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

After Earth (Wide)

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

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 30-Jun. 1, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

4. Iron Man – $13,541,264 ($276,166,336 total) {week 5}
11. The Visitor – $553,704 ($5,322,550 total) {week 8}
27. The Counterfeiters – $80,161 ($5,154,980 total) {week 15}
60. In Bruges – $18,184 ($7,672,112 total) {week 17}
81. Juno – $5,025 ($143,472,771 total) {week 26}
132. Taxi to the Dark Side – $243 ($274,661 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Iron Man – $14,974,601 ($305,398,427 total)
11. The Visitor – $612,313 ($5,885,940 total)
27. The Counterfeiters – $88,646 ($5,700,632 total)
60. In Bruges – $20,109 ($8,484,202 total)
81. Juno – $5,557 ($158,659,304 total)
132. Taxi to the Dark Side – $269 ($303,734 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]
• Taxi to the Dark Side: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Visitor: Actor (Richard Jenkins)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 30-Jun. 1, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

1. Finding Nemo – $70,251,710 ($70,251,710 total) {week 1}
14. A Mighty Wind – $664,465 ($15,405,570 total) {week 7}
16. The Barbarian Invasions – $383,385 ($2,853,465 total) {week 4}
21. Chicago – $265,251 ($168,649,886 total) {week 23}
22. Spellbound – $230,528 ($707,048 total) {week 5}
24. Winged Migration – $225,028 ($1,146,308 total) {week 7}
25. Nowhere in Africa – $219,608 ($4,254,132 total) {week 13}
34. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $89,444 ($338,955,859 total) {week 24}
36. Capturing the Friedmans – $65,154 ($65,154 total) {week 1}
42. Gangs of New York – $47,000 ($77,812,000 total) {week 23}
47. The Pianist – $41,565 ($32,519,322 total) {week 23}
52. The Man Without a Past – $33,233 ($648,569 total) {week 9}
53. City of God – $31,499 ($4,241,714 total) {week 20}
58. The Quiet American – $22,917 ($12,843,884 total) {week 28}
65. Bowling for Columbine – $17,806 ($21,392,838 total) {week 34}
101. Talk to Her – $3,712 ($9,279,732 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Finding Nemo – $92,503,910 ($92,503,910 total)
14. A Mighty Wind – $874,934 ($20,285,278 total)
16. The Barbarian Invasions – $504,822 ($3,757,299 total)
21. Chicago – $349,269 ($222,069,667 total)
22. Spellbound – $303,548 ($931,005 total)
24. Winged Migration – $296,306 ($1,509,401 total)
25. Nowhere in Africa – $289,169 ($5,601,627 total)
34. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $117,775 ($446,319,987 total)
36. Capturing the Friedmans – $85,792 ($85,792 total)
42. Gangs of New York – $61,887 ($102,458,919 total)
47. The Pianist – $54,731 ($42,819,804 total)
52. The Man Without a Past – $43,760 ($854,003 total)
53. City of God – $41,476 ($5,585,275 total)
58. The Quiet American – $30,176 ($16,912,179 total)
65. Bowling for Columbine – $23,446 ($28,169,011 total)
101. Talk to Her – $4,888 ($12,219,083 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Barbarian Invasions: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• Capturing the Friedmans: Documentary Feature
• 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
• Finding Nemo: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Editing
• 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 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
• Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 29-31, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Horse Whisperer – $7,338,090 ($43,414,451 total) {week 3}
5. Bulworth – $4,827,745 ($17,478,406 total) {week 3}
8. Quest for Camelot – $2,356,063 ($17,023,897 total) {week 3}
9. Titanic – $1,783,579 ($579,419,474 total) {week 24}
999. As Good As It Gets – $302,475 ($147,023,263 total) {week 23}
999. Primary Colors – $153,735 ($38,494,807 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Horse Whisperer – $12,423,120 ($73,499,092 total)
5. Bulworth – $8,173,197 ($29,590,308 total)
8. Quest for Camelot – $3,988,729 ($28,820,841 total)
9. Titanic – $3,019,535 ($980,936,167 total)
999. As Good As It Gets – $512,079 ($248,905,055 total)
999. Primary Colors – $260,268 ($65,170,313 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Bulworth: Original Screenplay
• The Horse Whisperer: Original Song (“A Soft Place to Fall”)
• Primary Colors: Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates), Adapted Screenplay
• Quest for Camelot: Original Song (“The Prayer”)
• 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 May 28-30, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. Cliffhanger – $16,176,967 ($16,176,967 total) {week 1}
3. Dave – $8,933,075 ($40,728,464 total) {week 4}
12. Unforgiven – $1,126,070 ($96,883,098 total) {week 43}
999. A Few Good Men – $163,705 ($140,293,057 total) {week 25}
999. Scent of a Woman – $214,830 ($62,024,534 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Cliffhanger – $31,025,391 ($31,025,391 total)
3. Dave – $17,132,516 ($78,112,078 total)
12. Unforgiven – $2,159,661 ($185,809,613 total)
999. A Few Good Men – $313,966 ($269,064,462 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $412,017 ($118,955,266 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cliffhanger: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• Dave: Original Screenplay
• 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 May 27-29, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

3. Willow – $7,556,144 ($18,611,739 total) {week 2}
5. Beetlejuice – $2,419,978 ($61,918,085 total) {week 9}
7. Moonstruck – $1,126,234 ($75,492,040 total) {week 24}
8. Good Morning, Vietnam – $1,010,396 ($119,555,151 total) {week 23}
11. The Last Emperor – $866,325 ($41,538,118 total) {week 28}
12. The Milagro Beanfield War – $827,750 ($11,332,238 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Willow – $14,597,514 ($35,955,525 total)
5. Beetlejuice – $4,675,091 ($119,617,906 total)
7. Moonstruck – $2,175,742 ($145,841,070 total)
8. Good Morning, Vietnam – $1,951,957 ($230,965,426 total)
11. The Last Emperor – $1,673,630 ($80,246,389 total)
12. The Milagro Beanfield War – $1,599,108 ($21,892,450 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
• Willow: Sound Effects, Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of June 3-5, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Return of the Jedi – $17,229,694 ($70,040,387 total) {week 2}
3. WarGames – $6,227,804 ($6,227,804 total) {week 1}
5. Blue Thunder – $3,208,259 ($30,420,065 total) {week 4}
6. Flashdance – $3,008,173 ($40,809,874 total) {week 8}
10. Tootsie – $1,279,134 ($171,541,171 total) {week 25}
13. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,053,934 ($352,905,920 total) {week 52}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Return of the Jedi – $43,429,768 ($176,546,245 total)
3. WarGames – $15,698,020 ($15,698,020 total)
5. Blue Thunder – $8,086,850 ($76,677,878 total)
6. Flashdance – $7,582,506 ($102,866,794 total)
10. Tootsie – $3,224,230 ($432,392,666 total)
13. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $2,656,583 ($889,546,986 total)

Oscar Details:

• Blue Thunder: Editing
• 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
• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• 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
• WarGames: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound