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

Pacific Rim (Wide)

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

Fruitvale Station (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Michael B. Jordan), Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing.

The Hunt (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Mads Mikkelsen).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of July 11-13, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

1. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $34,539,115 ($34,539,115 total) {week 1}
4. WALL-E – $18,793,588 ($163,055,900 total) {week 3}
5. Wanted – $11,996,175 ($112,455,060 total) {week 3}
8. Kung Fu Panda – $4,411,412 ($202,154,311 total) {week 6}
14. Iron Man – $939,134 ($313,421,025 total) {week 11}
16. Mongol – $532,439 ($4,355,846 total) {week 6}
18. The Visitor – $267,676 ($8,533,421 total) {week 14}
32. Encounters at the End of the World – $79,436 ($361,174 total) {week 5}
56. The Counterfeiters – $18,277 ($5,440,738 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $38,195,066 ($38,195,066 total)
4. WALL-E – $20,782,881 ($180,315,299 total)
5. Wanted – $13,265,965 ($124,358,381 total)
8. Kung Fu Panda – $4,878,358 ($223,552,260 total)
14. Iron Man – $1,038,541 ($346,596,510 total)
16. Mongol – $588,797 ($4,816,910 total)
18. The Visitor – $296,009 ($9,436,680 total)
32. Encounters at the End of the World – $87,844 ($399,404 total)
56. The Counterfeiters – $20,212 ($6,016,638 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Encounters at the End of the World: Documentary Feature
• Hellboy II: The Golden Army: Makeup
• Iron Man: Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Kung Fu Panda: Animated Feature
• Mongol: Foreign Language Film
• The Visitor: Actor (Richard Jenkins)
• WALL-E: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Down to Earth”), Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Wanted: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of July 11-13, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $46,630,690 ($70,625,971 total) {week 1}
5. Finding Nemo – $8,465,110 ($291,068,455 total) {week 7}
14. Whale Rider – $1,089,334 ($5,800,911 total) {week 6}
18. Winged Migration – $390,278 ($4,731,774 total) {week 13}
21. Spellbound – $298,758 ($3,631,068 total) {week 11}
25. Capturing the Friedmans – $209,748 ($1,852,164 total) {week 7}
27. Chicago – $189,731 ($169,799,940 total) {week 29}
40. Nowhere in Africa – $94,901 ($5,582,673 total) {week 19}
42. The Barbarian Invasions – $66,760 ($4,226,862 total) {week 10}
48. A Mighty Wind – $45,285 ($17,418,375 total) {week 13}
51. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $35,424 ($339,628,782 total) {week 30}
75. City of God – $10,932 ($4,463,373 total) {week 26}
76. The Man Without a Past – $9,720 ($847,807 total) {week 15}
82. Bowling for Columbine – $7,947 ($21,529,215 total) {week 40}
86. The Weather Underground – $7,140 ($92,347 total) {week 6}
92. The Quiet American – $6,036 ($12,948,914 total) {week 34}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $61,400,942 ($92,996,718 total)
5. Finding Nemo – $11,146,430 ($383,264,267 total)
14. Whale Rider – $1,434,380 ($7,638,347 total)
18. Winged Migration – $513,898 ($6,230,561 total)
21. Spellbound – $393,389 ($4,781,207 total)
25. Capturing the Friedmans – $276,186 ($2,438,836 total)
27. Chicago – $249,828 ($223,584,001 total)
40. Nowhere in Africa – $124,961 ($7,350,982 total)
42. The Barbarian Invasions – $87,906 ($5,565,719 total)
48. A Mighty Wind – $59,629 ($22,935,638 total)
51. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $46,645 ($447,206,058 total)
75. City of God – $14,395 ($5,877,145 total)
76. The Man Without a Past – $12,799 ($1,116,350 total)
82. Bowling for Columbine – $10,464 ($28,348,585 total)
86. The Weather Underground – $9,402 ($121,598 total)
92. The Quiet American – $7,948 ($17,050,477 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]
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: Actor (Johnny Depp), Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• The Quiet American: Actor (Michael Caine)
• Spellbound: Documentary Feature
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature
• Whale Rider: Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes)
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of July 10-12, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. Armageddon – $23,557,064 ($99,860,537 total) {week 2}
5. Mulan – $7,024,607 ($91,853,254 total) {week 4}
8. Out of Sight – $3,813,425 ($29,981,440 total) {week 3}
10. The Truman Show – $3,576,418 ($116,218,533 total) {week 6}
15. Titanic – $405,669 ($588,931,878 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Armageddon – $39,881,255 ($169,060,269 total)
5. Mulan – $11,892,405 ($155,504,230 total)
8. Out of Sight – $6,455,990 ($50,757,491 total)
10. The Truman Show – $6,054,746 ($196,753,764 total)
15. Titanic – $686,783 ($997,040,322 total)

