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

Iron Man 3 (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

The Iceman (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Michael Shannon).

What Maisie Knew (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Supporting Actress (Onata Aprile).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of XXXX, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

1. Iron Man – $98,618,668 ($102,118,668 total) {week 1}
16. The Visitor – $606,597 ($1,576,256 total) {week 4}
23. The Counterfeiters – $204,303 ($4,440,307 total) {week 11}
46. In Bruges – $55,260 ($7,488,507 total) {week 13}
62. Juno – $23,901 ($143,434,240 total) {week 22}
75. Persepolis – $9,909 ($4,423,052 total) {week 19}
88. Taxi to the Dark Side – $4,687 ($265,814 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Iron Man – $110,568,284 ($114,492,378 total)
16. The Visitor – $680,098 ($1,767,251 total)
23. The Counterfeiters – $229,058 ($4,978,339 total)
46. In Bruges – $61,956 ($8,395,889 total)
62. Juno – $26,797 ($160,814,155 total)
75. Persepolis – $11,110 ($4,958,993 total)
88. Taxi to the Dark Side – $5,255 ($298,023 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• In Bruges: Original Screenplay
• Iron Man: Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Juno: Picture, Director, Actress (Ellen Page), Original Screenplay [O]
• Persepolis: Animated Feature
• Taxi to the Dark Side: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Visitor: Actor (Richard Jenkins)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of XXXX, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

14. A Mighty Wind – $1,032,336 ($6,161,665 total) {week 3}
15. Chicago – $978,205 ($165,016,127 total) {week 19}
26. The Pianist – $313,904 ($31,773,600 total) {week 19}
27. Nowhere in Africa – $292,853 ($2,810,000 total) {week 9}
32. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $186,420 ($338,230,249 total) {week 20}
34. The Quiet American – $142,490 ($12,491,266 total) {week 24}
40. The Hours – $97,489 ($41,466,305 total) {week 19}
41. The Man Without a Past – $94,026 ($355,297 total) {week 5}
42. Winged Migration – $90,179 ($189,532 total) {week 3}
43. Bowling for Columbine – $78,020 ($21,145,576 total) {week 30}
45. About Schmidt – $76,740 ($64,816,513 total) {week 21}
57. Talk to Her – $34,593 ($9,198,380 total) {week 24}
64. Catch Me If You Can – $29,264 ($164,558,699 total) {week 19}
74. Spellbound – $17,508 ($23,046 total) {week 1}
85. Frida – $11,258 ($25,851,315 total) {week 28}
90. Adaptation. – $9,476 ($22,306,095 total) {week 22}
112. Spirited Away – $3,811 ($9,947,445 total) {week 33}
121. Far From Heaven – $2,603 ($15,901,849 total) {week 26}
144. Gangs of New York – $865 ($77,726,642 total) {week 20}
145. The Crime of Father Amaro – $744 ($5,717,044 total) {week 25}
153. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $381 ($39,883,132 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

14. A Mighty Wind – $1,378,160 ($8,225,772 total)
15. Chicago – $1,305,896 ($220,295,161 total)
26. The Pianist – $419,059 ($42,417,493 total)
27. Nowhere in Africa – $390,956 ($3,751,327 total)
32. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $248,869 ($451,534,578 total)
34. The Quiet American – $190,223 ($16,675,737 total)
40. The Hours – $130,147 ($55,357,173 total)
41. The Man Without a Past – $125,524 ($474,319 total)
42. Winged Migration – $120,388 ($253,024 total)
43. Bowling for Columbine – $104,156 ($28,229,169 total)
45. About Schmidt – $102,447 ($86,529,507 total)
57. Talk to Her – $46,181 ($12,279,761 total)
64. Catch Me If You Can – $39,067 ($219,684,499 total)
74. Spellbound – $23,373 ($30,766 total)
85. Frida – $15,029 ($34,511,291 total)
90. Adaptation. – $12,650 ($29,778,452 total)
112. Spirited Away – $5,088 ($13,279,757 total)
121. Far From Heaven – $3,475 ($21,228,837 total)
144. Gangs of New York – $1,155 ($103,764,423 total)
145. The Crime of Father Amaro – $993 ($7,632,206 total)
153. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $509 ($53,243,651 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]
• 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]
• The Man Without a Past: Foreign Language Film
• A Mighty Wind: Original Song (“A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow”)
• 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)
• Spellbound: Documentary Feature
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
• The Wild Thornberrys Movie: Original Song (“Father and Daughter”)
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of XXXXX, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

6. Titanic – $4,011,888 ($565,735,531 total) {week 20}
14. As Good As It Gets – $872,650 ($144,751,251 total) {week 19}
999. Amistad – $917 ($44,226,806 total) {week 21}
999. Primary Colors – $550,515 ($37,147,192 total) {week 7}
999. Primary Colors – $550,515 ($37,147,192 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Titanic – $6,886,076 ($971,038,598 total)
14. As Good As It Gets – $1,497,832 ($248,453,640 total)
999. Amistad – $1,574 ($75,911,682 total)
999. Primary Colors – $944,914 ($63,760,106 total)
999. Primary Colors – $944,914 ($63,760,106 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
• 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 XXXX, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

15. A Few Good Men – $717,622 ($137,942,402 total) {week 21}
999. Scent of a Woman – $500,045 ($59,611,574 total) {week 19}
999. Unforgiven – $751,920 ($93,558,506 total) {week 39}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

15. A Few Good Men – $1,395,376 ($268,221,337 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $972,310 ($115,911,394 total)
999. Unforgiven – $1,462,067 ($181,919,317 total)

Oscar Details:

• A Few Good Men: Picture, Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson), Editing, Sound
• 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 XXXX, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

2. Beetlejuice – $5,018,285 ($46,749,551 total) {week 5}
6. Sunset – $2,031,678 ($2,031,678 total) {week 1}
8. The Last Emperor – $1,780,196 ($35,635,164 total) {week 24}
9. Moonstruck – $1,574,686 ($69,124,607 total) {week 20}
12. The Milagro Beanfield War – $1,184,270 ($6,611,052 total) {week 7}
13. Good Morning, Vietnam – $1,072,181 ($115,171,575 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Beetlejuice – $9,829,001 ($91,565,422 total)
6. Sunset – $3,979,321 ($3,979,321 total)
8. The Last Emperor – $3,486,759 ($69,796,367 total)
9. Moonstruck – $3,084,239 ($135,390,045 total)
12. The Milagro Beanfield War – $2,319,556 ($12,948,654 total)
13. Good Morning, Vietnam – $2,100,014 ($225,579,362 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beetlejuice: Makeup [O]
• 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
• Sunset: Costume Design

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of XXXX, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Flashdance – $3,385,578 ($20,325,125 total) {week 4}
5. Tootsie – $1,546,976 ($163,485,230 total) {week 21}
10. Gandhi – $823,234 ($48,601,351 total) {week 22}
14. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $525,763 ($347,807,198 total) {week 48}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Flashdance – $8,652,033 ($51,941,986 total)
5. Tootsie – $3,953,383 ($417,795,588 total)
10. Gandhi – $2,103,820 ($124,203,453 total)
14. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,343,617 ($888,840,617 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]
• Flashdance: Original Song (“Flashdance…What a Feeling”) [O], Original Song (“Maniac”), Editing, Cinematography
• 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