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

Exodus: Gods and Kings (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Production Design, Costume Deign, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing.

Top Five (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Original Screenplay.

Inherent Vice (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Supporting Actor (Josh Brolin), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 11-13, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Princess and the Frog – $24,208,916 ($27,088,786 total) {week 3}
2. The Blind Side – $15,055,258 ($149,816,797 total) {week 4}
3. Invictus – $8,611,147 ($8,611,147 total) {week 1}
11. Up in the Air – $2,394,344 ($3,982,627 total) {week 2}
14. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $1,396,148 ($16,258,464 total) {week 5}
15. Precious – $1,280,550 ($38,282,489 total) {week 6}
18. An Education – $314,439 ($6,752,785 total) {week 10}
21. A Single Man – $217,332 ($217,332 total) {week 1}
26. A Serious Man – $146,347 ($8,717,496 total) {week 11}
30. The Lovely Bones – $116,616 ($116,616 total) {week 1}
37. The Messenger – $45,204 ($541,782 total) {week 5}
41. Coco Before Chanel – $38,522 ($5,884,975 total) {week 12}
45. Inglourious Basterds – $23,791 ($120,523,073 total) {week 17}
102. The Cove – $211 ($849,281 total) {week 20}
103. Departures – $66 ($1,490,792 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Princess and the Frog – $26,242,465 ($29,364,244 total)
2. The Blind Side – $16,319,900 ($162,401,408 total)
3. Invictus – $9,334,483 ($9,334,483 total)
11. Up in the Air – $2,595,469 ($4,317,168 total)
14. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $1,513,424 ($17,624,175 total)
15. Precious – $1,388,116 ($41,498,218 total)
18. An Education – $340,852 ($7,320,019 total)
21. A Single Man – $235,588 ($235,588 total)
26. A Serious Man – $158,640 ($9,449,766 total)
30. The Lovely Bones – $126,412 ($126,412 total)
37. The Messenger – $49,001 ($587,292 total)
41. Coco Before Chanel – $41,758 ($6,379,313 total)
45. Inglourious Basterds – $25,789 ($130,647,011 total)
102. The Cove – $229 ($920,621 total)
103. Departures – $72 ($1,616,019 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Blind Side: Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
• 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
• Inglourious Basterds: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Invictus: Actor (Morgan Freeman), Supporting Actress (Matt Damon)
• The Lovely Bones : Supporting Actor (Stanley Tucci)
• The Messenger : Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• Precious: Picture, Director, Actress (Gabourey Sidibe), Supporting Actress (Mo’Nique) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing
• The Princess and the Frog : Animated Feature, Original Song (“Almost There”), Original Song (“Down in New Orleans”)
• A Serious Man: Picture, Original Screenplay
• A Single Man: Actor (Colin Firth)
• Up in the Air: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick), Adapted Screenplay

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

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Polar Express – $9,588,412 ($109,826,809 total) {week 1}
6. The Incredibles – $5,036,631 ($232,573,246 total) {week 6}
8. Closer – $3,735,153 ($13,740,180 total) {week 2}
9. Finding Neverland – $1,688,620 ($14,209,515 total) {week 5}
11. Sideways – $1,240,534 ($14,273,198 total) {week 8}
13. Ray – $954,050 ($69,291,645 total) {week 7}
14. Kinsey – $525,881 ($4,418,104 total) {week 5}
17. The Motorcycle Diaries – $284,911 ($14,730,488 total) {week 12}
20. House of Flying Daggers – $205,416 ($723,017 total) {week 2}
24. Being Julia – $142,355 ($3,185,453 total) {week 9}
33. Shark Tale – $79,264 ($159,273,065 total) {week 11}
39. A Very Long Engagement – $50,109 ($289,955 total) {week 3}
41. Vera Drake – $44,261 ($1,993,121 total) {week 10}
56. Born Into Brothels – $14,605 ($14,605 total) {week 1}
59. I, Robot – $12,071 ($144,775,136 total) {week 22}
73. Zelary – $6,498 ($317,324 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Polar Express – $24,284,670 ($278,159,488 total)
6. The Incredibles – $12,756,327 ($589,040,651 total)
8. Closer – $9,460,060 ($34,799,895 total)
9. Finding Neverland – $4,276,785 ($35,988,585 total)
11. Sideways – $3,141,913 ($36,149,875 total)
13. Ray – $2,416,332 ($175,495,662 total)
14. Kinsey – $1,331,904 ($11,189,777 total)
17. The Motorcycle Diaries – $721,597 ($37,308,058 total)
20. House of Flying Daggers – $520,259 ($1,831,193 total)
24. Being Julia – $360,544 ($8,067,830 total)
33. Shark Tale – $200,753 ($403,392,529 total)
39. A Very Long Engagement – $126,912 ($734,372 total)
41. Vera Drake – $112,100 ($5,047,998 total)
56. Born Into Brothels – $36,990 ($36,990 total)
59. I, Robot – $30,572 ($366,673,475 total)
73. Zelary – $16,458 ($803,690 total)

