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

Monsters University (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 20-22, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

3. Kung Fu Panda – $21,934,716 ($155,830,875 total) {week 3}
9. Iron Man – $4,030,272 ($304,816,141 total) {week 8}
13. Mongol – $778,963 ($1,149,760 total) {week 3}
14. The Visitor – $383,584 ($7,192,751 total) {week 11}
47. The Counterfeiters – $32,572 ($5,351,533 total) {week 18}
54. Encounters at the End of the World – $18,519 ($60,330 total) {week 2}
57. In Bruges – $15,207 ($7,786,213 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Kung Fu Panda – $24,256,497 ($172,325,508 total)
9. Iron Man – $4,456,875 ($337,080,802 total)
13. Mongol – $861,416 ($1,271,462 total)
14. The Visitor – $424,186 ($7,954,101 total)
47. The Counterfeiters – $36,020 ($5,917,991 total)
54. Encounters at the End of the World – $20,479 ($66,716 total)
57. In Bruges – $16,817 ($8,610,380 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Encounters at the End of the World: Documentary Feature
• In Bruges: Original Screenplay
• Iron Man: Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Kung Fu Panda: Animated Feature
• Mongol: Foreign Language Film
• The Visitor: Actor (Richard Jenkins)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 20-22, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

2. Finding Nemo – $21,138,752 ($228,549,216 total) {week 4}
15. Whale Rider – $602,332 ($1,048,695 total) {week 3}
17. Winged Migration – $370,535 ($2,594,875 total) {week 10}
18. Spellbound – $330,866 ($2,127,235 total) {week 8}
21. Capturing the Friedmans – $221,142 ($748,961 total) {week 4}
22. A Mighty Wind – $217,252 ($17,004,610 total) {week 10}
27. Nowhere in Africa – $163,670 ($5,025,653 total) {week 16}
36. Chicago – $83,585 ($169,363,608 total) {week 26}
42. The Barbarian Invasions – $61,000 ($3,465,000 total) {week 7}
43. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $59,606 ($339,344,075 total) {week 27}
53. City of God – $29,181 ($4,374,887 total) {week 23}
59. The Man Without a Past – $19,902 ($756,153 total) {week 12}
72. The Quiet American – $11,988 ($12,916,206 total) {week 31}
78. Bowling for Columbine – $11,141 ($21,468,072 total) {week 37}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Finding Nemo – $27,834,443 ($300,942,085 total)
15. Whale Rider – $793,120 ($1,380,869 total)
17. Winged Migration – $487,902 ($3,416,801 total)
18. Spellbound – $435,668 ($2,801,036 total)
21. Capturing the Friedmans – $291,189 ($986,194 total)
22. A Mighty Wind – $286,066 ($22,390,813 total)
27. Nowhere in Africa – $215,512 ($6,617,527 total)
36. Chicago – $110,061 ($223,009,461 total)
42. The Barbarian Invasions – $80,322 ($4,562,537 total)
43. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $78,486 ($446,831,170 total)
53. City of God – $38,424 ($5,760,631 total)
59. The Man Without a Past – $26,206 ($995,664 total)
72. The Quiet American – $15,785 ($17,007,409 total)
78. Bowling for Columbine – $14,670 ($28,268,075 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 Quiet American: Actor (Michael Caine)
• Spellbound: Documentary Feature
• Whale Rider: Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes)
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 19-21, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. Mulan – $22,745,143 ($22,745,143 total) {week 1}
3. The Truman Show – $12,418,709 ($85,248,068 total) {week 3}
10. The Horse Whisperer – $2,576,419 ($63,064,187 total) {week 6}
13. Titanic – $1,029,362 ($585,544,027 total) {week 27}
999. As Good As It Gets – $44,753 ($147,637,474 total) {week 26}
999. Primary Colors – $61,875 ($38,966,057 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Mulan – $38,506,703 ($38,506,703 total)
3. The Truman Show – $21,024,424 ($144,321,889 total)
10. The Horse Whisperer – $4,361,784 ($106,765,383 total)
13. Titanic – $1,742,673 ($991,304,813 total)
999. As Good As It Gets – $75,765 ($249,944,892 total)
999. Primary Colors – $104,752 ($65,968,122 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
• The Horse Whisperer: Original Song (“A Soft Place to Fall”)
• Mulan: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• 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]
• The Truman Show: Director, Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 18-20, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. Jurassic Park – $38,455,860 ($120,173,345 total) {week 2}
3. Cliffhanger – $5,671,360 ($58,651,674 total) {week 4}
4. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $3,618,724 ($5,576,465 total) {week 2}
7. Dave – $2,535,591 ($55,581,764 total) {week 7}
999. Scent of a Woman – $78,105 ($62,549,029 total) {week 26}
999. Unforgiven – $601,547 ($100,003,672 total) {week 46}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Jurassic Park – $73,753,509 ($230,477,381 total)
3. Cliffhanger – $10,876,956 ($112,486,544 total)
4. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $6,940,258 ($10,694,959 total)
7. Dave – $4,862,945 ($106,598,842 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $149,796 ($119,961,181 total)
999. Unforgiven – $1,153,692 ($191,794,482 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cliffhanger: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• Dave: Original Screenplay
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• 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
• What’s Love Got to Do With It: Actor (Laurence Fishburne), Actress (Angela Bassett)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 17-19, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

2. Big – $6,614,557 ($31,221,730 total) {week 3}
6. Bull Durham – $5,009,301 ($5,009,301 total) {week 1}
7. Willow – $2,915,922 ($35,341,622 total) {week 5}
12. Beetlejuice – $772,053 ($66,952,176 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Big – $12,778,487 ($60,316,432 total)
6. Bull Durham – $9,677,336 ($9,677,336 total)
7. Willow – $5,633,192 ($68,275,542 total)
12. Beetlejuice – $1,491,509 ($129,343,133 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beetlejuice: Makeup [O]
• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• Bull Durham: Original Screenplay
• Willow: Sound Effects, Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 24-26, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Return of the Jedi – $11,127,915 ($132,694,063 total) {week 5}
5. Trading Places – $5,501,727 ($29,582,273 total) {week 3}
7. WarGames – $4,140,385 ($29,498,901 total) {week 4}
9. Flashdance – $1,804,916 ($51,361,490 total) {week 11}
12. Blue Thunder – $1,063,756 ($37,806,273 total) {week 7}
13. Tootsie – $589,250 ($175,149,889 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Return of the Jedi – $28,049,411 ($334,473,289 total)
5. Trading Places – $13,867,845 ($74,566,110 total)
7. WarGames – $10,436,399 ($74,355,960 total)
9. Flashdance – $4,549,534 ($129,463,565 total)
12. Blue Thunder – $2,681,341 ($95,295,812 total)
13. Tootsie – $1,485,284 ($441,488,927 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