Editing Star Trek: First Contact (section)

==Release==
1996 marked the 30th anniversary of the ''Star Trek'' franchise.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bold as ever As 'Star Trek' approaches its 30th anniversary, the cast and crew prepare for future generations |access-date=March 23, 2008 |date=August 18, 1996 |first=Mark A. |last=Perigard |work=[[Boston Herald]] |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/17318641.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+18%2C+1996&author=Mark+A.+Perigard&pub=Boston+Herald&edition=&startpage=006&desc=Bold+as+ever+As+`Star+Trek%27+approaches+its+30th+anniversary%2C+the+cast+and+crew+prepare+for+future+generations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111191026/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/17318641.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+18%2C+1996&author=Mark+A.+Perigard&pub=Boston+Herald&edition=&startpage=006&desc=Bold+as+ever+As+%60Star+Trek%27+approaches+its+30th+anniversary%2C+the+cast+and+crew+prepare+for+future+generations |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was on rocky ground; ''Deep Space Nine'' and ''Voyager'' had shed millions of viewers, being bested by ''[[Hercules: The Legendary Journeys]]'' as the highest-rated syndicated series. Some fans remained upset that Paramount cancelled ''The Next Generation'' at the height of its popularity, and ''Generations'' had been a commercial but not critical success.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Nashawaty, Chris|date=May 3, 1996|title=Red Alert|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|issue=325|page=6}}</ref> Frakes noted it was a "pivotal time", as he feared the franchise might have "spread {{bracket|itself}} too thin with two shows".<ref name="EW-1996">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 23, 1996 |title=Star Trek: First Contact |url=https://archive.org/details/1996-08-23-entertainment-weekly-fall-movie-preview-red/page/n36/mode/1up |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |issue=341/2 |pages=68–69 |issn=1049-0434 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

''First Contact'' was heavily marketed, to an extent not seen since the release of ''Star Trek: The Motion Picture'' in 1979. Several novelizations of the film were written for different age groups. [[Playmates Toys]] produced six and nine-inch [[action figure]]s in addition to ship models and a phaser. Two "making of" television specials premiered on [[HBO]] and the [[Sci-Fi Channel]], as well as being promoted during a 30th-anniversary television special on [[UPN]].<ref name="trekmovie-marketing">{{cite web|last=Tenuto|first=John|date=February 3, 2008|url=http://trekmovie.com/2008/02/03/history-of-trek-movie-merchandising/|title=History of Trek Movie Merchandising|website=TrekMovie|access-date=June 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401085347/http://trekmovie.com/2008/02/03/history-of-trek-movie-merchandising/|archive-date=April 1, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The theatrical trailer to the film was included on a ''Best of Star Trek'' music compilation, released at the same time as the ''First Contact'' soundtrack.<ref name="Sprague-1996"/> [[Simon & Schuster]] Interactive developed a Borg-themed video game for Macintosh and Windows personal computers. The game, ''[[Star Trek: Borg]]'', functioned as an [[interactive movie]] with scenes filmed at the same time as ''First Contact''{{'s}} production.<ref name="Snider-1996">{{cite news |last=Snider |first=Mike |date=December 5, 1996 |title=Be the Borg in 'Star Trek' adventure |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/306786169 |url-access=subscription |work=[[USA Today]] |page=06D |access-date=August 6, 2023 |id={{ProQuest|306786169}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref> A video game adaptation of the film was also announced by [[Spectrum HoloByte]], and would have taken the form of a [[real-time strategy]] game set entirely on the ''Enterprise'' during the Borg takeover,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=In the Studio |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=24|date=December 1996|page=17}}</ref> though it was never released. The film was heavily promoted on the internet through an official website, where users could interact with each other and do battle with the Borg whilst taking a 3-D tour of the ''Enterprise''.<ref name="Fenton-1997">{{cite magazine |last=Fenton |first= Gary |date=February 1997 |title=Web Contact |magazine=Starburst|volume=19 |issue=6#222 |page=15 |issn=0955-114X}}</ref> The site experienced more traffic than that of any previous motion picture, receiving 4.4&nbsp;million hits a week during the film's opening run.<ref name="Sheinkopf-1996">{{cite news |last=Sheinkopf |first=Evelyn |date=December 16, 1996 |title=Online hype boosts awareness |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |volume=365 |issue=7 |pages=49, 52 |issn=0042-2738}}</ref>

