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

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Original Song.

Philomena (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actress (Judi Dench), Supporting Actor (Steve Coogan), Adapted Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 21-23, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

3. Bolt – $26,223,128 ($26,223,128 total) {week 1}
6. Changeling – $2,695,450 ($31,665,332 total) {week 5}
11. Slumdog Millionaire – $947,795 ($1,570,240 total) {week 2}
14. Rachel Getting Married – $751,611 ($8,003,380 total) {week 8}
19. The Dark Knight – $370,449 ($529,696,290 total) {week 19}
20. Happy-Go-Lucky – $338,071 ($2,213,147 total) {week 7}
29. WALL-E – $134,989 ($223,454,780 total) {week 22}
33. The Duchess – $117,896 ($13,670,183 total) {week 10}
43. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $43,433 ($22,417,130 total) {week 15}
55. Man on Wire – $16,058 ($2,863,670 total) {week 18}
74. The Betrayal – $5,864 ($5,864 total) {week 1}
75. Frozen River – $5,525 ($2,275,673 total) {week 17}
91. Trouble the Water – $1,804 ($465,847 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Bolt – $28,998,835 ($28,998,835 total)
6. Changeling – $2,980,762 ($35,017,094 total)
11. Slumdog Millionaire – $1,048,119 ($1,736,449 total)
14. Rachel Getting Married – $831,169 ($8,850,534 total)
19. The Dark Knight – $409,661 ($585,764,421 total)
20. Happy-Go-Lucky – $373,856 ($2,447,408 total)
29. WALL-E – $149,278 ($247,107,375 total)
33. The Duchess – $130,375 ($15,117,166 total)
43. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $48,030 ($24,789,974 total)
55. Man on Wire – $17,758 ($3,166,788 total)
74. The Betrayal – $6,485 ($6,485 total)
75. Frozen River – $6,110 ($2,516,552 total)
91. Trouble the Water – $1,995 ($515,157 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Betrayal: Documentary Feature
• Bolt: Animated Feature
• 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]
• Frozen River: Actress (Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay
• Happy-Go-Lucky: Original Screenplay
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• Rachel Getting Married: Actress (Anne Hathaway)
• Slumdog Millionaire: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Jai Ho”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing
• 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 Nov. 21-23, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

4. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $15,213,896 ($47,279,725 total) {week 2}
7. Brother Bear – $5,346,869 ($70,322,073 total) {week 5}
11. Mystic River – $2,017,394 ($48,556,414 total) {week 7}
18. Lost in Translation – $531,787 ($28,060,851 total) {week 11}
19. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $421,857 ($304,175,582 total) {week 20}
22. 21 Grams – $274,454 ($274,454 total) {week 1}
25. Pieces of April – $257,437 ($1,579,812 total) {week 6}
33. Seabiscuit – $83,415 ($120,026,455 total) {week 18}
40. Finding Nemo – $50,581 ($339,666,356 total) {week 26}
41. My Architect – $43,248 ($110,595 total) {week 2}
47. American Splendor – $35,056 ($5,977,550 total) {week 15}
66. City of God – $16,034 ($4,735,224 total) {week 45}
70. Dirty Pretty Things – $14,148 ($8,002,271 total) {week 19}
79. Winged Migration – $11,423 ($10,714,833 total) {week 32}
87. Thirteen – $8,200 ($4,582,368 total) {week 14}
90. Whale Rider – $7,483 ($20,772,796 total) {week 25}
96. The Weather Underground – $5,812 ($479,607 total) {week 25}
115. Spellbound – $1,604 ($5,724,887 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $20,032,891 ($62,255,558 total)
7. Brother Bear – $7,040,488 ($92,596,560 total)
11. Mystic River – $2,656,403 ($63,936,638 total)
18. Lost in Translation – $700,230 ($36,949,114 total)
19. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $555,480 ($400,523,071 total)
22. 21 Grams – $361,387 ($361,387 total)
25. Pieces of April – $338,980 ($2,080,217 total)
33. Seabiscuit – $109,837 ($158,044,785 total)
40. Finding Nemo – $66,603 ($447,255,533 total)
41. My Architect – $56,947 ($145,626 total)
47. American Splendor – $46,160 ($7,870,936 total)
66. City of God – $21,113 ($6,235,104 total)
70. Dirty Pretty Things – $18,629 ($10,536,987 total)
79. Winged Migration – $15,041 ($14,108,752 total)
87. Thirteen – $10,797 ($6,033,831 total)
90. Whale Rider – $9,853 ($27,352,571 total)
96. The Weather Underground – $7,653 ($631,522 total)
115. Spellbound – $2,112 ($7,538,243 total)

Oscar Details:

• 21 Grams: Actress (Naomi Watts), Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro)
• 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]
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: Picture, Director, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• My Architect: Documentary Feature
• 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 Nov. 20-22, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

9. Pleasantville – $2,246,978 ($34,718,343 total) {week 5}
12. American History X – $1,340,166 ($2,231,929 total) {week 4}
13. Elizabeth – $1,309,646 ($2,219,196 total) {week 3}
15. Life Is Beautiful – $754,522 ($4,002,492 total) {week 5}
16. A Bug’s Life – $291,121 ($291,121 total) {week 1}
17. Gods and Monsters – $177,424 ($406,931 total) {week 3}
999. Central Station – $35,708 ($35,708 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Pleasantville – $3,804,052 ($58,776,896 total)
12. American History X – $2,268,852 ($3,778,575 total)
13. Elizabeth – $2,217,183 ($3,757,018 total)
15. Life Is Beautiful – $1,277,378 ($6,776,074 total)
16. A Bug’s Life – $492,857 ($492,857 total)
17. Gods and Monsters – $300,372 ($688,919 total)
999. Central Station – $60,452 ($60,452 total)

Oscar Details:

• American History X: Actor (Edward Norton)
• A Bug’s Life: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Central Station: Actress (Fernanda Montenegro), Foreign Language Film
• Elizabeth: Picture, Actress (Cate Blanchett), Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup
• Gods and Monsters: Actor (Ian McKellen), Supporting Actress (Lynn Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• 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

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 19-21, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. Addams Family Values – $14,117,545 ($14,117,545 total) {week 1}
6. The Nightmare Before Christmas – $3,282,205 ($38,887,265 total) {week 6}
7. The Remains of the Day – $2,731,222 ($7,408,431 total) {week 3}
10. The Piano – $1,502,325 ($1,761,691 total) {week 2}
999. Jurassic Park – $246,640 ($330,762,050 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Addams Family Values – $27,075,678 ($27,075,678 total)
6. The Nightmare Before Christmas – $6,294,857 ($74,580,890 total)
7. The Remains of the Day – $5,238,141 ($14,208,440 total)
10. The Piano – $2,881,271 ($3,378,702 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $473,025 ($634,360,067 total)

Oscar Details:

• Addams Family Values: Art Direction
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Nightmare Before Christmas: Visual Effects
• The Piano: Picture, Director, Actress (Holly Hunter) [O], Supporting Actress (Anna Paquin) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
• The Remains of the Day: Picture, Director, Anthony Hopkins, Actress (Emma Thompson), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 18-20, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

7. The Accused – $1,903,803 ($23,948,462 total) {week 6}
12. A Cry in the Dark – $1,190,911 ($3,202,292 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. The Accused – $3,677,907 ($46,265,399 total)
12. A Cry in the Dark – $2,300,689 ($6,186,423 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Accused: Actress (Jodie Foster) [O]
• A Cry in the Dark: Actress (Meryl Streep)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 25-27, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

2. Terms of Endearment – $3,498,813 ($4,590,002 total) {week 1}
3. The Big Chill – $2,933,954 ($36,151,051 total) {week 9}
9. The Right Stuff – $1,190,368 ($10,493,765 total) {week 6}
11. Educating Rita – $1,082,353 ($7,828,841 total) {week 10}
999. Return of the Jedi – $365,356 ($243,994,526 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Terms of Endearment – $8,819,230 ($11,569,719 total)
3. The Big Chill – $7,395,427 ($91,123,602 total)
9. The Right Stuff – $3,000,483 ($26,450,951 total)
11. Educating Rita – $2,728,217 ($19,733,650 total)
999. Return of the Jedi – $920,929 ($615,021,123 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]
• Terms of Endearment: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actress (Shirley MacLaine) [O], Actress (Debra Winger), Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction, Sound