The Captains

The Captains (2011) is a Star Trek documentary you can watch online on iFILM. William Shatner — the original Captain Kirk — wrote and directed it himself, then hit the road to sit down with every other actor who has commanded a starship across the franchise.

Instead of effects trivia, Shatner pulls out something rawer: what the fame actually cost, how the role both wrecked and rescued careers, what beaming into pop culture did to their marriages and their nerves. Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Bakula and a young Chris Pine each take a turn, and each has a different answer to what it feels like to run a bridge in front of millions of fans.

The result is personal and surprisingly candid — not a glossy victory lap for the series, but actors talking shop about the trade and the price of being famous. It's a treat for anyone who grew up on Star Trek, and a sharp portrait of the people behind the iconic chairs. Stream The Captains (2011) online on iFILM.