She went down like a warrior, even mortally wounded she took as many of the enemy with her as she could, and bought her crew the time to escape. A great last stand.

I’m going on record to state Star Trek III is not a bad movie!

The scene where they're activating the auto-destruct sequence has always been so interesting. You see the raw determination on Kirk's face, and Scotty and Chekov's shocked expressions. Scotty silently and grimly accepts what's happening. After he inputs his code and lets Chekov take over, he stares hard at Kirk, just to see if he's actually going to go through with it. Notice how he only breaks his stare when Kirk says the word ''destruct" in the final code; he knows there's no going back now. And Chekov just sits there in disbelief, almost hesitating to put his code in. Excellent acting from all three of them.

The most powerful moment in the movie is when Sarek approaches Kirk and thanks him. He says "...But at what cost? Your ship, your son" and Kirk says "If I hadn't tried the cost would have been my soul". Among all the loss, destruction and chaos, in one sentence it reminds us it's Star Trek and that glow wells up inside. It just doesn't happen anymore.

The old girl saved them one last time ....

Over the years...I've forgotten MANY important numbers...and lock combination codes...but...for some reason...that destruct code never escaped my memory...

One of my favorite scenes and lines in the entire Star Trek film series. Kirk: “My God Bones. What have I done?” McCoy: “What you had to do. What you always do. Turn death into a fighting chance to live.” Me: sobbing hysterically as the Enterprise burns up entering the upper atmosphere of Genesis.

The very first time I saw this in cinemas in 1984, the sight of the Enterprise saucer section exploding like shattering glass hit my heart like a knife. I knew Kirk had done what was necessary but that still didn't prepare me for that visceral scene of watching the scorched and burning remains of the Enterprise flying across the stars like a rogue comet. Even my father jumped in his seat. He had grown up with the original crew so it hit him hard as well.

"Turn death into a fighting chance to live." When those words were spoken, I felt so motivated to live by them when my father died 6 months after I graduated from high school and only left a Social Security survivors benefits. Two years later, I moved out on my own, been in and out of school because of the way the current American economy is consistently failing. Still out on my own and no longer on it but driven by those words.

To this day, this is still one of the most painful scenes to watch. This is why the last scene in Star Trek IV at space dock brought so much joy.

Real actors, real writers, real stories. Sigh. Those were the days...

I actually cried when she exploded when i saw this in the theatre back in the 80's. Still hurts to watch even today.

No matter how many times I watch this moment in the film (I've lost count) it still hurts. The Enterprise was more than just a ship, she was a character in her own right. To me, anyway.

After watching this countless times, I just noticed that Scotty still kept looking at the crashing Enterprise even when Kirk, Bones, Sulu, and Chekov moved their focus to the Genesis’ unstable core. Scotty was the most heartbroken of them all when the Enterprise was destroyed.

Chekov's momentary hesitation is heartbreaking

I was a little boy when I saw this on TV. I cried so hard. In every Star Trek show, the Enterprise is as much a main character as Captain Kirk or Picard, and this was like watching a friend die.

This scene and dialogue is as powerful on a smartphone in 2022 as it was in theater in 84. And the camera work, the composition, James Horners music - a thing of beauty.

‘What you had to do,what you always do...turn death into a fighting chance to live’ Bones wisdom shines.

There would be no intelligent play from Spock, no clever trick from Scotty, no rescue from the crew, no final save from an unknown source. This moment was so iconic because it was actually going to happen, and not a force in the galaxy was going to stop it. The Enterprise had made her last voyage, and she was going to die. Star Trek III will endure forever in the annals of science fiction for this single scene of tragic heroism.

This scene is so ominous and really hits home the idea of the loyalty this crew had toward one another...willing to sacrifice an entire ship to help save their friends. Epic moment in a very underrated movie of the ST franchise!

If you ever wonder what Star Trek is all about, I saw this movie on opening day and everyone in the theater cried like babies when the Enterprise went down. Yep, movies used to be awesome. 😢😢😢

This still tears me up to watch. Kirk had bluffed destroying the Enterprise to get out of a jam in the past; this time, it was no bluff. Kruge failed the most important lesson any Klingon commander should learn: never give James T. Kirk any time. You and your crew will regret it.

Nimoy and Horner really understood epic, operatic moments.

One of the greatest and saddest moments not only in Star Trek history, but in film. The end of an era......the destruction of the Enterprise. One of the most iconic vessels in movie history.

Lost Spock, lost David, and he lost his ship. That must have been a hard few months for Kirk.

