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

Prisoners (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Hugh Jackman), Supporting Actor (Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Paul Dano), Supporting Actress (Maria Bello, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay.

Rush (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Chris Hemsworth), Supporting Actor (Daniel Bruhl), Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 26-28, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

13. The Dark Knight – $1,664,421 ($524,474,684 total) {week 11}
16. Tropic Thunder – $1,184,950 ($108,768,665 total) {week 7}
17. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $665,544 ($20,411,318 total) {week 7}
19. The Duchess – $563,075 ($830,007 total) {week 2}
24. WALL-E – $244,023 ($220,834,460 total) {week 14}
30. Kung Fu Panda – $206,782 ($215,207,213 total) {week 17}
43. Man on Wire – $99,128 ($2,388,576 total) {week 10}
44. Frozen River – $92,126 ($1,905,400 total) {week 9}
48. Iron Man – $58,364 ($318,298,180 total) {week 22}
55. Trouble the Water – $33,325 ($285,709 total) {week 6}
76. Encounters at the End of the World – $9,367 ($915,395 total) {week 16}
85. The Visitor – $5,327 ($9,413,262 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

13. The Dark Knight – $1,840,599 ($579,990,110 total)
16. Tropic Thunder – $1,310,376 ($120,281,783 total)
17. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $735,992 ($22,571,847 total)
19. The Duchess – $622,676 ($917,863 total)
24. WALL-E – $269,853 ($244,209,695 total)
30. Kung Fu Panda – $228,670 ($237,986,807 total)
43. Man on Wire – $109,621 ($2,641,406 total)
44. Frozen River – $101,877 ($2,107,086 total)
48. Iron Man – $64,542 ($351,989,909 total)
55. Trouble the Water – $36,852 ($315,951 total)
76. Encounters at the End of the World – $10,358 ($1,012,289 total)
85. The Visitor – $5,891 ($10,409,652 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Dark Knight: Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• The Duchess: Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• Encounters at the End of the World: Documentary Feature
• Frozen River: Actress (Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay
• Iron Man: Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Kung Fu Panda: Animated Feature
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• 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

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 26-28, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

10. Lost in Translation – $3,695,901 ($8,647,315 total) {week 3}
12. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $2,374,249 ($295,713,028 total) {week 12}
16. Seabiscuit – $880,380 ($117,396,680 total) {week 10}
22. Finding Nemo – $360,887 ($335,734,009 total) {week 18}
23. Thirteen – $308,325 ($3,698,035 total) {week 6}
24. American Splendor – $287,771 ($5,102,643 total) {week 7}
29. Dirty Pretty Things – $214,131 ($7,310,189 total) {week 11}
30. Whale Rider – $209,589 ($20,055,214 total) {week 17}
41. Winged Migration – $105,275 ($10,200,223 total) {week 24}
67. Spellbound – $26,762 ($5,631,135 total) {week 22}
85. The Weather Underground – $12,604 ($396,887 total) {week 17}
91. Capturing the Friedmans – $9,057 ($3,099,424 total) {week 18}
98. Nowhere in Africa – $6,746 ($6,167,763 total) {week 30}
102. City of God – $6,120 ($4,650,832 total) {week 37}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

10. Lost in Translation – $4,866,576 ($11,386,348 total)
12. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $3,126,291 ($389,380,007 total)
16. Seabiscuit – $1,159,240 ($154,582,030 total)
22. Finding Nemo – $475,198 ($442,077,617 total)
23. Thirteen – $405,987 ($4,869,386 total)
24. American Splendor – $378,922 ($6,718,903 total)
29. Dirty Pretty Things – $281,957 ($9,625,688 total)
30. Whale Rider – $275,976 ($26,407,695 total)
41. Winged Migration – $138,621 ($13,431,139 total)
67. Spellbound – $35,239 ($7,414,795 total)
85. The Weather Underground – $16,596 ($522,601 total)
91. Capturing the Friedmans – $11,926 ($4,081,165 total)
98. Nowhere in Africa – $8,883 ($8,121,399 total)
102. City of God – $8,059 ($6,123,981 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Splendor: Adapted Screenplay
• Capturing the Friedmans: Documentary Feature
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Dirty Pretty Things: Original Screenplay
• Finding Nemo: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Editing
• Lost in Translation: Picture, Director, Actor (Bill Murray), Original Screenplay [O]
• 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
• 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 Sep. 25-27, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

