Star Trek: Trailer, Showtimes, Tickets, Free Stuff

Star Trek: Into Darkness opens in theaters Thursday, May 16, with midnight showings available in most markets at midnight tonight.

The highly anticipated sci-fi sequel opens in select IMAX theaters on May 15 for two "fan sneak" premieres at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

• See Star Trek movie showtimes and order tickets for the Woodbridge IMAX and AMC Potomac Mills.
• Here's the Star Trek: Into Darkness trailer and a behind-the-scenes Into Darkness feature from our partners at Moviefone.

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum will be hosting a panel discussion on Thursday: Star Trek's Continuing Relevance. The free event will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday in Gallery 113 in the D.C. museum.

• Do you have a favorite Star Trek episode or film? Tell us in the comments!

In a special IMAX promotion, audience members at the 8 p.m. showing May 15 will get a limited edition Star Trek Into Darkness print by artist Mark Englert.

Take a look at the special Star Trek premiere giveaway at the IMAX blog. Several IMAX locations in the area are expected to have the memento on hand, including: 

• AMC Hoffman Center 22 & IMAX – Alexandria
• Regal Fox Stadium 16 & IMAX – Ashburn
• Airbus IMAX, Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center - Chantilly
• Regal Manassas 14 & IMAX – Manassas
• AMC Tyson Corner 16 & IMAX – McLean
• AMC Loews Georgetown 14 & IMAX – Washington DC
• AMC Potomac Mills 18 & IMAX – Woodbridge

The stars of the successful 2009 reboot return for the Star Trek sequel, including Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto as Kirk and Spock. This time, Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch plays the vengeful, mysterious villain.

The Star Trek Facebook page has the highlights from Star Trek Into Darkness movie reviews.

Variety says "equal or better" than Abrams' 2009 film. Writes Scott Foundas in his review, "Into Darkness may not boldly go where no Trek adventure has gone before, but getting there is such a well-crafted, immensely pleasurable ride that it would be positively Vulcan to nitpick."

In a review for Time, critic Richard Corliss says the new Star Trek doesn't meet the franchise standards. "With its emphasis on its hero’s adolescent anger, the movie  turns this venerable science-fiction series — one that prided itself on addressing complex issues in a nuanced and mature fashion — into its own kids’ version: Star Trek Tiny Toons," Corliss writes. "At times, the viewer is almost prodded to mutter, 'Grow up!'"