Oscar Details:

• Armageddon: Original Song (“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”), Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• Mulan: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Out of Sight: Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• 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 July 9-11, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Firm – $17,937,098 ($73,748,070 total) {week 2}
2. Jurassic Park – $15,313,050 ($236,429,385 total) {week 5}
3. In the Line of Fire – $15,269,388 ($15,269,388 total) {week 1}
4. Sleepless in Seattle – $10,156,964 ($59,031,582 total) {week 3}
10. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $3,342,380 ($26,871,258 total) {week 5}
12. Cliffhanger – $1,573,740 ($74,057,087 total) {week 7}
999. Scent of a Woman – $37,345 ($62,724,644 total) {week 29}
999. Unforgiven – $94,019 ($101,101,229 total) {week 49}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Firm – $34,401,101 ($141,439,535 total)
2. Jurassic Park – $29,368,507 ($453,441,864 total)
3. In the Line of Fire – $29,284,768 ($29,284,768 total)
4. Sleepless in Seattle – $19,479,781 ($113,215,160 total)
10. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $6,410,265 ($51,535,698 total)
12. Cliffhanger – $3,018,236 ($142,032,191 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $71,623 ($120,297,989 total)
999. Unforgiven – $180,317 ($193,899,459 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cliffhanger: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• The Firm: Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter), Original Score
• In the Line of Fire: Supporting Actor (John Malkovich), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Scent of a Woman: Picture, Director, Actor (Al Pacino) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Sleepless in Seattle: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“A Wink and a Smile”)
• 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 July 8-10, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Coming to America – $13,342,707 ($49,497,282 total) {week 2}
2. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $11,519,011 ($54,516,090 total) {week 3}
4. Big – $5,136,787 ($60,600,213 total) {week 6}
5. Bull Durham – $3,909,540 ($27,301,032 total) {week 4}
13. Willow – $1,457,365 ($46,040,044 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Coming to America – $25,776,422 ($95,622,486 total)
2. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $22,253,272 ($105,318,188 total)
4. Big – $9,923,623 ($117,071,944 total)
5. Bull Durham – $7,552,737 ($52,742,140 total)
13. Willow – $2,815,445 ($88,943,540 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• Bull Durham: Original Screenplay
• Coming to America: Costume Design, Makeup
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Animation Direction, Richard Williams)
• Willow: Sound Effects, Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of July 15-17, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

2. Return of the Jedi – $8,270,850 ($178,481,053 total) {week 8}
4. Trading Places – $4,304,788 ($53,078,205 total) {week 6}
5. WarGames – $3,105,303 ($46,755,824 total) {week 7}
9. Flashdance – $2,175,177 ($62,041,867 total) {week 14}
14. Blue Thunder – $816,085 ($42,313,354 total) {week 10}
999. Zelig – $60,119 ($60,119 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Return of the Jedi – $20,847,793 ($449,885,575 total)
4. Trading Places – $10,850,799 ($133,790,777 total)
5. WarGames – $7,827,335 ($117,854,363 total)
9. Flashdance – $5,482,827 ($156,384,897 total)
14. Blue Thunder – $2,057,052 ($106,656,518 total)
999. Zelig – $151,538 ($151,538 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]
• Trading Places: Original Song Score
• WarGames: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound
• Zelig: Cinematography, Costume Design