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 Feb. 12-14, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Wolfman – $31,479,235 ($31,479,235 total) {week 1}
4. Avatar – $23,611,625 ($661,217,278 total) {week 9}
9. Crazy Heart – $4,265,989 ($16,792,964 total) {week 9}
12. The Blind Side – $2,261,787 ($244,728,128 total) {week 13}
15. Up in the Air – $1,773,750 ($79,212,519 total) {week 11}
16. Sherlock Holmes – $1,591,601 ($204,055,200 total) {week 8}
19. The Lovely Bones – $690,285 ($42,847,901 total) {week 10}
20. The Princess and the Frog – $607,920 ($101,747,606 total) {week 12}
22. The Last Station – $514,597 ($1,372,873 total) {week 5}
23. A Single Man – $476,156 ($6,916,715 total) {week 10}
24. An Education – $471,838 ($10,452,204 total) {week 19}
26. The Young Victoria – $303,583 ($9,426,964 total) {week 9}
27. Precious – $210,844 ($46,520,765 total) {week 15}
29. The White Ribbon – $166,413 ($1,011,186 total) {week 7}
30. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $164,601 ($7,027,802 total) {week 8}
34. Invictus – $118,183 ($36,774,657 total) {week 10}
35. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $86,268 ($20,649,760 total) {week 14}
40. Nine – $43,374 ($19,524,634 total) {week 9}
42. Ajami – $38,526 ($94,835 total) {week 2}
43. The Messenger – $38,024 ($852,362 total) {week 14}
47. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $25,968 ($67,138 total) {week 3}
90. The Cove – $420 ($850,421 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Wolfman – $32,396,881 ($32,396,881 total)
4. Avatar – $24,299,923 ($680,492,306 total)
9. Crazy Heart – $4,390,346 ($17,282,493 total)
12. The Blind Side – $2,327,720 ($251,862,155 total)
15. Up in the Air – $1,825,456 ($81,521,629 total)
16. Sherlock Holmes – $1,637,997 ($210,003,577 total)
19. The Lovely Bones – $710,407 ($44,096,953 total)
20. The Princess and the Frog – $625,641 ($104,713,633 total)
22. The Last Station – $529,598 ($1,412,893 total)
23. A Single Man – $490,036 ($7,118,343 total)
24. An Education – $485,592 ($10,756,894 total)
26. The Young Victoria – $312,433 ($9,701,768 total)
27. Precious – $216,990 ($47,876,884 total)
29. The White Ribbon – $171,264 ($1,040,663 total)
30. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $169,399 ($7,232,668 total)
34. Invictus – $121,628 ($37,846,669 total)
35. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $88,783 ($21,251,718 total)
40. Nine – $44,638 ($20,093,793 total)
42. Ajami – $39,649 ($97,600 total)
43. The Messenger – $39,132 ($877,209 total)
47. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $26,725 ($69,095 total)
90. The Cove – $432 ($875,211 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ajami: Foreign Language Film
• Avatar: Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Blind Side: Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• Crazy Heart: Actor (Jeff Bridges) [O], Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Original Song (“The Weary Kind”) [O]
• An Education: Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
• Fantastic Mr. Fox: Animated Feature, Original Score
• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Invictus: Actor (Morgan Freeman), Supporting Actor (Matt Damon)
• The Last Station : Actress (Helen Mirren), Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer)
• The Lovely Bones : Supporting Actor (Stanley Tucci)
• The Messenger : Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• The Most Dangerous Man in America : Documentary Feature
• Nine: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz), Original Song (“Take It All”), Art Direction, Costume Design
• 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”)
• Sherlock Holmes: Original Score, Art Direction
• A Single Man: Actor (Colin Firth)
• Up in the Air: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick), Adapted Screenplay
• The White Ribbon : Cinematography, Foreign Language Film
• The Wolfman: Makeup
• The Young Victoria : Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 18-20, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

5. Million Dollar Baby – $6,810,065 ($54,313,587 total) {week 10}
8. The Aviator – $4,155,024 ($88,107,361 total) {week 10}
11. Sideways – $3,826,327 ($58,047,842 total) {week 18}
14. Finding Neverland – $1,893,767 ($45,284,284 total) {week 15}
15. Hotel Rwanda – $1,741,889 ($16,712,527 total) {week 9}
18. The Phantom of the Opera – $1,093,014 ($47,489,310 total) {week 9}
21. Being Julia – $619,751 ($5,841,719 total) {week 19}
25. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $319,912 ($117,325,582 total) {week 1}
30. The Polar Express – $190,212 ($162,413,545 total) {week 1}
33. Ray – $149,655 ($74,883,245 total) {week 17}
34. Born Into Brothels – $144,599 ($512,310 total) {week 7}
35. Vera Drake – $142,806 ($3,063,420 total) {week 20}
36. The Incredibles – $140,669 ($258,893,779 total) {week 16}
39. The Chorus – $118,280 ($663,722 total) {week 6}
40. A Very Long Engagement – $112,875 ($6,045,680 total) {week 13}
42. The Sea Inside – $101,182 ($822,769 total) {week 10}
44. House of Flying Daggers – $95,873 ($10,570,428 total) {week 12}
52. Kinsey – $48,339 ($9,583,064 total) {week 15}
67. Downfall – $18,195 ($18,195 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Million Dollar Baby – $8,626,791 ($68,802,859 total)
8. The Aviator – $5,263,463 ($111,611,821 total)
11. Sideways – $4,847,079 ($73,533,304 total)
14. Finding Neverland – $2,398,968 ($57,364,803 total)
15. Hotel Rwanda – $2,206,574 ($21,170,939 total)
18. The Phantom of the Opera – $1,384,598 ($60,158,065 total)
21. Being Julia – $785,082 ($7,400,118 total)
25. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $405,255 ($148,624,606 total)
30. The Polar Express – $240,955 ($205,740,715 total)
33. Ray – $189,579 ($94,859,899 total)
34. Born Into Brothels – $183,174 ($648,979 total)
35. Vera Drake – $180,902 ($3,880,651 total)
36. The Incredibles – $178,195 ($327,959,046 total)
39. The Chorus – $149,834 ($840,784 total)
40. A Very Long Engagement – $142,987 ($7,658,490 total)
42. The Sea Inside – $128,174 ($1,042,260 total)
44. House of Flying Daggers – $121,449 ($13,390,308 total)
52. Kinsey – $61,234 ($12,139,544 total)
67. Downfall – $23,049 ($23,049 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Aviator: Picture, Director, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Alan Alda), Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound Mixing
• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Born Into Brothels : Documentary Feature
• The Chorus: Original Song (“Look To Your Path”), Foreign Language Film
• Downfall : Foreign Language Film
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Hotel Rwanda: Actor (Don Cheadle), Supporting Actress (Sophie Okonedo), Original Screenplay
• House of Flying Daggers: Cinematography
• The Incredibles: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O]
• Kinsey: Supporting Actress (Laura Linney)
• Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events: Original Score, Makeup [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
• Million Dollar Baby: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• The Phantom of the Opera : Original Song (“Learn To Be Lonely”), Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Polar Express : Original Song (“Believe”), Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Ray: Picture, Director, Actor (Jamie Foxx) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing [O]
• The Sea Inside : Makeup, Foreign Language Film [O]
• 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

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 18-20, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

7. American Beauty – $5,592,445 ($80,410,429 total) {week 23}
10. The Cider House Rules – $3,409,131 ($26,962,998 total) {week 11}
11. The Green Mile – $2,849,438 ($128,312,264 total) {week 11}
12. The Hurricane – $2,754,810 ($46,380,951 total) {week 8}
14. Stuart Little – $2,202,112 ($134,785,316 total) {week 10}
16. The Sixth Sense – $1,933,879 ($282,005,620 total) {week 29}
18. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $951,425 ($79,397,608 total) {week 9}
19. Toy Story 2 – $675,812 ($239,664,408 total) {week 14}
20. Angela’s Ashes – $741,753 ($11,339,958 total) {week 9}
21. Topsy-Turvy – $611,304 ($4,087,733 total) {week 10}
22. Boys Don’t Cry – $583,099 ($4,370,540 total) {week 20}
23. Girl, Interrupted – $506,841 ($28,061,454 total) {week 9}
26. Magnolia – $447,773 ($21,232,333 total) {week 10}
28. The End of the Affair – $382,162 ($10,143,334 total) {week 12}
29. All About My Mother – $349,764 ($5,649,748 total) {week 16}
30. Anna and the King – $290,781 ($38,503,772 total) {week 10}
32. Being John Malkovich – $242,969 ($21,761,714 total) {week 17}
33. The Insider – $241,266 ($26,973,740 total) {week 16}
34. Sweet and Lowdown – $234,396 ($2,917,807 total) {week 12}
37. Sleepy Hollow – $198,436 ($98,289,627 total) {week 14}
39. Snow Falling on Cedars – $158,415 ($13,837,118 total) {week 9}
46. Bicentennial Man – $118,422 ($57,369,238 total) {week 10}
48. The Straight Story – $106,662 ($5,591,098 total) {week 19}
51. Titus – $94,536 ($1,147,398 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. American Beauty – $8,424,982 ($121,137,789 total)
10. The Cider House Rules – $5,135,834 ($40,619,581 total)
11. The Green Mile – $4,292,660 ($193,301,593 total)
12. The Hurricane – $4,150,103 ($69,872,602 total)
14. Stuart Little – $3,317,467 ($203,053,203 total)
16. The Sixth Sense – $2,913,376 ($424,839,635 total)
18. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $1,433,316 ($119,611,981 total)
19. Toy Story 2 – $1,018,106 ($361,052,874 total)
20. Angela’s Ashes – $1,117,446 ($17,083,573 total)
21. Topsy-Turvy – $920,926 ($6,158,143 total)
22. Boys Don’t Cry – $878,435 ($6,584,190 total)
23. Girl, Interrupted – $763,553 ($42,274,398 total)
26. Magnolia – $674,567 ($31,986,372 total)
28. The End of the Affair – $575,725 ($15,280,867 total)
29. All About My Mother – $526,917 ($8,511,309 total)
30. Anna and the King – $438,060 ($58,005,682 total)
32. Being John Malkovich – $366,031 ($32,783,881 total)
33. The Insider – $363,466 ($40,635,764 total)
34. Sweet and Lowdown – $353,116 ($4,395,657 total)
37. Sleepy Hollow – $298,943 ($148,072,685 total)
39. Snow Falling on Cedars – $238,651 ($20,845,528 total)
46. Bicentennial Man – $178,402 ($86,426,385 total)
48. The Straight Story – $160,686 ($8,422,953 total)
51. Titus – $142,418 ($1,728,548 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
• Angela’s Ashes: Original Score
• Anna and the King: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Being John Malkovich: Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay
• Bicentennial Man: Makeup
• Boys Don’t Cry: Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actress (Chloe Sevigny)
• 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
• Girl, Interrupted: Supporting Actress (Angelina Jolie)
• The Green Mile : Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
• The Hurricane : Actor (Denzel Washington)
• The Insider : Picture, Director, Actor (Russell Crowe), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• Magnolia: Supporting Actor (Tom Cruise), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Save Me”)
• 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
• Snow Falling on Cedars: Cinematography
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Stuart Little: Visual Effects
• Sweet and Lowdown: Actor (Sean Penn), Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton)
• The Talented Mr. Ripley : Supporting Actor (Jude Law), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Titus: Costume Design
• Topsy-Turvy: Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O]
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 17-19, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

