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

Into the Storm (Wide)

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

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 7-9, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

2. Julie & Julia – $20,027,956 ($20,027,956 total) {week 1}
12. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $3,008,825 ($393,709,339 total) {week 7}
16. The Hurt Locker – $1,260,820 ($8,987,925 total) {week 7}
19. Up – $624,966 ($287,392,452 total) {week 11}
21. Star Trek – $438,654 ($255,327,784 total) {week 14}
24. In the Loop – $220,823 ($910,046 total) {week 3}
30. Food, Inc. – $161,884 ($3,566,803 total) {week 9}
31. The Cove – $161,732 ($244,062 total) {week 2}
48. Departures – $37,016 ($1,132,371 total) {week 11}
102. Burma VJ – $1,146 ($50,436 total) {week 12}
116. Il Divo – $110 ($217,590 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Julie & Julia – $21,710,304 ($21,710,304 total)
12. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $3,261,566 ($426,780,923 total)
16. The Hurt Locker – $1,366,729 ($9,742,911 total)
19. Up – $677,463 ($311,533,418 total)
21. Star Trek – $475,501 ($276,775,318 total)
24. In the Loop – $239,372 ($986,490 total)
30. Food, Inc. – $175,482 ($3,866,414 total)
31. The Cove – $175,317 ($264,563 total)
48. Departures – $40,125 ($1,227,490 total)
102. Burma VJ – $1,242 ($54,673 total)
116. Il Divo – $119 ($235,868 total)

Oscar Details:

• Burma VJ: Documentary Feature
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Il Divo: Makeup
• Food, Inc.: Documentary Feature
• The Hurt Locker: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Jeremy Renner), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O]
• In the Loop: Adapted Screenplay
• Julie & Julia: Actress (Meryl Streep)
• Star Trek: Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Sound Mixing
• Up: Picture, Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 6-8, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. Collateral – $24,701,458 ($24,701,458 total) {week 1}
2. The Village – $16,468,564 ($85,612,284 total) {week 2}
6. I, Robot – $6,516,075 ($126,922,313 total) {week 4}
7. Spider-Man 2 – $5,431,777 ($354,501,860 total) {week 6}
18. Shrek 2 – $893,869 ($434,404,842 total) {week 12}
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $728,248 ($245,332,214 total) {week 10}
21. Maria Full of Grace – $538,835 ($1,799,806 total) {week 4}
26. Before Sunset – $323,466 ($3,822,163 total) {week 6}
44. Troy – $91,519 ($133,124,356 total) {week 13}
53. Story of the Weeping Camel – $56,466 ($1,273,397 total) {week 10}
55. Super Size Me – $47,112 ($11,123,908 total) {week 14}
70. The Twilight Samurai – $11,671 ($474,218 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Collateral – $62,561,637 ($62,561,637 total)
2. The Village – $41,710,101 ($216,831,112 total)
6. I, Robot – $16,503,330 ($321,457,447 total)
7. Spider-Man 2 – $13,757,117 ($897,850,505 total)
18. Shrek 2 – $2,263,911 ($1,100,221,609 total)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $1,844,441 ($621,355,421 total)
21. Maria Full of Grace – $1,364,713 ($4,558,387 total)
26. Before Sunset – $819,246 ($9,680,432 total)
44. Troy – $231,791 ($337,165,425 total)
53. Story of the Weeping Camel – $143,012 ($3,225,146 total)
55. Super Size Me – $119,321 ($28,173,636 total)
70. The Twilight Samurai – $29,559 ($1,201,057 total)

Oscar Details:

• Before Sunset: Adapted Screenplay
• Collateral: Supporting Actor (Jamie Foxx), Editing
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Original Score, Visual Effects
• I, Robot: Visual Effects
• Maria Full of Grace: Actress (Catalina Sandino Moreno)
• Shrek 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Accidentally in Love”)
• Spider-Man 2: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• Story of the Weeping Camel : Documentary Feature
• Super Size Me : Documentary Feature
• Troy: Costume Design
• The Twilight Samurai: Foreign Language Film
• The Village : Original Score

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 6-8, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Sixth Sense – $26,681,262 ($26,681,262 total) {week 1}
11. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $2,223,198 ($412,775,151 total) {week 12}
13. Tarzan – $1,709,142 ($161,851,795 total) {week 8}
19. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $751,918 ($199,647,588 total) {week 9}
24. The Matrix – $400,438 ($169,731,136 total) {week 19}
27. The Mummy – $352,510 ($153,783,825 total) {week 14}
29. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $282,303 ($50,587,886 total) {week 6}
34. The Red Violin – $184,091 ($7,398,593 total) {week 30}
36. Buena Vista Social Club – $158,291 ($3,200,082 total) {week 10}
47. Life – $75,195 ($63,844,974 total) {week 17}
56. Election – $35,402 ($14,879,556 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Sixth Sense – $42,700,524 ($42,700,524 total)
11. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $3,557,992 ($660,602,752 total)
13. Tarzan – $2,735,300 ($259,026,593 total)
19. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $1,203,365 ($319,514,742 total)
24. The Matrix – $640,858 ($271,636,641 total)
27. The Mummy – $564,155 ($246,114,665 total)
29. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $451,796 ($80,960,534 total)
34. The Red Violin – $294,618 ($11,840,662 total)
36. Buena Vista Social Club – $253,328 ($5,121,391 total)
47. Life – $120,342 ($102,177,094 total)
56. Election – $56,657 ($23,813,148 total)

