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

Much Ado About Nothing (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Adapted Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of June 6-8, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

1. Kung Fu Panda – $60,239,130 ($60,239,130 total) {week 1}
6. Iron Man – $7,477,439 ($288,847,640 total) {week 6}
13. The Visitor – $477,091 ($6,002,382 total) {week 9}
22. Mongol – $135,326 ($135,326 total) {week 1}
32. The Counterfeiters – $52,002 ($5,246,694 total) {week 16}
43. In Bruges – $34,454 ($7,716,240 total) {week 18}
84. Juno – $5,375 ($143,484,566 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Kung Fu Panda – $66,615,417 ($66,615,417 total)
6. Iron Man – $8,268,923 ($319,422,042 total)
13. The Visitor – $527,591 ($6,637,732 total)
22. Mongol – $149,650 ($149,650 total)
32. The Counterfeiters – $57,506 ($5,802,054 total)
43. In Bruges – $38,101 ($8,533,001 total)
84. Juno – $5,944 ($158,672,347 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]
• Kung Fu Panda: Animated Feature
• Mongol: Foreign Language Film
• The Visitor: Actor (Richard Jenkins)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of June 6-8, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

2. Finding Nemo – $46,589,649 ($144,043,789 total) {week 2}
14. A Mighty Wind – $464,389 ($16,125,710 total) {week 8}
18. Spellbound – $304,719 ($1,122,046 total) {week 6}
19. Winged Migration – $292,790 ($1,555,717 total) {week 8}
25. Nowhere in Africa – $191,004 ($4,530,898 total) {week 14}
26. Chicago – $187,119 ($168,962,297 total) {week 24}
27. The Barbarian Invasions – $177,143 ($3,159,248 total) {week 5}
32. Whale Rider – $137,418 ($137,418 total) {week 1}
38. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $82,136 ($339,104,919 total) {week 25}
40. Capturing the Friedmans – $69,920 ($169,654 total) {week 2}
56. City of God – $30,348 ($4,287,883 total) {week 21}
57. The Pianist – $28,990 ($32,572,577 total) {week 24}
63. The Quiet American – $21,629 ($12,874,317 total) {week 29}
69. Bowling for Columbine – $18,240 ($21,419,887 total) {week 35}
72. The Man Without a Past – $16,448 ($678,731 total) {week 10}
74. The Weather Underground – $13,984 ($20,571 total) {week 1}
106. Talk to Her – $2,534 ($9,283,413 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Finding Nemo – $61,346,901 ($189,669,599 total)
14. A Mighty Wind – $611,484 ($21,233,522 total)
18. Spellbound – $401,239 ($1,477,454 total)
19. Winged Migration – $385,531 ($2,048,490 total)
25. Nowhere in Africa – $251,504 ($5,966,058 total)
26. Chicago – $246,389 ($222,481,035 total)
27. The Barbarian Invasions – $233,253 ($4,159,938 total)
32. Whale Rider – $180,945 ($180,945 total)
38. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $108,153 ($446,516,262 total)
40. Capturing the Friedmans – $92,067 ($223,392 total)
56. City of God – $39,961 ($5,646,068 total)
57. The Pianist – $38,173 ($42,889,927 total)
63. The Quiet American – $28,480 ($16,952,252 total)
69. Bowling for Columbine – $24,018 ($28,204,627 total)
72. The Man Without a Past – $21,658 ($893,719 total)
74. The Weather Underground – $18,413 ($27,087 total)
106. Talk to Her – $3,337 ($12,223,930 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
• 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]
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature
• Whale Rider: Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes)
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of June 5-7, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Truman Show – $31,542,121 ($31,542,121 total) {week 1}
6. The Horse Whisperer – $5,248,338 ($51,823,567 total) {week 4}
7. Bulworth – $2,185,744 ($21,581,115 total) {week 4}
8. Titanic – $1,648,860 ($581,889,889 total) {week 25}
10. Quest for Camelot – $1,303,646 ($19,226,325 total) {week 4}
999. As Good As It Gets – $218,910 ($147,346,087 total) {week 24}
999. Primary Colors – $140,220 ($38,714,217 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Truman Show – $53,399,668 ($53,399,668 total)
6. The Horse Whisperer – $8,885,246 ($87,735,420 total)
7. Bulworth – $3,700,385 ($36,536,045 total)
8. Titanic – $2,791,460 ($985,118,490 total)
10. Quest for Camelot – $2,207,025 ($32,549,471 total)
999. As Good As It Gets – $370,607 ($249,451,584 total)
999. Primary Colors – $237,387 ($65,541,766 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]
• The Truman Show: Director, Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of June 4-6, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. Cliffhanger – $12,152,400 ($37,173,770 total) {week 2}
4. Dave – $4,834,257 ($46,993,873 total) {week 5}
999. Scent of a Woman – $137,740 ($62,280,849 total) {week 24}
999. Unforgiven – $803,906 ($98,223,100 total) {week 44}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Cliffhanger – $23,306,777 ($71,294,622 total)
4. Dave – $9,271,498 ($90,128,346 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $264,168 ($119,446,846 total)
999. Unforgiven – $1,541,791 ($188,379,569 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cliffhanger: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• Dave: Original Screenplay
• 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 June 3-5, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

2. Big – $8,216,190 ($8,216,190 total) {week 1}
5. Willow – $5,002,969 ($25,326,281 total) {week 3}
7. Beetlejuice – $1,416,596 ($63,867,003 total) {week 10}
9. Moonstruck – $612,475 ($76,368,663 total) {week 25}
10. Good Morning, Vietnam – $540,891 ($120,356,916 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Big – $15,872,640 ($15,872,640 total)
5. Willow – $9,665,103 ($48,927,171 total)
7. Beetlejuice – $2,736,684 ($123,382,969 total)
9. Moonstruck – $1,183,224 ($147,534,595 total)
10. Good Morning, Vietnam – $1,044,933 ($232,514,334 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beetlejuice: Makeup [O]
• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• Good Morning, Vietnam: Actor (Robin Williams)
• 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 10-11, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Return of the Jedi – $11,995,064 ($93,008,811 total) {week 3}
3. Trading Places – $7,348,200 ($7,348,200 total) {week 1}
5. WarGames – $4,824,970 ($14,163,549 total) {week 2}
6. Flashdance – $2,105,030 ($44,415,608 total) {week 9}
7. Blue Thunder – $1,908,080 ($33,431,260 total) {week 5}
9. Tootsie – $948,251 ($173,019,532 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Return of the Jedi – $30,235,177 ($234,441,257 total)
3. Trading Places – $18,522,130 ($18,522,130 total)
5. WarGames – $12,161,988 ($35,701,136 total)
6. Flashdance – $5,306,012 ($111,955,533 total)
7. Blue Thunder – $4,809,573 ($84,268,001 total)
9. Tootsie – $2,390,195 ($436,119,074 total)

Oscar Details:

• Blue Thunder: Editing
• 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
• Trading Places: Original Song Score
• WarGames: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound