If you've been waiting for a sign to revisit the golden age of Star Trek, this is it. As of June 2026, all four feature films from The Next Generation era have landed on Plex for free streaming. That means you can now watch Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: Nemesis without spending a dime. And for fans of Tom Hardy, there's an extra reason to tune in: Nemesis features one of his earliest film performances, long before he became Bane or Venom.
The Next Generation films are a cornerstone of the franchise. They follow Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-E as they face new threats, explore strange worlds, and grapple with the legacy of the original series. The first film, Generations (1994), famously brought together Picard and Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) in a historic crossover. Directed by David Carson and written by Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga, it set the stage for the quartet of movies that would define the 1990s for Trek fans.
Many consider First Contact (1996) the high point of the bunch. Directed by Jonathan Frakes (who also played Commander Riker), the film pits the Enterprise crew against the Borg in a time-traveling adventure that's both thrilling and deeply personal for Picard. It's widely praised by critics and audiences alike, and it remains one of the most beloved Star Trek movies ever made. Frakes returned to direct Insurrection (1998), which explores themes of immortality and cultural preservation, though it received more mixed reviews.
Then came Nemesis (2002), the final Next Generation film. It introduced a young Tom Hardy as Shinzon, a genetically engineered clone of Picard who leads a rebellion on Romulus. Hardy's performance is intense and unsettling, offering a glimpse of the raw talent that would later make him a household name. While Nemesis underperformed at the box office and received mixed-to-negative reviews, it has gained a cult following over the years. For Hardy fans, it's a fascinating early role that predates his iconic turns in Inception, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Dark Knight Rises — where he played the unforgettable Bane. (If you want to revisit that villainous turn, check out our piece on Tom Hardy's Bane in 'The Dark Knight Rises'.)
The Next Generation TV series originally aired from 1987 to 1994, spanning 178 episodes. It became one of the most beloved entries in the Star Trek saga, and the films that followed extended its legacy. After Nemesis, the franchise took a break from the big screen until J.J. Abrams rebooted it in 2009. But for many fans, these four films represent the true heart of Star Trek cinema.
If you're in the mood for more overlooked gems, Plex's free lineup is a great place to start. And if you're a fan of forgotten classics, you might also enjoy our list of Best Forgotten 90s Cult Classic Movies Ranked: 10 Hidden Gems. But for now, grab your popcorn and set a course for the final frontier — all four Next Generation films are waiting for you on Plex.
