of Khanin 2285.
In the Kelvin universe that director J.J Abrams introduced, Spock remains a formidable force in the study and application of logic, but it is this fundamental adherence to strict logic that, while often seen as one of his greatest strengths, hinders him from a more developed role in the big chair. This weakness is personified during the Kelvin timeline’sStar Trek, where Spock, while serving as acting captain, is forced to resign by Kirk, and accept the role that his emotions play in his ability to lead; something that Kirk had already come to realize. With that said, Spock remains one of the greatest all-time decorated Starfleet officers, regardless of rank, granting his onscreen stint as captain of the Enterprise a worthy and iconic addition to this list.
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5Captain Archer
Starfleet in the era of Captain Archer’s command, operates in a completely different reality than the one audiences have come to know and love. Making his onscreen debut inStar Trek: Enterprise, the United Federation of Planets didn’t exist yet, marking Archer as one of the earliest pioneers of interstellar travel in the Star Trek universe. As commander of the Enterprise NX-01, the first starship of the United Earth alliance capable of reaching warp factor five, and having soared the cosmos nearly a hundred years before Captain Kirk’s five-year mission with the Enterprise NCC-1701 as part of the United Federation of Planets, Archer traces his distinct lineage to some of Earth’s earliest explorers.
His role in establishing the framework on which the United Federation of Planets would later build upon included forging diplomatic missions with new alien species, and developing closer ties with the Vulcan race, who nurtured humanities early foray into interstellar politics, culminating in one of the first conflicts with the Klingon empire. Under his leadership, the Enterprise became associated with the level-headed diplomacy needed to nurture closer ties with allied space faring civilizations, and he is credited as one of the architects of what would eventually become the United Federation of Planets, serving as president of the newly formed alliance in 2184. While regarded as one of the least favoriteStar Trektelevision series, Enterprisedid have some bright spots, giving fans their fix before a new era ofStar Trekfilms hit theaters later in the decade.
4James T. Kirk [Kelvin Timeline]
In 2009, J.J Abrams introduced audiences to the alternate Kelvin timeline in the rebootedStar Trekfilm of that year, upending the established canon ofStar Trekfor all time. Documenting the travels of Spock as he time travels back in time after being attacked by a Romulan mining vessel commanded by Nero, we’re soon introduced to a young James T. Kirk who has grown up without the guiding hand of his father, George Kirk, an instrumental presence that inspired Kirk to join Starfleet in the Prime timeline.In the Kelvin universe, Kirk is selfish, brash, and unfit for anything resembling the bridge of a starship. That is, until he’s brought under the guidance and influence of another leading father figure; Captain Pike. Growing into his leadership potential over the course of three films, audiences witnessed one of the most unforgettable captains of the Enterprise endure the growing pains of becoming a Starfleet officer, worthy of the name, Kirk.
Because of his youth, this Kirk suffers from not being as settled or measured as his Prime timeline counterpart, and is often ready and willing to defy the orders of captains, admirals, the federation itself, and even the most sacrosanct of federation ideals; the Prime Directive. Because of the absence of his father while developing through Starfleet, Kirk’s measuring stick becomes Captain Pike himself, who leads with a sense of assuredness, calm, poise, and dignity that serves as the greater example of leadership within the Star Trek mythos. When Pike dies from a surprise attack led by Khan inStar Trek Into Darkness, Kirk is motivated to become theStar Trekcaptain of legendary ethos, and while he continues to make mistakes along the way, we can’t help but love him for the way he leads with his heart.
3Captain Pike
Captain Pike has been a stalwart presence in theStar Trekuniverse since the very beginning, making his debut inThe Menagerieepisode during season one of the original series. While not as iconic as some of his contemporaries,his more recent appearancesinStar Trekfilms and television have established him as a capable and distinguished leader, catapulting him into the hearts and minds of Trekkies everywhere. While many of his earliest years in Starfleet were spent under the command of Captain April, he still emerges as the more iconic presence due to his continued relevance in Star Trek storylines.
