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

Her (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director (Spike Jonze), Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Supporting Actress (Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Sound Mixing.

The Past (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 19-21, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

7. Bolt – $4,146,856 ($94,900,059 total) {week 5}
8. Slumdog Millionaire – $3,053,760 ($12,037,510 total) {week 6}
9. Australia – $2,174,188 ($41,796,525 total) {week 4}
11. Milk – $1,729,156 ($1,410,039 total) {week 4}
15. Doubt – $680,948 ($1,399,548 total) {week 2}
19. Frost/Nixon – $378,052 ($1,491,262 total) {week 3}
24. The Wrestler – $202,714 ($288,220 total) {week 1}
26. Rachel Getting Married – $130,230 ($9,785,033 total) {week 12}
28. Changeling – $101,905 ($35,397,257 total) {week 9}
29. The Reader – $92,790 ($349,240 total) {week 2}
31. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $72,723 ($22,658,945 total) {week 19}
38. The Dark Knight – $51,743 ($530,811,565 total) {week 23}
40. Happy-Go-Lucky – $44,621 ($3,101,671 total) {week 11}
55. WALL-E – $11,074 ($223,773,410 total) {week 26}
63. Man on Wire – $5,917 ($2,913,155 total) {week 22}
76. Frozen River – $1,471 ($2,307,807 total) {week 21}
89. Trouble the Water – $242 ($486,362 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Bolt – $4,585,799 ($104,945,191 total)
8. Slumdog Millionaire – $3,376,999 ($13,311,675 total)
9. Australia – $2,404,325 ($46,220,670 total)
11. Milk – $1,912,186 ($1,559,291 total)
15. Doubt – $753,026 ($1,547,690 total)
19. Frost/Nixon – $418,069 ($1,649,111 total)
24. The Wrestler – $224,171 ($318,728 total)
26. Rachel Getting Married – $144,015 ($10,820,775 total)
28. Changeling – $112,692 ($39,144,042 total)
29. The Reader – $102,612 ($386,207 total)
31. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $80,421 ($25,057,385 total)
38. The Dark Knight – $57,220 ($586,997,747 total)
40. Happy-Go-Lucky – $49,344 ($3,429,982 total)
55. WALL-E – $12,246 ($247,459,732 total)
63. Man on Wire – $6,543 ($3,221,511 total)
76. Frozen River – $1,627 ($2,552,087 total)
89. Trouble the Water – $268 ($537,843 total)

Oscar Details:

• Australia: Costume Design
• 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
• Doubt: Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), Supporting Actress (Viola Davis), Adapted Screenplay
• Frost/Nixon: Picture, Director, Actor (Frank Langella), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Frozen River: Actress (Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay
• Happy-Go-Lucky: Original Screenplay
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• Milk: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Josh Brolin), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
• Rachel Getting Married: Actress (Anne Hathaway)
• The Reader: Picture, Director, Actress (Kate Winslet) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography
• 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
• The Wrestler: Actor (Mickey Rourke), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 19-21, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $72,629,713 ($124,100,534 total) {week 1}
3. Something’s Gotta Give – $11,416,793 ($33,429,833 total) {week 2}
4. The Last Samurai – $7,769,301 ($59,487,166 total) {week 3}
12. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $1,500,514 ($78,522,124 total) {week 6}
15. In America – $505,989 ($1,422,980 total) {week 4}
16. Brother Bear – $451,406 ($81,110,628 total) {week 9}
19. Mystic River – $305,385 ($52,989,083 total) {week 11}
20. The Cooler – $284,871 ($678,555 total) {week 4}
22. Lost in Translation – $263,089 ($30,032,134 total) {week 15}
23. 21 Grams – $259,484 ($3,308,691 total) {week 5}
26. Big Fish – $164,641 ($562,525 total) {week 2}
37. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $71,051 ($205,640 total) {week 2}
38. The Triplets of Belleville – $65,648 ($391,719 total) {week 4}
43. House of Sand and Fog – $45,572 ($45,572 total) {week 1}
44. Pieces of April – $43,978 ($2,313,443 total) {week 10}
46. The Fog of War – $41,449 ($41,449 total) {week 1}
48. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $40,528 ($305,343,252 total) {week 24}
64. Tupac: Resurrection – $18,042 ($7,707,563 total) {week 6}
66. My Architect – $16,185 ($278,713 total) {week 6}
85. City of God – $3,810 ($4,775,067 total) {week 49}
86. Dirty Pretty Things – $3,720 ($8,058,634 total) {week 23}
109. The Weather Underground – $449 ($494,125 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $95,635,144 ($163,409,327 total)
3. Something’s Gotta Give – $15,033,057 ($44,018,719 total)
4. The Last Samurai – $10,230,224 ($78,329,701 total)
12. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $1,975,801 ($103,393,974 total)
15. In America – $666,261 ($1,873,708 total)
16. Brother Bear – $594,389 ($106,802,386 total)
19. Mystic River – $402,116 ($69,773,353 total)
20. The Cooler – $375,104 ($893,487 total)
22. Lost in Translation – $346,422 ($39,544,800 total)
23. 21 Grams – $341,675 ($4,356,718 total)
26. Big Fish – $216,791 ($740,705 total)
37. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $93,556 ($270,776 total)
38. The Triplets of Belleville – $86,442 ($515,796 total)
43. House of Sand and Fog – $60,007 ($60,007 total)
44. Pieces of April – $57,908 ($3,046,225 total)
46. The Fog of War – $54,578 ($54,578 total)
48. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $53,365 ($402,060,600 total)
64. Tupac: Resurrection – $23,757 ($10,148,930 total)
66. My Architect – $21,312 ($366,995 total)
85. City of God – $5,017 ($6,287,567 total)
86. Dirty Pretty Things – $4,898 ($10,611,203 total)
109. The Weather Underground – $591 ($650,639 total)

Oscar Details:

• 21 Grams: Actress (Naomi Watts), Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro)
• Big Fish: Original Score
• Brother Bear: Animated Feature
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• The Cooler: Supporting Actor (Alec Baldwin)
• Dirty Pretty Things: Original Screenplay
• The Fog of War: Documentary Feature [O]
• Girl with a Pearl Earring: Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• House of Sand and Fog: Actor (Ben Kingsley), Supporting Actress (Shohreh Aghdashloo), Original Score
• In America: Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Original Screenplay
• The Last Samurai: Supporting Actor (Ken Watanabe), Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Into the West”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound Mixing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• 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
• Something’s Gotta Give: Actress (Diane Keaton)
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
• Tupac: Resurrection : Documentary Feature
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 18-20, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Prince of Egypt – $14,524,321 ($14,524,321 total) {week 1}
3. A Bug’s Life – $987,932 ($96,342,660 total) {week 5}
10. Elizabeth – $931,078 ($13,180,224 total) {week 7}
12. Life Is Beautiful – $616,260 ($8,043,944 total) {week 9}
13. Babe: Pig in the City – $579,505 ($14,546,720 total) {week 4}
999. Shakespeare in Love – $340,495 ($688,478 total) {week 2}
999. A Simple Plan – $406,036 ($960,130 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Prince of Egypt – $24,589,149 ($24,589,149 total)
3. A Bug’s Life – $1,672,533 ($163,104,631 total)
10. Elizabeth – $1,576,281 ($22,313,641 total)
12. Life Is Beautiful – $1,043,306 ($13,618,106 total)
13. Babe: Pig in the City – $981,081 ($24,627,070 total)
999. Shakespeare in Love – $576,446 ($1,165,568 total)
999. A Simple Plan – $687,404 ($1,625,465 total)

Oscar Details:

• Babe: Pig in the City: Original Song (“That’ll Do”)
• A Bug’s Life: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Elizabeth: Picture, Actress (Cate Blanchett), Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Prince of Egypt: Original Song (“When You Believe”) [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Shakespeare in Love: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• A Simple Plan: Supporting Actor (Billy Bob Thornton), Adapted Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 17-19, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

