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

Ginger & Rosa (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Elle Fanning).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 14, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

15. Juno – $1,192,817 ($139,812,288 total) {week 15}
22. No Country for Old Men – $525,085 ($73,674,390 total) {week 19}
23. In Bruges – $487,876 ($5,246,624 total) {week 6}
25. The Counterfeiters – $419,049 ($1,214,974 total) {week 4}
27. There Will Be Blood – $346,935 ($39,339,536 total) {week 12}
38. Atonement – $101,505 ($50,732,545 total) {week 15}
44. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $61,253 ($5,791,810 total) {week 16}
48. The Savages – $54,554 ($6,426,953 total) {week 16}
49. Persepolis – $52,999 ($4,019,675 total) {week 12}
51. The Kite Runner – $50,914 ($15,690,103 total) {week 14}
63. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $25,048 ($52,882,759 total) {week 13}
64. Michael Clayton – $23,808 ($49,024,969 total) {week 24}
79. Taxi to the Dark Side – $9,681 ($172,931 total) {week 9}
85. Into the Wild – $7,158 ($18,346,084 total) {week 26}
97. 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $4,322 ($494,926 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

15. Juno – $1,315,754 ($154,221,911 total)
22. No Country for Old Men – $579,202 ($81,267,572 total)
23. In Bruges – $538,158 ($5,787,362 total)
25. The Counterfeiters – $462,238 ($1,340,194 total)
27. There Will Be Blood – $382,692 ($43,394,029 total)
38. Atonement – $111,967 ($55,961,247 total)
44. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $67,566 ($6,388,737 total)
48. The Savages – $60,177 ($7,089,341 total)
49. Persepolis – $58,461 ($4,433,959 total)
51. The Kite Runner – $56,161 ($17,307,189 total)
63. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $27,630 ($58,333,071 total)
64. Michael Clayton – $26,262 ($54,077,682 total)
79. Taxi to the Dark Side – $10,679 ($190,754 total)
85. Into the Wild – $7,896 ($20,236,906 total)
97. 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $4,767 ($545,935 total)

Oscar Details:

• 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film
• Atonement: Picture, Supporting Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• In Bruges: Original Screenplay
• Into the Wild: Supporting Actor (Hal Holbrook), Editing
• Juno: Picture, Director, Actress (Ellen Page), Original Screenplay [O]
• The Kite Runner: Original Score
• 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
• Persepolis: Animated Feature
• The Savages: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: Actor (Johnny Depp), Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• Taxi to the Dark Side: Documentary Feature [O]
• There Will Be Blood: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 14, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

5. Chicago – $7,105,479 ($124,845,340 total) {week 12}
13. The Pianist – $1,303,069 ($18,630,180 total) {week 12}
14. The Hours – $1,250,613 ($37,294,735 total) {week 12}
15. About Schmidt – $1,093,228 ($61,630,220 total) {week 14}
16. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $1,014,613 ($333,623,857 total) {week 13}
22. Gangs of New York – $495,356 ($76,240,821 total) {week 13}
24. Adaptation. – $328,040 ($21,101,763 total) {week 15}
26. City of God – $285,061 ($2,407,724 total) {week 9}
27. Catch Me If You Can – $255,749 ($162,856,831 total) {week 12}
28. Talk to Her – $251,689 ($7,612,553 total) {week 17}
30. Frida – $233,326 ($24,828,865 total) {week 21}
31. Far From Heaven – $226,889 ($15,260,733 total) {week 19}
40. Bowling for Columbine – $150,753 ($19,324,562 total) {week 23}
48. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $95,996 ($39,430,236 total) {week 13}
49. Nowhere in Africa – $87,496 ($120,095 total) {week 2}
69. The Crime of Father Amaro – $22,136 ($5,670,884 total) {week 18}
70. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $20,903 ($241,406,779 total) {week 48}
93. Spirited Away – $6,063 ($5,609,308 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Chicago – $9,332,569 ($163,975,969 total)
13. The Pianist – $1,711,494 ($24,469,490 total)
14. The Hours – $1,642,596 ($48,984,130 total)
15. About Schmidt – $1,435,882 ($80,947,155 total)
16. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $1,332,626 ($438,192,529 total)
22. Gangs of New York – $650,617 ($100,137,198 total)
24. Adaptation. – $430,859 ($27,715,748 total)
26. City of God – $374,408 ($3,162,384 total)
27. Catch Me If You Can – $335,909 ($213,901,509 total)
28. Talk to Her – $330,577 ($9,998,577 total)
30. Frida – $306,458 ($32,611,047 total)
31. Far From Heaven – $298,003 ($20,043,948 total)
40. Bowling for Columbine – $198,004 ($25,381,514 total)
48. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $126,084 ($51,788,967 total)
49. Nowhere in Africa – $114,920 ($157,737 total)
69. The Crime of Father Amaro – $29,074 ($7,448,325 total)
70. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $27,455 ($317,071,590 total)
93. Spirited Away – $7,963 ($7,367,449 total)

Oscar Details:

