William Shatner's Favorite Sci Movie Has Nothing To Do With Star Trek

William Shatner will always be remembered for playing Captain Kirk in Star Trek, but his favorite sci-fi movie has nothing to do with the classic franchise. The Canadian actor was already an accomplished performer by the time he landed the starring role in CBS’ ambitious sci-fi program, Star Trek, but the series would be his lasting legacy.

Shatner returned in the Star Trek movies, and films like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan have gone on to transcend the franchise to become all-time classics. However, when asked about his favorite science fiction films, Shatner’s picks were actually quite surprising. Most surprisingly of all was that a Star Trek movie didn’t top the list.

William Shatner’s Favorite Sci-Fi Movie Is E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

E.T. gazes skyward with hopeful anticipation in a scene from E.T. — et looks upward with gladness in a scene from et

In 2023, Trek Talking compiled a list of William Shatner’s favorite sci-fi films straight from the mouth of the man himself, and Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic was at the top. Shatner called E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial “one of the most profound science fiction films because it dealt with childhood fantasy,” digging deep into its heartfelt message.

Shatner isn’t alone in his love for E.T., and there’s a reason that the movie is timeless. As mentioned, the story is told through the eyes of a youngster, which gives every aspect a larger-than-life sense of excitement. Spielberg’s direction is also key to the movie’s success, and few filmmakers use cinema to effectively convey emotion like the Oscar winner.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was the highest-grossing movie of 1982.

While it’s a long way from Star Trek, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial does have thematic similarities to the aforementioned franchise. Both represent a rosy view of science fiction, with aliens and outer space seen as an opportunity to learn and grow, and not as a threat. Underneath all that, E.T. is also a perfectly-crafted movie all around.

Shatner Also Loves Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Admiral Kirk walks on the bridge in Star Trek The Motion Picture

After placing E.T. at the top of his list, William Shatner named eight other great sci-fi films that he considers his favorites. Among established classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien, Shatner actually listed one of his own movies. Though it’s often overlooked, Shatner named Star Trek: The Motion Picture as his favorite Star Trek movie.

The visually-stunning but dull affair is the only Star Trek movie Shatner listed, beating out classics like The Wrath of Khan. Shatner applauded the movie’s strength of character and story development, something it actually does quite well. Considering his personal connection to the franchise, it’s clear that The Motion Picture holds a special place for the screen legend.

However, when digging into the rest of his list, his love for The Motion Picture becomes clearer. William Shatner is clearly fascinated by the existential questions posed by science fiction, hence his love for films like 2001. The Motion Picture is the most existential Star Trek film by far, even if it largely misses the mark in its final execution.