star trek best themes

Ranking The ‘Star Trek’ Themes

Music has always been a huge part of Star Trek , from 1966 and that fanfare to the modern stylings of Star Trek: Discovery , which begins its second season this week. Over the course of 13 movies and seven television series, not to mention a boatload of video games, various composers have tried their best to musically represent Gene Roddenberry ‘s vision of gunboat diplomacy and utopian societies. But which theme reaches maximum warp first? Which of the many pieces of music can deal with the most phaser hits and deciphering technobabble? Let’s find out.

15. Enterprise

Legend has it that when Enterprise launched there was a petition to ask the producers to ditch the opening theme. This is no surprise, I only wish I cared about the show back then to sign it. There’s no point beating around the bush here: it’s a dreadful theme. Probably the worst thing is that it’s not even original. It was written by super-songmeister Diane Warren for Rod Stewart to sing in the horrible Robin Williams picture Patch Adams , a movie so bad even the man it was based on came out to say how much it sucks. Even Russell Watson , who sings it for the show, does a poor Stewart impression, and it’s really the one and only reason for Netflix’s “skip intro” button to exist.

14. The Animated Series

While Star Trek only got one more live-action series after its initial cancellation, it did get a third lease of life in cartoon form in the shape of Star Trek: The Animated Series , which received 22 episodes from Filmation between 1973 and 1974. Most of the principal cast returned to voice the characters, but the task for the music for the entire series fell to two people, Yvette Blais and Jeff Michael , otherwise known as Ray Ellis (Blais was his wife) and Norm Prescott (who had two sons, Jeff and Michael). Ellis was a producer and arranger who had previously worked with the likes of Billie Holiday and Emmylou Harris as well as composing for the 1960s Spider-Man animated show, while Prescott was one of the Filmation producers along with Lou Scheimer. Being fair, their theme is heavily based on the Alexander Courage TV theme, but it’s still a decent tune. I guess they couldn’t afford to use any music from the live-action show, but for what it was it worked.

13. The Voyage Home

On the surface, Leonard Rosenman wasn’t really a bad choice. He was a famous composer with a back catalog anyone would wish for, such as East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, Fantastic Voyage , and Barry Lyndon among others. So while he might have been an odd choice for “the one with the whales,” especially after James Horner , he was nevertheless a good one. His score, however, well let’s just say it has divided fans a fair bit. His main theme isn’t that bad, a strong brassy effort with the pomp and circumstance you’d expect, but it just doesn’t feel like the right tone. It doesn’t help that the theme’s bridge is taken straight from the bridge of his theme from Ralph Bakshi’s 1978 animated Lord of the Rings . FFS, Lenny.

12. Deep Space Nine

Dennis McCarthy didn’t have much luck in 1987 when his theme for The Next Generation was rejected in favor of Jerry Goldsmith ‘s movie theme, but the stars were with him in 1993 when Deep Space Nine came around. The producers initially requested Goldsmith but he had another project at the time, so McCarthy finally got his chance. And it’s a strange theme. It was always going to have a different feel, with the show about a space station rather than the naturally propulsive starship, and it has a rather gentle feel to it, like a stately fanfare. A more dynamic arrangement was created for season four onwards, but it didn’t change much. It’s wonderful in its full concert arrangement, and in a solo piano arrangement McCarthy later did, but it was the one weak link in DS9 ‘s chain.

11. Generations

We meet again, Mr. McCarthy. Despite heavily featuring the TNG theme in marketing, the producers of Star Trek Generations decided to plunk for Dennis and he actually did a fine job, composing a stirring and muscular theme that works very well with horse riding scenes and Shatner making breakfast for Picard. It also blends in well with the original fanfare, which was pretty much a requisite for everyone but Jerry Goldsmith. The film and score get reasonably short shrift when it comes to fan debates, but both are better than their reputation. Unfortunately, McCarthy is now composing music for the films of convicted felon Dinesh D’Souza, which is about as far from the principles of Star Trek as you can get.

10. Discovery

The new kid on the block is yet another example of the division of fans today on social media. Discovery is an interesting case, it’s definitely different than previous Trek s, especially with heavy violence, interspecies intercourse, and a couple of F-bombs in its first season, but it’s gotten better and better to the point where it feels to me like it’s Star Trek . And it has a pretty great theme by omnipresent TV composer Jeff Russo that takes the modernistic approach while still remaining true to what has come before. Russo’s own theme is a wonderfully stirring and adventurous melody that fans out like the intriguing shape of the vessel before segueing to the classic fanfare at the climax. More, please.

For the last installment of the original film series, Jerry Goldsmith tried something different. Instead of something more heroic, the score is dominated by the theme for Shinzon, Tom Hardy’s genocidal Picard clone hellbent on conquering everything, including his twin. Goldsmith’s theme is economic, only using five notes, but it’s versatility allows it to be used in different modes throughout the film, often in a tragic tone. But perhaps the best is the end credit suite version, where it’s beautifully drawn out into a stunning full orchestral concert rendition that perhaps does the best job of musically describing Picard and his villainous equal.

8. Star Trek ’09

Everyone remembers the first time Michael Giacchino ‘s thrilling theme for the alternate universe adventures of the Enterprise appears properly in the film; when Kirk et al are transported to the flashy new hot rod of a ship for the first time. Known as “Enterprising Young Men,” the cue begins with an initial ostinato representing Starfleet cadets as they travel via shuttle, with the orchestra building and building with a fanfare of its own until the Enterprise is finally revealed and that huge brass melody soars. A classic moment that shows the power of the theme and why it really is the main theme of these movies, despite the end credit use of the ’60s tune.

7. The Undiscovered Country

For the 1991 sendoff of the original crew, director Nicholas Meyer picked a young composer named Cliff Eidelman to handle scoring duties, and he subsequently turned out one of the best scores in the series. While he used the original fanfare fairly liberally, his own theme was a wonderful tribute to the exploration and adventure of the franchise, a richly textured and emotionally resonant melody that hit exactly the right notes of nostalgia and optimism, allowing for a perfect goodbye to those we had spent decades traveling with.

6. Insurrection

Insurrection is usually remembered as a lesser-known entry and proof of the odd-numbered curse. But whatever you think about the film, Jerry Goldsmith’s sweet-natured main theme for the Ba’ku people is a gorgeous reminder of the composer’s ability to write memorable themes that stick with you beyond the film — often a good thing considering some of the pictures Goldsmith scored. The youthful nature of the Ba’ku is reflected in the delicate opening phrasing and the way the melody develops, a beautifully innocent theme that is eventually corrupted when the Federation step in.

When Paramount decided on launching a third Star Trek series set in the time of The Next Generation , Jerry Goldsmith was the only sane choice. The composer’s subsequent theme is a triumph, a melody that at first sounds somewhat subdued but is really keyed into the emotional plight of Voyager ‘s crew, being lost 70,000 light years away from home. Goldsmith gives a real mythic quality to the piece, and it’s a fitting theme for a ship that traveled for seven long years before finally getting home. Emmy-winning, too.

