My 7 favorite Captain James T. Kirk scenes in the Star Trek movies show why he’s a hero of great depth and complexity. Kirk was originated by William Shatner and rebooted by Chris Pine as the main character of nine Star Trek movies, with Captain Kirk also a special guest star in the first movie starring the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In his first four Star Trek movie appearances, Kirk began as an Admiral before being demoted back to Captain of the USS Enterprise, the position that is Jim’s first, best destiny. Captain Kirk remained in the Starship Enterprise’s center seat for the final two movies starring the cast of Star Trek: The Original Series. In J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek trilogy, Kirk began as a Starfleet Cadet and meteroically rose to become Captain.

Whether he’s Admiral Kirk or Captain Kirk, and played by William Shatner or Chris Pine, James T. Kirk retains his heroic core and a tendency to leap where angels fear to tread. Yet Kirk is also deeply loyal, complex, and, at times, lonely, when he’s not surrounded by his found family aboard his beloved Starship Enterprise. Here are my 7 favorite Captain Kirk Star Trek movie moments.

7

Captain Kirk Gives Nero An Agonizing Death

Star Trek (2009)

Chris Pine’s young Captain Kirk distilled William Shatner’s Starfleet hero into his base components: recklessness, alpha male drive, and heroism. Kirk spent J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (2009) trying to ᴀssert himself as the leader of the Starship Enterprise’s efforts to stop the Romulan time traveler Nero (Eric Bana) from destroying Earth. Finally, Kirk and Spock (Zachary Quinto) worked together to defeat Nero and confronted the Romulan in Kirk’s finest moment.

As red matter consumed Nero’s starship, the Narada, into a black hole, Captain Kirk offered the Romulan ᴀssistance in the interest of peace (to Spock’s objection). When Nero prefers to “die in agony,” Kirk replies, “You got it.” It’s a jaw-dropping and rousing moment of Kirk unapologetically agreeing to give Nero the fate he requested. Among his many dynamic scenes in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movies, this was the moment Chris Pine’s James T. Kirk became Captain.

6

Captain Kirk Realizes He Was Wrong To Hate Klingons

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Captain James T. Kirk was filled with existential dread at the thought of peace with the Klingon Empire at the start of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Kirk was so disturbed, he uncharacteristically told Spock (Leonard Nimoy), “Let them die.” Kirk felt even worse when he was forced to host the Klingons at dinner before he was framed for ᴀssᴀssinating Chancellor Gorkon (David Warner).

While Kirk and Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) were imprisoned on Rura Penthe, Jim had time to reflect on his fears about the Klingons. Kirk confronted why he was terrified by the idea of peace with the Klingons, and Jim realized he was wrong. It was a remarkable moment of introspection that gave Kirk insight on the greater conspiracy, and motivated the Captain to stop it in the name of galactic peace.

5

Captain Kirk Is Right To Question “God”

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

William Shatner directed Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, so it’s not too surprising that Captain James T. Kirk has the most memorable – if not the single best – line in the film. When Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Sybok (Lawrence Luckinbill) land on Sha Ka Ree to meet God (George Murdock), the Almighty enтιтy is ᴀssured by Sybok that the stolen Starship Enterprise can carry God’s message to the galaxy.

Captain Kirk is no fool, however, and he raised the immortal question, “What does God need with with a starship?” Kirk’s logical query instantly exposed “God” as a pretender, even finally convincing a true believer like Sybok. Star Trek V has several memorable moments between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, but this was the singular beat where Captain Kirk truly shined.

4

Captain Kirk Gives Captain Picard Advice

Star Trek Generations

Captain James T. Kirk meeting Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) was the historic moment that Star Trek Generations hinged on. While consensus is not kind to how Star Trek Generations killed Captain Kirk, Jim’s few minutes with Picard are magic. Especially when Kirk offers his hard-earned advice to the current Captain of the Enterprise:

Don’t let them promote you, don’t let them transfer you, don’t let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship, because while you’re there, you can make a difference.

Kirk learned this lesson the hard way because he came to regret giving up the Starship Enterprise to become an Admiral. Kirk fought to get back to the bridge of the Enterprise, and it cost him dearly. William Shatner’s sheer charisma stole Star Trek Generations, and he charmed his way through his scenes, culminating with Kirk’s parting his wisdom to Picard.

3

Admiral Kirk Mourns Spock’s Death

Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan

At the start of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Admiral James T. Kirk told Lieutenant Saavik (Kirstie Alley), “How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life.” Kirk then has to confront this when Captain Spock sacrifices his life to save the Starship Enterprise from Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban) detonating the Genesis Device.

Kirk’s love for Spock has never been laid so bare. Compounding the tragedy of the Vulcan’s death, the glᴀss separating them to protect Kirk and Engineering from radiation poisoning meant Jim couldn’t touch and comfort his best friend during Spock’s last moments. Kirk had never been so defeated and so forlorn as he slinked beside Spock, finally facing a death he couldn’t cheat.

2

Admiral Kirk’s Reaction When His Son Dies

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock

In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Admiral Kirk essentially tossed aside his Starfleet career in the hope that Spock could be resurrected. As Kirk risked everything to reverse his loss of Spock in Star Trek II, Jim did not expect to face what was perhaps an even more painful death: the murder of Kirk’s son, David Marcus (Merritt Butrick), by the Klingons.

When Kruge (Christopher Lloyd) ordered David’s death, Kirk, who was on the bridge of the Enterprise, was completely helpless to stop it. William Shatner’s performance is visceral and filled with anguish, as Kirk literally loses his equlibirum and falls backward from the shock of his son’s sudden, senseless murder. It’s a remarkable Kirk moment, and Shatner at his best.

1

Admiral Kirk’s Fury At Khan

Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan

Perhaps the signature Admiral Kirk moment – not just in Star Trek movies but overall – is Jim screaming Khan’s name in fury in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. At this point in Nicholas Meyer’s classic Star Trek sequel, Khan believes he has marooned Admiral Kirk and his crew on the Regula I planetoid, just as Kirk stranded Khan on Ceti Alpha V almost 20 years prior.

As Khan gloats that he has left Kirk “buried alive,” Jim snarls “Khaaaannn!” into his communicator in what has become a meme and an indelible part of pop culture. In Star Trek II, it was also the pivot point that fully jumpstarted Admiral Kirk into action, as he and Spock implement their own secret plan to defeat Khan. Chris Pine and William Shatner are so charming and charismatic, they make virtually any Captain Kirk moment stand out, but these are my favorites in their Star Trek movies.