Every week, we’ll take a look back 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years into the box office past to explore how Oscar’s nominees were doing at the box office that weekend historically. All data is taken from Box Office Mojo. The first section under each year is the positioning of all Oscar nominees during that weekend at the box office. The second section is an alphabetical list of those films and the categories in which they were nominated. And to start each week off, we’ll be looking at the films releasing over the weekend that have the best chance of getting Oscar nominations and specifying the categories where we think they have the best chance at this stage of the game. Please let us know if you like our new feature or if you want to see more information and we’ll see what we can do!

This Year: Potential Oscar Nominees Releasing This Weekend

Skyfall (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Original Song, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Lincoln (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones), Supporting Actress (Sally Field), Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

A Royal Affair (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Foreign Language Film.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 9-11, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

2. American Gangster – $24,028,445 ($80,388,420 total) {week 2}
12. Michael Clayton – $1,697,456 ($35,631,903 total) {week 6}
14. Gone Baby Gone – $1,444,394 ($17,044,169 total) {week 4}
15. No Country for Old Men – $1,226,333 ($1,226,333 total) {week 1}
16. Into the Wild – $1,105,004 ($12,548,052 total) {week 8}
18. Across the Universe – $901,303 ($22,404,372 total) {week 9}
27. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $298,700 ($15,880,245 total) {week 5}
30. Ratatouille – $219,129 ($205,917,649 total) {week 20}
35. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $151,441 ($3,556,821 total) {week 8}
42. 3:10 to Yuma – $78,726 ($53,574,088 total) {week 10}
71. War/Dance – $15,471 ($15,471 total) {week 1}
75. Once – $12,513 ($9,396,779 total) {week 26}
82. In the Valley of Elah – $8,290 ($6,723,264 total) {week 9}
332. The Bourne Ultimatum – $172,550 ($227,015,425 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. American Gangster – $27,660,652 ($92,540,158 total)
12. Michael Clayton – $1,954,048 ($41,018,121 total)
14. Gone Baby Gone – $1,662,733 ($19,620,613 total)
15. No Country for Old Men – $1,411,709 ($1,411,709 total)
16. Into the Wild – $1,272,039 ($14,444,851 total)
18. Across the Universe – $1,037,546 ($25,791,079 total)
27. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $343,852 ($18,280,747 total)
30. Ratatouille – $252,253 ($237,044,735 total)
35. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $174,333 ($4,094,480 total)
42. 3:10 to Yuma – $90,626 ($61,672,497 total)
71. War/Dance – $17,810 ($17,810 total)
75. Once – $14,405 ($10,817,222 total)
82. In the Valley of Elah – $9,543 ($7,739,571 total)
332. The Bourne Ultimatum – $198,633 ($261,331,710 total)

Oscar Details:

• 3:10 to Yuma: Original Score, Sound Mixing
• Across the Universe: Costume Design
• American Gangster: Supporting Actress (Ruby Dee), Art Direction
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: Supporting Actor (Casey Affleck), Cinematography
• The Bourne Ultimatum: Film Editing [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O]
• Elizabeth: The Golden Age: Actress (Cate Blanchett), Costume Design [O]
• Gone Baby Gone: Supporting Actress (Amy Ryan)
• In the Valley of Elah: Actor (Tommy Lee Jones)
• Into the Wild: Supporting Actor (Hal Holbrook), Editing
• Michael Clayton: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score
• No Country for Old Men: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Once: Original Song [O]
• Ratatouille: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• War/Dance: Documentary Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 8-10, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

1. 8 Mile – $51,240,555 ($51,240,555 total) {week 1}
6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $5,854,005 ($192,857,165 total) {week 30}
10. Frida – $2,754,118 ($4,506,816 total) {week 3}
13. Bowling for Columbine – $1,559,426 ($6,783,493 total) {week 5}
27. Spirited Away – $269,983 ($4,787,610 total) {week 8}
30. Far From Heaven – $211,279 ($211,279 total) {week 1}
31. Lilo & Stitch – $198,591 ($145,434,644 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. 8 Mile – $69,849,431 ($69,849,431 total)
6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $7,979,986 ($262,896,514 total)
10. Frida – $3,754,323 ($6,143,543 total)
13. Bowling for Columbine – $2,125,758 ($9,247,033 total)
27. Spirited Away – $368,032 ($6,526,312 total)
30. Far From Heaven – $288,009 ($288,009 total)
31. Lilo & Stitch – $270,713 ($198,251,701 total)