Oscar Details:

• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Born Into Brothels : Documentary Feature
• Closer: Supporting Actor (Clive Owen), Supporting Actress (Natalie Portman)
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• House of Flying Daggers: Cinematography
• 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]
• Vera Drake: Director, Actress (Imelda Staunton), Original Screenplay
• A Very Long Engagement: Cinematography, Art Direction
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 10-12, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. Toy Story 2 – $18,249,880 ($140,350,365 total) {week 4}
2. The Green Mile – $18,017,152 ($18,017,152 total) {week 1}
6. Sleepy Hollow – $4,716,222 ($81,360,813 total) {week 4}
10. Being John Malkovich – $962,925 ($15,294,721 total) {week 7}
12. The Sixth Sense – $666,926 ($274,477,963 total) {week 19}
13. American Beauty – $603,130 ($68,500,984 total) {week 13}
14. The Insider – $569,334 ($24,931,288 total) {week 6}
22. Music of the Heart – $215,992 ($14,427,605 total) {week 7}
23. Fight Club – $185,624 ($35,946,874 total) {week 9}
26. The Straight Story – $145,184 ($3,573,722 total) {week 9}
28. The End of the Affair – $135,423 ($412,620 total) {week 2}
32. All About My Mother – $118,545 ($934,554 total) {week 6}
33. The Cider House Rules – $110,098 ($110,098 total) {week 1}
35. Sweet and Lowdown – $103,442 ($244,549 total) {week 2}
39. Boys Don’t Cry – $84,192 ($2,249,024 total) {week 10}
41. Tumbleweeds – $80,030 ($173,765 total) {week 1}
56. Buena Vista Social Club – $37,631 ($6,800,290 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Toy Story 2 – $29,206,993 ($224,615,840 total)
2. The Green Mile – $28,834,537 ($28,834,537 total)
6. Sleepy Hollow – $7,547,812 ($130,209,333 total)
10. Being John Malkovich – $1,541,059 ($24,477,575 total)
12. The Sixth Sense – $1,067,344 ($439,272,803 total)
13. American Beauty – $965,245 ($109,628,543 total)
14. The Insider – $911,159 ($39,899,876 total)
22. Music of the Heart – $345,672 ($23,089,848 total)
23. Fight Club – $297,071 ($57,529,151 total)
26. The Straight Story – $232,352 ($5,719,362 total)
28. The End of the Affair – $216,730 ($660,354 total)
32. All About My Mother – $189,719 ($1,495,654 total)
33. The Cider House Rules – $176,200 ($176,200 total)
35. Sweet and Lowdown – $165,548 ($391,375 total)
39. Boys Don’t Cry – $134,740 ($3,599,324 total)
41. Tumbleweeds – $128,080 ($278,092 total)
56. Buena Vista Social Club – $60,224 ($10,883,141 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
• The Cider House Rules : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction
• The End of the Affair : Actress (Julianne Moore), Cinematography
• Fight Club: Sound Effects
• The Green Mile : Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
• The Insider : Picture, Director, Actor (Russell Crowe), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• Music of the Heart: Actress, Original Song (“Music of My Heart”)
• The Sixth Sense : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Sleepy Hollow: Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Sweet and Lowdown: Actor (Sean Penn), Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton)
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)
• Tumbleweeds: Actress (Janet McTeer)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 16-18, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

