Star Trek Beyond: 25 Easter Eggs, References & In-Jokes

There's one thing almost guaranteed about Star Trek Beyond: you will be astonished at how much better it is than you ever expected. It is the best of the new series set in the Kelvin timeline, is the funniest, has the most impressive action sequences and a strong story (even if it's another vengeance tale).

Most importantly, despite the controversy of Justin Lin being hired and the furore that met the first trailer, it feels like a beefed up Original Series episode. It is soaked in nostalgia and reference points not only to that series, but also to the film franchise, and it's very clear Lin knows where his film came from.

The result is a hybrid experience: a living artefact to Star Trek past but also a modern spin, with more spectacle and more comedy that absolutely doesn't compromise on the original spirit. It's legitimately a joy.

Here are the biggest and best Easter Eggs, call-backs, references and in-jokes in Star Trek Beyond...

25. Stardate: Loaded

Right at the start after the opening mission sequence, Kirk mentions the stardate, and says it comes 966 into the Enterprise's 5 year mission to "boldly go" and all that.

It's not an accidental day: Star Trek The Original Series debuted on CBS in September 1966 (interestingly when William Shatner was the age Chris Pine is now).

The film opens with a funny little sequence that sees Kirk negotiating the exchange of a peace token from one alien race to another, terrifying one (only for it to be revealed that the monsters are in fact tiny). It's a nice sight gag, and it sees the re-introduction of a traditional Star Trek: The Original Series gag.

In pretty much every episode, Kirk would destroy his shirt (to the point where the trope is poked fun at in Galaxy Quest) or remove it entirely, and it should come as no surprise that he returns from his opening mission in such a state. The crew even laugh at it being a regular occurence and a shot in his personal quarters reveals he has numerous identical uniforms hanging up.

Chris Pine actually looks a lot more like William Shatner this time out, with a new haircut that is obviously more modelled on his.