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

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Under the Skin (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Scarlett Johansson), Original Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 3-5, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

14. Slumdog Millionaire – $499,257 ($140,244,722 total) {week 21}
21. The Reader – $192,085 ($33,807,465 total) {week 17}
23. Coraline – $178,148 ($74,255,387 total) {week 9}
26. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $131,342 ($127,247,417 total) {week 15}
27. The Class – $129,928 ($3,269,585 total) {week 16}
38. The Wrestler – $57,143 ($26,063,654 total) {week 16}
42. Doubt – $45,577 ($33,422,556 total) {week 17}
44. Paris 36 – $44,690 ($294,395 total) {week 1}
55. Defiance – $23,635 ($28,514,684 total) {week 14}
64. Milk – $12,981 ($31,817,897 total) {week 19}
72. 12 – $9,515 ($64,165 total) {week 5}
73. Waltz with Bashir – $9,019 ($2,243,487 total) {week 15}
80. Katyn – $6,250 ($88,738 total) {week 7}
96. Rachel Getting Married – $2,155 ($12,792,587 total) {week 27}
102. The Betrayal – $692 ($36,489 total) {week 20}
104. Trouble the Water – $231 ($519,981 total) {week 33}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

14. Slumdog Millionaire – $541,195 ($152,025,279 total)
21. The Reader – $208,220 ($36,647,292 total)
23. Coraline – $193,112 ($80,492,840 total)
26. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $142,375 ($137,936,200 total)
27. The Class – $140,842 ($3,544,230 total)
38. The Wrestler – $61,943 ($28,253,001 total)
42. Doubt – $49,405 ($36,230,051 total)
44. Paris 36 – $48,444 ($319,124 total)
55. Defiance – $25,620 ($30,909,917 total)
64. Milk – $14,071 ($34,490,600 total)
72. 12 – $10,314 ($69,555 total)
73. Waltz with Bashir – $9,777 ($2,431,940 total)
80. Katyn – $6,775 ($96,192 total)
96. Rachel Getting Married – $2,336 ($13,867,164 total)
102. The Betrayal – $750 ($39,554 total)
104. Trouble the Water – $250 ($563,659 total)

Oscar Details:

• 12: Foreign Language Film
• The Betrayal: Documentary Feature
• The Class: Foreign Language Film
• Coraline: Animated Feature
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Picture, Director, Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actress (Taraji P. Henson), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects [O]
• Defiance: Original Score
• Doubt: Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), Supporting Actress (Viola Davis), Adapted Screenplay
• Katyn: Foreign Language Film
• Milk: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Josh Brolin), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
• Paris 36: Original Song (“Loin de Paname”)
• 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
• Waltz with Bashir: Foreign Language Film
• The Wrestler: Actor (Mickey Rourke), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 2-4, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