Oscar Details:

• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me: Makeup
• Buena Vista Social Club: Documentary Feature
• Election: Adapted Screenplay
• Life: Makeup
• The Matrix : Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Mummy : Sound
• The Red Violin : Original Score [O]
• The Sixth Sense : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Editing
• South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut: Original Song (“Blame Canada”)
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• Tarzan: Original Song (“You’ll Be In My Heart”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 12-14, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Clear and Present Danger – $15,965,071 ($55,020,515 total) {week 2}
2. Forrest Gump – $14,145,751 ($187,542,485 total) {week 6}
3. The Mask – $10,052,412 ($70,068,211 total) {week 3}
5. True Lies – $7,009,382 ($112,253,140 total) {week 5}
7. The Client – $6,029,108 ($66,518,099 total) {week 4}
8. The Lion King – $6,010,520 ($243,168,383 total) {week 9}
11. Speed – $1,519,555 ($110,370,929 total) {week 10}
999. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – $219,433 ($295,866 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Clear and Present Danger – $31,051,681 ($107,013,585 total)
2. Forrest Gump – $27,513,147 ($364,765,647 total)
3. The Mask – $19,551,701 ($136,280,994 total)
5. True Lies – $13,633,080 ($218,329,672 total)
7. The Client – $11,726,471 ($129,376,111 total)
8. The Lion King – $11,690,318 ($472,956,688 total)
11. Speed – $2,955,498 ($214,668,816 total)
999. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – $426,792 ($575,452 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert : Costume Design [O]
• Clear and Present Danger: Sound, Sound Effects
• The Client: Actress (Susan Sarandon)
• Forrest Gump: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Supporting Actor (Gary Sinise), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• The Lion King : Original Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” [O], “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”), Original Score [O]
• The Mask : Visual Effects
• Speed: Editing, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• True Lies: Visual Effects

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 11-13, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Parenthood – $9,672,350 ($30,328,876 total) {week 2}
2. The Abyss – $9,319,797 ($9,319,797 total) {week 1}
5. When Harry Met Sally… – $6,197,100 ($45,911,983 total) {week 5}
6. Lethal Weapon 2 – $6,071,683 ($112,102,140 total) {week 6}
7. Batman – $5,026,358 ($222,976,331 total) {week 8}
11. Dead Poets Society – $1,777,013 ($81,084,878 total) {week 11}
12. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $1,630,874 ($183,325,439 total) {week 12}
999. sex, lies and videotape – $602,760 ($904,432 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Parenthood – $19,807,608 ($62,109,260 total)
2. The Abyss – $19,085,630 ($19,085,630 total)
5. When Harry Met Sally… – $12,690,787 ($94,021,265 total)
6. Lethal Weapon 2 – $12,433,950 ($229,569,370 total)
7. Batman – $10,293,272 ($456,624,073 total)
11. Dead Poets Society – $3,639,072 ($166,050,392 total)
12. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $3,339,800 ($375,424,640 total)
999. sex, lies and videotape – $1,234,367 ($1,852,149 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Abyss : Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• Dead Poets Society: Picture, Director, Actor (Robin Williams), Original Screenplay [O]
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Original Score, Sound, Sound Effects [O]
• Lethal Weapon 2: Sound Effects
• Parenthood: Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest), Original Song (“I Love To See You Smile”)
• sex, lies and videotape: Original Screenplay
• When Harry Met Sally…: Original Screenplay

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 10-12, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

2. Ghostbusters – $5,783,164 ($162,590,937 total) {week 10}
3. Purple Rain – $4,802,664 ($27,533,155 total) {week 3}
5. The Karate Kid – $3,180,797 ($54,037,902 total) {week 8}
9. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $2,110,782 ($158,988,301 total) {week 12}
13. The Muppets Take Manhattan – $1,228,453 ($21,797,463 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Ghostbusters – $13,993,191 ($393,411,999 total)
3. Purple Rain – $11,620,732 ($66,620,402 total)
5. The Karate Kid – $7,696,393 ($130,752,424 total)
9. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $5,107,339 ($384,694,907 total)
13. The Muppets Take Manhattan – $2,972,418 ($52,742,076 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ghostbusters: Original Song (“Ghostbusters”), Visual Effects
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Original Score, Visual Effects [O]
• The Karate Kid : Supporting Actor (Noriyuki ‘Pat’ Morita)
• The Muppets Take Manhattan : Original Song Score
• Purple Rain: Original Song Score [O]