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

Foxcatcher (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Carell, Tatum), Supporting Actor (Ruffalo), Original Screenplay, Film Editing.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 13-15, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

3. Precious – $5,874,628 ($8,699,180 total) {week 2}
17. An Education – $661,901 ($3,218,225 total) {week 6}
18. A Serious Man – $657,125 ($6,834,722 total) {week 7}
21. Coco Before Chanel – $424,011 ($4,847,752 total) {week 8}
24. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $265,900 ($265,900 total) {week 1}
26. Inglourious Basterds – $133,105 ($120,135,237 total) {week 13}
42. Julie & Julia – $55,274 ($93,723,567 total) {week 15}
43. Bright Star – $50,265 ($4,341,275 total) {week 9}
46. The Messenger – $44,523 ($44,523 total) {week 1}
47. The Hurt Locker – $39,610 ($12,647,089 total) {week 17}
86. Departures – $5,324 ($1,482,650 total) {week 25}
110. Food, Inc. – $1,122 ($4,414,034 total) {week 23}
115. The Cove – $811 ($843,072 total) {week 16}
120. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $577 ($464,125 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Precious – $6,368,097 ($9,429,911 total)
17. An Education – $717,501 ($3,488,556 total)
18. A Serious Man – $712,324 ($7,408,839 total)
21. Coco Before Chanel – $459,628 ($5,254,963 total)
24. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $288,236 ($288,236 total)
26. Inglourious Basterds – $144,286 ($130,226,597 total)
42. Julie & Julia – $59,917 ($101,596,347 total)
43. Bright Star – $54,487 ($4,705,942 total)
46. The Messenger – $48,263 ($48,263 total)
47. The Hurt Locker – $42,937 ($13,709,444 total)
86. Departures – $5,771 ($1,607,193 total)
110. Food, Inc. – $1,216 ($4,784,813 total)
115. The Cove – $879 ($913,890 total)
120. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $625 ($503,112 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Baader Meinhof Complex: Foreign Language Film
• Bright Star: Costume Design
• Coco Before Chanel: Costume Design
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• An Education: Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
• Fantastic Mr. Fox: Animated Feature, Original Score
• 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]
• Inglourious Basterds: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Julie & Julia: Actress (Meryl Streep)
• The Messenger : Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• Precious: Picture, Director, Actress (Gabourey Sidibe), Supporting Actress (Mo’Nique) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing
• A Serious Man: Picture, Original Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 12-14, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Incredibles – $50,251,359 ($143,255,844 total) {week 2}
2. The Polar Express – $23,323,463 ($30,629,146 total) {week 1}
6. Ray – $8,411,355 ($52,523,595 total) {week 3}
11. Shark Tale – $2,097,544 ($157,530,386 total) {week 7}
12. Sideways – $1,414,773 ($3,751,301 total) {week 4}
16. The Motorcycle Diaries – $745,110 ($11,829,464 total) {week 8}
23. Being Julia – $296,515 ($1,687,175 total) {week 5}
26. Finding Neverland – $220,524 ($220,524 total) {week 1}
27. Vera Drake – $200,248 ($1,478,161 total) {week 6}
29. Kinsey – $169,038 ($169,038 total) {week 1}
30. Hero – $112,421 ($53,481,541 total) {week 1}
32. Spider-Man 2 – $91,675 ($373,377,893 total) {week 20}
35. I, Robot – $84,571 ($144,616,188 total) {week 18}
52. The Village – $30,079 ($114,170,863 total) {week 16}
73. Zelary – $8,002 ($273,742 total) {week 9}
89. The Twilight Samurai – $4,222 ($559,765 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Incredibles – $127,272,134 ($362,825,549 total)
2. The Polar Express – $59,071,575 ($77,574,753 total)
6. Ray – $21,303,525 ($133,027,049 total)
11. Shark Tale – $5,312,471 ($398,978,828 total)
12. Sideways – $3,583,210 ($9,500,959 total)
16. The Motorcycle Diaries – $1,887,148 ($29,960,605 total)
23. Being Julia – $750,987 ($4,273,125 total)
26. Finding Neverland – $558,523 ($558,523 total)
27. Vera Drake – $507,170 ($3,743,754 total)
29. Kinsey – $428,124 ($428,124 total)
30. Hero – $284,730 ($135,453,249 total)
32. Spider-Man 2 – $232,186 ($945,658,028 total)
35. I, Robot – $214,194 ($366,270,906 total)
52. The Village – $76,181 ($289,161,718 total)
73. Zelary – $20,267 ($693,309 total)
89. The Twilight Samurai – $10,693 ($1,417,723 total)

