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

Gravity (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Actress (Sandra Bullock), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 3-5, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

20. The Duchess – $893,990 ($1,950,786 total) {week 3}
21. The Dark Knight – $828,213 ($525,831,387 total) {week 12}
24. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $406,256 ($21,060,253 total) {week 8}
26. Tropic Thunder – $326,593 ($109,472,162 total) {week 8}
27. Rachel Getting Married – $293,369 ($293,369 total) {week 1}
29. WALL-E – $210,231 ($221,127,808 total) {week 15}
34. Kung Fu Panda – $143,801 ($215,395,021 total) {week 18}
44. Man on Wire – $69,888 ($2,509,822 total) {week 11}
48. Frozen River – $59,336 ($1,996,900 total) {week 10}
62. Trouble the Water – $23,917 ($324,553 total) {week 7}
91. The Visitor – $3,816 ($9,422,422 total) {week 26}
96. Encounters at the End of the World – $3,217 ($921,813 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

20. The Duchess – $988,618 ($2,157,276 total)
21. The Dark Knight – $915,879 ($581,490,420 total)
24. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $449,258 ($23,289,472 total)
26. Tropic Thunder – $361,163 ($121,059,745 total)
27. Rachel Getting Married – $324,422 ($324,422 total)
29. WALL-E – $232,484 ($244,534,094 total)
34. Kung Fu Panda – $159,022 ($238,194,494 total)
44. Man on Wire – $77,286 ($2,775,486 total)
48. Frozen River – $65,617 ($2,208,271 total)
62. Trouble the Water – $26,449 ($358,907 total)
91. The Visitor – $4,220 ($10,419,781 total)
96. Encounters at the End of the World – $3,558 ($1,019,387 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
• Kung Fu Panda: Animated Feature
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• Rachel Getting Married: Actress (Anne Hathaway)
• 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 Oct. 3-5, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

7. Lost in Translation – $4,163,333 ($14,027,415 total) {week 4}
13. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $1,629,244 ($297,930,745 total) {week 13}
18. Finding Nemo – $659,505 ($336,477,830 total) {week 19}
19. Seabiscuit – $583,065 ($118,251,555 total) {week 11}
26. Thirteen – $229,314 ($4,064,274 total) {week 7}
27. American Splendor – $200,361 ($5,404,960 total) {week 8}
31. Dirty Pretty Things – $159,556 ($7,545,060 total) {week 12}
32. Whale Rider – $158,411 ($20,308,150 total) {week 18}
47. Winged Migration – $85,724 ($10,336,320 total) {week 25}
76. Spellbound – $16,257 ($5,656,596 total) {week 23}
79. The Weather Underground – $15,827 ($420,235 total) {week 18}
93. Capturing the Friedmans – $7,655 ($3,110,867 total) {week 19}
100. City of God – $5,366 ($4,659,390 total) {week 38}
112. Nowhere in Africa – $2,899 ($6,173,485 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Lost in Translation – $5,482,067 ($18,470,593 total)
13. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $2,145,306 ($392,300,185 total)
18. Finding Nemo – $868,403 ($443,057,043 total)
19. Seabiscuit – $767,751 ($155,707,686 total)
26. Thirteen – $301,949 ($5,351,631 total)
27. American Splendor – $263,825 ($7,116,979 total)
31. Dirty Pretty Things – $210,095 ($9,934,955 total)
32. Whale Rider – $208,588 ($26,740,748 total)
47. Winged Migration – $112,877 ($13,610,345 total)
76. Spellbound – $21,406 ($7,448,320 total)
79. The Weather Underground – $20,840 ($553,344 total)
93. Capturing the Friedmans – $10,080 ($4,096,233 total)
100. City of God – $7,066 ($6,135,250 total)
112. Nowhere in Africa – $3,817 ($8,128,934 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 Oct. 2-4, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. What Dreams May Come – $15,833,592 ($15,833,592 total) {week 1}
8. One True Thing – $2,666,675 ($17,313,885 total) {week 3}
9. Saving Private Ryan – $1,674,034 ($184,341,779 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. What Dreams May Come – $26,805,697 ($26,805,697 total)
8. One True Thing – $4,514,584 ($29,311,780 total)
9. Saving Private Ryan – $2,834,079 ($312,083,950 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• What Dreams May Come: Art Direction, Visual Effects [O]

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 1-3, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

5. The Age of Innocence – $4,159,209 ($13,750,984 total) {week 3}
8. The Fugitive – $3,449,017 ($166,325,128 total) {week 9}
11. Jurassic Park – $1,063,860 ($325,734,675 total) {week 17}
999. In the Line of Fire – $104,665 ($102,170,490 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. The Age of Innocence – $7,976,840 ($26,372,660 total)
8. The Fugitive – $6,614,781 ($318,990,704 total)
11. Jurassic Park – $2,040,350 ($624,718,193 total)
999. In the Line of Fire – $200,734 ($195,950,167 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]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 30-Oct. 2, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Gorillas in the Mist – $3,451,230 ($3,989,311 total) {week 2}
5. Die Hard – $2,015,246 ($70,751,623 total) {week 12}
9. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $1,543,344 ($140,151,770 total) {week 15}
12. Big – $1,135,509 ($104,204,609 total) {week 18}
999. Bird – $27,116 ($27,116 total) {week 1}
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $377,593 ($6,639,490 total) {week 8}
999. Running on Empty – $454,164 ($1,328,107 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Gorillas in the Mist – $6,667,340 ($7,706,844 total)
5. Die Hard – $3,893,200 ($136,683,184 total)
9. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $2,981,545 ($270,755,488 total)
12. Big – $2,193,660 ($201,310,121 total)
999. Bird – $52,385 ($52,385 total)
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $729,462 ($12,826,655 total)
999. Running on Empty – $877,387 ($2,565,735 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• Bird: Sound [O]
• 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
• 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 Oct. 7-9, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Big Chill – $4,147,808 ($9,246,429 total) {week 2}
10. Flashdance – $854,804 ($89,539,024 total) {week 26}
11. Trading Places – $837,069 ($87,914,026 total) {week 18}
12. Return of the Jedi – $804,710 ($240,195,174 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Big Chill – $10,455,110 ($23,306,872 total)
10. Flashdance – $2,154,649 ($225,695,191 total)
11. Trading Places – $2,109,945 ($221,599,164 total)
12. Return of the Jedi – $2,028,380 ($605,444,343 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