5. The Passion of the Christ – $10,605,106 ($330,856,971 total) {week 6}
11. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $3,443,878 ($21,919,041 total) {week 3}
19. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $373,903 ($375,204,550 total) {week 16}
29. The Triplets of Belleville – $114,617 ($6,426,871 total) {week 19}
31. Monster – $111,963 ($34,187,787 total) {week 15}
33. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $106,566 ($11,262,360 total) {week 17}
34. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $102,396 ($93,705,590 total) {week 21}
37. Mystic River – $96,088 ($88,955,308 total) {week 26}
38. My Architect – $82,563 ($2,036,316 total) {week 21}
43. The Fog of War – $72,036 ($3,905,848 total) {week 16}
56. Something’s Gotta Give – $47,505 ($124,685,242 total) {week 17}
58. In America – $43,908 ($15,399,490 total) {week 19}
60. Cold Mountain – $40,640 ($95,278,095 total) {week 15}
64. The Last Samurai – $29,918 ($111,110,575 total) {week 18}
69. City of God – $23,230 ($7,401,949 total) {week 64}
77. Big Fish – $18,684 ($66,432,867 total) {week 17}
86. Brother Bear – $13,827 ($85,329,248 total) {week 24}
126. The Weather Underground – $617 ($548,652 total) {week 44}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. The Passion of the Christ – $26,859,661 ($837,964,852 total)
11. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $8,722,345 ($55,514,580 total)
19. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $946,988 ($950,284,421 total)
29. The Triplets of Belleville – $290,292 ($16,277,402 total)
31. Monster – $283,570 ($86,587,760 total)
33. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $269,901 ($28,524,295 total)
34. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $259,339 ($237,329,111 total)
37. Mystic River – $243,363 ($225,298,023 total)
38. My Architect – $209,108 ($5,157,398 total)
43. The Fog of War – $182,446 ($9,892,381 total)
56. Something’s Gotta Give – $120,316 ($315,791,594 total)
58. In America – $111,206 ($39,002,447 total)
60. Cold Mountain – $102,929 ($241,311,811 total)
64. The Last Samurai – $75,774 ($281,410,896 total)
69. City of God – $58,835 ($18,746,992 total)
77. Big Fish – $47,321 ($168,255,205 total)
86. Brother Bear – $35,020 ($216,114,264 total)
126. The Weather Underground – $1,563 ($1,389,577 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big Fish: Original Score
• Brother Bear: Animated Feature
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Cold Mountain: Actor (Jude Law), Supporting Actress (Renee Zellweger) [O], Original Song (“Scarlet Tide”), Original Song (“You Will Be My Ain True Love”), Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Actress (Kate Winslet), Original Screenplay [O]
• The Fog of War: Documentary Feature [O]
• Girl with a Pearl Earring: Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• 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]
• 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
• Monster: Actress (Charlize Theron) [O]
• My Architect: Documentary Feature
• Mystic River: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) [O], Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), Adapted Screenplay
• The Passion of the Christ : Original Score, Cinematography, Makeup
• Something’s Gotta Give: Actress (Diane Keaton)
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 2-4, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Matrix – $27,788,331 ($37,352,692 total) {week 1}
7. Shakespeare in Love – $3,115,017 ($84,105,704 total) {week 17}
9. Life Is Beautiful – $2,669,480 ($44,720,425 total) {week 24}
16. Saving Private Ryan – $705,892 ($212,823,939 total) {week 37}
18. A Bug’s Life – $423,476 ($161,235,002 total) {week 20}
21. The Prince of Egypt – $393,530 ($99,492,863 total) {week 16}
25. Patch Adams – $352,185 ($133,824,095 total) {week 15}
27. Elizabeth – $317,112 ($29,069,131 total) {week 22}
31. Gods and Monsters – $275,113 ($5,541,853 total) {week 22}
33. Affliction – $231,677 ($5,612,256 total) {week 14}
34. Central Station – $200,679 ($5,236,890 total) {week 20}
35. A Civil Action – $198,084 ($56,226,573 total) {week 15}
40. Tango – $143,614 ($1,251,130 total) {week 11}
55. The Thin Red Line – $58,079 ($36,160,625 total) {week 15}
56. Children of Heaven – $50,927 ($706,586 total) {week 11}
59. Hilary and Jackie – $47,076 ($4,765,036 total) {week 14}
60. Mighty Joe Young – $44,493 ($50,582,634 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Matrix – $44,472,270 ($59,779,013 total)
7. Shakespeare in Love – $4,985,254 ($134,602,239 total)
9. Life Is Beautiful – $4,272,219 ($71,570,286 total)
16. Saving Private Ryan – $1,129,705 ($340,602,091 total)
18. A Bug’s Life – $677,728 ($258,039,482 total)
21. The Prince of Egypt – $629,803 ($159,227,751 total)
25. Patch Adams – $563,635 ($214,171,239 total)
27. Elizabeth – $507,504 ($46,522,054 total)
31. Gods and Monsters – $440,289 ($8,869,147 total)
33. Affliction – $370,774 ($8,981,819 total)
34. Central Station – $321,165 ($8,381,086 total)
35. A Civil Action – $317,012 ($89,984,653 total)
40. Tango – $229,839 ($2,002,301 total)
55. The Thin Red Line – $92,949 ($57,871,236 total)
56. Children of Heaven – $81,503 ($1,130,816 total)
59. Hilary and Jackie – $75,340 ($7,625,934 total)
60. Mighty Joe Young – $71,206 ($80,952,129 total)