4. The Wrath of Khan

Star Trek II is often regarded as the film that truly kickstarted the movie series, and from that, there is a very definite decision to open the film and score with the original fanfare. However, what really makes it a success is James Horner’s sweeping nautical theme, itself a callback to Roddenberry’s original concept of Star Trek as “Horatio Hornblower in space.” It’s a stunning theme and is beautifully used throughout both II and III as an emotional crux for Kirk and Spock, with the B-section used as the A-theme in the latter film. It has hallmarks of Horner’s previous work, especially his score for Roger Corman’s Battle Beyond The Stars , but remains its own thing and an integral part of the franchise’s musical history.

3. First Contact

After Generations passed the torch to the TNG crew, along came their first solo film where they fought the evil Borg to the strains of a terrific Jerry Goldsmith score (with additional cues by his son Joel Goldsmith ). It’s a fine action work, but what really stands out is his spectacular main theme, for once not a march but a more emotional and evocative piece reflecting the human elements of the story, pulled along by one of the most gorgeous melodies you’ll ever hear. It connects Picard and Lily in the film, but its best use is as a triumphant closer for the climax of the film, where Farmer Hoggett meets the Vulcans. Stunning.

2. The Original Series

It’s impossible to overstate just how important this theme is to Star Trek ; it is Star Trek . Those four opening notes, that fanfare, that sweeping theme. It was an incredible time for television scoring and some of the best of that era came from the tales of the Enterprise . Of course, Jerry Goldsmith’s name comes up, as he was originally asked to write it but couldn’t (yet would still write themes for shows like The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and The Waltons ) so it fell to Alexander “Sandy” Courage, who couldn’t have done better. Over the show’s lifetime, it had three different flavors for the main melody; electric violin, cello, and soprano (I prefer the cello), and it’s still an instant musical memory for millions of people, and pop culture itself.

1. The Motion Picture

It may have been thought impossible to have a musical theme for Star Trek other than Courage’s piece, yet none other than Jerry Goldsmith showed everybody with his theme for the 1979 big-screen debut, Star Trek: The Motion Picture . Initially struggling to come up with something, Goldsmith eventually pulled out of his hat a powerful and stately march to underscore the adventures of the new Enterprise . The theme was so successful that it became the main theme of The Next Generation in 1987, and so to certain generations, it is Star Trek . And really, you couldn’t ask for a better piece of music to represent the sheer adventure, romance, and humanity of the franchise. A bold new musical step, but one that so far, hasn’t come near to be bettered.

Related Topics: alexander courage , cliff eidelman , dennis mccarthy , james horner , jeff russo , Jerry Goldsmith , leonard rosenman , michael giacchino , norm prescott , ray ellis , rod stewart , Star Trek

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Star Trek: Ranking All 13 Movie Soundtracks

Which one will be stuck in your head today?

Unlike that other franchise whose name begins with "Star", Star Trek's cinematic musical identity has been surprisingly inconsistent over the past 40 years. With nearly every film came a new composer, leading to the franchise's near total lack of continued themes and leitmotifs across installments.

Without that thematic consistency, the franchise instead relied on tone – triumphant marches, sweeping overtures, romantic love themes, and catchy leitmotifs nudged the action along as much as any soaring vista, tragic death, or threatening space cloud.

Heavyweights like Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, and Micheal Giacchino have produced some of Trek's greatest music, while unknowns like Cliff Eidelman have delivered scores that are just as memorable. Of course there are some headaches in the bunch (sorry Beastie Boys don't count), but for the most part Star Trek's musical legacy is a beautiful and hummable one.

Here's our ranking of all 13 (and counting) Star Trek movie soundtracks from worst to best.

13. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – Leonard Rosenman

Ditching all of the themes built across the previous two films by James Horner (to say nothing of Jerry Goldsmith's timeless material from Star Trek: The Motion Picture), Leonard Rosenman's music for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is an appropriately upbeat accompaniment to the film's comedic tone, if light on the expected fantasy and nobility of Star Trek film scoring.

Despite the score's Oscar nomination (the second and last for the franchises' music), much of the film lacks score due to director Leonard Nimoy's preference for more naturalistic dialogue scenes. What's left is a short soundtrack without much weight, heavily dated by the 1980s recording style and the inclusion of regrettable source music by The Yellowjackets. The structure of the main title is halting and let's not even talk about that odd Russian jig during Chekov's escape from the US Navy or the "look how much fun we're having" tone of the subsequent hospital chase sequence.

The highlight of this score is the brief but epic reprise of Alexander Courage's theme from Star Trek: The Original Series in the closing moments of the film ("Home Again and Credits" on the soundtrack album), but you'll probably just remember that profane punk song from the bus.

I played Shipyard Bar Patron (Uncredited) in Star Trek (2009).

All 9 Star Trek TV show theme songs ranked from worst to best

By camila domingues | nov 7, 2023.

Who doesn’t love a good intro song? Let’s look at all the ones that had us jamming before our favorite Star Trek episodes.

Welcome to the ultimate cosmic countdown where we traverse the musical star fields of the Star Trek universe . Our mission? To rank the iconic opening anthems that have been the gateway to countless adventures among the stars.

These theme songs have done more than just precede episodes of our favorite Star Trek TV shows – they’ve captured the essence of exploration and the pioneering spirit of the beloved franchise. From the whimsical to the wondrous, the serene to the soaring, every intro has left an undeniable mark on the hearts of Trekkies across the galaxy and in the fandom of science fiction as a whole. But which ones truly stand out as the best in Star Trek’s expansive universe of shows?

Buckle up as we set our phasers to ‘fun’ and warp into the world of Star Trek intros – where each note tells a story and every melody takes us boldly where no one has gone before. Oh yeah, and let’s rank them as we do so.

9. Star Trek: Enterprise (“Where My Heart Will Take Me”)

The theme song for Star Trek: Enterprise , delightfully titled “Where My Heart Will Take Me,” is a refreshing departure from the classic sounds that have long accompanied the voyages of the Starfleet. Featuring the vibrant voice of Russell Watson, this pop ballad injects a warm, human touch into the saga, striking a chord with its buoyant message and Watson’s earnest performance. Though it falls into the ninth spot in our musical trek through the stars (ha), its unique melody captures the essence of adventure in a way that’s as endearing as it is unexpected.

In a collection of scores that speak to the grandeur of space exploration, “Where My Heart Will Take Me” stands out as a song that, while straying from the orchestral majesty typically linked with Star Trek , and celebrates the franchise’s pioneering spirit in its own right. It’s a testament to the diversity of the Star Trek universe, a place where human (and alien) emotions finds its voice amidst the echoes of the unknown.

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Every STAR TREK Opening Theme Song Ranked from Worst to Best

Find out which is the greatest opening in Star Trek television history. Star Trek is the most iconic television show ever. It’s also spawned one of the most successful movie franchises ever made.

Part of its success is the Star Trek theme song. The original song is so iconic people know it even if they’ve never seen an episode of the show. Over the years there have been many spin-offs of the show which each used a new theme song. Some have been brilliant and some have been horrible.

Most recently Star Trek: Discovery is airing   on CBS All-Access . Soon the upcoming Picard series will introduce a new theme song. We don’t know if the opening for Picard will match up with some of the others. But it’s time to look back at the history of the Star Trek opening songs and rank them from worst to best.

