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

Hyde Park on Hudson (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Art Direction, Costume Design.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 7-9, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Golden Compass – $25,783,232 ($25,783,232 total) {week 1}
6. No Country for Old Men – $4,116,888 ($28,744,592 total) {week 5}
7. August Rush – $3,510,446 ($25,133,572 total) {week 3}
12. American Gangster – $2,538,485 ($125,553,670 total) {week 6}
15. Atonement – $784,145 ($784,145 total) {week 1}
17. Juno – $413,869 ($525,155 total) {week 1}
18. I’m Not There – $348,260 ($2,230,210 total) {week 3}
19. Into the Wild – $331,194 ($16,168,670 total) {week 12}
23. Gone Baby Gone – $227,696 ($19,964,720 total) {week 8}
24. Michael Clayton – $206,719 ($38,733,890 total) {week 10}
30. The Savages – $142,449 ($383,147 total) {week 2}
35. Across the Universe – $106,448 ($24,343,673 total) {week 13}
44. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $57,600 ($170,321 total) {week 2}
50. Ratatouille – $35,953 ($206,435,493 total) {week 24}
57. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $22,160 ($3,828,160 total) {week 12}
86. Once – $3,633 ($9,433,149 total) {week 30}
89. In the Valley of Elah – $3,033 ($6,757,493 total) {week 13}
98. War/Dance – $1,518 ($49,472 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Golden Compass – $29,680,697 ($29,680,697 total)
6. No Country for Old Men – $4,739,208 ($33,089,705 total)
7. August Rush – $4,041,095 ($28,932,833 total)
12. American Gangster – $2,922,209 ($144,532,713 total)
15. Atonement – $902,679 ($902,679 total)
17. Juno – $476,431 ($604,539 total)
18. I’m Not There – $400,904 ($2,567,335 total)
19. Into the Wild – $381,258 ($18,612,771 total)
23. Gone Baby Gone – $262,115 ($22,982,643 total)
24. Michael Clayton – $237,967 ($44,589,013 total)
30. The Savages – $163,982 ($441,065 total)
35. Across the Universe – $122,539 ($28,023,531 total)
44. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $66,307 ($196,067 total)
50. Ratatouille – $41,388 ($237,640,858 total)
57. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $25,510 ($4,406,835 total)
86. Once – $4,182 ($10,859,090 total)
89. In the Valley of Elah – $3,491 ($7,778,975 total)
98. War/Dance – $1,747 ($56,950 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
• Atonement: Picture, Supporting Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• August Rush: Original Song (“Raise It Up”)
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• The Golden Compass: Art Direction, Visual Effects [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
• Juno: Picture, Director, Actress (Ellen Page), Original Screenplay [O]
• 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
• The Savages: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay
• War/Dance: Documentary Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 6-8, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

5. Treasure Planet – $5,547,431 ($23,650,217 total) {week 2}
9. 8 Mile – $2,548,975 ($111,179,170 total) {week 5}
13. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2,013,029 ($213,263,148 total) {week 34}
15. Frida – $1,251,136 ($17,061,523 total) {week 7}
16. Far From Heaven – $945,818 ($6,889,619 total) {week 5}
19. Bowling for Columbine – $629,154 ($12,875,296 total) {week 9}
21. The Crime of Father Amaro – $402,465 ($3,084,409 total) {week 4}
22. Adaptation. – $384,478 ($384,478 total) {week 1}
40. Talk to Her – $74,987 ($391,164 total) {week 3}
55. Spirited Away – $36,309 ($5,273,241 total) {week 12}
68. The Quiet American – $21,968 ($333,396 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Treasure Planet – $7,562,075 ($32,239,194 total)
9. 8 Mile – $3,474,678 ($151,555,770 total)
13. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2,744,095 ($290,713,276 total)
15. Frida – $1,705,507 ($23,257,704 total)
16. Far From Heaven – $1,289,308 ($9,391,701 total)
19. Bowling for Columbine – $857,642 ($17,551,178 total)
21. The Crime of Father Amaro – $548,627 ($4,204,564 total)
22. Adaptation. – $524,108 ($524,108 total)
40. Talk to Her – $102,220 ($533,222 total)
55. Spirited Away – $49,495 ($7,188,308 total)
68. The Quiet American – $29,946 ($454,474 total)

Oscar Details:

• 8 Mile: Original Song (“Lose Yourself”) [O]
• Adaptation.: Actor (Nicoals Cage), Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper) [O], Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Adapted Screenplay
• 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]
• 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]
• Treasure Planet: Animated Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 5-7, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

4. Anastasia – $5,093,749 ($37,915,876 total) {week 4}
999. Good Will Hunting – $272,912 ($272,912 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Anastasia – $8,789,214 ($65,423,472 total)
999. Good Will Hunting – $470,907 ($470,907 total)

Oscar Details:

• Anastasia: Original Song (“Journey to the Past”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Good Will Hunting: Picture, Director, Actor (Matt Damon), Supporting Actor (Robin Williams) [O], Supporting Actress (Minnie Driver), Original Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Original Song (“Miss Misery”), Editing

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 4-6, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Bodyguard – $11,109,262 ($40,432,479 total) {week 2}
3. Aladdin – $10,915,551 ($40,276,464 total) {week 4}
5. Malcolm X – $3,771,464 ($32,608,857 total) {week 3}
6. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $3,608,605 ($75,550,685 total) {week 4}
8. A River Runs Through It – $1,425,285 ($30,360,305 total) {week 9}
9. Under Siege – $1,348,143 ($74,289,646 total) {week 9}
10. The Last of the Mohicans – $804,132 ($69,169,313 total) {week 11}
999. The Crying Game – $157,536 ($353,047 total) {week 2}
999. Unforgiven – $35,472 ($74,958,813 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Bodyguard – $21,201,290 ($77,162,707 total)
3. Aladdin – $20,831,606 ($76,864,963 total)
5. Malcolm X – $7,197,589 ($62,231,843 total)
6. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $6,886,784 ($144,183,476 total)
8. A River Runs Through It – $2,720,062 ($57,940,630 total)
9. Under Siege – $2,572,842 ($141,776,867 total)
10. The Last of the Mohicans – $1,534,633 ($132,005,050 total)
999. The Crying Game – $300,647 ($673,767 total)
999. Unforgiven – $67,696 ($143,053,927 total)

Oscar Details:

• Aladdin: Original Song (“A Whole New World” [O], “Friend Like Me”), Original Score [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing
• The Bodyguard: Original Song (“I Have Nothing”, “Run to You”)
• Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound Effects Editing
• The Crying Game: Picture, Director, Actor (Stephen Rea), Supporting Actor (Jaye Davidson), Original Screenplay [O], 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 Dec. 4-6, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

3. Fatal Attraction – $3,044,697 ($114,297,576 total) {week 12}
8. Dirty Dancing – $1,179,534 ($50,044,871 total) {week 16}
13. The Princess Bride – $656,371 ($25,551,860 total) {week 11}
999. The Last Emperor – $155,413 ($747,657 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Fatal Attraction – $6,167,263 ($231,518,364 total)
8. Dirty Dancing – $2,389,235 ($101,369,662 total)
13. The Princess Bride – $1,329,529 ($51,757,220 total)
999. The Last Emperor – $314,801 ($1,514,436 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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 Dec. 3-5, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $2,355,819 ($298,924,789 total) {week 26}
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $2,311,590 ($102,414,978 total) {week 19}
7. My Favorite Year – $749,113 ($16,939,206 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $6,346,288 ($805,266,779 total)
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $6,227,140 ($275,893,410 total)
7. My Favorite Year – $2,018,019 ($45,632,147 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