10 Best Star Trek Documentaries
6. Trekkies
The 1997 film that explores the Trek fandom is a must-see for anyone attempting to understand how varied the people who follow Star Trek are. While there are some fans interviewed who may be seen as somewhat extreme, the sense of community and care that radiates from the film is hard to miss.
Trekkies is now famous for several reasons. Gabriel Koerner shot to mini-fame with his incredibly sincere Trek engagement, something that resulted in him receiving a fair amount of internet backlash. The film also features Barbara Adams, the Whitewater Scandal Juror who attended court in her Starfleet uniform, along with a tour of Starbase Dental, the first Star Trek-themed dental surgery.
Interspersed with these clips are interviews with the actors themselves, including an incredibly moving story told by James Doohan. He recalled a suicidal fan who sent him a letter, to which he replied and invited her to the next convention he was attending. This continued until she fell silent for a few years, only to reappear, having just attained her qualifications as an engineer. Not a dry eye in the house.
Trekkies is at its best a fascinating look at the people who make franchises successful, while at its worst sets the bar for what to expect at a convention. Regardless of how passionate one is about the franchise itself, Trekkies is a must-watch movie about a has to be seen to be believed fanbase.