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

Lee Daniels’ The Butler (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Forest Whitaker), Supporting Actor (David Oyelowo, Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr, Lenny Kravitz, Robin Williams, James Marsden, Alan Rickman), Supporting Actress (Vanessa Redgrave, Oprah Winfrey, Jane Fonda), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound Mixing.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of August 22-24, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

1. Tropic Thunder – $16,272,195 ($65,839,915 total) {week 2}
4. The Dark Knight – $10,542,424 ($489,416,885 total) {week 6}
11. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $3,005,031 ($8,571,505 total) {week 2}
17. WALL-E – $965,559 ($216,252,003 total) {week 9}
20. Kung Fu Panda – $579,281 ($212,685,098 total) {week 12}
28. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $255,970 ($75,108,440 total) {week 7}
29. Iron Man – $243,342 ($317,473,452 total) {week 17}
30. Wanted – $220,985 ($133,734,905 total) {week 9}
31. Man on Wire – $206,584 ($1,125,349 total) {week 5}
33. Frozen River – $147,116 ($431,865 total) {week 4}
55. Trouble the Water – $28,606 ($28,606 total) {week 1}
62. Mongol – $19,728 ($5,664,414 total) {week 12}
64. Encounters at the End of the World – $17,841 ($812,541 total) {week 11}
67. The Visitor – $16,411 ($9,305,004 total) {week 20}
117. The Counterfeiters – $350 ($5,484,715 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Tropic Thunder – $17,994,600 ($72,809,042 total)
4. The Dark Knight – $11,658,335 ($541,221,458 total)
11. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $3,323,112 ($9,478,795 total)
17. WALL-E – $1,067,763 ($239,142,187 total)
20. Kung Fu Panda – $640,598 ($235,197,727 total)
28. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $283,064 ($83,058,637 total)
29. Iron Man – $269,100 ($351,077,884 total)
30. Wanted – $244,376 ($147,890,689 total)
31. Man on Wire – $228,451 ($1,244,467 total)
33. Frozen River – $162,688 ($477,578 total)
55. Trouble the Water – $31,634 ($31,634 total)
62. Mongol – $21,816 ($6,263,990 total)
64. Encounters at the End of the World – $19,729 ($898,548 total)
67. The Visitor – $18,148 ($10,289,935 total)
117. The Counterfeiters – $387 ($6,065,270 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Dark Knight: Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Encounters at the End of the World: Documentary Feature
• Frozen River: Actress (Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay
• Hellboy II: The Golden Army: Makeup
• Iron Man: Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Kung Fu Panda: Animated Feature
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• Mongol: Foreign Language Film
• Tropic Thunder: Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.)
• Trouble the Water: Documentary Feature
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz) [O]
• 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 August 22-24, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

6. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $7,275,447 ($260,925,697 total) {week 7}
7. Seabiscuit – $6,170,290 ($92,936,230 total) {week 5}
15. Finding Nemo – $1,038,919 ($329,790,041 total) {week 13}
19. Dirty Pretty Things – $691,098 ($2,948,667 total) {week 6}
21. Whale Rider – $616,795 ($15,054,289 total) {week 12}
24. American Splendor – $454,375 ($716,971 total) {week 2}
32. Winged Migration – $263,763 ($8,504,188 total) {week 19}
41. Thirteen – $116,260 ($139,860 total) {week 1}
46. Spellbound – $70,193 ($5,243,927 total) {week 17}
52. Capturing the Friedmans – $48,868 ($2,874,066 total) {week 13}
60. Spirited Away – $22,862 ($10,004,994 total) {week 38}
61. Nowhere in Africa – $22,482 ($6,040,487 total) {week 25}
63. Chicago – $21,242 ($170,659,352 total) {week 35}
66. A Mighty Wind – $18,982 ($17,583,468 total) {week 19}
68. The Weather Underground – $18,256 ($270,979 total) {week 12}
87. City of God – $8,467 ($4,573,927 total) {week 32}
95. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $4,700 ($339,789,881 total) {week 36}
100. The Man Without a Past – $4,297 ($910,173 total) {week 21}
123. Bowling for Columbine – $1,227 ($21,572,249 total) {week 46}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $9,579,942 ($343,573,803 total)
7. Seabiscuit – $8,124,727 ($122,373,742 total)
15. Finding Nemo – $1,367,996 ($434,250,900 total)
19. Dirty Pretty Things – $910,003 ($3,882,656 total)
21. Whale Rider – $812,165 ($19,822,729 total)
24. American Splendor – $598,298 ($944,071 total)
32. Winged Migration – $347,310 ($11,197,886 total)
41. Thirteen – $153,085 ($184,161 total)
46. Spellbound – $92,427 ($6,904,939 total)
52. Capturing the Friedmans – $64,347 ($3,784,425 total)
60. Spirited Away – $30,104 ($13,174,072 total)
61. Nowhere in Africa – $29,603 ($7,953,809 total)
63. Chicago – $27,970 ($224,715,631 total)
66. A Mighty Wind – $24,995 ($23,153,024 total)
68. The Weather Underground – $24,039 ($356,811 total)
87. City of God – $11,149 ($6,022,716 total)
95. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $6,189 ($447,418,185 total)
100. The Man Without a Past – $5,658 ($1,198,470 total)
123. Bowling for Columbine – $1,616 ($28,405,250 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Splendor: Adapted Screenplay
• 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
• Dirty Pretty Things: Original Screenplay
• 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
• Seabiscuit: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• Spellbound: Documentary Feature
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Thirteen: Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter)
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature
• Whale Rider: Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes)
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of August 21-23, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. Saving Private Ryan – $10,142,045 ($142,748,038 total) {week 5}
13. Armageddon – $2,735,637 ($184,993,784 total) {week 8}
15. The Mask of Zorro – $2,103,883 ($82,512,233 total) {week 6}
999. Titanic – $540,617 ($599,657,813 total) {week 36}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Saving Private Ryan – $17,170,115 ($241,667,254 total)
13. Armageddon – $4,631,334 ($313,187,771 total)
15. The Mask of Zorro – $3,561,798 ($139,690,220 total)
999. Titanic – $915,245 ($1,015,198,941 total)