His leadership has nurtured, inspired, and set the example for the careers of legendary commanders like James T. Kirk himself, and Spock has the distinction of serving as first officer under Pike during his first five-year mission as commander aboard the Enterprise. For many audiences, their first taste of Pike’s leadership was during the alternate Kelvin timeline introduced in theStar Trekfilms directed by J.J Abrams, where he played an instrumental role in developing James T. Kirk as a capable leader worthy of the chair, and sacrificed his own safety for the survival of his crew. His time as captain of the Enterprise is documented in the newStar Trek: Strange New Worldstelevision series, and like many other captains on this list, Pike has become one of the most decorated, and iconic captains in Starfleet history.
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2Captain James T. Kirk [Prime Timeline]
The original onscreen captain of the U.S.S Enterprise, James T. Kirkset the bar highfor any Starfleet captain lucky enough to be seen on film and television after him. While not the first to captain the Enterprise according to canon, Kirk arguably remains the most iconic leader to ever grace the big chair, and it’s this iconography that catapultedStar Trekinto the zeitgeist of science fiction royalty, now and forever to come. Kirk led with a sense of swash-buckling bravado,fearless bravery in the face of combat, and a heroic presence that allowed audiences to trust him the same way the crew of the Enterprise did. While he often defied Starfleet during the course of his five-year assignment as captain of the Enterprise, his leadership was never based on defiance, and at no point was his independence unwieldy. During its initial run on the NBC network, Star Trek failed to gain a true foothold on television, but renewed popularity through heavy syndication allowed the television series to gain a cult following, and gave Paramount reason enough to take a chance on the firstStar Trekmovie in 1979, some 13 years after its debut on television.
That movie is whereStar Trektook off into the stars, and the true legend of Captain Kirk would begin. Over the next decade, audiences would follow Kirk and crew through some of the greatest adventures ever captured onscreen, with films likeStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khanregarded as some of the best science fiction storytelling ever. The movies allowedStar Trekto expand further into comic books, novels, and spin-off television projects, likeStar Trek: The Next Generation, where Kirk would cross over into new adventures and films with new captains of the Enterprise, like Captain Picard. As new fans joined the adventure decade after decade,Star Trekgenerated the kind of passion necessary to catapult itself into the new millennium, and beyond. For that, Captain Kirk and his original crew of the Enterprise remain the catalyst behind that legacy.
1Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Star Trek: The Next Generationdebuted Sept. 26th, 1987, and lasted for seven seasons, becoming the most successfulStar Trektelevision series of all time. The show introduced a new generation of audiences to the newest Enterprise starship at the time, the iconic NCC 1701-D, and the crew that would take her on new missions to explore the cosmos. It was during this show that viewers would be introduced to the greatest captain to ever command the bridge of a federation starship bearing the name Enterprise; Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Over the course of seven seasons, and four films, Picard became the standard-bearer for Starfleet captains, leading with a sense of calm, level-headed excellence, and distinguished poise that one couldn’t help but be inspired by. By the timeStar Trek: First Contact,considered the best film from that era,hit theaters in 1996, Picard’s legacy was established, and audiences never once questioned his ability to command.
While one might argue that Kirk stands as the more iconic captain of theStar Trekmythology,Picard sets himself apartby the way in which he commands his crew with dignity, poise, and unquestionable competency. While Kirk was known to be an erratic leader at times, and more prone to emotional outbursts that could potentially undermine his crew and their safety, Picard stands as the more even-keeled and capable starship captain, commanding the Enterprise with an unwavering sense of duty and accountability. New series outings, likePicard,further expand upon his legend, and give fans a deeper look into the ethos of Jean-Luc by creating a more intimate experience with the beloved captain, allowing us to submit to his powerful leadership once again, knowing that he alone has the ability to"make it so."