Oscar Details:

• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Hero: Foreign Language Film
• I, Robot: Visual Effects
• The Incredibles: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O]
• Kinsey: Supporting Actress (Laura Linney)
• The Motorcycle Diaries : Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Al Otro Lado del Rio”) [O]
• The Polar Express : Original Song (“Believe”), Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Ray: Picture, Director, Actor (Jamie Foxx) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing [O]
• Shark Tale: Animated Feature
• Sideways: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Spider-Man 2: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Twilight Samurai: Foreign Language Film
• Vera Drake: Director, Actress (Imelda Staunton), Original Screenplay
• The Village : Original Score
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 12-14, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

6. The Insider – $5,012,416 ($14,099,850 total) {week 2}
10. The Sixth Sense – $2,562,649 ($267,741,966 total) {week 15}
13. American Beauty – $2,371,304 ($62,655,084 total) {week 9}
14. Being John Malkovich – $2,337,348 ($6,094,597 total) {week 3}
15. Music of the Heart – $1,881,288 ($10,753,752 total) {week 3}
18. Fight Club – $997,154 ($33,993,764 total) {week 5}
23. The Straight Story – $396,817 ($2,165,224 total) {week 5}
35. Boys Don’t Cry – $143,603 ($1,536,097 total) {week 6}
40. All About My Mother – $117,160 ($294,649 total) {week 2}
48. Buena Vista Social Club – $70,088 ($6,496,683 total) {week 24}
54. Tarzan – $49,646 ($170,604,854 total) {week 22}
56. The Red Violin – $45,402 ($10,019,109 total) {week 44}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. The Insider – $8,021,839 ($22,565,311 total)
10. The Sixth Sense – $4,101,247 ($428,492,556 total)
13. American Beauty – $3,795,020 ($100,272,802 total)
14. Being John Malkovich – $3,740,677 ($9,753,755 total)
15. Music of the Heart – $3,010,801 ($17,210,237 total)
18. Fight Club – $1,595,839 ($54,403,406 total)
23. The Straight Story – $635,063 ($3,465,211 total)
35. Boys Don’t Cry – $229,821 ($2,458,360 total)
40. All About My Mother – $187,502 ($471,554 total)
48. Buena Vista Social Club – $112,168 ($10,397,251 total)
54. Tarzan – $79,453 ($273,034,934 total)
56. The Red Violin – $72,661 ($16,034,519 total)

Oscar Details:

• All About My Mother: Foreign Language Film [O]
• American Beauty: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Being John Malkovich: Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay
• Boys Don’t Cry: Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actress (Chloe Sevigny)
• Buena Vista Social Club: Documentary Feature
• Fight Club: Sound Effects
• The Insider : Picture, Director, Actor (Russell Crowe), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• Music of the Heart: Actress, Original Song (“Music of My Heart”)
• The Red Violin : Original Score [O]
• The Sixth Sense : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Editing
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Tarzan: Original Song (“You’ll Be In My Heart”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 18-20, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

2. Interview with the Vampire – $17,430,563 ($63,612,399 total) {week 2}
4. The Lion King – $5,509,468 ($276,329,288 total) {week 23}
7. Pulp Fiction – $3,010,154 ($48,407,201 total) {week 6}
11. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – $1,512,800 ($20,305,124 total) {week 3}
999. Heavenly Creatures – $31,592 ($41,323 total) {week 1}
999. The Shawshank Redemption – $261,648 ($15,753,538 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Interview with the Vampire – $33,902,028 ($123,724,594 total)
4. The Lion King – $10,715,783 ($537,453,854 total)
7. Pulp Fiction – $5,854,678 ($94,150,848 total)
11. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – $2,942,360 ($39,492,980 total)
999. Heavenly Creatures – $61,446 ($80,372 total)
999. The Shawshank Redemption – $508,899 ($30,640,255 total)

