Despite Being Review-Bombed, New Star Trek Series Bounces Back on Streaming

4 days ago 3

Close-up of Nus Braka in a gold embroidered outfit, pointing toward the camera in Season 1.

Published Jan 31, 2026, 9:17 AM EST

Rahul Malhotra is a Weekend News Writer for Collider. From Francois Ozon to David Fincher, he'll watch anything once.

He has been writing for Collider for over two years, and has covered everything from Marvel to the Oscars, and Marvel at the Oscars. He also writes obsessively about the box office, charting the many hits and misses that are released weekly, and how their commercial performance shapes public perception. In his time at Collider, he has also helped drive diversity by writing stories about the multiple Indian film industries, with a goal to introduce audiences to a whole new world of cinema.

Swing and a miss > measured victory. Also, #JusticeForHan. (He/Him).

The latest installment of Alex Kurtzman's sprawling universe of Star Trek shows on Paramount+, the younger-skewing Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, is continuing its bumpy run on the viewership charts. The show was launched with a two-episode premiere in mid-January, but it hasn't exactly emerged as a breakout hit. But that was to be expected, considering the franchise's cult appeal. Following the release of its fourth episode, however, Starfleet Academy briefly bounced back into the domestic Paramount+ viewership charts. According to FlixPatrol, it was also among the most-watched shows in the United States via Amazon Channels. Most impressively, it's achieving this feat despite intense review-bombing.

This is when a series or film is strategically targeted by trolls, with the intention of bringing their scores down on aggregator platforms. Starfleet Academy, for instance, opened to positive reviews from critics, but its audience score has been in free-fall. It holds a "Certified Fresh" critics' score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, but its audience score is sitting at 42%. One "verified" viewer compared the show to Star Wars: The Acolyte, which was famously a victim of review-bombing itself. The Acolyte currently holds a "Certified Fresh" critics' score of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, while its audience score is 19%. Consistently attacked by toxic fans, The Acolyte was canceled after a single season on Disney+; the reason given was low viewership and budget concerns.

'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Has Been Praised for Its Humor and Accessibility

This could become a concern for Starfleet Academy as well, considering its inconsistent performance so far. The show hasn't exactly been leading the charge in terms of viewership. In her review, Collider's Samantha Coley praised the show's humor and accessibility, and described it as "the best Star Trek series of the modern era." Part of the expanded universe launched by Kurtzman with Star Trek: Discovery around a decade ago, Starfleet Academy follows a batch of cadets as they train to become Starfleet officers. The series features Holly Hunter as a mentor, with Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, and Bella Shepard starring as the cadets. You can watch Starfleet Academy on Paramount+, which remains the stronghold of hit-maker Taylor Sheridan. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.