4. One True Thing – $4,438,980 ($13,191,940 total) {week 2}
7. Saving Private Ryan – $2,511,565 ($181,818,565 total) {week 10}
11. Armageddon – $951,613 ($197,134,670 total) {week 13}
999. Titanic – $3,337 ($600,681,921 total) {week 41}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. One True Thing – $7,515,032 ($22,333,476 total)
7. Saving Private Ryan – $4,251,989 ($307,812,240 total)
11. Armageddon – $1,611,046 ($333,741,851 total)
999. Titanic – $5,649 ($1,016,932,719 total)

Oscar Details:

• Armageddon: Original Song (“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”), Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• One True Thing: Actress (Meryl Streep)
• 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 Sep. 24-26, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Fugitive – $5,231,382 ($161,438,942 total) {week 8}
5. The Age of Innocence – $4,768,616 ($8,107,430 total) {week 2}
8. Jurassic Park – $1,582,675 ($324,235,070 total) {week 16}
13. Sleepless in Seattle – $1,106,070 ($118,386,674 total) {week 14}
999. In the Line of Fire – $403,063 ($101,935,705 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Fugitive – $10,033,134 ($309,619,613 total)
5. The Age of Innocence – $9,145,607 ($15,549,032 total)
8. Jurassic Park – $3,035,372 ($621,842,139 total)
13. Sleepless in Seattle – $2,121,303 ($227,050,771 total)
999. In the Line of Fire – $773,024 ($195,499,879 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Age of Innocence: Supporting Actress (Winona Ryder), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• 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]
• Sleepless in Seattle: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“A Wink and a Smile”)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. Sep. 23-25, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

3. Die Hard – $2,132,131 ($68,217,305 total) {week 11}
4. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $1,692,166 ($138,197,918 total) {week 14}
12. Big – $1,115,650 ($102,760,832 total) {week 17}
13. Coming to America – $1,004,286 ($122,202,686 total) {week 13}
14. Married to the Mob – $1,002,074 ($17,742,944 total) {week 6}
999. Gorillas in the Mist – $366,925 ($366,925 total) {week 1}
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $430,328 ($6,065,222 total) {week 7}
999. Running on Empty – $212,741 ($804,912 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Die Hard – $4,119,007 ($131,787,202 total)
4. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $3,269,051 ($266,980,893 total)
12. Big – $2,155,295 ($198,520,926 total)
13. Coming to America – $1,940,153 ($236,080,128 total)
14. Married to the Mob – $1,935,880 ($34,277,123 total)
999. Gorillas in the Mist – $708,853 ($708,853 total)
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $831,339 ($11,717,242 total)
999. Running on Empty – $410,989 ($1,554,988 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• Coming to America: Costume Design, Makeup
• Die Hard: Editing, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• Gorillas in the Mist: Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Sound
• The Last Temptation of Christ: Director
• Married to the Mob: Supporting Actor (Dean Stockwell)
• Running on Empty: Supporting Actor (River Phoenix), Original Screenplay
• 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 Sep. 30-Oct. 2, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Big Chill – $3,662,152 ($3,662,152 total) {week 1}
8. Trading Places – $1,185,709 ($86,757,964 total) {week 17}
10. Flashdance – $936,451 ($88,347,294 total) {week 25}
11. Return of the Jedi – $917,828 ($239,135,743 total) {week 19}
13. Zelig – $905,416 ($8,060,138 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Big Chill – $9,230,948 ($9,230,948 total)
8. Trading Places – $2,988,740 ($218,685,154 total)
10. Flashdance – $2,360,451 ($222,691,274 total)
11. Return of the Jedi – $2,313,509 ($602,773,905 total)
13. Zelig – $2,282,223 ($20,316,665 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Big Chill: Picture, Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Screenplay
• 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
• Zelig: Cinematography, Costume Design