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

Anna Karenina (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design.

Silver Linings Playbook (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Bradley Cooper), Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Adapted Screenplay, Editing.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 16-18, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

3. American Gangster – $12,875,250 ($100,650,615 total) {week 3}
7. No Country for Old Men – $3,075,722 ($4,907,572 total) {week 2}
12. Michael Clayton – $1,037,020 ($37,181,294 total) {week 7}
15. Into the Wild – $862,534 ($13,900,648 total) {week 9}
17. Gone Baby Gone – $813,036 ($18,407,770 total) {week 5}
21. Across the Universe – $565,548 ($23,317,663 total) {week 10}
30. The Bourne Ultimatum – $147,695 ($227,225,045 total) {week 16}
31. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $137,735 ($16,145,560 total) {week 6}
32. Ratatouille – $135,458 ($206,114,243 total) {week 21}
37. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $77,191 ($3,708,208 total) {week 9}
69. War/Dance – $8,567 ($29,241 total) {week 2}
85. Once – $4,416 ($9,406,240 total) {week 27}
86. In the Valley of Elah – $4,195 ($6,739,157 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. American Gangster – $14,821,509 ($115,865,243 total)
7. No Country for Old Men – $3,540,657 ($5,649,414 total)
12. Michael Clayton – $1,193,779 ($42,801,722 total)
15. Into the Wild – $992,917 ($16,001,909 total)
17. Gone Baby Gone – $935,937 ($21,190,340 total)
21. Across the Universe – $651,038 ($26,842,426 total)
30. The Bourne Ultimatum – $170,021 ($261,573,017 total)
31. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $158,555 ($18,586,168 total)
32. Ratatouille – $155,934 ($237,271,047 total)
37. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $88,859 ($4,268,751 total)
69. War/Dance – $9,862 ($33,661 total)
85. Once – $5,084 ($10,828,113 total)
86. In the Valley of Elah – $4,829 ($7,757,867 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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. 15-17, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

2. 8 Mile – $19,344,025 ($84,440,250 total) {week 2}
6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $4,713,464 ($199,574,370 total) {week 31}
9. Frida – $2,914,103 ($8,661,275 total) {week 4}
11. Bowling for Columbine – $1,263,380 ($8,798,505 total) {week 6}
16. Far From Heaven – $902,667 ($1,253,231 total) {week 2}
19. The Crime of Father Amaro – $504,681 ($504,681 total) {week 1}
30. Lilo & Stitch – $144,791 ($145,655,543 total) {week 22}
32. Spirited Away – $128,418 ($5,025,619 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. 8 Mile – $26,369,136 ($115,106,158 total)
6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $6,425,238 ($272,053,186 total)
9. Frida – $3,972,409 ($11,806,764 total)
11. Bowling for Columbine – $1,722,198 ($11,993,831 total)
16. Far From Heaven – $1,230,486 ($1,708,363 total)
19. The Crime of Father Amaro – $687,964 ($687,964 total)
30. Lilo & Stitch – $197,374 ($198,552,823 total)
32. Spirited Away – $175,055 ($6,850,758 total)

Oscar Details:

• 8 Mile: Original Song (“Lose Yourself”) [O]
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Crime of Father Amaro: Foreign Language Film
• 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. 14-16, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

9. Boogie Nights – $2,577,634 ($18,575,435 total) {week 6}
12. Men in Black – $2,117,200 ($247,659,078 total) {week 20}
16. The Full Monty – $1,072,100 ($30,104,685 total) {week 14}
999. Anastasia – $120,541 ($120,541 total) {week 1}
999. The Wings of the Dove – $781,197 ($978,819 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Boogie Nights – $4,447,682 ($32,051,731 total)
12. Men in Black – $3,653,208 ($427,333,311 total)
16. The Full Monty – $1,849,898 ($51,945,339 total)
999. Anastasia – $207,992 ($207,992 total)
999. The Wings of the Dove – $1,347,948 ($1,688,943 total)

Oscar Details:

• Anastasia: Original Song (“Journey to the Past”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
• 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]
• 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. 13-15, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $30,521,679 ($30,521,679 total) {week 1}
3. A River Runs Through It – $3,924,103 ($19,712,277 total) {week 6}
4. Under Siege – $3,707,480 ($65,133,341 total) {week 6}
6. The Last of the Mohicans – $2,611,777 ($63,117,283 total) {week 8}
999. Aladdin – $196,664 ($196,664 total) {week 1}
999. The Lover – $306,007 ($831,030 total) {week 3}
999. Unforgiven – $71,026 ($74,681,912 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $58,248,602 ($58,248,602 total)
3. A River Runs Through It – $7,488,891 ($37,619,574 total)
4. Under Siege – $7,075,480 ($124,302,665 total)
6. The Last of the Mohicans – $4,984,403 ($120,455,152 total)
999. Aladdin – $375,320 ($375,320 total)
999. The Lover – $583,994 ($1,585,966 total)
999. Unforgiven – $135,548 ($142,525,480 total)

Oscar Details:

• Aladdin: Original Song (“A Whole New World” [O], “Friend Like Me”), Original Score [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing
• Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound Effects Editing
• 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. 13-15, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

2. Fatal Attraction – $6,324,493 ($94,602,880 total) {week 9}
8. Dirty Dancing – $1,700,823 ($43,871,705 total) {week 13}
9. The Princess Bride – $1,638,474 ($21,277,649 total) {week 8}
999. Cry Freedom – $284,853 ($738,412 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Fatal Attraction – $12,810,738 ($191,625,271 total)
8. Dirty Dancing – $3,445,145 ($88,865,448 total)
9. The Princess Bride – $3,318,853 ($43,099,483 total)
999. Cry Freedom – $576,991 ($1,495,709 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. 12-14, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

3. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $2,945,472 ($286,709,095 total) {week 23}
4. An Officer and a Gentleman – $2,701,412 ($90,730,296 total) {week 16}
7. My Favorite Year – $1,105,683 ($13,124,571 total) {week 6}
11. Poltergeist – $223,190 ($73,876,020 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $7,934,741 ($772,359,195 total)
4. An Officer and a Gentleman – $7,277,273 ($244,416,308 total)
7. My Favorite Year – $2,978,575 ($35,355,987 total)
11. Poltergeist – $601,247 ($199,012,952 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