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Star Trek: The Motion Picture Ending Explained: Something Bigger Than The Cosmos

The late author Douglas Adams succinctly wrote in his 1979 novel " The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ," that, "Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space." Adams wrote science fiction stories with the vastness of time and the cosmos in mind, albeit for a comedic effect. In one of his novels, characters could travel forward in time to the very end of the universe and find that a restaurant had opened near the point of universal collapse so that the wealthy could witness it as part of an evening's light dinner entertainment (repeat visits were possible through a complicated temporal something-or-other). For Adams, the infinity of time and space was fodder for humor, as he would insert the mundane into any potential moments of awe. 

The same year "Hitchhiker's Guide" was published, Paramount produced "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," the first feature film to be based on the low-budget sci-fi series that hadn't seen TV screens since 1974, and hadn't been seen in live-action since 1969. Taking aesthetic cues from Stanley Kubrick's " 2001: A Space Odyssey ," "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" was "Star Trek" writ large. No longer constrained by rinky-dink television budgets, the feature film was now permitted to depict the show as massively as it always felt. For instance, the U.S.S. Enterprise was luxuriated over in a four-and-a-half-minute sequence that many people now find risibly indulgent. 

But the length and scope was the point. "Star Trek," in the best of cases, brushed up against some of philosophy's larger questions. "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" had ambitions no smaller than to unlock the meaning of life and humankind's place in the heavens. 

Voyager VI: The Undiscovered Country

They briefly recount the film's story: It has been years since the Enterprise crew was assembled. A mysterious space cloud, hundreds of light years across, is slowly drifting toward Earth and swallowing up any starships or space stations it happens to run across. It has no definite shape and is not communicating. Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) is re-assigned to the starship Enterprise, currently commanded by Capt. Decker (Stephen Collins), and ordered to take it out to the cloud to investigate. The entire cast of the original show joins in, as does a bald, stoic Deltan named Ilia (Persis Khambatta). The Enterprise is able to penetrate the cloud and sail inside. They find chamber upon chamber of what might be machines, but it is difficult to comprehend. Whatever the cloud is, it's far beyond human understanding. A lot — a lot  — of " Star Trek: The Motion Picture " is devoted to scenes of the Enterprise floating through the cloud. 

In order to communicate with the humans on the Enterprise, the cloud abducts Ilia and replaces her with a robot-like clone that speaks as its emissary. The robot clone explains that the cloud is called V'Ger and that it aims to return to its maker. Students of science fiction will perhaps recognize that V'Ger was once of Earth origin. 

To skip ahead a bit V'Ger was the bowdlerized name of the Voyager 6, a fictional NASA probe launched from Earth a century before. It was initially just a machine, sent out into the cosmos to retrieve information and return it. Something unexplained happened to the Voyager 6 in the ensuing century, and it grew to contain all knowledge in the galaxy, growing to enormous size in the process. It was now fulfilling its mission to return its findings. 

The sexual politics of The Motion Picture

It's worth noting that a lot of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" has been devoted to a certain degree of romantic and sexual tension between Ilia and Capt. Decker. Ilia is a Deltan, which causes a few of her crewmates to raise their eyebrows. Ilia makes mention of her vow of chastity, a curious thing to announce on the bridge. According to the novelization of the film written by Gene Roddenberry, Deltans are known to be highly sexual and have intercourse quite freely. In order to curtail fraternization, Deltans take their vow before entering the Academy. Although Ilia was replaced by a robot clone, Dr. McCoy ( DeForest Kelley ) notes that Ilia's brainwaves were replicated as well, leaving her lust and her love for Decker intact. 

The robot — and by extension V'Ger — seems to be experiencing love for the first time. Also lust. V'Ger is, after a century, finally going through a form of cosmic puberty. Sex is most certainly one of the film's central themes.

At the conclusion of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," Kirk and company have found the original V'Ger probe at the heart of the cloud, deciphering its name and discovering its purpose. V'Ger, having felt love, wants to know more, as love and lust, it seems, are the final components of the universe that V'Ger needs to make sense of everything. Decker, declaring his love for Ilia, steps onto a platform, and V'Ger begins to physically absorb him. It's a beautiful, almost spiritual experience. Ilia, feeling the love as well, steps onto the platform with him, and the pair ascend. In a flash, the entire massive V'Ger cloud explodes into the universe. It now knows everything.