Make it so.

11. Star Trek: Enterprise Season 3-4 (2003–2005)

Composed by Dennis McCarthy

Enterprise’s theme song is the first (and last) time Star Trek uses a contemporary song for the opening. Dennis McCarthy scored the pilot episode. Executive producer Rick Berman promised something new for Star Trek’s sixth spin-off series. He said the opening would “be using a little bit more contemporary kind of music. […] It’s not all of a sudden that the show is going to be scored with electric guitars. It’s going to be a little hipper.”

The song “Faith of the Heart” is written by Diane Warren and sung by Rod Stewart for Robin Williams’ comedic-drama Patch Adams (1998). The song was a hit and charted at number three on the US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and number 60 on the UK Singles Chart. It’s used for Star Trek and sung by Russell Watson . It’s a good song and some of the lyrics match up with the idea of space travel.

You have to inspire the courage of the producers for trying something new but it doesn’t work. There’s a tradition of Star Trek shows opening with a grand orchestral theme. This song sounds like a Rod Stewart concert. After fans complained the song is different in the third and final season of Enterprise .

The new version has a higher pitch and is sped up. They added tambourine and a more pronounced electric guitar. Star Trek managed to make a bad decision even worse.

10.  Star Trek: Enterprise  Season 1-2 (2001–2002)

Dennis McCarthy first made music for the Next Generation pilot episode and scored dozens of other episodes. McCarthy later composed the theme for the shows  Deep Space Nine and  Voyager. Plus he scored the soundtrack for movies like  Star Trek: Generations . 

The opening of  Enterprise uses the song “Faith of the Heart” sung by British crossover opera singer Russell Watson. Fans hated it so much that fans created many petitions to get rid of it. “[We] urgently request that you remove [‘Faith of the Heart’] and in its place utilize a score that is without vocals, as traditionally used by [the] ‘Star Trek’ television series,” one petition said.

“We wish to express our unmitigated disgust with the theme song that has been selected for the new ‘Enterprise’ series,” another online petition said. “It is not fit to be scraped off the bottom of a Klingon’s boot.”

“I’m in the horrible minority of people who like the song,” Rick Berman defended the song telling Sci-Fi Wire . “I think it fits beautifully. I think it’s a song that’s got a lot of hopefulness and uplifting qualities to it. And I like it. I’ve met a lot of other people who like it, but I’ve also heard a tremendous amount of banter about people who don’t. And what’s a Star Trek series without something for people to hate?”

Whatever you think of the song it was used as a wakeup call for NASA missions .

9. Star Trek: Enterprise Season 4 “Mirror Darkly” (2005)

Composed by Dennis McCarthy & Kevin Kiner

In 2005 the series Enterprise traveled to an alternate “evil mirror universe” for several episodes. To complete the feel that the show had traveled to another world they changed the opening. The theme song has a more militaristic tone and a darker feel.

It works well, especially when shown along with images showing how Earth entered into a long-standing war. Considering it replaced a pop song it’s even more impressive. Unfortunately, it only lasted a few episodes before going back to “Faith of the Heart”.

8. Star Trek: Discovery  (2017-2019)

Composed by Jeff Russo

When CBS started work on the Star Trek prequel Star Trek: Discovery they hired Jeff Russo to compose a new opening theme. Russo has started in a ’90s alternative rock band named “Tonic”. After that, he started composing songs for video games and television shows. He won an Emmy for his work on the FX series Fargo .

He describes himself as a life-long fan of Star Trek and Jerry Goldsmith’s work on The Next Generation in particular. The theme for Discovery sets itself apart because they decided to focus on emotion rather than exploration. It starts with the familiar fanfare for Star Trek and then uses stringed instruments to give a sense of mystery and hope. It ends with the theme again which implies the future of the franchise.

It’s a solid piece that relies on fan recognition. So it doesn’t stand out on its own.

7. Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–1969)

Composed by Alexander Courage

The theme for Star Trek played over every episode in the show’s three seasons. It’s called “Where No Man Has Gone Before”. It’s an instrumental piece and opens with a monologue by William Shatner starting with “Space. The final frontier”. The song itself relied on wind instruments and percussion by bongo drums, which was a popular instrument at the time.

Alexander Mair “Sandy” Courage Jr. was an Academy Award-nominated, Emmy Award-winning composer, arranger, conductor, and orchestrator of television shows and movies like Jurassic Park (1993), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), and Hello, Dolly! (1964).

Courage was inspired by the Richard Whiting song “Beyond the Blue Horizon,” giving him the idea for a song which was a “long thing that…keeps going out into space…over a fast-moving accompaniment.”

The original song is a masterpiece of its time evoking a feel of adventure and excitement and has been used in several pieces for Star Trek since then. Unfortunately, it feels dated. Bongo drums fell out of fashion decades ago. The operatic singing by  Loulie Jean Norman feels out-of-place. Iconic, but not quite as good as others.

6. Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1974)

Composed by Ray Ellis (Yvette Blais), Norm Prescott (Jeff Michaels)

Raymond Spencer Ellis arranged many hit records in the 1950s and 1960s. He later started working with Filmation on their animated series. He used his wife’s name “Yvette Blais” as a pseudonym. Norman Prescott was co-founder and executive producer at Filmation Associates and worked with Ellis on the theme song. He used the pseudonym “Jeff Michael” after his sons Jeff and Michael.

Paramount decided to revive the original series for a Saturday morning cartoon. They decided to make the theme more modern.

Like the original song, it starts with Shatner’s monologue “where no man had gone before”. Then it moves onto a song with a much faster pace and tone than the original. The tone is slightly different as well but manages to capture the same feel of the original song. Plus, there’s no singing.

5. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1-3 (1993–1995)

Jerry Goldsmith was contacted to do the theme song but declined because of scheduling problems. Dennis McCarthy has done a ton of work on Star Trek and he admired the Star Trek: The Next Generation song. He said that he loved the trumpets and French horns in the theme so McCarthy used wind instruments to write the song for DS9 .

It’s different from other songs because it’s the first show to focus on a starbase instead of a spaceship. So the feel of the song is very different for the fourth television spin-off. Berman said he wanted to emphasize the loneliness of the station. McCarthy told SyFy he wanted the theme to say, “We are alone” and he accomplished it. It’s different but beautiful. In 1993 he won an Emmy for “Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music” on DS9.

4. Star Trek: Picard (2019-)

Composed by Jeff Russo

CBS All Access went in a different direction with the theme song for Picard. Instead of relying on strings and a large orchestra to play the song it goes smaller. The song is thoughtful, serene and melodic. It’s not bombastic like the N ext Generation  theme or slow like  Deep Space Nine.

But it does owe a debt to the 90s Star Trek series. In the TNG episode “The Inner Light” Picard is knocked unconscious by an alien probe. He lives 40 years of life as an alien scientist named Kamin in the span of a few minutes. During the episode, he hears a flute song played by his “son” Batai (Daniel Stewart). After Picard returns to his normal life, he still remembers how to play and plays a melody on a flute. That flute and song have a special place in Picard’s life since it’s the family he never had but “lost”. It’s not a coincidence. The composer said he wanted to use a flute to evoke some of the feelings from the episode.

