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

The Croods (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

No Place on Earth (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 21-23, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

19. Juno – $769,842 ($141,099,121 total) {week 16}
21. The Counterfeiters – $496,625 ($1,851,862 total) {week 5}
22. In Bruges – $472,762 ($5,920,566 total) {week 7}
32. There Will Be Blood – $211,636 ($39,705,413 total) {week 13}
36. No Country for Old Men – $175,512 ($74,062,608 total) {week 20}
50. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $50,998 ($5,875,116 total) {week 17}
52. Atonement – $46,720 ($50,830,581 total) {week 16}
53. Persepolis – $44,702 ($4,101,434 total) {week 13}
59. The Savages – $37,445 ($6,493,735 total) {week 17}
64. The Kite Runner – $31,810 ($15,752,605 total) {week 15}
74. Taxi to the Dark Side – $16,194 ($194,615 total) {week 10}
97. Into the Wild – $3,330 ($18,352,454 total) {week 27}
98. 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $3,066 ($503,595 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

19. Juno – $849,185 ($155,641,370 total)
21. The Counterfeiters – $547,809 ($2,042,722 total)
22. In Bruges – $521,487 ($6,530,764 total)
32. There Will Be Blood – $233,448 ($43,797,614 total)
36. No Country for Old Men – $193,601 ($81,695,802 total)
50. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $56,254 ($6,480,629 total)
52. Atonement – $51,535 ($56,069,387 total)
53. Persepolis – $49,309 ($4,524,144 total)
59. The Savages – $41,304 ($7,163,006 total)
64. The Kite Runner – $35,088 ($17,376,133 total)
74. Taxi to the Dark Side – $17,863 ($214,673 total)
97. Into the Wild – $3,673 ($20,243,933 total)
98. 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $3,382 ($555,498 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
• 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
• 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 21-23, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

6. Chicago – $6,176,021 ($134,014,534 total) {week 13}
15. The Pianist – $1,031,666 ($20,200,998 total) {week 13}
16. The Hours – $1,002,679 ($38,889,073 total) {week 13}
18. About Schmidt – $845,427 ($62,908,447 total) {week 15}
20. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $768,554 ($334,790,872 total) {week 14}
22. Gangs of New York – $566,576 ($77,021,614 total) {week 14}
23. Catch Me If You Can – $364,361 ($163,321,694 total) {week 13}
24. Adaptation. – $290,405 ($21,523,932 total) {week 16}
29. Far From Heaven – $230,799 ($15,588,212 total) {week 20}
30. City of God – $224,168 ($2,756,619 total) {week 10}
31. Talk to Her – $211,038 ($7,942,916 total) {week 18}
33. Frida – $169,433 ($25,118,058 total) {week 22}
37. Bowling for Columbine – $156,550 ($19,550,172 total) {week 24}
42. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $113,142 ($39,598,191 total) {week 14}
43. Nowhere in Africa – $111,495 ($263,978 total) {week 3}
80. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $9,651 ($241,423,860 total) {week 49}
81. The Crime of Father Amaro – $9,649 ($5,688,787 total) {week 19}
93. Spirited Away – $5,011 ($5,616,071 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Chicago – $8,111,789 ($176,019,089 total)
15. The Pianist – $1,355,024 ($26,532,654 total)
16. The Hours – $1,316,952 ($51,078,185 total)
18. About Schmidt – $1,110,412 ($82,626,020 total)
20. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $1,009,444 ($439,725,324 total)
22. Gangs of New York – $744,160 ($101,162,717 total)
23. Catch Me If You Can – $478,564 ($214,512,076 total)
24. Adaptation. – $381,427 ($28,270,239 total)
29. Far From Heaven – $303,139 ($20,474,069 total)
30. City of God – $294,430 ($3,620,634 total)
31. Talk to Her – $277,184 ($10,432,487 total)
33. Frida – $222,539 ($32,990,882 total)
37. Bowling for Columbine – $205,618 ($25,677,838 total)
42. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $148,604 ($52,009,564 total)
43. Nowhere in Africa – $146,441 ($346,717 total)
80. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $12,676 ($317,094,025 total)
81. The Crime of Father Amaro – $12,673 ($7,471,840 total)
93. Spirited Away – $6,582 ($7,376,332 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 20-22, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. Titanic – $17,165,239 ($494,514,331 total) {week 14}
2. Primary Colors – $12,045,395 ($12,045,395 total) {week 1}
7. Good Will Hunting – $4,026,752 ($115,597,415 total) {week 16}
8. As Good As It Gets – $3,260,123 ($125,803,127 total) {week 13}
12. L.A. Confidential – $1,496,331 ($57,505,024 total) {week 13}
14. The Apostle – $1,169,836 ($16,636,186 total) {week 10}
999. Amistad – $213,748 ($43,935,837 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Titanic – $28,986,928 ($835,086,034 total)
2. Primary Colors – $20,341,051 ($20,341,051 total)
7. Good Will Hunting – $6,799,974 ($195,209,281 total)
8. As Good As It Gets – $5,505,368 ($212,443,660 total)
12. L.A. Confidential – $2,526,853 ($97,108,697 total)
14. The Apostle – $1,975,501 ($28,093,517 total)
999. Amistad – $360,956 ($74,194,420 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
• Primary Colors: Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates), Adapted Screenplay
• 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 19-21, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

7. The Crying Game – $3,347,418 ($43,042,582 total) {week 17}
10. Aladdin – $1,895,852 ($193,441,909 total) {week 19}
13. Scent of a Woman – $1,203,705 ($50,806,259 total) {week 13}
999. Unforgiven – $561,027 ($81,706,102 total) {week 33}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. The Crying Game – $6,403,756 ($82,342,331 total)
10. Aladdin – $3,626,847 ($370,062,782 total)
13. Scent of a Woman – $2,302,740 ($97,194,582 total)
999. Unforgiven – $1,073,269 ($156,307,326 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 18-20, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

2. Good Morning, Vietnam – $4,030,848 ($96,624,788 total) {week 13}
6. Moonstruck – $2,324,615 ($52,614,427 total) {week 14}
13. The Last Emperor – $879,913 ($22,149,384 total) {week 18}
999. The Milagro Beanfield War – $47,271 ($47,271 total) {week 1}
999. Stand and Deliver – $611,372 ($1,146,512 total) {week 2}
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $464,240 ($3,736,653 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Good Morning, Vietnam – $7,767,474 ($186,196,672 total)
6. Moonstruck – $4,479,550 ($101,388,385 total)
13. The Last Emperor – $1,695,599 ($42,682,025 total)
999. The Milagro Beanfield War – $90,431 ($90,431 total)
999. Stand and Deliver – $1,178,118 ($2,209,337 total)
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $894,594 ($7,200,558 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]
• The Milagro Beanfield War: Original Score [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 25-27, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

4. Tootsie – $3,127,164 ($143,212,352 total) {week 15}
9. Gandhi – $1,565,567 ($33,684,518 total) {week 16}
999. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $536,129 ($338,601,802 total) {week 42}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Tootsie – $7,862,584 ($360,076,771 total)
9. Gandhi – $3,936,283 ($84,692,502 total)
999. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,347,981 ($851,341,674 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
• 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