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

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 21-23, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

1. Inglourious Basterds – $38,054,676 ($38,070,437 total) {week 1}
2. District 9 – $18,213,546 ($72,804,317 total) {week 2}
5. Julie & Julia – $8,800,674 ($59,088,965 total) {week 3}
16. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $970,360 ($398,441,218 total) {week 9}
24. The Hurt Locker – $383,017 ($11,124,222 total) {week 9}
25. Up – $317,602 ($288,827,973 total) {week 13}
29. Star Trek – $240,311 ($256,374,154 total) {week 16}
32. In the Loop – $187,652 ($1,550,473 total) {week 5}
37. Food, Inc. – $84,774 ($3,977,797 total) {week 11}
42. The Cove – $53,107 ($537,247 total) {week 4}
52. Departures – $29,765 ($1,232,944 total) {week 13}
60. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $17,348 ($17,348 total) {week 1}
88. Revanche – $3,496 ($248,372 total) {week 17}
103. Il Divo – $1,143 ($221,189 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Inglourious Basterds – $41,251,269 ($41,268,354 total)
2. District 9 – $19,743,484 ($78,919,880 total)
5. Julie & Julia – $9,539,931 ($64,052,438 total)
16. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $1,051,870 ($431,910,280 total)
24. The Hurt Locker – $415,190 ($12,058,657 total)
25. Up – $344,281 ($313,089,523 total)
29. Star Trek – $260,497 ($277,909,583 total)
32. In the Loop – $203,415 ($1,680,713 total)
37. Food, Inc. – $91,895 ($4,311,932 total)
42. The Cove – $57,568 ($582,376 total)
52. Departures – $32,265 ($1,336,511 total)
60. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $18,805 ($18,805 total)
88. Revanche – $3,790 ($269,235 total)
103. Il Divo – $1,239 ($239,769 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Baader Meinhof Complex: Foreign Language Film
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• District 9: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Visual Effects
• 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
• Inglourious Basterds: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Julie & Julia: Actress (Meryl Streep)
• Revanche: Foreign Language Film
• 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. 20-22, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

6. Collateral – $10,156,357 ($69,721,408 total) {week 3}
9. The Village – $3,722,806 ($107,049,072 total) {week 4}
12. Spider-Man 2 – $2,421,434 ($365,173,462 total) {week 8}
13. I, Robot – $2,408,877 ($138,292,990 total) {week 6}
21. Maria Full of Grace – $458,426 ($3,315,918 total) {week 6}
23. Shrek 2 – $422,786 ($436,471,036 total) {week 14}
25. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $353,507 ($246,900,818 total) {week 12}
38. Before Sunset – $171,309 ($4,560,080 total) {week 8}
65. Super Size Me – $39,253 ($11,269,350 total) {week 16}
66. Troy – $39,236 ($133,298,577 total) {week 15}
68. Story of the Weeping Camel – $35,412 ($1,434,170 total) {week 12}
109. The Twilight Samurai – $2,288 ($492,575 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Collateral – $25,723,110 ($176,584,127 total)
9. The Village – $9,428,789 ($271,124,285 total)
12. Spider-Man 2 – $6,132,791 ($924,878,581 total)
13. I, Robot – $6,100,988 ($350,256,077 total)
21. Maria Full of Grace – $1,161,060 ($8,398,260 total)
23. Shrek 2 – $1,070,794 ($1,105,454,680 total)
25. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $895,331 ($625,328,240 total)
38. Before Sunset – $433,876 ($11,549,361 total)
65. Super Size Me – $99,416 ($28,541,999 total)
66. Troy – $99,373 ($337,606,676 total)
68. Story of the Weeping Camel – $89,688 ($3,632,337 total)
109. The Twilight Samurai – $5,795 ($1,247,550 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. 20-22, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Sixth Sense – $23,950,008 ($107,506,281 total) {week 3}
16. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $1,221,405 ($417,800,897 total) {week 14}
17. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $929,717 ($203,100,498 total) {week 11}
18. Tarzan – $740,036 ($165,477,219 total) {week 10}
31. The Mummy – $226,395 ($154,703,255 total) {week 16}
32. The Matrix – $211,862 ($170,817,779 total) {week 21}
35. Buena Vista Social Club – $183,047 ($3,769,173 total) {week 12}
39. The Red Violin – $143,106 ($7,735,416 total) {week 32}
43. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $120,747 ($51,118,648 total) {week 8}
56. Life – $45,997 ($64,016,268 total) {week 19}
999. On the Ropes – $7,431 ($11,293 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Sixth Sense – $38,329,442 ($172,052,375 total)
16. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $1,954,729 ($668,645,924 total)
17. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $1,487,913 ($325,040,758 total)
18. Tarzan – $1,184,349 ($264,828,699 total)
31. The Mummy – $362,321 ($247,586,115 total)
32. The Matrix – $339,063 ($273,375,697 total)
35. Buena Vista Social Club – $292,947 ($6,032,161 total)
39. The Red Violin – $229,026 ($12,379,711 total)
43. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $193,243 ($81,809,962 total)
56. Life – $73,613 ($102,451,232 total)
999. On the Ropes – $11,893 ($18,073 total)

