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

Free Birds (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

Dallas Buyers Club (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Matthew McConaughey), Supporting Actor (Jared Leto).

Diana (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Naomi Watts).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 24-26, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

15. The Duchess – $1,244,319 ($11,210,179 total) {week 6}
18. Rachel Getting Married – $821,863 ($2,731,710 total) {week 4}
20. Changeling – $489,015 ($489,015 total) {week 1}
26. The Dark Knight – $295,949 ($527,822,235 total) {week 15}
27. WALL-E – $252,354 ($222,449,229 total) {week 18}
31. Tropic Thunder – $172,005 ($110,080,249 total) {week 11}
32. Happy-Go-Lucky – $169,452 ($429,199 total) {week 3}
33. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $151,391 ($21,981,455 total) {week 11}
52. Man on Wire – $38,556 ($2,730,908 total) {week 14}
59. Frozen River – $30,369 ($2,158,393 total) {week 13}
76. Trouble the Water – $11,437 ($403,001 total) {week 10}
96. Encounters at the End of the World – $3,724 ($939,490 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

15. The Duchess – $1,376,030 ($12,396,772 total)
18. Rachel Getting Married – $908,857 ($3,020,860 total)
20. Changeling – $540,777 ($540,777 total)
26. The Dark Knight – $327,275 ($583,691,998 total)
27. WALL-E – $279,066 ($245,995,387 total)
31. Tropic Thunder – $190,212 ($121,732,197 total)
32. Happy-Go-Lucky – $187,388 ($474,630 total)
33. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $167,416 ($24,308,183 total)
52. Man on Wire – $42,637 ($3,019,973 total)
59. Frozen River – $33,584 ($2,386,858 total)
76. Trouble the Water – $12,648 ($445,658 total)
96. Encounters at the End of the World – $4,118 ($1,038,935 total)

Oscar Details:

• Changeling: Actress (Angelina Jolie), Cinematography, Art Direction
• 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
• Happy-Go-Lucky: Original Screenplay
• 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]
• 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. 24-26, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

5. Mystic River – $7,787,255 ($24,733,033 total) {week 3}
13. Lost in Translation – $1,483,166 ($23,111,049 total) {week 7}
17. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $482,013 ($301,243,790 total) {week 16}
18. Finding Nemo – $435,507 ($338,746,985 total) {week 22}
22. Brother Bear – $291,940 ($291,940 total) {week 1}
26. Pieces of April – $185,654 ($254,898 total) {week 2}
27. Seabiscuit – $171,385 ($119,352,050 total) {week 14}
53. Whale Rider – $40,382 ($20,661,128 total) {week 21}
58. American Splendor – $37,623 ($5,755,696 total) {week 11}
60. Dirty Pretty Things – $36,353 ($7,864,480 total) {week 15}
61. Thirteen – $36,267 ($4,500,238 total) {week 10}
62. Winged Migration – $34,864 ($10,553,966 total) {week 28}
104. Spellbound – $5,949 ($5,702,058 total) {week 26}
118. City of God – $2,999 ($4,684,480 total) {week 41}
129. The Weather Underground – $1,813 ($450,279 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Mystic River – $10,253,865 ($32,567,211 total)
13. Lost in Translation – $1,952,958 ($30,431,464 total)
17. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $634,690 ($396,662,636 total)
18. Finding Nemo – $573,454 ($446,044,952 total)
22. Brother Bear – $384,412 ($384,412 total)
26. Pieces of April – $244,460 ($335,637 total)
27. Seabiscuit – $225,671 ($157,156,762 total)
53. Whale Rider – $53,173 ($27,205,532 total)
58. American Splendor – $49,540 ($7,578,810 total)
60. Dirty Pretty Things – $47,868 ($10,355,551 total)
61. Thirteen – $47,755 ($5,925,687 total)
62. Winged Migration – $45,907 ($13,896,930 total)
104. Spellbound – $7,833 ($7,508,183 total)
118. City of God – $3,949 ($6,168,287 total)
129. The Weather Underground – $2,387 ($592,905 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Splendor: Adapted Screenplay
• Brother Bear: Animated 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]
• Mystic River: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) [O], Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), Adapted Screenplay
• Pieces of April: Supporting Actress (Patricia Clarkson)
• 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. 23-25, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. Pleasantville – $8,855,063 ($8,855,063 total) {week 1}
7. Beloved – $4,286,417 ($14,736,650 total) {week 2}
8. What Dreams May Come – $4,038,044 ($47,042,103 total) {week 4}
999. Life Is Beautiful – $118,920 ($118,920 total) {week 1}
999. Saving Private Ryan – $740,795 ($188,807,215 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Pleasantville – $14,991,301 ($14,991,301 total)
7. Beloved – $7,256,749 ($24,948,614 total)
8. What Dreams May Come – $6,836,262 ($79,640,575 total)
999. Life Is Beautiful – $201,327 ($201,327 total)
999. Saving Private Ryan – $1,254,139 ($319,643,771 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beloved: Costume Design
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Pleasantville: Original Dramatic Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• 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. 22-24, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas – $6,235,220 ($6,563,755 total) {week 2}
10. The Age of Innocence – $1,917,417 ($25,004,917 total) {week 6}
11. The Fugitive – $1,467,983 ($174,508,028 total) {week 12}
999. Fearless – $163,100 ($381,227 total) {week 2}
999. Jurassic Park – $630,585 ($328,704,700 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas – $11,958,369 ($12,588,458 total)
10. The Age of Innocence – $3,677,365 ($47,956,290 total)
11. The Fugitive – $2,815,407 ($334,684,479 total)
999. Fearless – $312,805 ($731,146 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $1,209,383 ($630,414,328 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Age of Innocence: Supporting Actress (Winona Ryder), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• Fearless: Supporting Actress (Rosie Perez)
• The Fugitive: Picture, Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones) [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Nightmare Before Christmas: Visual Effects

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 21-23, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Accused – $4,024,736 ($9,954,896 total) {week 2}
5. Gorillas in the Mist – $2,188,920 ($15,689,987 total) {week 5}
12. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $950,120 ($144,509,419 total) {week 18}
13. Die Hard – $876,888 ($75,215,700 total) {week 15}
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $161,375 ($7,630,564 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Accused – $7,775,281 ($19,231,600 total)
5. Gorillas in the Mist – $4,228,716 ($30,311,070 total)
12. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $1,835,512 ($279,173,914 total)
13. Die Hard – $1,694,037 ($145,307,216 total)
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $311,756 ($14,741,284 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Accused: Actress (Jodie Foster) [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
• 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. 28-30, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Big Chill – $2,690,391 ($21,444,664 total) {week 5}
6. The Right Stuff – $1,565,168 ($3,773,121 total) {week 2}
7. Under Fire – $1,187,055 ($3,681,185 total) {week 2}
8. Educating Rita – $1,120,022 ($1,264,989 total) {week 6}
999. Return of the Jedi – $338,104 ($242,137,842 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Big Chill – $6,781,494 ($54,054,169 total)
6. The Right Stuff – $3,945,217 ($9,510,661 total)
7. Under Fire – $2,992,132 ($9,278,923 total)
8. Educating Rita – $2,823,167 ($3,188,575 total)
999. Return of the Jedi – $852,237 ($610,341,100 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Big Chill: Picture, Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Screenplay
• Educating Rita: Actor (Michael Caine), Actress (Julie Walters), Adapted Screenplay
• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• The Right Stuff: Picture, Supporting Actor (Sam Shepard), Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• Under Fire: Original Score