This film from beginning to end is beautifully filmed. As someone who has had the pleasure of working behind the camera on a dozen films over my lifetime, the cinemotraphy in this film is so underappreciated that it is criminal. Star Trek 3 tends to be on the bottom of people's favorite list, but remember this is Star Trek Empire Strikes Back of the Star Trek trilogy (2,3,4). It's somber tone and desperate story are so good.

As a former infantryman, this is my favorite Star Trek scene of all time. One of our mottos is Improvise, Adapt, Overcome. Even in the face of overwhelming opposition, never give up. Do what you can to win, no matter the odds. What Captain Kirk does here lives up to that adage. He doesn’t give up, and devises the best solution to deal a blow to the enemy given the tactical situation. He snatches victory from the jaws of defeat. He might have been an Officer of the Line, but Kirk had the heart of an infantryman. Hooah!

Seeing the Name Plate and Number crumble gets you in the feels

This was truly a powerful scene. The Klingons' hubris really did them in -- Kruge ordering Torg to take essentially the entire crew (save for Maltz and the Genesis landing party) and beam onto the Enterprise. The wind up stalking the corridors and eventually making it to the bridge, thinking that they're gonna get the Genesis data out of the computer's memory banks. Instead, they realized too late that they've beamed onto a death trap. I also loved the moment when Kirk and Company, after having entered the codes, races to the transporter room in a dead sprint as the seconds ticked.

That look on Scotty's face says it all. It breaks his heart to sacrifice the grand old Enterprise, but he understands there is no alternative left.

BIt of a throwback, too, to the episode with Frank Gorshin, the black and white guys, when JTK went through the whol auto destruct. Let that be your last battlefield. Just remembered....

I remember seeing this movie opening day. The enterprise was my favorite character from the series. My parents were married the same month and year the show premiered on tv back in September 1966. so they never missed a show. Later the show was still on tv as reruns i guess and they always watched it. I got into it as well and always watched it with them. So many times the ship was almost destroyed in her career, then kirk and his crew did what no enemy ever could, destroy the enterprise. When kirk said computer destruct sequence one, the crowd just all gasped at once. Some were saying no no they cant destroy the enterprise, the countdown gets to 3 2 1, at 1 i just said OH SHIT....first time i ever swore in front of my parents. I was about 11 at the time. The ship blows up goes down and i could not believe it. I still get upset even now. 39 years later and still hard to watch. When the scene was over people were crying and some were so shocked they just had that look on there face like what the hell did we just see. My mom and dad even had tears in there eyes. One of the most sad moments in the history of star trek, it was the end of an era in a way. An era we will never see again in star trek, not like that anyway. I miss thoses days and this crew and.....that magnificent ship......🖖🏼live long and prosper.

I never understood why Search for Spock is considered to be one of the inferior Star Trek movies. To me it is right up there with 2, 4 and 6. Not to mention that it forms the centerpiece of a pretty amazing story told in the 2-3-4 trilogy of movies. I think that audiences back then were not prepared for its unrelenting tension and bleakness.

Just watched Season 3 EP15 of he original series. 'Let that be your last battle field'. Destruct sequence was the same. Nice.

Shatner as he delivers the destruct zero is personally one of my favourite Kirk moments.

Like a true engineer which really owned the ship, Scotty never takes his eyes off the Enterprise as she makes her plunge onto the planet.

Still by far the most powerful scene in Star Trek history I'd argue, if not science fiction history.

This scene still gets me after all these years. The music leading up to and after the explosion is so emotional as is seeing the crew on that mountaintop watching as their ship goes down. And Bones' line is just perfect. I totally love the scores from Star Trek II and III. They were amazing and are so incredibly nostalgic for me.

This is a very well acted scene. Scotty and Chekov both look shocked that Admiral Kirk is doing the destruct sequence and then Chekov almost hesitates to put his code in and then after they watch the ship break apart, Chekov gets refocused and starts doing his scans of the planet's core. Once they arrived on Vulcan and had that reunion with Spock, he probably got settled in bed and had a bit of a cry since he practically grew up on that ship.

I was a kid, maybe 5 or 6 years old, when I saw this movie for the first time. I cried a lot seeing the old lady go kaboom.

This movie changed my life. I'm not sure I would be alive today without it. Live long and prosper.

Although it broke my heart, I found it interesting that it highlighted how important everyone’s ranks were and how they had to not just identified themselves but had the destruct codes memorized - it’s the most accurate military thing I’ve seen. These guys are Navy seals but in space; not just any monkey can get on there.

Spock's death and the death of the original Enterprise had always tear at my heart... Even after several decades...

What I find most funny is that the Klingons didn’t realize that it was a self-destruct countdown. But the moment that Kruge just heard one number he knew what the hell it was! But God, it is so hard to watch the Enterprise be destroyed. I still shed a tear over that.