The film premiered on November 18, 1996, at [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre|Mann's Chinese Theatre]] in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with $70,000 being raised in ticket sales for [[Amnesty International]].<ref name="nytimes-directing">{{cite news |last=Marriott |first=Michel |date=December 18, 1996 |title=A Starship Chief Goes Bravely Into Directing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/18/garden/a-starship-chief-goes-bravely-into-directing.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812055632/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/18/garden/a-starship-chief-goes-bravely-into-directing.html |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=C12 |access-date=March 22, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Higgins-1996">{{cite news |last=Higgins |first=Bill |date=November 20, 1996 |title='First Contact' With a Soon-to-Be Hit |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-20-ls-913-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807014738/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-20-ls-913-story.html |archive-date=August 7, 2023 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |page=E8 |issn=0458-3035 |access-date=August 7, 2023}}</ref> The main cast save Spiner were in attendance, as were Moore, Braga, Jerry Goldsmith, and producer [[Marty Hornstein]], alongside other ''Star Trek'' actors. After the screening, guests crossed the street to the Hollywood Colonnade, where the interiors had been dressed to match settings from the film.<ref name="Higgins-1996"/><ref name="variety-premiere">{{cite news|date=November 20, 1996|title='First' Class|work=[[Daily Variety]]|page=49}}</ref> The film received a royal premiere in the United Kingdom, where Marina Sirtis accompanied [[Charles III|Prince Charles]] to the December 10 screening at the [[Empire, Leicester Square]].<ref name="DT-3Dec1996">{{cite news |date=December 3, 1996 |title=Court Circular |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |number=43998 |issn=0307-1235 |page=22}}</ref><ref name="Fordham-p155">Fordham, 155.</ref>

===Box office===
''First Contact'' opened in 2,812 theaters beginning November 22, grossing $30.7&nbsp;million its first week and making it the top movie at the US box office.<ref name="Vigoda-1996">{{cite news |last=Vigoda |first=Arlene |date=November 26, 1996 |title='First Contact' in 1st place |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/306841676 |work=[[USA Today]] |url-access=subscription |page=1D |issn=0734-7456 |access-date=August 6, 2023 |id={{ProQuest|306841676}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref> The film was knocked out of the top place the following week by ''[[101 Dalmatians (1996 film)|101 Dalmatians]]'', earning $25.5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff|date=December 3, 1996|title=Top Ten Films|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|page=E2}}</ref> The film went on to gross $77&nbsp;million in its first four weeks, remaining in the top-ten box office during that time.<ref name="nytimes-directing"/> It closed with a US & Canadian gross of $92,027,888 and an international gross of $54&nbsp;million for a total of $146&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Star Trek: First Contact |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=startrek8.htm |url-status=dead <!--Note that as of August 2023, archived version of page contains more detailed information than updated page on BOM website--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728162202/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=startrek8.htm <!--Most recent archived version of page with functioning tabs--> |archive-date=July 28, 2016 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref>

The film opened in the United Kingdom on December 13, 1996, becoming number two at the box office. Despite being the first movie in the franchise not to reach number one since ''The Wrath of Khan'', its takings of £8.7 million were the highest until the ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'' reboot film was released in 2009.<ref name="25thFrame">{{cite web |title=Star Trek: First Contact |url=https://www.25thframe.co.uk/movies/star-trek-first-contact |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026144940/https://www.25thframe.co.uk/movies/star-trek-first-contact |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |access-date=August 10, 2023}}</ref> The film was the best-performing ''Star Trek'' film in international markets until 2009's ''Star Trek'' film,<ref name="hollywood reporter-box office">{{cite news|last=Segers|first=Frank|date=June 7, 2009|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/terminator-tops-overseas-boxoffice-85044|title='Terminator' tops overseas boxoffice|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=August 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026111902/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/terminator-tops-overseas-boxoffice-85044|archive-date=October 26, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> and Paramount's best showing in markets such as New Zealand, making $315,491 from 28 sites by year's end.<ref>{{cite news| last = Woods | first = Mark | date=December 31, 1996|title='Daylight' in money o'seas|work=[[Daily Variety]]|page=1}}</ref>