Russo told  The Ready Room  he wanted to “change to a feeling of emotional contentment for him because as we come to see, he lives on a chateau. And it’s sort of what we always thought would happen at the end of The Next Generation, and those movies where he would always sort of end up … That was his happy place. And then I wanted to … evoke how he has been awoken again.”

It ends with a small section of the theme from  Star Trek: The Next Generation . It’s lovely, thoughtful and moving.

3. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 4-9 (1996–1999)

For the fourth season to the final season, the song changed. It’s actually better in many ways. The show had changed by the fourth season. New characters joined the show like Leeta (Chase Masterson) the Dabo girl. Other characters, like Worf (Michael Dorn) from Next Generation, returned. The starship USS Defiant was added to allow the show to travel to different parts of space.

All these changes led the producers and McCarthy to rework the theme song to make it lighter. The reworked song makes the show brighter and gives more hope. Star Trek is all about hope and it fits wonderfully.

2. Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001)

Composed by Jerry Goldsmith

Jerry Goldsmith is a legend in the industry with a long list of awards including 18 Academy Award nominations. He won an Oscar for The Omen (1976) and was nominated for Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979.

Unlike The Next Generation which used music from his movie Star Trek: The Motion Picture, he decided to write a new song. The song is a beautiful sweeping theme that has stunning pictures of the ship soaring through space. The Voyager theme is somber and lonely but not sad. It’s uplifting.

The Voyager opening theme song is wonderful.

1. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1-7 (1987–1994)

Composed by Dennis McCarthy, Jay Chattaway, Ron Jones, Alexander Courage, Jerry Goldsmith

When the producers were planning out the first Star Trek show in decades they wanted to make sure the music would meet fan expectations. So they turned to the work of Jerry Goldsmith and used a piece from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Specifically, they took a piece that played several times in the soundtrack. The first time is before the Enterprise’s first warp test.

The song is perfect for the opening as it has a feel of hope and majesty. The original song was performed by a 100-piece orchestra. Too much for a TV show so they scaled it back and McCarthy led the original orchestration of a slightly different version of the song.

It opens with the opening of the original Star Trek theme. Then Patrick Stewart says a version of the “Where no man has gone before” monologue. After that, the song begins and blows the doors off. It’s the best theme Star Trek has ever had and set the standard for all other openings.

Which is your favorite Star Trek theme song? Which one do you hate? Let us know in the comments below!

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Published Jun 21, 2023

10 Favorite Star Trek Musical Pieces

For World Music Day, let's look at how music played an intrinsic part of Star Trek's enduring legacy.

StarTrek.com / Rob DeHart

From the first notes of Alexander Courage’s theme for The Original Series up through Michael Giacchino’s soaring scores for the most recent films, and everything in between, music has been an intrinsic part of Star Trek’ s enduring legacy.

Music plays a big part in helping me with my writing. Classical, film scores, and pretty much anything else without actual lyrics, is a candidate for helping me “get in the zone” as I push words. When it comes to writing Star Trek , you might guess that I listen to a lot of music from the different episodes or films, and you’d be right. To be honest, though, it isn’t only a tool for working. I also just simply enjoy it as a fan. I own the scores for all of the feature films, as well as the complete soundtrack collection from The Original Series and a smattering of selections from each of the other television series. I even have a suite of music from The Animated Series . Hey, it’s for work, people.

"The Way to Eden"

StarTrek.com

Naturally, I have my favorite pieces and cues. Doesn’t everybody? I could write for days about the music of Star Trek and how it inspires my writing, or how it’s just something I enjoy listening to during long drives. Given my “Ten for Ward” format, I’d only be scratching the surface so far as compiling a list of music from any of the series or films, so I’m hoping folks will chime in with their own favorites.

Still, I’m going to be cheating a bit here and there, rather than just trying to limit my selections to ten individual pieces of music. This isn’t intended to be a definitive or “best of” list, and I’m not citing each television series’ standard opening or closing music, as those are easy picks, but otherwise? Here’s a list to get the discussion started.

“The Doomsday Machine,"  Star Trek

"The Doomsday Machine"

To tell you the truth, I could fill up several lists just with music from The Original Series before I even thought about moving on to anything else. I forced myself to pick one example, and I think it’s a doozy. How many films of the era wish they could’ve had a musical arrangement as compelling as the one created by composer Sol Kaplan for this fan-favorite episode?

It’s space opera at its finest as Kaplan punctuates the tragedy of Commodore Matt Decker and the torment inflicted upon him by the mammoth automaton that has destroyed his ship, the U.S.S. Constellation . Likewise, the cues servicing the battle between the machine and the Enterprise are first-rate, and the entire score is a high water mark for a series where music was already one of its defining strengths.

“Stealing the Enterprise, ”  Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

James Horner had already hit it out of the park with his score for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , and he comports himself well with this follow-up. However, the original release of the third film ’s soundtrack was something of a disservice to him, as it omitted many of the pieces that set this movie’s music apart from the previous film.

The 2010 “Complete Score” release corrects that oversight, even though my favorite cue appeared on the original vinyl album. While borrowing and reworking some elements from his Star Trek II music, Horner still offers an exhilarating piece that highlights the hijacking of the Enterprise from space dock by Admiral Kirk and his command crew.

“Life Is A Dream (End Credits),”  Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

It’s impossible to overstate the importance and lasting appeal of Jerry Goldsmith’s musical contributions to Star Trek . His score for Star Trek: The Motion Picture holds a permanent spot on my personal “Top 10 Film Scores Ever” list.

However, his end theme for the fifth movie is my favorite variation of the end credits theme he created for the first film. There’s a little more pomp and flourish in the now-familiar notes, and Goldsmith does a masterful job weaving other themes from the film, including a new take on his familiar “Klingon” music, as well as Alexander Courage’s iconic “ Star Trek fanfare.”

“Borg Engaged” and “Captain Borg,”  Star Trek: The Next Generation

"The Best of Both Worlds, Part I"

Star Trek: The Next Generation 's third season ending cliffhanger, "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I," deserved its own score worthy of the silver screen, and Ron Jones delivers in fine fashion for this episode as well as the next season’s “Part II.”

The ominous image of the massive Borg cube on the Enterprise ’s viewscreen and — later — the shock of seeing Jean-Luc Picard assimilated by the Borg Collective is rammed home by Jones’ haunting themes, which are just two highlights from a superb score written for one of The Next Generation ’s most memorable episodes.

“Sign Off,”  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Kirk bids farewell to Captain Sulu and the Excelsior , before the entire Original Series cast says goodbye to us after 25 years of bold adventures in the final frontier. This moving piece by composer Cliff Eidelman, accompanying Captain Kirk’s final log entry along with William Shatner and the rest of the cast affixing their signatures to the end of the film, perfectly underscores the melancholy felt by so many longtime fans as we realized that “our” Star Trek had finally come to a close.

“Overture,”  Star Trek Generations

Star Trek Generations

Despite its name, this is actually the end credits theme for the first film to feature the cast of The Next Generation . The stirring theme incorporates music from other cues that Dennis McCarthy crafted to give weight to scenes set in the Nexus as well as defining the courage of our heroes, including Captain Kirk’s valiant acts at both ends of the film. Capping off the whole thing is an emotive rendition of the classic “Star Trek fanfare” that acts as a true passing of the baton from one generation to the next.