Childhood's end

After the cancelation of "Star Trek," the show was put into eternal syndication, and it was only then that it found its massive audience in reruns. "Star Trek" gatherings, then conventions, became common, and Gene Roddenberry, as well as the cast, would attend to kibitz. It seems that during this period, Roddenberry finally came to realize the more expansive themes of "Star Trek." Audiences reacted to the show's multiculturalism and optimism about the future. The Prime Directive assured us that "Star Trek" was an anti-colonialist show, and the technology depicted was our friend. The Enterprise was not a battleship, but an exploration vessel. The show, Roddenberry figured after the fact, was meant to be utopian. 

As such, when it came time to make "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," it stood to reason that it would reach far. Roddenberry, ever the free-love hippie, wanted to tell a story where all facets of the universe could come together, scraping the outer edges of the cosmos, and then extending beyond. V'Ger had been traveling for an unspecified time (a time-warp is implied) and knew all the facts it could know. What it lacked, naturally, was heart. Human beings, and their capacity for love, was the missing element of the universe. Our existence, Roddenberry argued, was a vital element holding everything together. 

V'Ger finally learned to love and experienced the glories of sex. Its explosion was, essentially, a galactic orgasm, as if V'Ger was going through puberty. It was the end of its childhood and a passage to a higher plane. V'Ger is, of course, a symbol of humanity as it is seen in " Star Trek ." Like in "2001: A Space Odyssey," the cosmos is our next step of growth. We pass into the stars, and we are no longer children. 

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• Star Trek: The Motion Picture Ending Explained
• UPDATED: September 25, 2023

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Star Trek: The Motion Picture, released in 1979, marked the return of the iconic Star Trek franchise to the big screen. Directed by Robert Wise, the film brought back the beloved characters from the original television series and introduced them to a whole new generation of fans. However, it was the ending of the movie that left many viewers scratching their heads. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of the ending and attempt to shed some light on its meaning.

The climax of Star Trek: The Motion Picture takes place aboard a massive alien vessel known as V’Ger. This enigmatic entity has been on a journey across the galaxy, seeking knowledge and understanding. As it approaches Earth, it threatens to destroy everything in its path unless it can merge with a human being who can comprehend its vast intelligence.

Captain James T. Kirk and his crew are tasked with intercepting V’Ger and preventing its destructive rampage. They board the alien vessel and discover that V’Ger is actually an ancient NASA probe called Voyager 6 that went missing over 300 years ago. Over time, Voyager 6 encountered a highly advanced alien civilization that enhanced its programming and transformed it into V’Ger.

As Kirk and his crew explore V’Ger, they encounter a mysterious energy cloud that surrounds them. Inside this cloud, they come face to face with an image of a beautiful woman named Ilia, who had previously served aboard their starship but was killed by V’Ger. It is revealed that Ilia’s consciousness has been absorbed by V’Ger and she now serves as its “sensor probe.”

Realizing that V’Ger seeks to understand what it means to be human, Kirk devises a plan to merge with V’Ger himself in order to provide it with the necessary human perspective. With the help of Spock and Dr. McCoy, Kirk enters a chamber where he is absorbed by V’Ger and experiences a profound connection with the entity.

In this climactic moment, Kirk realizes that V’Ger’s relentless pursuit of knowledge and understanding is ultimately a quest for its own existence. By merging with V’Ger, Kirk helps the entity transcend its limitations and achieve a higher level of consciousness. In doing so, he saves Earth from destruction and allows V’Ger to continue its journey of self-discovery.

The ending of Star Trek: The Motion Picture can be interpreted in various ways. Some see it as a metaphor for humanity’s constant search for meaning and purpose in the universe. Others view it as a commentary on the dangers of unchecked technological advancement and the importance of maintaining our humanity in the face of progress.

Regardless of how one chooses to interpret the ending, there is no denying that it leaves a lasting impression. It challenges viewers to contemplate deep philosophical questions about existence, consciousness, and the nature of being. Star Trek: The Motion Picture may have left some viewers puzzled, but it also sparked countless discussions and debates among fans, further solidifying its place in science fiction history.