Oscar Details:

• Affliction: Actor (Nick Nolte), Supporting Actor (James Coburn) [O]
• A Bug’s Life: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Central Station: Actress (Fernanda Montenegro), Foreign Language Film
• Children of Heaven: Foreign Language Film
• A Civil Action: Supporting Actor (Robert Duvall), Cinematography
• 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]
• Hilary and Jackie: Actress (Emily Watson), Supporting Actress (Rachel Griffiths)
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Matrix : Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Mighty Joe Young: Visual Effects
• Patch Adams: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• The Prince of Egypt: Original Song (“When You Believe”) [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score
• 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]
• 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
• Tango: Foreign Language Film
• The Thin Red Line: Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 8-10, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Paper – $4,541,575 ($20,129,790 total) {week 4}
6. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $3,944,203 ($7,804,801 total) {week 5}
7. Schindler’s List – $3,208,595 ($79,681,903 total) {week 17}
11. Mrs. Doubtfire – $1,699,965 ($212,961,577 total) {week 20}
13. Philadelphia – $1,221,376 ($70,171,057 total) {week 16}
17. The Piano – $777,459 ($38,443,319 total) {week 23}
999. Jurassic Park – $163,775 ($345,851,850 total) {week 44}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Paper – $8,833,255 ($39,151,960 total)
6. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $7,671,380 ($15,180,151 total)
7. Schindler’s List – $6,240,641 ($154,979,395 total)
11. Mrs. Doubtfire – $3,306,391 ($414,205,172 total)
13. Philadelphia – $2,375,547 ($136,481,027 total)
17. The Piano – $1,512,139 ($74,771,336 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $318,538 ($672,673,574 total)

Oscar Details:

• Four Weddings and a Funeral: Picture, Original Screenplay
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Mrs. Doubtfire: Makeup [O]
• The Paper : Original Song (“Make Up Your Mind”)
• Philadelphia: Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Philadelphia”), Original Song (“Streets of Philadelphia”) [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

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 7-9, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

3. Rain Man – $4,114,304 ($148,150,729 total) {week 17}
10. Dangerous Liaisons – $1,111,982 ($29,136,127 total) {week 16}
12. Chances Are – $947,852 ($14,527,881 total) {week 5}
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $532,266 ($4,022,374 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Rain Man – $8,425,514 ($303,391,795 total)
10. Dangerous Liaisons – $2,277,182 ($59,666,678 total)
12. Chances Are – $1,941,067 ($29,751,051 total)
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $1,090,006 ($8,237,255 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen : Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Visual Effects
• Chances Are: Original Score (“After All”)
• Dangerous Liaisons: Picture, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O]
• Rain Man: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Dustin Hoffman) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 6-8, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

2. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $5,895,148 ($14,819,124 total) {week 2}
3. Romancing the Stone – $5,570,693 ($12,546,492 total) {week 2}
4. Splash – $4,453,841 ($37,529,938 total) {week 5}
9. Footloose – $3,052,131 ($53,740,337 total) {week 8}
10. Terms of Endearment – $1,095,804 ($94,522,929 total) {week 20}
11. Against All Odds – $995,283 ($18,948,506 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $14,264,153 ($35,856,988 total)
3. Romancing the Stone – $13,479,088 ($30,358,030 total)
4. Splash – $10,776,705 ($90,809,046 total)
9. Footloose – $7,385,067 ($130,032,423 total)
10. Terms of Endearment – $2,651,454 ($228,711,730 total)
11. Against All Odds – $2,408,229 ($45,848,617 total)

Oscar Details:

• Against All Odds: Original Song (“Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)”)
• Footloose: Original Song (“Footloose”, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy”)
• Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes: Supporting Actor (Ralph Richardson), Adapted Screenplay, Makeup
• Romancing the Stone: Editing
• Splash: Original Screenplay
• 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