Polygon ranks the three live-action actors who have played Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek, arguing that each brings something distinct to the character rather than simply imitating William Shatner's original performance. The piece contends that comparing the versions reveals how the role has evolved across nearly six decades of the franchise, from the classic series through the rebooted film trilogy to the current prequel show Strange New Worlds.

Chris Pine, who played Kirk in the Kelvin Timeline film trilogy, is ranked third; his portrayal is cockier and more rebellious following the death of his father George Kirk, but is judged to sit alongside Shatner's original rather than expand on it. Paul Wesley, who plays a younger Kirk in Strange New Worlds, is praised for deepening the character through his evolving relationships with his brother Sam and with Spock, showing the formative years before he became the legendary captain. William Shatner, who originated the role in The Original Series, is treated as the definitive benchmark against which both successors are measured.