Nicholas Meyer

After the complete and utter disappointment of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, directed by Captain Kirk himself, producers of the series turned The Undiscovered Country back over to Nicholas Meyer, longtime friend of Star Trek. Meyer wrote and directed Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and co-wrote Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home—both of which are seen as high points in the franchise.

Meyer might not quite have hit those high-water marks here, but he came pretty darn close. He was involved with every aspect of the film, even co-writing it with Daniel Martin Flinn. This deep involvement gives the film a cohesive tone that is sorely missing in the previous entry in the series.

Of course, not everything was perfect. Meyer came in frequent conflict with the production studio over the film's budget, and he even butted heads with series creator Gene Roddenberry over the direction of the film's story. Nevertheless, Meyer's ease with the series makes The Undiscovered Country a welcome return to form.