“Flight of the Phoenix ,” Star Trek: First Contact

Star Trek: First Contact

The score for Captain Picard and the Enterprise -E’s second film outing is an underrated effort by Jerry Goldsmith, who once again succeeds at combining familiar themes with new pieces that give each Star Trek film its own musical identity.

For this piece, the legendary composer’s son, Joel Goldsmith, brings vitality, hope, and triumph to what in one respect is the “birth” of the Star Trek universe to come as Zefram Cochrane (with the help of Riker and La Forge) pilots the fragile Phoenix spacecraft on humanity’s first warp speed flight.

“Bride of Chaotica,”  Star Trek: Voyager

"Bride of Chaotica!"

David Bell’s unrestrained musical homage to Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers is an utter treat on all counts. Though the episode also includes cues more consistent with Voyager ’s usual lower-key offerings, the “Captain Proton” pieces are delightfully loud and bombastic, in keeping with the 1930s science fiction movie serials to which they’re paying loving tribute.

“In A Mirror, Darkly,”  Star Trek: Enterprise

"In A Mirror, Darkly, Part I"

What begins as a beautiful callback to Jerry Goldsmith’s themes from Star Trek VIII: First Contact takes on a sinister twist as Dennis McCarthy plunges us headlong into the cruelty of the “Mirror Universe.” The score for this landmark two-part episode includes a new theme to accompany an alternate take on the series’ opening credits sequence, preserving the effect of the entire storyline taking place in the parallel universe with no connection to our own. McCarthy goes all-out as he accentuates all of the backstabbing and scheming weaving around the story’s action sequences, including a foreboding final cue as Hoshi Sato declares herself “Empress.”

“Enterprising Young Men,”  Star Trek  (2009)

Star Trek (2009)

While fans debate the merits of the most recent Star Trek movies, few take issue with the effort composer Michael Giacchino channeled into his musical scores . Nowhere is that more evident than this signature piece from the first film, which encapsulates in rousing fashion the energy of these “new” Star Trek voyages as well as the journey of this modern, bold incarnation of our beloved heroes.

Okay, that’s my 10, and that was playing fast and loose with my own rules. Now it’s your turn. What’s your favorite piece of Star Trek music? Let us know on Social!

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This article was originally published on May 29, 2015.

Dayton Ward (he/him) is a New York Times bestselling author or co-author of numerous novels and short stories including a whole bunch of stuff set in the Star Trek universe, and often collaborating with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore. As he’s still a big ol' geek at heart, Dayton is known to wax nostalgic about all manner of Star Trek topics over on his own blog, The Fog of Ward .

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10 best Star Trek apps in celebration of its anniversary

Published on September 20, 2021

Star Trek celebrated its 50th anniversary back in 2016. It’s amazing the franchise has lasted this long and generated such a large cast of memorable characters. Picard will always be the be the best captain, but I also don’t think Voyager is bad, so what do I know? There are tons of new ways to engage with Star Trek on your mobile devices. Most of the apps on our list will let you read or watch the series — it’s really easy these days. There isn’t much else but do we need anything else? Let’s look at the best Star Trek apps for Android.

The best Star Trek apps for Android

• FANDOM for: Star Trek
• Google Play Books

Movies Anywhere

Netflix or cbs all access, ntsenterprises apps, your web browser.

Price: Free / Comic prices vary / $5.99 per month

Comixology is arguably the best app for comic book fans. Star Trek has few a comic book series and most of them are here. The app acts as an excellent reader for comic books, with a few different viewing options. Additionally, comics are usually reasonably priced. Plus, the app syncs between devices, and comics are downloadable for offline reading if needed. Most of the comics go for between $5 and $10. However, you can also do $5.99 per month and read all of the comics you want. The choice is yours.

See also:  The best comic book apps and readers for Android

FANDOM by Wikia

Price: Free

FANDOM is an excellent app for Star Trek fans. It’s a community database for the Star Trek universe, with hundreds of articles by fans, quick facts about characters, and all kinds of other stuff. Additionally, you can discuss the series with other fans, recommend changes to existing pages, and otherwise engage with other Trekkies. It’s a neat and interactive platform for fans of Star Trek, and also entirely free with no in-app purchases. There are ads, but they’re not bad. There used to be a FANDOM app for every individual topic, but the developers rolled everything into a universal app relatively recently so that’s what we’re linking to now.

Price: Free / Varies

Facer is a watch face app for Wear OS, with a variety of functional watch face themes. You can add stuff like weather, battery percentage, and other such functions. Yes, there are also several good Star Trek watch faces available. In fact, this is one of the best ways to make your Wear OS devices look like a Star Trek device. This is a neat way to express your love of Star Trek right on your wrist all the time. Facer is a free app. Some of the watch faces may cost a few bucks, but nothing serious. It’s relatively easy to use once you get used to it.

See also:  The best Samsung Galaxy Watch apps for your Galaxy Watch 3, Active 2, and more

Google Play Books / Amazon Kindle / Nook

Price: Free / Book costs vary

There are a bunch of Star Trek books and most of them are on various ebook outlets. Google Play Books, Amazon Kindle, and Nook are the big three. Google Play Books has the most friendly setup for Android users, though Amazon Kindle often has more competitive prices, and the Kindle devices provide a more natural platform for reading. Nook is a lot like Kindle but a little bit smaller in scope. In any case, most of the Star Trek novels are available on one or all of them. Amazon also lets you buy hard copies if you want those, too. Any of these make for good Star Trek apps.

See also:  The best eBook reader apps for Android

Price: Free / Movie prices vary

Movies Anywhere is an excellent video streaming service for movies. It lets you log into Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, Google Play Movies, Vudu, and a couple of others. You can watch any movie from any services you have purchased. You should be able to find basically any Star Trek movie you want between all of those services. After all, some here aren’t even available on streaming services like Netflix. Plus, the app has a decent UI, Chromecast support, and decent stability. It had a bit of a rough start, but it’s improved since its early days.

See also:  The best movie apps for Android

Price: Free trial / $8.99-$15.99 per month

Perhaps the best option on the list is either Netflix or the CBS All Access streaming app. Both contain a very large number of Star Trek episodes. Netflix offers the original series, The Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Enterprise, and the animated series. CBS All Access also has basically every episode of Star Trek out there, including the new series Star Trek Discovery. Hulu also has an excellent selection of Star Trek stuff. All these services cover the TV stuff better. You may need Movies Anywhere to watch all of the movies. All of these work as good Star Trek apps.