Oscar Details:

• 8 Mile: Original Song (“Lose Yourself”) [O]
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• Far From Heaven: Actress (Julianne Moore), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography
• Frida: Actress, Original Score [O], Original Song (“Burn It Blue”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• Lilo & Stitch: Animated Feature
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 7-9, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

7. Boogie Nights – $3,940,924 ($14,550,063 total) {week 5}
14. The Full Monty – $1,295,595 ($28,475,102 total) {week 13}
15. In & Out – $1,107,728 ($60,765,222 total) {week 8}
999. Air Force One – $252,630 ($171,013,550 total) {week 16}
999. Men in Black – $252,630 ($245,419,734 total) {week 19}
999. The Wings of the Dove – $183,610 ($183,610 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Boogie Nights – $6,800,026 ($25,105,991 total)
14. The Full Monty – $2,235,536 ($49,133,509 total)
15. In & Out – $1,911,374 ($104,849,795 total)
999. Air Force One – $435,911 ($295,082,204 total)
999. Men in Black – $435,911 ($423,469,345 total)
999. The Wings of the Dove – $316,817 ($316,817 total)

Oscar Details:

• Air Force One: Editing, Sound
• Boogie Nights: Supporting Actor (Burt Reynolds), Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore), Original Screenplay
• The Full Monty: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Musical or Comedy Score [O]
• In & Out: Supporting Actress (Joan Cusack)
• Men in Black: Original Musical or Comedy Score, Art Direction, Makeup [O]
• The Wings of the Dove: Actress (Helena Bonham Carter), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Costume Design

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 6-8, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

2. Under Siege – $5,682,925 ($59,492,365 total) {week 5}
3. A River Runs Through It – $5,044,540 ($14,085,043 total) {week 5}
6. The Last of the Mohicans – $3,451,025 ($59,282,089 total) {week 7}
999. The Lover – $164,893 ($442,353 total) {week 2}
999. Unforgiven – $81,826 ($74,550,303 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Under Siege – $10,845,486 ($113,537,236 total)
3. A River Runs Through It – $9,627,170 ($26,880,371 total)
6. The Last of the Mohicans – $6,586,053 ($113,135,939 total)
999. The Lover – $314,687 ($844,201 total)
999. Unforgiven – $156,159 ($142,274,313 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Last of the Mohicans: Sound [O]
• The Lover: Foreign Language Film
• A River Runs Through It: Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O]
• Under Siege: Sound, Sound Effects
• Unforgiven: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 6-8, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Fatal Attraction – $7,089,680 ($85,704,764 total) {week 8}
11. The Princess Bride – $1,914,379 ($18,931,395 total) {week 7}
12. Dirty Dancing – $1,704,920 ($41,469,209 total) {week 12}
999. Cry Freedom – $318,723 ($318,723 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Fatal Attraction – $14,360,682 ($173,601,466 total)
11. The Princess Bride – $3,877,719 ($38,346,969 total)
12. Dirty Dancing – $3,453,444 ($83,999,012 total)
999. Cry Freedom – $645,597 ($645,597 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cry Freedom: Supporting Actor (Denzel Washington), Original Song (“Cry Freedom”), Original Score
• Dirty Dancing: Original Song (“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”) [O]
• Fatal Attraction: Picture, Director, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Anne Archer), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• The Princess Bride: Original Song (“Storybook Love”)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 5-7, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $3,046,692 ($282,598,650 total) {week 22}
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $2,910,728 ($87,056,969 total) {week 15}
7. My Favorite Year – $1,434,011 ($11,659,508 total) {week 5}
11. Poltergeist – $385,617 ($73,485,501 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $8,207,415 ($761,286,159 total)
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $7,841,145 ($234,520,814 total)
7. My Favorite Year – $3,863,050 ($31,409,287 total)
11. Poltergeist – $1,038,805 ($197,960,941 total)

Oscar Details:

• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound [O], Sound Effects Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• My Favorite Year: Actor (Peter O’Toole)
• An Officer and a Gentleman: Actress (Debra Winger), Supporting Actor (Louis Gossett Jr.) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Up Where We Belong”) [O], Original Score, Film Editing
• Poltergeist: Original Score, Sound Editing, Visual Effects