20 Things You Didn't Know About Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

At the 59th Academy Awards, Star Trek found itself well represented by Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. However, there was another fledging scifi series that would end up becoming stiff competition for the sequel.

Aliens was also released in 1986, storming its way into audiences' hearts and minds. James Cameron's sequel was nominated in almost all of the same categories as Star Trek IV. The Voyage Home was nominated for Best Cinematography over Aliens, but other than that they were competing. They were both nominated for Best Sound and Best Sound Effects, the latter of which Aliens took home the gong for.

Ironically, James Horner, who had scored Star Trek II and Star Trek III, declined to return for Star Trek IV. Leonard Rosenman was hired to write the music for IV, while Horner wrote the score for Aliens. Both were nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Score, losing out to Herbie Hancock, for Round Midnight.

Aliens did in fact edge out Star Trek IV by taking home two Academy Awards that year - Best Visual Effects and the aforementioned Best Sound Effects.