See also:  The best video streaming services: Netflix, Hulu, and many more

Price: Free / Up to $3.99

NTSEnterprise is a developer on Google Play and, from the looks of things, a huge Star Trek fan. This developer has a ton of Star Trek themes, soundboards, live wallpapers, and other stuff. Most of the developer’s themes are for Total Launcher, so you’ll need it to use them. However, it’s probably the best looking and most functional LCARS theme on Google Play. The soundboards and live wallpapers are also excellent and the developer also has some extras like a note taking app, a GO keyboard theme, and some other neat stuff to complete the effect. The apps usually have a free version and a premium version. The most expensive app we saw was $3.99, but most are $1.99

Price: Free / $3.99 per month / $24.99 per year

Reddit is a good place for Trekkies to talk to one another, gather news about the series, and discuss old episodes and movies. There are a few Star Trek subreddits, including r/StarTrek, r/TNG, r/Voyager, and r/DaystromInstitute. They all handle different types of discussions and different parts of the franchise. The main Reddit app is fine. There are some good third-party Reddit apps as well. You can also get rid of ads and add a few additional features for $3.99 per month or $24.99 per year, but you absolutely don’t need that to enjoy it.

See also:  The best Reddit apps for Android

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Zedge is probably the best app for ringtones, alarm tones, and notification tones. You can find a metric ton of Star Trek sounds for your phone here, including sound effects from various movies and shows. Most of them are high quality and Zedge even has some wallpapers as well. There are other ringtone apps and soundboard apps, but Zedge has more options. Plus, the vast majority of its content is completely free. It has a small marketplace for creators, but you probably won’t find Star Trek stuff there yet.

See also:  The best apps for notification tones and ringtones

Unfortunately, outside of NTSEnterprises and FANDOM, there aren’t a ton of Star Trek apps on mobile. However, there are still a metric ton of websites. There are sites to help you determine the current stardate, look up various timelines and summaries, and plenty of other websites for fans. It’s about as good as it gets for Trekkies since the app market for them is so small. Still, there are some entertaining sites out there for fans and the rest of the apps on the list should help fill in the blanks. We recommend Firefox because it was updated in 2020 with a bunch of good stuff and it’s actually pretty good.

See also:  The best Android browsers for surfing whatever website you want

If we missed any great Star Trek apps, tell us in the comments! You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists .

Thank you for reading! Try these out too:

• The best Android themes, theming apps, and customizations
• The best icon packs for Android (by developer)

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'Star Trek: Picard's Michelle Hurd Says Raffi "Will Love Seven [Until] the End of Time"

Hurd also told the story of how Seven and Raffi's relationship became part of the series during a panel at Calgary Expo.

The Big Picture

• At Calgary Expo, Michelle Hurd spoke in depth about the relationship between Seven and Raffi.
• Hurd confirms Raffi's enduring love for Seven, hinting at a potential future in Star Trek: Legacy if Paramount+ greenlights the series.
• The unexpected Seven and Raffi romance in Picard was sparked by the chemistry between the Hurd and Jeri Ryan at Comic-Con.

While many Star Trek: The Next Generation fans watched their dreams come true in the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard , Saffi fans were left wanting more. Having gotten together in the Season 1 finale and sharing a rocky, but ultimately happy relationship in Season 2, Saffi — or Seven and Raffi to those who may not know their 'ship moniker — went through an off-screen break-up ahead of the final season. While the split was never really directly addressed in the jam-packed season, it set both characters up to serve as the captain and first officer of the newly commissioned Enterprise-G in the series finale.

Speaking during a panel at Calgary Expo hosted by Collider's Maggie Lovitt , a fan asked Michelle Hurd about the break-up and the relationship's potential future in Star Trek: Legacy . Laughing, Hurd said, "[You say] break up and I've got my U-Haul." She went on to say that she and her co-star Jeri Ryan have discussed the relationship at length. "Jeri and I have also talked about this and I’ve said it to her many times. And I’m like, ‘You do understand that Raffi loves Seven, period. End of discussion.’ She will love Seven [until] the end of time. "

While that answer is about as straightforward as they come, Hurd went on to say, "The one thing that we also have to acknowledge is that Raffi loves Seven, that Fenris Ranger, that incredible creature, that amazing individual that stands in front of her. Raffi would never want to limit her or extinguish any of her beautiful flames . So, Raffi will always be happy with Seven in her vision." Even if the pair technically shouldn't be in a relationship while in command, "She wants Seven to be happy with Raffi in her eyesight, but she's perfectly happy to be in her space."

'Star Trek': Why the Captain/First Officer Ship Is So Irresistible

Hurd went on to say, "One of the things that we really wanted to tell [was] that story of two women of a certain age, who are stubborn, who are set in their patterns, who are living their lives as authentically as they can, who can't help but find each other. So with that, it's a beautiful thing, but it's a complicated thing. And so, I think that there's always going to be love there. " While we don't know if Legacy will get the green light yet at Paramount+ , if the spin-off does happen Hurd said:

"It would be an amazing thing to see that kind of dynamic, to see the respect that each other has to have for each other's space as well as, [some] jealousy[...] I think it would be a phenomenal story. So I can't say for sure whether there's going to be, you know, a white picket fence. But if you're asking Raffi, there’s a white picket fence"

How Saffi Became Part of the 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 1 Finale

During the panel, another fan spoke about being surprised by the handhold between Seven and Raffi in the Picard Season 1 finale and asked Hurd if the relationship was planned from the beginning or if it was added in later. While their romance wasn't always planned, Hurd explained that when she looked back at the first season there was an "appreciation" between Seven and Raffi from their first scenes together. She said: "I think that in that season, that episode where they're getting ready to go down to the planet, and I'm helping Seven and Raffi’s giving her [the handcuffs], you could tell that she respects her. So there was already some kind of appreciation between the two of them that moment ."

Hurd went on to tell the story of how at SDCC ahead of the first season, co-star Jonathan Del Arco happened to snap a picture of Hurd and Ryan dressed to the nines and immediately showed it to their producers. She told the Calgary Expo crowd:

"I believe it was at the San Diego Comic-Con, that same event, which was huge and fantastic. And they had a green room, a space where all the actors and everybody goes to get ready for whatever. And Jeri was in this fantastic red dress. She was absolutely gorgeous, and I was wearing a white Helston jumpsuit, so I didn't look too bad myself. And we’re friends, I adore her, and we were standing together and I kind of put my arm around her waist and I kind of gave her a squeeze. And Jonathan Del Arco, Hugh, [and] Jeri's manager is Jonathan's husband. So we're all friends, with Kyle [Fritz]. So Jonathan was standing over there, and he was like, ‘Oh my God, look at me.’ And so we both just looked at him and he took a picture. And then I swear to God, he took that camera, walked right over to our producers, Akiva Goldsman , Alex Kurtzman , [and] Michael Chabon . We’re all sitting right there, and he said, ‘You guys look at how big these two look together.’"

The rest was history as the producers immediately turned around and told Hurd and Ryan, "'Ladies, we have an idea,' and that’s how it started." While we wait to see if Hurd and Ryan will return on Star Trek: Legacy you can stream all three seasons of Picard on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Picard

Follow-up series to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) that centers on Jean-Luc Picard in the next chapter of his life.

Watch on Paramount+

Screen Rant

The white lotus season 3 story & central themes teased by star.

A new star added to The White Lotus season 3 cast teases the story, central themes, and overall scale to expect from the upcoming episodes.

The White Lotus Season 3 Casts A K-Pop Star In Mystery Role

• The White Lotus season 3 will satirize rich white people and focus on the theme of death.
• The new season will feature a huge international cast that includes several new actors.
• Carrie Coon and Natasha Rothwell hint at shocking scripts and a possible continuation of Belinda's story from season 1.

