The Star Trek Documentary On Netflix Every Fan Needs To Watch
If you’re a fan of the Star Trek franchise, then you need to watch the 2016 documentary For the Love of Spock that is now streaming on Netflix. The film was directed by Leonard Nimoy’s son, Adam Nimoy, and it discusses the life and legacy of the Star Trek icon along with the huge impact that the character of Spock had on pop culture and science fiction. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of the franchise, this documentary is definitely still worth a watch.
The documentary For the Love of Spock, directed by Leonard Nimoy’s son Adam, is streaming on Netflix.
Leonard Nimoy is one of the most widely recognized actors from the Star Trek franchise after he portrayed Spock for nearly 50 years. His character, a human-Vulcan hybrid, was one of the three central characters alongside Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Dr. “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley). Leonard Nimoy first appeared as Spock in the original Star Trek TV series in 1966, and he made his final appearance as the beloved character in the 2013 film Star Trek Into Darkness.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series, Leonard Nimoy and his son Adam Nimoy began working on the documentary For the Love of Spock in 2014. Their goal was to focus on the character of Spock and how he made an impact on the world. Unfortunately, Leonard Nimoy passed away on February 27, 2015 at 83 years old after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for many years.
After his father’s death, Adam Nimoy changed the trajectory of the documentary, opting to have it focus more on Leonard Nimoy’s incredible life, career, and legacy rather than just the Star Trek character. Part of what inspired him to broaden For the Love of Spock was the outpouring of love and affection from fans after his father’s passing.
The character Sheldon Cooper (played by Jim Parsons) from The Big Bang Theory was even interviewed in For the Love of Spock.
To help keep the documentary going, Adam Nimoy created a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the cost of having to license Spock’s photos and film clips from his many appearances in Star Trek TV shows and movies. The goal was to collect $600,000 in one month, which was surpassed thanks to many caring fans. With the help of over 9,000 backers, Adam Nimoy raised $662,640 to fund the documentary.
In addition, so many fans and celebrities came forward to share their fond memories of Leonard Nimoy in For the Love of Spock. Throughout the documentary there are interviews with many stars, including William Shatner, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Jason Alexander, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and J. J. Abrams.
The character Sheldon Cooper (played by Jim Parsons) from The Big Bang Theory was even interviewed in For the Love of Spock. During the show’s 2015 episode “The Spock Resonance,” Adam Nimoy appears as himself, looking to interview Sheldon for the documentary. Fans of the show will be pleased to know that the interview made the final cut of the documentary.
For the Love of Spock was first screened at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2016, and was followed by a panel discussion with Adam Nimoy, Zachary Quinto (the “new” Spock), producer David Zappone, and critic Scott Mantz. The film was then released to the public on September 9, just one day after the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series.
For a deeper dive into Leonard Nimoy’s life and battle with COPD, his daughter Julie Nimoy also created a documentary entitled Remembering Leonard Nimoy, which was also well received by fans.
The documentary was an instant success after it received great reviews from a variety of critics. It holds a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, joining the ranks along with other classic films like Singin’ in the Rain, Toy Story, and The Terminator. It also received the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2016 Fantasia International Film Festival.
While For the Love of Spock highlights the positive impact of Spock’s character, it also explores how the fame and stardom became detrimental to Leonard Nimoy’s relationship with his son. The documentary expands on their relationship over the years, and it adds even more depth and heart to an already emotional documentary.
For a deeper dive into Leonard Nimoy’s life and battle with COPD, his daughter Julie Nimoy also created a documentary entitled Remembering Leonard Nimoy, which was also well received by fans.
Head on over to Netflix to watch For the Love of Spock for yourself, and remember to always “live long and prosper.”
