The Star Trek: Discovery spinoff movie starring Michelle Yeoh, Section 31, is getting destroyed by both critics and fans.
Apparently it’s so bad (I haven’t watched it myself) that even IGN has given Section 31 a “2” rating. The Star Trek fan sites have also blasted the film.
Over at Rotten Tomatoes, Section 31 currently boasts a 24% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics with 33 reviews. The fan score is at only 18% with over 250 ratings.
What do the critics say?
The overwhelming negative sentiment about Star Trek: Section 31 is that it’s a mess of a film that fails to capture the essence of what makes Star Trek special. Critics slammed it for being poorly paced, shallow, and tonally confused, with many calling it a cheap attempt to cash in on the franchise without offering anything of substance. The film was described as joyless, jumbled, and, at times, outright boring, with repetitive action sequences and a lack of meaningful storytelling. Several reviewers noted that it doesn’t feel like a Star Trek movie at all, instead coming off as a failed attempt at edgy sci-fi. Michelle Yeoh’s charisma is acknowledged, but even she couldn’t save the film from being a “try-hard pretender” or what some described as a hollow, purpose-less project designed to drive Paramount+ subscriptions. Overall, it’s widely viewed as a disservice to the franchise and an embarrassing low point.
Reactions
Here are social media reactions, which offer Section 31 is unwatchable:
Do I even bother watching it? 🤣
— Cosmic Book News (@cosmicbooknews) January 25, 2025
If you do… pic.twitter.com/KIybzrmxUP
— GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT (@GFRobot) January 25, 2025
Star Trek: Section 31 is nothing but a lousy, uninteresting caper picture with middling special effects, bad acting, cringeworthy dialogue, and characters you don’t care about.
— IGN (@IGN) January 23, 2025
Our review: https://t.co/pfVfqh4NyA pic.twitter.com/VzhQnOYuv9
Kurtzman has finally united critics and fans.
— Nerdrotic (@Nerdrotics) January 25, 2025
RIP Star Trek#Section31 pic.twitter.com/4tcUuvdDqo
STAR TREK: SECTION 31 is not good. There is nothing resembling STAR TREK in this film. It’s a complete mess, from the uneven screenplay to the lazy direction. Michelle Yeoh deserved better. Trekkies deserve better. Maybe the worst STAR TREK film I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/Ka4kNlF3BK
— Dan Marcus (@Danimalish) January 24, 2025
STAR TREK: SECTION — The franchise’s first Paramount+ film that’s boldly going nowhere
— TrekNews.net (@treknews) January 23, 2025
Our full review: https://t.co/JcXLpxrwpA pic.twitter.com/D3KV9qmYfC
No one who pitched, commissioned, wrote, produced, edited or directed Star Trek: Section 31 should ever be allowed to work in entertainment again.
— The Little Platoon (@PlatoonPod) January 24, 2025
I think I hate this more than the Borderlands movie hated itself.
Section 31 is so fucking awful, even shill reviewers are shitting on it (though they take pains, being shills, to say Pukehard S3 and Suck New Worlds were FABulous).
— Doomcock (@doomcock) January 23, 2025
Just to be clear: ALL KURTZMAN TREK IS WORTHLESS IDIOTIC TRASH UNWORTHY OF HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
Hope that helps. pic.twitter.com/2kYmbqZ2Rz
Never before seen concept art from the production of Star Trek: Section 31 pic.twitter.com/qk7F6R5jMd
— GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT (@GFRobot) January 25, 2025
What is Section 31 about?
Per the official synopsis: In the movie, Yeoh reprises her fan-favorite role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou – a character she played in Star Trek: Discovery – who joins a secret division of Starfleet. Tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, she also must face the sins of her past.
Who is responsible for Section 31?
Per Paramount, the credits include: Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, with a screenplay by Craig Sweeny and story by Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt, Star Trek: Section 31 is executive produced by Alex Kurtzman, Craig Sweeny, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth and Michelle Yeoh and is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.