2. Mrs. Doubtfire – $9,056,287 ($72,648,376 total) {week 4}
4. Beethoven’s 2nd – $6,017,225 ($6,017,225 total) {week 1}
6. Geronimo: An American Legend – $2,310,738 ($7,785,870 total) {week 1}
9. Addams Family Values – $1,169,495 ($40,751,165 total) {week 5}
10. The Piano – $1,071,907 ($10,961,290 total) {week 6}
13. Jurassic Park – $694,575 ($336,817,970 total) {week 28}
14. Schindler’s List – $656,636 ($935,263 total) {week 1}
999. Six Degrees of Separation – $35,857 ($127,776 total) {week 2}
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $74,421 ($74,421 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Mrs. Doubtfire – $17,368,821 ($139,330,460 total)
4. Beethoven’s 2nd – $11,540,282 ($11,540,282 total)
6. Geronimo: An American Legend – $4,431,705 ($14,932,321 total)
9. Addams Family Values – $2,242,945 ($78,155,616 total)
10. The Piano – $2,055,783 ($21,022,377 total)
13. Jurassic Park – $1,332,108 ($645,974,561 total)
14. Schindler’s List – $1,259,345 ($1,793,717 total)
999. Six Degrees of Separation – $68,769 ($245,058 total)
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $142,730 ($142,730 total)

Oscar Details:

• Addams Family Values: Art Direction
• Beethoven’s 2nd: Original Song (“The Day I Fall in Love”)
• Geronimo: An American Legend: Sound
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Mrs. Doubtfire: Makeup [O]
• The Piano: Picture, Director, Actress (Holly Hunter) [O], Supporting Actress (Anna Paquin) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Schindler’s List: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Liam Neeson), Supporting Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup, Sound
• Six Degrees of Separation: Actress (Stockard Channing)
• What’s Eating Gilbert Grape: Supporting Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 16-18, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

2. Rain Man – $7,005,719 ($7,005,719 total) {week 1}
4. Scrooged – $4,561,210 ($41,887,818 total) {week 4}
6. Tequila Sunrise – $3,008,168 ($16,807,557 total) {week 3}
999. Mississippi Burning – $160,628 ($480,372 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Rain Man – $13,534,163 ($13,534,163 total)
4. Scrooged – $8,811,681 ($80,921,965 total)
6. Tequila Sunrise – $5,811,400 ($32,470,074 total)
999. Mississippi Burning – $310,313 ($928,018 total)

Oscar Details:

• Mississippi Burning: Picture, Director, Actor (Gene Hackman), Supporting Actress (Frances McDormand), Editing, Cinematography [O], Sound
• Rain Man: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Dustin Hoffman) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction
• Scrooged: Makeup
• Tequila Sunrise: Cinematography

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 23-25, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

2. Terms of Endearment – $4,290,254 ($25,772,894 total) {week 5}
5. Yentl – $2,637,697 ($11,834,972 total) {week 6}
11. To Be or Not to Be – $1,659,470 ($3,346,839 total) {week 2}
13. Silkwood – $1,431,199 ($3,699,005 total) {week 2}
15. Return of the Jedi – $1,213,489 ($246,174,591 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Terms of Endearment – $10,814,164 ($64,964,057 total)
5. Yentl – $6,648,671 ($29,831,644 total)
11. To Be or Not to Be – $4,182,918 ($8,436,159 total)
13. Silkwood – $3,607,530 ($9,323,841 total)
15. Return of the Jedi – $3,058,763 ($620,516,271 total)

Oscar Details:

• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• Silkwood: Directing, Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actress (Cher), Original Screenplay, Editing
• 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
• To Be or Not to Be: Supporting Actor (Charles Durning)
• Yentl: Supporting Actress (Amy Irving), Original Song (“Papa, Can You Hear Me?”), Original Song (“The Way He Makes Me Feel”), Original Song Score [O], Art Direction