In conclusion, the ending of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a thought-provoking culmination of the film’s themes and narrative. It explores profound concepts while showcasing the enduring spirit of exploration that has defined the Star Trek franchise for decades. Whether you love it or find it perplexing, there is no denying that this ending continues to captivate audiences and inspire contemplation even after all these years.

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Chris Pine Gives Uninspiring (and Unsurprising) Update on Star Trek 4

• Star Trek franchise's future remains uncertain as Chris Pine expresses uncertainty about reprising role as Kirk in next film installment.
• Paramount's delays on Star Trek 4 production worry both fans and stars, with whispers of budget cuts and lack of progress adding to uncertainty.
• Despite delays, fans can enjoy Star Trek content on Paramount+ while waiting for any updates on the next film installment's status.

Star Trek fans can expect some more groans ahead as the franchise’s Paramount-era leading man offers yet another uninspiring update as the latest in a series of signs that the highly anticipated follow-up to 2016’s Star Trek: Beyond.

Star Trek has been a staple of small-screen science fiction since its inception with Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966 and has since become a massive multimedia franchise. This included a plethora of feature-length Star Trek films that were met with varying degrees of success over the years, with 2002’s infamous Star Trek: Nemesis being a critical and commercial failure that led to plans for another film to be scrapped, contributing to a hiatus after 20 years of nonstop Star Trek projects. This would end when Star Trek was released in 2009 and would go down as one of the best movie reboots ever by taking fans back to the crew of the original series in an alternate timeline, mixing the established lore with new, refreshing ideas .

This Star Trek: Discovery Character Is Named After a Real Scientist

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Hollywood star Chris Pine, a veteran with connections to Quentin Tarantino , was at the head of this Star Trek franchise for the next generation. His career was solidified when he took on the role of the Star Trek reboot's James T. Kirk, a role he’s reprised in the two other entries to the reboot film series, with fans hoping he’ll do so again in the planned fourth installment . Speaking to Business Insider via Zoom earlier in the week, the star commented on returning to the franchise, giving fans an answer that they’re all to familiar with at this point. “I honestly don't know,” Pine asserted when asked if that ship had sailed. “There was something in the news of a new writer coming on board. I thought there was already a script, but I guess I was wrong, or they decided to pivot. As it's always been with "Trek," I just wait and see.” During the interview, Pine also discussed how long it took him to settle into the role proper.

-Kirk is a tricky one. You are the lead of the band of characters, so you don't want to occupy too much space. It's fine if they are doing a thing, but you don't want to. And J.J. [Abrams] never asked me to do a thing, though I did do little nods to Shatner because it was fun But I would say I felt most in his shoes in the third movie. By that point, I think I mellowed into it and didn't feel like I was trying too hard.

It’s been clear for a while now that Star Trek 4’s delays are getting on Pines's nerves , and fans certainly don’t want these misgivings to manifest in a refusal to reprise his role in the next film. Considering just how integral Pine and his character are to the reboot franchise, it would be expected that the franchise custodians at Paramount keep in touch even without a project in the works. However, that has consistently not been the case, and it’s worth wondering if the next installment in the franchise might be looking to go in a separate direction entirely. Alternatively, progress might be suffering behind the scenes, and Paramount might not have anything to report yet, even to purported insiders. While this would be comforting for Chris Pine, it wouldn’t do much to calm unhappy fans.

Considering Star Trek 4 was supposed to begin production in 2022 , the current state of affairs truly is worrying for fans and stars alike. The only news on the film front seems to be vague whispers of budget cuts and rounding off the mainline films, neither of which will get anyone excited. Both parties can only wait for Paramount to make the next move and enjoy the franchise’s other offerings in the meantime.

The Star Trek franchise is currently available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek is a space exploration franchise originally created by Gene Roddenberry. The series has spanned shows like The Original Series, The Next Generation, and Voyager. More recently, developer Scopely came out with Star Trek Fleet Command, a mobile title where you get to be captain of your own ship.

Created by Gene Roddenberry

First Film Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Latest Film Star Trek Beyond

First TV Show Star Trek: The Original Series

Latest TV Show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Creation Year 1966

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