That final code sounds like it has not been changed by kirk, ever!

The transporter effects and sounds from these movies were my favorite.

I remember seeing this movie with my mom and dad a week before my younger brother was born. I was so freaked out by the destruction of the Enterprise it took my parents the entire trip home to calm down. Funny how it stands out so clear in my mind after all these years.

This is Kirk’s FINEST hour! Blew up his ship, beams to the planet and lures the Klingon commander to a final duel and then escapes on the enemy vessel! Whoa..

The music starts as soon as Scotty starts putting in his code, so you *know* shit is about to go down! And Scotty starts to cry when Kirk enters the final code

I saw this with my mom, dad, and best friend when it come out in theaters....We were quiet and sad on the way home... Even my dad was quiet.... Good times regardless

Before I continue, I first need to state that I was 21 when I saw this film on the first showing of opening day on Friday 01 June 1984 around 10 AM that day because I did not want to read or be aware of any reviews before seeing the film. This is because, believe it or not, of all the Star Trek movies after the first one, "Star Trek III: The Search For Spock" was the most anticipated. Needless to say that early morning, it was Star Trek nerd fans like myself who attended. As we watched the ship blow up, we were all speechless and the audience was quiet and absolutely mesmerized as we absorbed the realization of what we were witnessing. I want to be clear though: a snippet of the saucer section blowing up was part of the promotions for the movie that were being broadcast on TV. So, we were aware of a Constitution-class ship exploding. I don't remember if the TV trailers showed the NCC-1701, but, even if it did, it was not the actual spoiler that later fans whine about. For all we knew - and we didn't know the story going into the movie that first day - this could have been a "mirror universe Enterprise" or something. But it wasn't. It was the real thing and we hard-core fans in that first showing were sucked-in hook, line, and sinker into the story at that point. Nothing was predictable at this point. I want to be clear about this. Watching "Star Trek" on TV in the 1960s and 1970s, you knew the ship would be saved or Kirk would be beamed up just in time. The day was always saved. But now we just witnessed the destruction of the Enterprise. Nothing was guaranteed now. The storytelling was a complete wild west, so to speak, with nothing being completely predictable or guaranteed including even a "Star Trek IV". This is hard to explain, but something that is important about this scene - even more than Spock's death in "Wrath of Khan" which was expected - is that Star Trek "went there". In episodic television and certainly not in "Star Trek", a scene with an unexpected killing of a "core character" never would exist. (And, yes, the Enterprise is a "core character".) The closest comparison was the death of Colonel Henry Blake in "M*A*S*H" but actor MacLean Stevenson was already known to be leaving that sitcom and that that would be his last episode. It's how his story came to an end that was shocking. ... but no one... NO ONE... expected the end of the Enterprise - even with the TV promotions. This was something new that NEVER would have happened on television before. Because of this scene, it actually changes how storytelling in Hollywood changed. It gave license to writers to "go there" and do the unthinkable. For instance, the death of Tasha Yar in Season 1 of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" could only happen because the Enterprise blew up. Star Trek "went there" before so it could do it again. Indeed, that death of a core character was an important point in elevating TNG in fans' eyes and the subsequent storytelling got better because of it. The writers had more courage because they felt freer knowing that they could "go there" again. ... and that all happened because of this scene - the destruction of the Enterprise in "Star Trek III: The Search For Spock".

20 years of hard work searching for new life gone in 60 seconds. Scotty's reaction is in complete shock

Kirk: "My God, Bones! What have I done?" McCoy: "What you had to do. What you always do. Give death a fighting chance to live" Me: "Still hurts like hell though"

The Enterprise was a character. The greatest one. She saved them all. I cry every time I see this.

James Horner's music score in Star Trek 3 is my favorite out of all the films. Captures every scene. So epic

Destruct Zero : destruction of the ship only and not a nearby bodies owing to the ejection of the warp core. Hence detonators positioned on the bridge and primary hull Destruct One: uncontrolled matter/ antimatter collision resulting in destruction of the ship and nearby bodies (eg the command to Scotty in TMP when inside V’ger)

Star Trek lll is a brilliant movie as are they all. Kirk and his crew are top quality.

And with this act, Kirk began a long tradition in Starfleet that wouldn't be broken until the Enterprise-E. That no ship bearing the name Enterprise would survive long enough to be decomissioned.

Obviously, after 78 episodes, 22 animated episodes, and 2 previous films, this scene is sad enough. But what makes it even worse is the element of terror. Not only did they have to destroy their tragically doomed 'old friend,' but they landed on a planet that was in the process of self destructing. Did they even know they would have a chance of gaining control of the Klingon ship? Taking away hindsight, that's a tough question.