Oscar Details:

• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me: Makeup
• Buena Vista Social Club: Documentary Feature
• Life: Makeup
• The Matrix : Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Mummy : Sound
• On the Ropes: Documentary Feature
• 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. 26-28, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

2. Forrest Gump – $9,897,242 ($222,309,062 total) {week 8}
3. Clear and Present Danger – $8,164,186 ($86,328,858 total) {week 4}
4. The Mask – $5,338,698 ($91,930,697 total) {week 5}
7. True Lies – $3,425,095 ($126,696,780 total) {week 7}
8. The Lion King – $3,013,759 ($256,945,953 total) {week 11}
10. The Client – $2,724,911 ($78,528,872 total) {week 6}
15. Maverick – $1,745,118 ($96,345,264 total) {week 15}
999. Jurassic Park – $604,435 ($353,079,435 total) {week 64}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Forrest Gump – $19,249,899 ($432,385,807 total)
3. Clear and Present Danger – $15,879,146 ($167,907,564 total)
4. The Mask – $10,383,640 ($178,803,006 total)
7. True Lies – $6,661,728 ($246,422,206 total)
8. The Lion King – $5,861,689 ($499,753,732 total)
10. The Client – $5,299,887 ($152,736,777 total)
15. Maverick – $3,394,213 ($187,389,234 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $1,175,612 ($686,731,054 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], 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
• Maverick: Costume Design
• True Lies: Visual Effects

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 25-27, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

2. Parenthood – $6,380,240 ($53,704,836 total) {week 4}
3. The Abyss – $4,734,287 ($32,963,185 total) {week 3}
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $4,056,399 ($60,655,531 total) {week 7}
5. Lethal Weapon 2 – $3,335,582 ($125,055,875 total) {week 8}
8. Batman – $2,597,560 ($233,653,196 total) {week 10}
13. sex, lies and videotape – $1,210,540 ($3,798,540 total) {week 4}
17. Dead Poets Society – $963,442 ($84,547,818 total) {week 13}
18. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $726,388 ($186,475,287 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Parenthood – $13,065,832 ($109,979,929 total)
3. The Abyss – $9,695,152 ($67,503,953 total)
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $8,306,933 ($124,213,972 total)
5. Lethal Weapon 2 – $6,830,801 ($256,096,792 total)
8. Batman – $5,319,436 ($478,488,787 total)
13. sex, lies and videotape – $2,479,015 ($7,778,874 total)
17. Dead Poets Society – $1,972,993 ($173,142,005 total)
18. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $1,487,540 ($381,875,084 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. 24-26, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

2. Ghostbusters – $4,682,210 ($179,381,173 total) {week 12}
4. Purple Rain – $3,241,452 ($39,906,368 total) {week 5}
6. The Woman in Red – $2,941,215 ($8,731,371 total) {week 2}
7. The Karate Kid – $2,870,497 ($64,356,939 total) {week 10}
12. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $1,426,994 ($164,297,966 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Ghostbusters – $11,329,276 ($434,038,374 total)
4. Purple Rain – $7,843,156 ($96,559,158 total)
6. The Woman in Red – $7,116,690 ($21,126,799 total)
7. The Karate Kid – $6,945,578 ($155,720,808 total)
12. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $3,452,816 ($397,542,400 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)
• Purple Rain: Original Song Score [O]
• The Woman in Red : Original Song (“I Just Called to Say I Love You”) [O]