'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' Returning To Theaters This Fall For 40th Anniversary Screenings

If you're a Star Trek fan mark your calendars. The theatrical version of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is heading back to theaters nationwide for two days only in September to celebrate the landmark film's 40th Anniversary. According to Entertainment Weekly, Paramount and Fathom Events are teaming up for screenings in 500 theaters around the country September 15th and 18th.

If you’ve never seen on film on the big screen (or weren’t born when the movie was released in December of 1979) it’s a great chance to see the original theatrical version. Fans will also see a behind-the-scenes short called The Longest Trek: Writing the Motion Picture, documenting Star Trek’s tumultuous journey to the screen.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture was directed by Robert Wise, and reunited the original series cast (William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Keonig, and James Doohan) for the first time since the television series ended it's three-season run in 1969. The movie revitalized the Star Trek franchise, and the cast would go on to star in 5 more films before the franchise started focusing on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

If you haven't seen the film, the USS Enterprise crew find themselves in a race against time to battle V'Ger — a hostile alien probe heading to Earth. While not all Trekkies loved the film, it went on to become the 4th highest box office film of 1979 and earned three Oscar nominations, including Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, and Best Music (Original Score). It also gave us a lot of pastel pantsuits.