The reaction from Scotty and Chekov is priceless. They are all sacrificing their lives to save their friend Spock. No matter the cost.

When I saw this in the theatre back in the 80s it shocked me when the Enterprise was blown up.

Kirk knows my wi fi password

I take solice in the fact that I know that the Enterprise would have been used, abused and forced by the Klingons to do whatever abuse they wanted with her. She went down in flaming glory taking as many with her as she could. Enterprise lives in our hearts.

I absolutely love those people. Brought me so much happiness since I was a wee lad in the mid 70s & Mum had 'The Corbomite Maneuver' on............... Hooked!

Sulu was looking FABULOUS in that leather cape.

There was not a dry eye in the theater for this scene. Godspeed, Enterprise.

i remember this as a teenager, there wasnt a word spoken during this moment. The death of kirks son, the destruction of the enterprise, it was a lot to take in. Sniffles, and tears but...it was eerily quiet. Then again back then, nobody had cell phones or such distractions so, everyone that was there, wanted to see what happened.

I remember seeing this when I was just a young fella. Glad to have been born during a time where Star Trek was a thing. Live Long and Prosper fellow Star Trek fans!

Seriously underrated movie! Movies 2 and 3 (yes even 4) are masterpieces

Everything about this is still superb.

All those years ago, when I first watched this scene, I cried. I remember feeling deeply sad, upset and betrayed, It just couldn't end that way. A punch in the stomach, as Spock's death in the Wrath of Khan. Now I am 58 and in time I've come to understand, to feel that Nimoy and the authors couldn't have done a greater homage to our beloved 1701. She was too old, as Admiral Morrow had said, and too badly crippled after the Mutara battle, her programmed destiny was to be scrapped in some anonymous drydock, become metal, plastic and electronics to be either recycled or destroyed, and her memory would have faded and vanished eventually with time and deaths of her crew. A most unfair reward for 40 years of glorious service. Look at this instead. She does one last act of defiance against the overwhelming forces of the baddest enemy, she lets her human buddies go safe away, then allows the Klingons come into her, reaching her very heart, the bridge, and then dies with them, the only possible glorious demise for such an iconic character. The ultimate sacrifice. It makes me think to Samson and the Philistines a bit. Then its wreck burns in the Genesis atmosphere, and that is the closest thing to a Viking's funeral a starship could ever have. Thank you Star Trek lll folks, I've hated you at the time, but now I can only but praise you. You have killed her, but you have made her Immortal.

"...DESTRUCT 0" was not Kirk's only option. According to the 'Starship Enterprise Technical Manuel' circa 1986 or 7, a final code of "...DESTRUCT 1" - Which Kirk was prepared to activate as a last act to stop V'ger in TMP - would drop Warp Core magnetic containment fields, dumping all matter/antimatter into the reaction chamber at once. The Enterprise would super nova it'self into oblivion, taking any vessel within several hundred kilomaters with it.

First Contact could have rivalled this scene as far as emotional impact goes if they had stuck with the Enterprise-D for that film. But that didn't happen. So as far as I'm concerned, this remains the best self-destruct sequence in Star Trek.

I love how the other Klingons don’t speak English so have no idea what is going on. You can really feel the desperate panic on Kurge when he hears the countdown and works out what is going on

Always liked this destruct sequence. Auto destruct scenes are usually depicted as either complex processes (think Alien) or else just hitting a big red button. This one was close to how a real military-designed auto destruct might function. The authentication comes from the computer analyzing the biometrics. The codes themselves are there just so the computer can verify that three senior officers are actually physically present, in genuine agreement and not acting under duress. This is the kind of protocol you would design for real life, last resort, life or death situations. And of course Shatner, Doohan, and Keonig sell it well.

I still cry watching her blow up.

The reaction Scotty and Checkov have when Kirk says destruct.

It has always been my understanding that the Zero after the "Destruct" isn't there simply for drama... If my memory is serving me correctly: These was an Enterprise officers manual that is official canon. Although that has been out of print for several years, that manual should state that the captain had the option to state "One" instead of Zero for the last digit after "Destruct". Inserting a "One" after "Destruct" would instruct the Enterprise computer to specifically blow the Warp Core. The captain had this option specifically to create a zone of deadly radiation around the area where the ship detonated. I honestly couldn't tell you if this action was ever taken at any time in Starfleet history. I never bothered to check: Perhaps this is something that can be found on the Memory Alpha fansite.

I love this film. Friends that are so loyal to another they would do anything to save them. You don't see this at all in new Trek

I love the seriousness of this scene, the drama of it. Great scene and a great film, love it.

