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

X-Men: Days of Future Past (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 22-24, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

3. Star Trek – $22,892,262 ($184,526,281 total) {week 3}
49. Coraline – $34,137 ($75,163,119 total) {week 16}
57. Paris 36 – $21,510 ($780,004 total) {week 8}
66. Il Divo – $11,727 ($128,671 total) {week 5}
70. Revanche – $9,441 ($85,107 total) {week 4}
79. Slumdog Millionaire – $5,703 ($141,318,757 total) {week 28}
80. Burma VJ – $5,554 ($7,886 total) {week 1}
81. The Class – $5,524 ($3,757,730 total) {week 23}
99. 12 – $1,660 ($119,243 total) {week 12}
101. The Garden – $1,542 ($23,434 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Star Trek – $24,815,212 ($200,026,489 total)
49. Coraline – $37,005 ($81,476,821 total)
57. Paris 36 – $23,317 ($845,524 total)
66. Il Divo – $12,712 ($139,479 total)
70. Revanche – $10,234 ($92,256 total)
79. Slumdog Millionaire – $6,182 ($153,189,533 total)
80. Burma VJ – $6,021 ($8,548 total)
81. The Class – $5,988 ($4,073,379 total)
99. 12 – $1,799 ($129,259 total)
101. The Garden – $1,672 ($25,402 total)

Oscar Details:

• 12: Foreign Language Film
• Burma VJ: Documentary Feature
• The Class: Foreign Language Film
• Coraline: Animated Feature
• Il Divo: Makeup
• The Garden: Documentary Feature
• Paris 36: Original Song (“Loin de Paname”)
• Revanche: Foreign Language Film
• 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
• Star Trek: Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 21-23, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. Shrek 2 – $108,037,878 ($128,983,060 total) {week 1}
2. Troy – $23,925,330 ($85,960,779 total) {week 2}
10. Super Size Me – $973,644 ($2,941,709 total) {week 3}
15. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $342,428 ($32,944,436 total) {week 10}
19. The Passion of the Christ – $271,424 ($369,336,919 total) {week 13}
44. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $72,176 ($376,958,965 total) {week 23}
63. The Twilight Samurai – $36,760 ($154,440 total) {week 5}
64. My Architect – $36,259 ($2,562,472 total) {week 28}
79. Mystic River – $20,008 ($90,135,191 total) {week 33}
81. The Triplets of Belleville – $19,248 ($6,928,868 total) {week 26}
97. Monster – $7,911 ($34,458,169 total) {week 22}
110. In America – $5,440 ($15,531,968 total) {week 26}
111. City of God – $4,604 ($7,530,233 total) {week 71}
136. The Weather Underground – $1,250 ($560,199 total) {week 51}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Shrek 2 – $273,628,644 ($326,676,722 total)
2. Troy – $60,595,929 ($217,713,749 total)
10. Super Size Me – $2,465,958 ($7,450,497 total)
15. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $867,271 ($83,438,712 total)
19. The Passion of the Christ – $687,438 ($935,423,412 total)
44. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $182,801 ($954,727,846 total)
63. The Twilight Samurai – $93,102 ($391,152 total)
64. My Architect – $91,834 ($6,489,999 total)
79. Mystic River – $50,674 ($228,286,325 total)
81. The Triplets of Belleville – $48,750 ($17,548,815 total)
97. Monster – $20,036 ($87,272,559 total)
110. In America – $13,778 ($39,337,975 total)
111. City of God – $11,661 ($19,071,899 total)
136. The Weather Underground – $3,166 ($1,418,822 total)

Oscar Details:

• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Actress (Kate Winslet), Original Screenplay [O]
• In America: Actress (Samantha Morton), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Original Screenplay
• 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]
• 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
• Shrek 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Accidentally in Love”)
• Super Size Me : Documentary Feature
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
• Troy: Costume Design
• The Twilight Samurai: Foreign Language Film
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 21-23, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $64,820,970 ($105,661,237 total) {week 1}
2. The Mummy – $13,791,960 ($100,210,165 total) {week 3}
4. The Matrix – $2,875,521 ($149,507,510 total) {week 8}
9. Life – $1,565,215 ($57,526,494 total) {week 6}
10. Election – $1,474,508 ($9,157,870 total) {week 5}
13. Shakespeare in Love – $745,400 ($95,940,373 total) {week 24}
17. Life Is Beautiful – $414,662 ($55,785,437 total) {week 31}
39. Saving Private Ryan – $105,878 ($216,118,802 total) {week 44}
52. Patch Adams – $44,290 ($134,976,848 total) {week 22}
999. The Prince of Egypt – $20,965 ($101,286,212 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $103,739,072 ($169,099,578 total)
2. The Mummy – $22,072,566 ($160,375,717 total)
4. The Matrix – $4,601,966 ($239,270,877 total)
9. Life – $2,504,960 ($92,065,039 total)
10. Election – $2,359,793 ($14,656,197 total)
13. Shakespeare in Love – $1,192,933 ($153,542,369 total)
17. Life Is Beautiful – $663,622 ($89,278,662 total)
39. Saving Private Ryan – $169,446 ($345,875,169 total)
52. Patch Adams – $70,881 ($216,016,097 total)
999. The Prince of Egypt – $33,552 ($162,097,816 total)

Oscar Details:

• Election: Adapted Screenplay
• Life: Makeup
• 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]
• The Mummy : Sound
• 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
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 27-29, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

2. Maverick – $18,645,527 ($41,828,936 total) {week 2}
6. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $2,793,788 ($40,774,304 total) {week 12}
13. Schindler’s List – $467,540 ($92,726,908 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Maverick – $36,265,104 ($81,356,280 total)
6. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $5,433,851 ($79,305,046 total)
13. Schindler’s List – $909,354 ($180,351,618 total)

Oscar Details:

• Four Weddings and a Funeral: Picture, Original Screenplay
• Maverick: 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 May 26-28, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $29,355,021 ($39,255,220 total) {week 1}
3. Field of Dreams – $5,678,135 ($30,719,316 total) {week 6}
9. Rain Man – $1,177,597 ($165,303,331 total) {week 24}
11. Beaches – $730,187 ($57,041,866 total) {week 23}
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $230,208 ($7,076,810 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $60,114,942 ($80,389,153 total)
3. Field of Dreams – $11,628,020 ($62,908,826 total)
9. Rain Man – $2,411,553 ($338,517,905 total)
11. Beaches – $1,495,320 ($116,813,695 total)
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $471,434 ($14,492,309 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen : Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Visual Effects
• Beaches: Art Direction
• Field of Dreams: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Original Score, Sound, Sound Effects [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 May 25-27, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $25,337,110 ($33,668,342 total) {week 1}
2. The Natural – $6,920,974 ($21,533,597 total) {week 3}
4. Romancing the Stone – $4,051,420 ($54,178,695 total) {week 9}
8. Splash – $2,151,832 ($61,088,869 total) {week 12}
9. Footloose – $1,924,094 ($71,963,803 total) {week 15}
10. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $1,456,940 ($41,485,564 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $61,306,757 ($81,465,363 total)
2. The Natural – $16,746,285 ($52,103,614 total)
4. Romancing the Stone – $9,802,989 ($131,093,092 total)
8. Splash – $5,206,665 ($147,813,246 total)
9. Footloose – $4,655,620 ($174,126,702 total)
10. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $3,525,274 ($100,380,249 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Original Score, Visual Effects [O]
• The Natural : Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction
• Romancing the Stone: Editing
• Splash: Original Screenplay