The much-anticipated Star Trek: Section 31 has received a disappointing score on Rotten Tomatoes, marking a low point for the iconic franchise. Starring the acclaimed Michelle Yeoh, who recently won an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once, the upcoming installment sees her return to the role of Philippa Georgiou, this time as her Mirror Universe counterpart from Star Trek: Discovery.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a lowly 21% approval rating, based on an aggregate of 19 critic reviews that average out to 5.2 out of 10. This score places it lower than previous franchise installments, surpassing the prior record lows of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (23%) and Star Trek: Nemesis (38%). With more reviews still to come, the score might still change, but it is clear that this negative reception is a significant concern for Star Trek fans.
Implications for Star Trek: Section 31
A Notable Outlier in Star Trek Lore
Watch Trailer
The overwhelmingly negative reviews for Star Trek: Section 31 are quite surprising, considering the franchise’s generally positive reception across its various media formats. Out of the approximately two dozen Star Trek projects assessed on Rotten Tomatoes, only seven have received a Rotten designation (scores of 59% or lower). In contrast, 16 projects boast scores of 80% or higher, with eight earning the prestigious Certified Fresh label. Below is a detailed comparison of Star Trek projects that currently hold a Rotten score:
|
Title |
RT Score |
|---|---|
|
Star Trek: Section 31 (2025) |
21% |
|
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) |
23% |
|
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) |
38% |
|
Star Trek Generations (1994) |
47% |
|
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) |
52% |
|
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) |
55% |
|
Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005) |
56% |
This troubling performance could potentially spell an end to Star Trek’s venture into television movies. Although there were no additional TV movie projects in development prior to Section 31’s launch, the adverse response from both critics and audiences may deter future endeavors of this nature for the foreseeable future.
Reflection on the Star Trek: Section 31 Reception
Has the “Oscar Curse” Found Michelle Yeoh?
There’s a common notion dubbed the “Oscar curse,”where actors often see a decline in critically acclaimed projects following their Academy Award wins. Examples include Julianne Moore, whose post-Oscar film Seventh Son scored a mere 12% after Still Alice‘s 85%, or Roberto Benigni, who followed his success in Life is Beautiful (81%) with a dismal Pinocchio (0%). While Michelle Yeoh’s trajectory seemed safe after her 2023 win—culminating in strong reviews for both A Haunting in Venice (75%) and Wicked (88%)—Star Trek: Section 31 has now posed a significant challenge to her recent success. Nonetheless, Yeoh’s upcoming projects, including Wicked: For Good, may provide her a chance to rebound positively.
For further details, visit Rotten Tomatoes for the most up-to-date scores and reviews.
Leave a Reply