The soundtrack, so beautiful.

0:03 His voice dead with pain as he calls up the computer. 1:01 _"Zero, zero, zero...destruct."_ His voice quieter after that pause... 3:46 _"My God, Bones...what have I done?"_

Those footsteps noises are straight out of OG Resident Evil! 😂

This was gut wrenching. It's like finding your ex's Facebook by chance and seeing her wedding pictures. And then I got an enterprise E. Lol.

"Turn death into a fighting chance to live." McCoy knew that was the most difficult thing Kirk had to do. To Kirk, the Enterprise was his baby, she was a daughter to him. Sure, he was rough on her, but he knew she could take it. This time, he knew, she was dead. Nothing he could've done outside of a Starfleet miracle would've saved her. Thus he knew what he had to do, to save her from being a slave to the Klingons, he grimly ends her life, staring at death in open defiance and with a determined grit. The original Enterprise's death still one that resonates massively with me. While I never grew up watching TOS, I was enthralled by the Constitution Class's Refit, and seeing her demise was a shot in the heart. It remains, to this day, my favorite Star Trek ship design, and I wince every time I watch this scene when I watch III. I know it's coming, but it gets me every time.

Years leter and I still can't get over the shock this happened.

This movie and wrath of Kahn were really ground breaking for Star Trek, new starship designs in Reliant, Excelsior, oberth, spacedock, and the bird of pray. I mean of course they were, they were the only Star Trek out but if you think about WoK showed the first actual combat damage and SfS showed the first hyper detailed destruction of a federation starship, yes I get that we saw the reliant self destruct but this was the hero ship. The Enterprise was as much a character as Kirk, Spock, Scotty, McCoy, and the rest. These movies were also a curse because after these 2 every movie had to blow up an Enterprise and the writers seemed to just get lazier and lazier. Star Trek 3 was as heartbreaking as the death of Optimus Prime to me. Really defined parts of my childhood.

The look on Scotty and Chekov's faces as they realize that Kirk's only done this once before, under similar dire conditions...

I watched the destruction of the Kelvin Enterprise and I felt nothing... I saw the ruin of the Defiant and I did not mourn (or Morn)... I witnessed the downfall of the D and I did not grieve... I saw what happened to the Constellation and I knew it had a better fate... I heard of the end of the Ning'tao and I felt only pride... I am told of the C and how she met fate with honor... But this one... This was the Enterprise. Legend beyond Legend. Unworthy of the scrap pile. Too good to become a museum ship. Too lucky to go out in battle... No other ship deserved the honor of being the one that took out the Big E. This was always her fate, To enter into oblivion by the hands of those that she kept safe, And in so doing, give them yet another chance to survive, To turn death into a fighting chance to live. May history never forget the name Enterprise.

As a kid this scene was tough to watch. We all grew up w/ this ship. Even now it’s still a brilliant self destruct sequence effect👍

The background music is almost the same as on Star Trek II when the Genesis planet is forming and Kirk finds Spock dying in engineering.

Enterprise D is sad but this is more heart breaking. Plus its the ship that saved the world in the first movie

In a way it’s poetic, she crashed on genisus. And in Star Trek 4 she was renewed. Life from death

The saddest and most emotional scene in almost 60 years of Star Trek

What an amazing scene. I cry every time, which isn't uncommon during star trek scenes.

Man, as a kid it hurt to lose my favorite character. The destruction of the Enterprise D felt like “we kinda had to,” and nowadays there’s no investment in the ship(s) as characters and they’re recycled like plastic bottles. This hurt. Still does.

This scene reminds me of ditching most of my belongings and moving into my 06 f150... Beautiful... It'll be ten years this may 2021...

This was my FAVORITE Enterprise and bridge. I hurt me when they destroyed it😪

Vulcans are puzzled by us humans and our attachment to inanimate objects. I refer the storied history of the Enterprise, 1701. Seeing all the adventures she took Kirk and crew on, seeing her beautiful refit, then seeing her taking the beating she did in Wrath of Khan. In Star Trek III you can see the old girl battered, wounded, and limping home. The crew is getting older, and so to is our Enterprise. The condition of the Enterprise is actually a key part of the plot in this movie. We are shocked to see she isn't going to get another refit, but just scrapped. Kirk knowing the old girl has one last mission left in her embarks on a daring rescue. The old girl already mortally wounded by Khan gives her very last to ensure her crew has a fighting chance to live. She was just as much part of the family as the crew. Of all the iterations of the Enterprise that were destroyed, this is the one that gets you the most.

Same destruct codes that were used in "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield," from TOS.