Star Trek: Section 31 has boldly gone where no Trek film has gone in decades—straight into the crosshairs of the Golden Raspberry Awards. Yes, you read that right. The Paramount+ original, which premiered in January 2025, has snagged five Razzie nominations, marking the franchise’s first brush with this infamous honor in over 30 years. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this a fair critique of a film that dared to reinvent the Trek universe, or is it a case of critics and fans missing the mark? Let’s dive in.
After years of anticipation, Star Trek: Section 31 arrived with high hopes, boasting the return of Michelle Yeoh as the formidable Emperor Georgiou. It was billed as a fresh, bold departure for the franchise, potentially paving the way for a series of Paramount+ original films to complement the beloved TV series. However, the reception was anything but stellar. Critics and fans alike panned the film, with the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation describing it as a ‘convoluted mess beaming its audience to a frontier that could finally bring this once-inspiring franchise journey to a screeching halt.’ Ouch.
Among its five Razzie nominations, Section 31 is up for the ‘$4.97 gold spray-painted Worst Picture Statuette,’ joining the ranks of The Electric State, Hurry Up Tomorrow, Disney’s Snow White, and War of the Worlds. Michelle Yeoh, fresh off her Oscar win, found herself nominated for ‘Worst Actress,’ alongside Ariana DeBose, Milla Jovovich, Natalie Portman, and Rebel Wilson. Kacey Rohl, who played Rachel Garrett, was also nominated for ‘Worst Supporting Actress.’
And this is the part most people miss: Director Olatunde Osunsanmi, who was recently nominated for an Image Award for Best Director, is now in the running for ‘Worst Director.’ Talk about a mixed bag! The screenplay, penned by Craig Sweeny with an original story concept by Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt, is up for ‘Worst Screenplay.’
But it’s not all doom and gloom for Section 31. The film did earn a nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing at the 73rd Golden Reel Awards, recognizing the stellar work of its sound team, including Supervising Sound Editor Matthew E. Taylor and Sound Designer Michael Schapiro. This team also scored an Emmy nomination last year, proving that even in a critically panned film, there can be standout moments.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: Section 31 isn’t the first Trek film to face Razzie scrutiny. That dubious honor goes to Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, which nabbed six nominations in 1991, winning ‘Worst Picture,’ ‘Worst Director,’ and ‘Worst Actor’ for William Shatner. And speaking of Shatner, the Razzies seem to have a long-standing grudge against the original Captain Kirk, nominating him for ‘Worst Actor of the Century’ in 2000. Is this a fair assessment, or are the Razzies just picking on Trek?
As we await the Razzie ‘winners’ on March 14th (the night before the Oscars, of course), it’s worth asking: Did Star Trek: Section 31 deserve this backlash, or did it simply fail to meet sky-high expectations? And more importantly, does this mark the end of an era for the franchise, or is there still hope for future Trek films? Sound off in the comments—we want to hear your take!
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