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

Trance (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (James McAvoy), Supporting Actor (Vincent Cassel), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of April 4, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

21. Juno – $393,816 ($142,545,706 total) {week 18}
22. The Counterfeiters – $360,376 ($2,903,370 total) {week 7}
25. In Bruges – $249,027 ($6,831,761 total) {week 9}
44. There Will Be Blood – $69,687 ($40,133,435 total) {week 15}
62. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $30,169 ($5,990,075 total) {week 19}
69. Persepolis – $23,510 ($4,200,980 total) {week 15}
71. No Country for Old Men – $21,910 ($74,273,505 total) {week 22}
75. The Savages – $18,522 ($6,571,599 total) {week 19}
77. Atonement – $14,874 ($50,921,738 total) {week 18}
83. Taxi to the Dark Side – $8,470 ($231,743 total) {week 12}
106. The Kite Runner – $3,718 ($15,790,223 total) {week 17}
108. La Vie en Rose – $3,648 ($10,299,782 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

21. Juno – $441,535 ($159,817,957 total)
22. The Counterfeiters – $404,043 ($3,255,171 total)
25. In Bruges – $279,202 ($7,659,565 total)
44. There Will Be Blood – $78,131 ($44,996,400 total)
62. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $33,825 ($6,715,892 total)
69. Persepolis – $26,359 ($4,710,012 total)
71. No Country for Old Men – $24,565 ($83,273,219 total)
75. The Savages – $20,766 ($7,367,879 total)
77. Atonement – $16,676 ($57,091,921 total)
83. Taxi to the Dark Side – $9,496 ($259,823 total)
106. The Kite Runner – $4,169 ($17,703,523 total)
108. La Vie en Rose – $4,090 ($11,547,806 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• 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
• La Vie en Rose: Actress (Marion Cotillard) [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of April 4, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

8. Chicago – $5,103,406 ($151,971,565 total) {week 15}
12. The Pianist – $2,087,334 ($26,561,941 total) {week 15}
18. Spirited Away – $1,033,954 ($8,879,467 total) {week 29}
21. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $479,627 ($336,500,653 total) {week 16}
23. The Quiet American – $377,331 ($11,221,464 total) {week 20}
24. The Hours – $352,609 ($40,737,727 total) {week 15}
26. Nowhere in Africa – $327,753 ($1,046,146 total) {week 5}
28. About Schmidt – $249,785 ($64,094,443 total) {week 17}
32. Catch Me If You Can – $216,794 ($164,106,339 total) {week 15}
33. Bowling for Columbine – $206,787 ($20,255,273 total) {week 26}
34. Talk to Her – $194,151 ($8,659,544 total) {week 20}
36. Adaptation. – $137,289 ($22,078,169 total) {week 18}
37. City of God – $135,888 ($3,261,714 total) {week 12}
40. Frida – $115,605 ($25,561,720 total) {week 24}
46. Gangs of New York – $75,177 ($77,605,296 total) {week 16}
61. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $41,073 ($39,835,385 total) {week 16}
63. Far From Heaven – $35,647 ($15,854,988 total) {week 22}
108. The Crime of Father Amaro – $5,204 ($5,709,616 total) {week 21}
133. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $1,696 ($241,437,427 total) {week 51}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. Chicago – $6,813,005 ($202,880,779 total)
12. The Pianist – $2,786,574 ($35,459,971 total)
18. Spirited Away – $1,380,320 ($11,854,015 total)
21. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $640,298 ($449,225,582 total)
23. The Quiet American – $503,734 ($14,980,561 total)
24. The Hours – $470,730 ($54,384,528 total)
26. Nowhere in Africa – $437,548 ($1,396,596 total)
28. About Schmidt – $333,461 ($85,565,550 total)
32. Catch Me If You Can – $289,418 ($219,080,602 total)
33. Bowling for Columbine – $276,059 ($27,040,622 total)
34. Talk to Her – $259,190 ($11,560,419 total)
36. Adaptation. – $183,280 ($29,474,173 total)
37. City of God – $181,409 ($4,354,361 total)
40. Frida – $154,332 ($34,124,684 total)
46. Gangs of New York – $100,361 ($103,602,427 total)
61. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $54,832 ($53,179,909 total)
63. Far From Heaven – $47,588 ($21,166,278 total)
108. The Crime of Father Amaro – $6,947 ($7,622,290 total)
133. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2,264 ($322,316,963 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
• The Quiet American: Actor (Michael Caine)
• 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 April 3, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. Titanic – $11,533,480 ($530,406,538 total) {week 16}
5. Primary Colors – $4,702,920 ($28,944,755 total) {week 3}
5. Primary Colors – $4,702,920 ($28,944,755 total) {week 3}
8. As Good As It Gets – $3,330,431 ($136,381,511 total) {week 15}
9. Good Will Hunting – $3,169,473 ($126,001,553 total) {week 18}
15. L.A. Confidential – $1,063,576 ($61,178,262 total) {week 15}
999. Amistad – $27,655 ($44,175,394 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Titanic – $19,796,272 ($910,399,282 total)
5. Primary Colors – $8,072,176 ($49,681,296 total)
5. Primary Colors – $8,072,176 ($49,681,296 total)
8. As Good As It Gets – $5,716,411 ($234,087,668 total)
9. Good Will Hunting – $5,440,140 ($216,271,322 total)
15. L.A. Confidential – $1,825,541 ($105,007,465 total)
999. Amistad – $47,468 ($75,823,437 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amistad: Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• 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
• 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 April 2, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

7. The Crying Game – $2,780,043 ($51,185,296 total) {week 19}
8. Unforgiven – $2,538,358 ($86,008,597 total) {week 35}
11. Scent of a Woman – $1,635,410 ($54,822,079 total) {week 15}
15. Aladdin – $1,060,013 ($196,962,510 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. The Crying Game – $5,405,639 ($99,526,964 total)
8. Unforgiven – $4,935,696 ($167,238,939 total)
11. Scent of a Woman – $3,179,964 ($106,598,487 total)
15. Aladdin – $2,061,136 ($382,982,658 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 April 1, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

7. Good Morning, Vietnam – $2,804,945 ($105,387,336 total) {week 15}
12. Moonstruck – $1,328,853 ($57,246,512 total) {week 16}
14. Stand and Deliver – $1,120,596 ($3,414,097 total) {week 4}
999. The Last Emperor – $560,501 ($24,058,739 total) {week 20}
999. The Milagro Beanfield War – $801,467 ($1,034,374 total) {week 3}
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $517,608 ($5,282,345 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Good Morning, Vietnam – $5,493,870 ($206,415,585 total)
12. Moonstruck – $2,602,741 ($112,125,163 total)
14. Stand and Deliver – $2,194,841 ($6,686,978 total)
999. The Last Emperor – $1,097,818 ($47,122,348 total)
999. The Milagro Beanfield War – $1,569,783 ($2,025,964 total)
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $1,013,806 ($10,346,199 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 April 8, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Tootsie – $3,430,963 ($151,790,700 total) {week 17}
6. Gandhi – $2,178,715 ($38,633,920 total) {week 18}
8. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,461,292 ($341,923,413 total) {week 44}
13. The Verdict – $744,669 ($51,771,248 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Tootsie – $8,768,017 ($387,909,567 total)
6. Gandhi – $5,567,827 ($98,731,129 total)
8. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $3,734,413 ($873,804,278 total)
13. The Verdict – $1,903,043 ($132,304,300 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
• The Verdict: Picture, Director, Actor (Paul Newman), Supporting Actor (James Mason), Adapted Screenplay