The White Lotus season 3 stars teases its story and central themes. Created by Mike White, HBO's Emmy-favorite anthology series focuses on the guests and staff of the titular resort chain, with the first two seasons taking place in Maui and Sicily. Set in Thailand, the third season will see the return of Natasha Rothwell, who played the spa manager Belinda in season 1, alongside several new cast members, including Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Aimee Lou Wood.

In a recent profile by Vanity Fair , Carrie Coon teased The White Lotus season 3 's story, central themes, and overall scale of the upcoming episodes . The star says season 3 features a " huge, international cast " and will once again be " satirizing rich white people " and be " about death ." Read her full comments below:

It’s a huge cast. It’s an international cast. And I think he’s [Mike White] playing with some really interesting dynamics. I think it’s something he would continue to do if they let him, because I think he would like to get bigger and more international and put together weirder groups of people—that’s what he’s passionate about. And I think that’s important in this world, to see people banging up against each other in this way. Of course, he’s satirizing rich white people, and he’s doing it very well. He’s really speaking to people who need to be spoken to in a really interesting way. He had a season about money; he had a season about sex. And this is his season about death. So here we are in this Buddhist country. It bumps up against some things in my own life right now that are really interesting to think about, and so I’m feeling incredibly gratified. And my family is incredibly stressed.

What To Expect From The White Lotus Season 3's Story

Carrie Coon's recent comments recapitulate some of the comments made by creator Mike White , who also writes and directs each episode. Shortly after The White Lotus season 2 ending , White said that while the first season was about " money " and the second season was about " sex ," the third season would be a " satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality ." Coon confirms that season 3 will continue " satirizing rich white people ," but it will also be set in " Buddhist country ," hinting at how it will tackle its satirical take on Eastern religion and spirituality.

Coon says The White Lotus season 3 cast is " huge " and " international ," similar to when White said the season would be " supersized, longer, bigger, crazier ." Other than the aforementioned members, season 3's cast also includes Christian Friedel, Leslie Bibb, Scott Glenn, Dom Hetrakul, Charlotte Le Bon, and Lalisa Manobal. It's unknown who these newcomers will be playing, though season 3's characters reportedly include " a patriarch, a corporate executive, an actress, a few moms, a misfit, and a yoga enthusiast ."

The White Lotus Season 3's Latest Cast Addition Makes It So Much More Exciting

Rothwell, who returns as the resort's sympathetic spa manager, says season 3's scripts are so shocking that she " gasped out loud a minimum of five times " while reading them. It's difficult to speculate about what surprises are in store, though similar to the first two seasons, the season 3 premiere should start with someone turning up dead at a White Lotus resort, and then flashback to the events that preceded it. Audiences should also expect a continuation of Belinda's story, who discarded her business plans and was left disillusioned after Tanya failed to provide the funding she promised.

The White Lotus season 3 is currently filming and is expected to premiere in 2025.

Source: Vanity Fair

The White Lotus

*Availability in US

Not available

The White Lotus is a sharp social satire following the exploits of various employees and guests at an exclusive Hawaiian resort over the span of one highly transformative week. As darker dynamics emerge each day, this series gradually reveals the complex truths of the seemingly picture-perfect travelers, cheerful hotel employees, and idyllic locale itself.​ Each season follows a new cast of characters with a greater mystery lying at the center of each new location.

Giant Freakin Robot

Buffy's Best Villain Almost Played Star Trek's Stupidest Villain

Posted: May 1, 2024 | Last updated: May 1, 2024

Buffy’s Best Villain Almost Played Star Trek’s Stupidest Villain

James Marsters is one of those omnipresent genre actors who seems to have been in damn near everything. He popped onto most of our radar screens playing the antiheroic vampire Spike on Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, but he’s also appeared in Torchwood, Caprica, Smallville, The Clone Wars, and Supernatural over the years.

James Marsters For Star Trek: Nemesis?

It turns out James Marsters also could have played a major role in the Star Trek universe a few years back: he apparently auditioned for the role of Shinzon, Captain Picard’s younger clone, in 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis.

That role eventually went to actor Tom Hardy, who has gone on to fame with roles in Inception and as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. Speaking to the Australian Associated Press back in 2012, James Marsters said, “I don’t think I sucked eggs, but I didn’t do well enough. But I wish I had, I would have been proud to be Patrick Stewart’s clone.”

Would James Marsters Have Worked?

It would have been interesting to see James Marsters take on the role and to see him up against Patrick Stewart on the big screen.

The coulda-been role isn’t Marsters’ only interest in the Star Trek universe, however.

“I have an idea for a Star Trek series but I haven’t shopped it yet,” said the the actor at the time. Unfortunately, he didn’t elaborate, and as of now, nothing has ever come of it.

James Marsters Is A Fantasy And Sci-Fi Fan

Finally, James Marsters explained why he was so attracted to the science fiction and fantasy genres, speaking of their ability to deal in metaphor and allegory.

He said, “Frankly sci-fi and fantasy can talk about social issues in a more a direct way that other more realistic forms can’t do. I like imagining very different social situations than the one I find myself in… and your imagination can run with that (on a sci-fi series). When you’re cast as a cop, you’re thinking, ‘I know what it’s like to sit in a car and drink coffee’.”

Tom Hardy As Shinzon

As for Tom Hardy, well, Star Trek fans felt that Shinzon, as the main antagonist, was criminally underdeveloped and, even worse, just kind of boring. That’s not something James Marsters could have likely solved.

We never truly understood the motivations behind his actions, and in that one he turned pretty one-dimensional pretty quickly.

This really wasn’t Tom Hardy’s fault mind you, most would agree his acting chops in Star Trek: Nemesis were there. And he ended up turning out a career that’s been filled with some of the best roles around.

The Film’s Weak Point?

Overall, the Star Trek consensus is that Shinzon was a weak point of the film, and that Tom Hardy’s talents were not fully utilized in the character.

There should have been considerably more time devoted to Picard and his clone. Was it the only failing of the film? No, but it was a big one. James Marsters likely dodged one here.

James Marsters Career

James Marsters played Spike on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, becoming a fan-favorite character over the years. More recently, he had a main role as Victor Stein on the Hulu series Runaways from 2017-2019.

While Spike remains his most well-known character, it could have been a Star Trek role to push him over the top. But it didn’t happen.

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USA TODAY 10Best

Maximize your theme park experience with a stay at one of these top 10 hotels

Best Theme Park Hotel (2024) May 1, 2024

A day at a theme park is undeniably fun, but it can be exhausting as well. Staying at a hotel in the park means all your favorite attractions lie practically right outside your front door, and getting back for an afternoon swim in the pool or to crash in the evening is easier than ever. Book your next stay at one of the 10 best theme park hotels in the United States.

No. 10: Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort - Orlando, Florida

This resort feels right out of the '50s and '60s, complete with architecture reminiscent of the era. Guests at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort enjoy retro-style rooms, zero-entry pools with a lazy river, a bowling alley, and a variety of on-site food options. The resort also offers family suites with kitchenettes that can sleep six.