Oscar Details:

• Heavenly Creatures: Original Screenplay
• Interview with the Vampire: Original Score, Art Direction
• The Lion King : Original Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” [O], “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”), Original Score [O]
• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Makeup
• Pulp Fiction: Picture, Director, Actor (John Travolta), Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Supporting Actress (Uma Thurman), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• The Shawshank Redemption : Picture, Actor (Morgan Freeman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 17-19, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Harlem Nights – $16,096,808 ($16,096,808 total) {week 1}
3. The Little Mermaid – $6,031,914 ($6,031,914 total) {week 1}
4. Steel Magnolias – $5,425,440 ($5,425,440 total) {week 1}
6. Dad – $3,144,400 ($10,785,650 total) {week 4}
8. The Bear – $2,790,992 ($20,077,714 total) {week 4}
9. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $1,450,636 ($11,126,914 total) {week 6}
13. Parenthood – $561,750 ($93,689,600 total) {week 16}
999. Batman – $173,793 ($250,994,366 total) {week 22}
999. Henry V – $65,815 ($175,319 total) {week 2}
999. Valmont – $96,008 ($96,008 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Harlem Nights – $32,963,992 ($32,963,992 total)
3. The Little Mermaid – $12,352,509 ($12,352,509 total)
4. Steel Magnolias – $11,110,536 ($11,110,536 total)
6. Dad – $6,439,288 ($22,087,490 total)
8. The Bear – $5,715,558 ($41,116,326 total)
9. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $2,970,698 ($22,786,350 total)
13. Parenthood – $1,150,385 ($191,863,085 total)
999. Batman – $355,904 ($514,001,057 total)
999. Henry V – $134,780 ($359,029 total)
999. Valmont – $196,611 ($196,611 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• The Bear : Editing
• Crimes and Misdemeanors: Director, Supporting Actor (Martin Landau), Original Screenplay
• Dad: Makeup
• Harlem Nights: Costume Design
• Henry V: Director, Actor (Kenneth Branagh), Costume Design [O]
• The Little Mermaid: Original Song (“Kiss the Girl”, “Under the Sea” [O]), Original Score [O]
• Parenthood: Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest), Original Song (“I Love To See You Smile”)
• Steel Magnolias: Supporting Actress (Julia Roberts)
• Valmont:

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 16-18, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

6. Places in the Heart – $1,729,216 ($24,429,293 total) {week 9}
8. Amadeus – $1,358,236 ($11,215,329 total) {week 9}
10. A Soldier’s Story – $1,178,201 ($15,480,354 total) {week 10}
13. Ghostbusters – $1,106,531 ($216,680,652 total) {week 24}
999. The Killing Fields – $90,794 ($195,290 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Places in the Heart – $4,184,085 ($59,110,164 total)
8. Amadeus – $3,286,446 ($27,137,091 total)
10. A Soldier’s Story – $2,850,826 ($37,456,928 total)
13. Ghostbusters – $2,677,410 ($524,289,792 total)
999. The Killing Fields – $219,689 ($472,532 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amadeus: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (F. Murray Abraham [O], Tom Hulce), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound [O]
• Ghostbusters: Original Song (“Ghostbusters”), Visual Effects
• The Killing Fields : Picture, Director, Actor (Sam Waterston), Supporting Actor (Haing S. Ngor) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O]
• Places in the Heart: Picture, Director, Actress (Sally Field) [O], Supporting Actor (John Malkovich), Supporting Actress (Linsday Crouse), Original Screenplay [O], Costume Design
• A Soldier’s Story: Picture, Supporting Actor (Adolph Caesar), Adapted Screenplay