• About Schmidt: Actor (Jack Nicholson), Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates)
• Adaptation.: Actor (Nicoals Cage), Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper) [O], Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Adapted Screenplay
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• Catch Me If You Can: Supporting Actor (Christopher Walken), Original Score
• Chicago: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Renee Zellweger), Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly), Supporting Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones [O], Queen Latifah), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“I Move On”), Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• 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]
• Gangs of New York: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Hands That Built America”), Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
• The Hours: Picture, Director, Actress (Nicole Kidman) [O], Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Picture, Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• Nowhere in Africa: Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Pianist: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Adrien Brody) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
• The Wild Thornberrys Movie: Original Song (“Father and Daughter”)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 13, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. Titanic – $17,578,815 ($471,446,140 total) {week 13}
4. Good Will Hunting – $4,844,784 ($109,843,236 total) {week 15}
9. As Good As It Gets – $3,051,172 ($121,407,160 total) {week 12}
11. L.A. Confidential – $1,424,423 ($55,434,736 total) {week 12}
13. The Apostle – $1,283,750 ($15,028,633 total) {week 9}
999. Amistad – $304,866 ($43,571,219 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Titanic – $29,685,334 ($796,130,795 total)
4. Good Will Hunting – $8,181,384 ($185,492,202 total)
9. As Good As It Gets – $5,152,512 ($205,020,193 total)
11. L.A. Confidential – $2,457,828 ($95,652,093 total)
13. The Apostle – $2,167,868 ($25,378,843 total)
999. Amistad – $514,827 ($73,578,690 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amistad: Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• The Apostle: Actor (Robert Duvall)
• As Good As It Gets: Picture, Actor (Jack Nicholson) [O], Actress (Helen Hunt) [O], Supporting Actor (Greg Kinnear), Original Screenplay, Original Musical or Comedy Score, Editing
• 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
• L.A. Confidential: Picture, Director, Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound
• Titanic: Picture [O], Director [O], Actress (Kate Winslet), Supporting Actress (Gloria Stuart), Original Dramatic Score [O], Original Song (“My Heart Will Go On”) [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 12, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

6. The Crying Game – $3,334,743 ($38,597,792 total) {week 16}
9. Aladdin – $1,799,183 ($190,438,383 total) {week 18}
12. Scent of a Woman – $1,110,795 ($49,112,274 total) {week 12}
999. Unforgiven – $470,492 ($80,919,881 total) {week 32}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. The Crying Game – $6,379,508 ($73,839,254 total)
9. Aladdin – $3,441,915 ($364,316,907 total)
12. Scent of a Woman – $2,124,999 ($93,953,915 total)
999. Unforgiven – $900,072 ($154,803,251 total)

Oscar Details:

• Aladdin: Original Song (“A Whole New World” [O], “Friend Like Me”), Original Score [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing
• The Crying Game: Picture, Director, Actor (Stephen Rea), Supporting Actor (Jaye Davidson), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• Scent of a Woman: Picture, Director, Actor (Al Pacino) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• 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 March 11, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Good Morning, Vietnam – $4,369,592 ($91,060,075 total) {week 12}
5. Moonstruck – $2,657,247 ($49,377,054 total) {week 13}
11. The Last Emperor – $1,106,588 ($20,966,245 total) {week 17}
999. Stand and Deliver – $411,884 ($411,884 total) {week 1}
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $508,522 ($3,059,108 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Good Morning, Vietnam – $8,420,236 ($175,473,429 total)
5. Moonstruck – $5,120,534 ($95,149,943 total)
11. The Last Emperor – $2,132,403 ($40,402,107 total)
999. Stand and Deliver – $793,703 ($793,703 total)
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $979,926 ($5,894,923 total)

Oscar Details:

• Good Morning, Vietnam: Actor (Robin Williams)
• 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]
• Moonstruck: Picture, Director, Actress (Cher) [O], Supporting Actor (Vincent Gardenia), Supporting Actress (Olympia Dukakis) [O], Original Screenplay
• Stand and Deliver: Actor (Edward James Olmos)
• The Unbearable Lightness of Being: Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 18, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

2. Tootsie – $3,579,379 ($138,733,218 total) {week 14}
4. Gandhi – $1,888,225 ($31,226,069 total) {week 15}
8. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $749,925 ($337,803,244 total) {week 41}
9. The Verdict – $745,111 ($49,419,748 total) {week 15}
15. Tender Mercies – $47,651 ($188,010 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Tootsie – $8,999,581 ($348,814,948 total)
4. Gandhi – $4,747,537 ($78,511,259 total)
8. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,885,526 ($849,333,871 total)
9. The Verdict – $1,873,422 ($124,255,366 total)
15. Tender Mercies – $119,808 ($472,711 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]
• Gandhi: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Ben Kingsley) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• Tender Mercies: Picture, Director, Actor (Robert Duvall) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Over You”)
• Tootsie: Picture, Director, Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Teri Garr), Supporting Actress (Jessica Lange) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“It Might Be You”), Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• The Verdict: Picture, Director, Actor (Paul Newman), Supporting Actor (James Mason), Adapted Screenplay