Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country unexpectedly foreshadows Captain James T. Kirk’s (Chris Pine) favorite song in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movies. Star Trek VI is set in Star Trek‘s Prime timeline, whereas J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond are set in the alternate Kelvin Timeline. However, Star Trek VI takes place in 2293, over 3 decades after J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movies happen in the alternate reality, which span from 2258-2263. Yet the word “sabotage” is curiously relevant in Star Trek VI, which was produced in 1991, 18 years before J.J. Abrams directed his first Star Trek movie.

“Sabotage” is a popular song by Beastie Boys, released in January 1994 as the first single from their album Ill Communication. Although “Sabotage” never came close to hitting number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Beastie Boys’ track was a huge hit on MTV thanks to its music video directed by Spike Jonze. “Sabotage” was nominated for 5 moon men trophies at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards, and “Sabotage” the song has become a pop culture touchstone in the last 30 years, including being featured in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (2009) and the Justin Lin-directed Star Trek Beyond in 2016.

Star Trek VI Unexpectedly Sets Up Chris Pine Kirk’s Favorite Song

Lt. Valeris explains the etymology of “sabotage”

Amusingly, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country explained the etymology of the word “sabotage,” and it can be seen as an unexpected foreshadowing of Beastie Boys’ song in Star Trek (2009) if the Star Trek movies are being watched chronologically in theatrical release date order. In Star Trek VI, Lt. Valeris (Kim Cattrall) explains where the origin of “sabotage” comes from to Lt. Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) and Scotty (James Doohan):

400 years ago on the planet Earth, workers who felt their livelihood threatened by automation flung their wooden shoes called sabots into the machines to stop them. Hence the word “sabotage.”

It’s funny how “sabotage” comes up in Star Trek VI, and then pops up again so distinctively in the form of Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” in Star Trek (2009). Along with pretending Starfleet communications are scrambled in Star Trek VI, another significant act of sabotage occurs in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Scotty sabotages the USS Excelsior’s transwarp drive, which allows the USS Enterprise to be hijacked by Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his crew.

Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” Makes A Comeback In Star Trek: Beyond

“It’s a good choice.”

Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” being featured in Star Trek (2009) was divisive. General audiences were entertained by the audacity of the young James T. Kirk (Jimmy Bennett) stealing his stepfather’s convertible and driving it off a cliff in an act of defiance. Many long-time Star Trek fans, however, didn’t enjoy a contemporary track spotlighted in a science fiction film set in the 23rd century. But that didn’t stop Star Trek Beyond from reprising “Sabotage”. This time, the adult Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) nods approvingly while “Sabotage” disrupts the swarm army of Krall (Idris Elba), allowing the USS Franklin to attack and destroy them.

The lyrics to Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” are about their producer who “was the worst person ever and how he was always sabotaging us and holding us back,” according to the 2020 documentary, Beastie Boys Story. This fits with the young Kirk stealing a car and blasting “Sabotage,” as Jim hates his domineering stepfather and wants to get away from him. From Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country to J.J. Abrams’ trilogy, watching the Star Trek movies can give fans a full appreciation for what “sabotage” means to Star Trek.