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

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 23-25, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

7. August Rush – $9,421,369 ($13,243,069 total) {week 1}
8. American Gangster – $9,013,925 ($115,550,290 total) {week 4}
11. No Country for Old Men – $7,776,773 ($16,313,580 total) {week 3}
17. I’m Not There – $730,819 ($974,601 total) {week 1}
18. Into the Wild – $708,069 ($15,001,671 total) {week 10}
19. Michael Clayton – $536,049 ($38,042,902 total) {week 8}
21. Gone Baby Gone – $424,016 ($19,110,755 total) {week 6}
27. Across the Universe – $302,854 ($23,901,110 total) {week 11}
32. The Bourne Ultimatum – $137,065 ($227,437,090 total) {week 17}
33. Ratatouille – $128,718 ($206,307,914 total) {week 22}
40. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $69,685 ($16,264,475 total) {week 7}
57. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $23,188 ($3,760,569 total) {week 10}
70. Once – $5,258 ($9,413,135 total) {week 28}
75. War/Dance – $3,903 ($36,266 total) {week 3}
82. In the Valley of Elah – $3,095 ($6,746,449 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. August Rush – $10,845,529 ($15,244,928 total)
8. American Gangster – $10,376,495 ($133,017,194 total)
11. No Country for Old Men – $8,952,332 ($18,779,586 total)
17. I’m Not There – $841,292 ($1,121,924 total)
18. Into the Wild – $815,103 ($17,269,365 total)
19. Michael Clayton – $617,080 ($43,793,573 total)
21. Gone Baby Gone – $488,111 ($21,999,590 total)
27. Across the Universe – $348,634 ($27,514,068 total)
32. The Bourne Ultimatum – $157,784 ($261,817,115 total)
33. Ratatouille – $148,175 ($237,493,994 total)
40. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $80,219 ($18,723,058 total)
57. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $26,693 ($4,329,027 total)
70. Once – $6,053 ($10,836,051 total)
75. War/Dance – $4,493 ($41,748 total)
82. In the Valley of Elah – $3,563 ($7,766,261 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
• August Rush: Original Song (“Raise It Up”)
• 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)
• I’m Not There: Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett)
• 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. 22-24, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

5. 8 Mile – $8,620,975 ($97,579,500 total) {week 3}
8. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $3,657,055 ($204,520,221 total) {week 32}
10. Frida – $2,369,554 ($12,055,767 total) {week 5}
11. Far From Heaven – $1,621,020 ($3,194,844 total) {week 3}
15. Bowling for Columbine – $983,467 ($10,341,936 total) {week 7}
16. The Crime of Father Amaro – $742,169 ($1,480,131 total) {week 2}
37. Talk to Her – $104,396 ($104,396 total) {week 1}
38. The Quiet American – $101,663 ($101,663 total) {week 1}
40. Lilo & Stitch – $85,481 ($145,771,527 total) {week 23}
41. Spirited Away – $67,420 ($5,134,260 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. 8 Mile – $11,751,828 ($133,017,150 total)
8. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $4,985,177 ($278,795,207 total)
10. Frida – $3,230,098 ($16,434,023 total)
11. Far From Heaven – $2,209,721 ($4,355,106 total)
15. Bowling for Columbine – $1,340,630 ($14,097,785 total)
16. The Crime of Father Amaro – $1,011,700 ($2,017,666 total)
37. Talk to Her – $142,309 ($142,309 total)
38. The Quiet American – $138,584 ($138,584 total)
40. Lilo & Stitch – $116,525 ($198,710,928 total)
41. Spirited Away – $91,905 ($6,998,854 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
• The Quiet American: Actor (Michael Caine)
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 21-23, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

2. Anastasia – $14,104,933 ($14,242,807 total) {week 2}
13. The Wings of the Dove – $1,305,573 ($2,667,583 total) {week 3}
14. Boogie Nights – $1,244,381 ($20,258,958 total) {week 7}
999. Men in Black – $558,608 ($248,407,779 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Anastasia – $24,337,924 ($24,575,824 total)
13. The Wings of the Dove – $2,252,753 ($4,602,888 total)
14. Boogie Nights – $2,147,167 ($34,956,633 total)
999. Men in Black – $963,873 ($428,625,187 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
• 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. 20-22, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

2. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $15,021,693 ($53,727,074 total) {week 2}
3. Malcolm X – $9,871,125 ($9,871,125 total) {week 1}
5. A River Runs Through It – $3,006,678 ($23,781,698 total) {week 7}
6. Under Siege – $2,460,835 ($68,553,154 total) {week 7}
8. The Last of the Mohicans – $1,866,289 ($65,687,150 total) {week 9}
999. Aladdin – $173,772 ($612,078 total) {week 2}
999. Unforgiven – $52,716 ($74,786,198 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $28,667,906 ($102,534,561 total)
3. Malcolm X – $18,838,388 ($18,838,388 total)
5. A River Runs Through It – $5,738,046 ($45,385,795 total)
6. Under Siege – $4,696,341 ($130,829,152 total)
8. The Last of the Mohicans – $3,561,689 ($125,359,573 total)
999. Aladdin – $331,632 ($1,168,110 total)
999. Unforgiven – $100,605 ($142,724,503 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]
• Malcolm X: Actor, Costume Design
• 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. 20-22, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

4. Fatal Attraction – $4,926,600 ($101,397,640 total) {week 10}
9. Dirty Dancing – $1,467,927 ($45,856,700 total) {week 14}
11. The Princess Bride – $1,164,538 ($22,856,506 total) {week 9}
999. Cry Freedom – $225,311 ($1,067,825 total) {week 3}
999. The Last Emperor – $149,460 ($149,460 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Fatal Attraction – $9,979,200 ($205,388,570 total)
9. Dirty Dancing – $2,973,397 ($92,886,206 total)
11. The Princess Bride – $2,358,860 ($46,297,577 total)
999. Cry Freedom – $456,384 ($2,162,960 total)
999. The Last Emperor – $302,743 ($302,743 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 Last Emperor: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
• The Princess Bride: Original Song (“Storybook Love”)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 19-21, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

4. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $2,880,704 ($290,356,895 total) {week 24}
5. An Officer and a Gentleman – $2,621,761 ($94,013,743 total) {week 17}
9. My Favorite Year – $953,511 ($14,372,201 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $7,760,264 ($782,185,921 total)
5. An Officer and a Gentleman – $7,062,703 ($253,261,512 total)
9. My Favorite Year – $2,568,642 ($38,716,950 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