6. The Lion King – $1,852,331 ($291,573,205 total) {week 27}
8. Junior – $1,782,235 ($26,506,480 total) {week 4}
10. Interview with the Vampire – $1,270,253 ($96,626,399 total) {week 6}
12. Pulp Fiction – $960,702 ($58,867,964 total) {week 10}
999. Nell – $62,663 ($62,663 total) {week 1}
999. Tom & Viv – $21,968 ($21,968 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. The Lion King – $3,602,739 ($567,102,908 total)
8. Junior – $3,466,404 ($51,554,469 total)
10. Interview with the Vampire – $2,470,612 ($187,936,034 total)
12. Pulp Fiction – $1,868,542 ($114,496,782 total)
999. Nell – $121,878 ($121,878 total)
999. Tom & Viv – $42,727 ($42,727 total)

Oscar Details:

• Interview with the Vampire: Original Score, Art Direction
• Junior: Original Song (“Look What Love Has Done”)
• The Lion King : Original Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” [O], “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”), Original Score [O]
• Nell: Actress (Jodie Foster)
• Pulp Fiction: Picture, Director, Actor (John Travolta), Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Supporting Actress (Uma Thurman), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• Tom & Viv: Actress (Miranda Richardson), Supporting Actress (Rosemary Harris)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 15-17, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

3. Back to the Future Part II – $4,410,140 ($75,537,825 total) {week 4}
4. The Little Mermaid – $2,522,362 ($28,941,871 total) {week 5}
7. Steel Magnolias – $2,094,664 ($30,700,611 total) {week 5}
9. Blaze – $1,739,701 ($1,739,701 total) {week 1}
10. Harlem Nights – $1,724,761 ($49,476,458 total) {week 5}
999. Driving Miss Daisy – $73,745 ($73,745 total) {week 1}
999. Enemies, A Love Story – $63,636 ($63,636 total) {week 1}
999. Glory – $63,661 ($74,732 total) {week 1}
999. Parenthood – $91,325 ($95,209,243 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Back to the Future Part II – $9,031,345 ($154,690,810 total)
4. The Little Mermaid – $5,165,442 ($59,268,869 total)
7. Steel Magnolias – $4,289,576 ($62,870,521 total)
9. Blaze – $3,562,662 ($3,562,662 total)
10. Harlem Nights – $3,532,067 ($101,320,807 total)
999. Driving Miss Daisy – $151,019 ($151,019 total)
999. Enemies, A Love Story – $130,318 ($130,318 total)
999. Glory – $130,369 ($153,041 total)
999. Parenthood – $187,021 ($194,975,100 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future Part II: Visual Effects
• Blaze: Cinematography
• Driving Miss Daisy: Picture [O], Actor (Morgan Freeman), Actress (Jessica Tandy) [O], Supporting Actor (Dan Aykroyd), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• Enemies, A Love Story: Supporting Actress (Anjelica Huston, Lena Olin), Adapted Screenplay
• Glory: Supporting Actor (Denzel Washington) [O], Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound [O]
• Harlem Nights: Costume Design
• 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)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 14-16, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $11,514,444 ($36,483,317 total) {week 2}
2. Dune – $6,025,091 ($6,025,091 total) {week 1}
4. 2010 – $4,138,514 ($13,842,640 total) {week 2}
5. The Cotton Club – $2,903,603 ($2,903,603 total) {week 1}
6. Starman – $2,872,022 ($2,872,022 total) {week 1}
12. Amadeus – $399,321 ($16,691,352 total) {week 13}
999. Ghostbusters – $240,776 ($219,719,235 total) {week 28}
999. The Killing Fields – $33,530 ($631,359 total) {week 7}
999. A Passage to India – $84,580 ($84,580 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $27,860,842 ($88,276,597 total)
2. Dune – $14,578,568 ($14,578,568 total)
4. 2010 – $10,013,726 ($33,494,245 total)
5. The Cotton Club – $7,025,682 ($7,025,682 total)
6. Starman – $6,949,268 ($6,949,268 total)
12. Amadeus – $966,214 ($40,387,111 total)
999. Ghostbusters – $582,592 ($531,642,078 total)
999. The Killing Fields – $81,131 ($1,527,663 total)
999. A Passage to India – $204,653 ($204,653 total)

Oscar Details:

• 2010: Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound, Visual Effects
• 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]
• Beverly Hills Cop: Original Screenplay
• The Cotton Club : Editing, Art Direction
• Dune: Sound
• 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]
• A Passage to India: Picture, Director, Actress (Judy Davis), Supporting Actress (Peggy Ashcroft) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
• Starman: Actor (Jeff Bridges)