Do I need to watch all of Trek before watching the 2 new films?

Greetings.

I've recently started watching Star Trek. After some debate with some friends, I decided to begin watching TOS. However, I've been told I should watch all off the other Star Trek stuff first before watching Star Trek (2009) and into Darkness. The thing is I really wanna watch the newer films. My question is, does it matter if I watch the two newer Star Trek films before the rest?

 

It depends on whether you want to take the films as they are or absorb a LOT of material, most of which won't really buy you anything when watching the new films.

I recommend that you watch the two new movies without any more background than knowing that this is the story of the famous crew coming together.

If after watching you want to know more, but don't want to waste weeks of your life on the ridiculous number of movies and TV Trek that has come before, I recommend the following:

Watch the Original Series Episode: Space Seed
Then Watch the 1982 Movie: Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan

You'll then understand a lot more of the references and homage the new movies make to these. You could also watch these two first, then watch the new movies. Just understand that the pacing of the older material is much slower. YMMV.

 

It's not mandatory at all. The whole point of rebooting the franchise was to make it easier for new viewers to jump aboard. If you like the new movies, you can always go back and see the originals, but you should be able to enjoy the new films on their own terms.

 

No.
Watch the new films first when you want to.
No prior knowledge required.

 

No, the new films are designed to introduce ST to new audiances. Sure you might not pick up on the little homages they pay to TOS.

 

Are you sure they're your friends?

I kid, but seriously, you don't have to watch any of it. That's not to say it wouldn't be fun, just that it's by no means required to enjoy the nuTrek stuff.

 

And you certainly don't need to watch "all" of it, which includes three seasons of TOS, seven seasons of TNG, seven seasons of DS9, seven seasons of Voyager, four seasons of Enterprise, and ten previous movies!

I mean, if the new movies inspire you to go deeper into Star Trek's illustrious roots, by all means do so. There's a lot of great stuff to discover. But you can certainly enjoy and appreciate the new movies without having seen, say, a single episode of Deep Space Nine or Voyager or whatever . . ..

 

Thanks for the response guys. Appreciate it.

 

Just watch the movies. If you like them, there's enough other stuff to keep you busy in the basement for decades.

 

Why, of course. How else will you know if Kirk's hair is in accordance with canon in the new films? How will you know if the Enterprise's warp nacelles are the correct shape? These things must be known, otherwise the next time you find yourself in a Rigelian watering hole quaffing Romulan ale and shooting the breeze with a Nausicaan tribble smuggler and the subject of Kirk's hair or the Enterprise's warp nacelles should come up... well, you don't want to be caught without an informed opinion, now do you? Of course you don't.

 

Yes. If we had to watch "Spock's Brain", you have to watch "Spock's Brain".

 

That's the ticket.

 

NO...New trek is an alternate reality.TOS Spock does an excellent job in connecting both realities. you do not need to rely on TOS to watch or like new trek

 

Yes and no. It depends. Great answer, I know.

Definitely some things you may not get without seeing the rest of Trek.

 

I had to explain to my daughter what a tribble was. Neophyte.

 

Nope, they're stand-alone movies. If you like them, give the rest a try.

 

Forget the hair not being canon, NuKirk is taller than OlKirk.

 

It's probably better if you don't.

 

You don't really have to watch all of Star Trek before watching the two new films. Remember, the new film was not only a sequel/prequel, it was intentionally made as a reboot. So, you could start there if you wanted. Or, you could even start as far back as Star Trek: Enterprise and then go forward with these movies. At the same time, BillJ is quite right, there are things you may want to see before watching the new movies. If I were you, I would watch all TOS episodes, including all the animated episodes and the first seven movies.

But, if you are not in the mood to watch all that had come before, just watch these new movies. There are Star Trek fans that are only fans of the new movies and not what came before. It is all up to you.