No. 9: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando - Orlando, Florida

Staying at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, you'd swear you were in Italy — except for the fact that you're smack in the middle of Universal Orlando Resort. This European-inspired resort features cobblestone streets, Italian cypress trees, a waterside piazza, several restaurants and lounges, three pools, and a waterslide.

No. 8: Disney's Beach Club Resort - Orlando, Florida

Disney's Beach Club Resort is a charming waterfront retreat nestled along the shores of Crescent Lake within Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. It offers luxurious accommodations with a coastal-inspired theme, providing guests with a relaxing and immersive experience that includes outdoor water fun and even complimentary outdoor screenings of some Disney favorites.

No. 7: Disney's Polynesian Village Resort - Orlando, Florida

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort celebrates the spirit of the South Pacific with lush, palm-shaded grounds and themed restaurants. Rooms, suites, and bungalows offer comfortable accommodations, and the resort's great location allows guests to take the monorail directly to Magic Kingdom. Between park visits, check out the Lava Pool, which features a towering volcano and 142-foot-long waterslide, plus a zero-depth entry point that's perfect for little ones. 

No. 6: Disney's Wilderness Lodge - Orlando, Florida

Inspired by America's Great Northwest, Disney's Wilderness Lodge features nature trails through pine forests, a roaring fireplace, and rocking chairs overlooking a gently flowing creek. Guests can choose between two pools — one with a 67-foot waterslide — as well as bike and boat rentals, an arcade, campfire activities, and movies under the stars.

No. 5: Hotel Breakers at Cedar Point - Sandusky, Ohio

Located within steps of both Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores, guests of the beachfront Hotel Breakers enjoy comfy rooms and suites — many with waterfront views of Lake Erie. Visitors can also take advantage of a full-service beachfront bar, two outdoor pools, an outdoor water playground, fire pits, and beach games.

No. 4: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Orlando, Florida

It’s in Orlando, but it may feel more like Africa because over 200 hoofed animals (zebras, gazelles, giraffes) and birds live across four savannas at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. And as if that isn’t enough to wow the kids, the 11,000-square-foot pool area complete with a waterslide and children’s water playground will certainly put this resort at the top of their list.

No. 3: Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

From spacious rooms and suites to amenities like two pools, restaurants, and outdoor fire pits, Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort provides the perfect blend of comfort and convenience for an unforgettable Great Smoky Mountains getaway. With its rustic yet modern design, the resort offers guests a cozy and inviting atmosphere to unwind after a day of adventure at the Dollywood theme park.

No. 2: Dollywood's DreamMore Resort & Spa - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Inspired by the pillars of togetherness, storytelling, and family, Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa offers parkgoers a welcoming place to kick back and relax in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, just minutes from the theme park. Amenities include an interactive splash pad, zero-entry pool, door-to-door transportation to the park, and Dolly touches throughout.

No. 1: The Hotel Hershey - Hershey, Pennsylvania

The Hotel Hershey is a sweet spot to lay your head, whether you're in town to take the Hershey's Chocolate factory tour, check out Hersheypark, or you're just in the mood for a little pampering with a cocoa-infused spa treatment. A member of Historic Hotels of America, the four-star Hotel Hershey is an elegant retreat that references its chocolate town roots without drowning guests in cloying fudge. Best of all, the hotel has a wide range of sports and recreation facilities where you can work off all those tasty treats, including a fitness center, golf, tennis, hiking trails, and a pool with waterslides.

About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best .

The Experts

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Francis Dominic

I sleep more in planes than I do my own bed....   Read More

I sleep more in planes than I do my own bed. Probably visiting your local theme park! I am an emotional Aries, with a big love of fantasy-romance books, and continually immersing myself in film and television. I love to live life in color because the world can use a lot of it. And I live it unapologetically! It's okay to continually choose yourself!    Connect with Francis on Instagram . TikTok and Twitter . 

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She...   Read More

Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She was born with deeply ingrained wanderlust and has visited 45 countries and counting. She often brings her children along for the adventure and is passing her love of travel on to the next generation. Jamie has written for   Insider,   Fodor's Travel ,   Yahoo ,  the Huffington Post , the  Washington Post,   Viator  and  Reviewed  among many other publications. Jamie is from Philadelphia and now lives in Washington, DC, where she takes advantage of everything the region has to offer.    Jamie can be reached at  [email protected]  and can be found on  Twitter ,  Instagram  and  TikTok .

Jessica Gardner

Jessica Gardner, aka  Jessica The Theme...   Read More

Jessica Gardner, aka  Jessica The Theme Parkette , is a Los Angeles-based theme park aficionado who shares her tried-and-true travel tips, fun facts, and coaster appreciation as @themeparkette on  TikTok  and  Instagram . She is the co-host of the American Coaster Enthusiasts’ official podcast, “ Ride With Us ” and “ The Theme Parkettes ” podcast. Jessica is also a working actor  whose credits include the hit shows NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Grace and Frankie, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, and many more. 

NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The...   Read More

NikkyJ is a theme park super fan, Author of The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide, the founder and owner of ThemeParkHipster.com , a wishful Food Critic, coffee enthusiast, and a lover of life! She currently resides in Orlando, Florida where she enjoys spending time with her husband and two little girls while discovering the beautiful attractions of Florida. You can watch her on  YouTube  or listen to her podcast.

Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com ,...   Read More

Robb Alvey is the owner of ThemeParkReview.com , started in 1996 and one of the longest running and largest theme park fan sites with over 3 million followers. Robb travels to theme parks all over the world each year including Europe, Asia, Australia, and all around the Americas, has visited hundreds of different parks and ridden about 2,000 different roller coasters. His background in theme parks started as a cast member for Disneyland when he was 17 years old and has continued more than 30 years later.

Robert Niles

Robert Niles is the founder and editor of Read More

Robert Niles is the founder and editor of ThemeParkInsider.com , an online consumers' guide to the world's leading theme and amusement parks, read by more than 400,000 people each month. It has been named the top theme park site on the Internet by Forbes and Travel + Leisure magazines and was a Webby Award finalist and winner of the Online Journalism Award, presented by the Online News Association and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Robert is a former Walt Disney World cast member and has worked as a reporter, editorial writer, columnist and website editor for several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register.

Taylor Bybee

Taylor Bybee is the founder of Coaster Studios, a...   Read More

Taylor Bybee is the founder of Coaster Studios, a roller coaster and theme park youtube channel with over 200,000 subscribers. Taylor has ridden over 1,000 roller coasters now across all 6 habitable continents, constantly scouting the latest and greatest thrill rides. Coaster Studios has been around for over 10 years now, providing a wide variety of high quality videos within the amusement industry, including reviews, analyses, vlogs, documentaries, and more.   Taylor can be followed on Twitter @coasterstudios and on Instagram via @coaster_studios.

Victoria Wade

Victoria is a writer for the esteemed theme park...   Read More

Victoria is a writer for the esteemed theme park hipster and has been visiting theme parks for over 20 years. Sharing updates on all the thrills is her one true love. You can find her opinions of all things theme park related on her Twitter , TikTok , and Instagram .

10Best Editors

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,...   Read More

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

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