Oscar Details:

• Armageddon: Original Song (“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”), Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• The Mask of Zorro: Sound, Sound Effects
• Saving Private Ryan: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• 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 August 20-22, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Fugitive – $18,148,331 ($89,126,724 total) {week 3}
5. Jurassic Park – $3,760,575 ($306,101,930 total) {week 11}
6. In the Line of Fire – $3,419,070 ($89,640,352 total) {week 7}
9. The Firm – $2,602,524 ($143,742,362 total) {week 8}
10. Sleepless in Seattle – $2,560,778 ($105,895,262 total) {week 9}
16. Searching for Bobby Fischer – $906,660 ($3,024,956 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Fugitive – $34,806,219 ($170,933,862 total)
5. Jurassic Park – $7,212,311 ($587,065,054 total)
6. In the Line of Fire – $6,557,347 ($171,918,936 total)
9. The Firm – $4,991,314 ($275,679,796 total)
10. Sleepless in Seattle – $4,911,251 ($203,093,812 total)
16. Searching for Bobby Fischer – $1,738,860 ($5,801,486 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Firm: Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter), Original Score
• The Fugitive: Picture, Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones) [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects
• In the Line of Fire: Supporting Actor (John Malkovich), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Searching for Bobby Fischer: Cinematography
• Sleepless in Seattle: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“A Wink and a Smile”)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of August 19-21, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

3. Die Hard – $4,523,326 ($46,026,261 total) {week 6}
6. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $3,664,197 ($119,370,859 total) {week 9}
7. Married to the Mob – $3,231,056 ($3,231,056 total) {week 1}
8. Tucker The Man and His Dreams – $2,782,700 ($8,197,305 total) {week 2}
9. Coming to America – $2,512,639 ($111,133,227 total) {week 8}
11. Big – $1,725,815 ($92,004,267 total) {week 12}
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $476,263 ($1,183,524 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Die Hard – $8,738,494 ($88,916,913 total)
6. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $7,078,765 ($230,609,397 total)
7. Married to the Mob – $6,241,991 ($6,241,991 total)
8. Tucker The Man and His Dreams – $5,375,824 ($15,836,156 total)
9. Coming to America – $4,854,101 ($214,695,334 total)
11. Big – $3,334,056 ($177,740,603 total)
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $920,080 ($2,286,419 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• Coming to America: Costume Design, Makeup
• Die Hard: Editing, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• The Last Temptation of Christ: Director
• Married to the Mob: Supporting Actor (Dean Stockwell)
• Tucker The Man and His Dreams: Supporting Actor (Martin Landau), Art Direction, Costume Design
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Animation Direction, Richard Williams)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of August 26-28, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

6. Return of the Jedi – $2,563,071 ($227,100,205 total) {week 14}
9. Trading Places – $1,589,421 ($77,922,508 total) {week 12}
10. Flashdance – $1,569,817 ($78,530,724 total) {week 20}
13. WarGames – $1,256,949 ($65,833,815 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Return of the Jedi – $6,460,566 ($572,436,707 total)
9. Trading Places – $4,006,350 ($196,414,195 total)
10. Flashdance – $3,956,936 ($197,947,285 total)
13. WarGames – $3,168,310 ($165,943,013 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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