6. Legends of the Fall – $4,006,097 ($53,906,966 total) {week 9}
8. Forrest Gump – $3,044,280 ($303,609,566 total) {week 33}
9. Pulp Fiction – $2,877,401 ($79,745,176 total) {week 19}
10. Nobody’s Fool – $2,478,487 ($30,945,022 total) {week 1}
12. The Madness of King George – $1,589,644 ($4,862,747 total) {week 8}
13. Little Women – $1,134,576 ($46,137,203 total) {week 9}
15. Quiz Show – $1,027,618 ($23,055,295 total) {week 23}
16. The Lion King – $1,007,812 ($311,275,225 total) {week 36}
999. A Great Day in Harlem – $21,078 ($21,078 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Legends of the Fall – $7,478,048 ($100,626,337 total)
8. Forrest Gump – $5,682,656 ($566,737,857 total)
9. Pulp Fiction – $5,371,149 ($148,857,662 total)
10. Nobody’s Fool – $4,626,509 ($57,764,041 total)
12. The Madness of King George – $2,967,335 ($9,077,128 total)
13. Little Women – $2,117,875 ($86,122,779 total)
15. Quiz Show – $1,918,220 ($43,036,551 total)
16. The Lion King – $1,881,249 ($581,047,087 total)
999. A Great Day in Harlem – $39,346 ($39,346 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• A Great Day in Harlem: Documentary Feature
• Legends of the Fall: Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound
• The Lion King : Original Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” [O], “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”), Original Score [O]
• Little Women: Actress (Winona Ryder), Original Score, Costume Design
• The Madness of King George : Actor (Nigel Hawthorne), Supporting Actress (Helen Mirren), Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction [O]
• Nobody’s Fool: Actor (Paul Newman), Adapted Screenplay
• Pulp Fiction: Picture, Director, Actor (John Travolta), Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Supporting Actress (Uma Thurman), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• Quiz Show: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Paul Scofield), Adapted Screenplay

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 16-18, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

1. Driving Miss Daisy – $9,834,744 ($45,233,059 total) {week 10}
5. Born on the Fourth of July – $4,100,000 ($53,587,994 total) {week 9}
8. Glory – $2,683,350 ($16,251,247 total) {week 10}
9. The Little Mermaid – $1,774,352 ($74,262,415 total) {week 14}
10. Steel Magnolias – $1,550,400 ($71,319,818 total) {week 14}
999. Back to the Future Part II – $615,600 ($114,179,021 total) {week 13}
999. Cinema Paradiso – $167,065 ($220,301 total) {week 3}
999. My Left Foot – $676,795 ($3,407,658 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Driving Miss Daisy – $18,878,988 ($86,830,364 total)
5. Born on the Fourth of July – $7,870,449 ($102,868,679 total)
8. Glory – $5,151,017 ($31,196,247 total)
9. The Little Mermaid – $3,406,085 ($142,555,747 total)
10. Steel Magnolias – $2,976,182 ($136,907,074 total)
999. Back to the Future Part II – $1,181,719 ($219,180,532 total)
999. Cinema Paradiso – $320,702 ($422,895 total)
999. My Left Foot – $1,299,190 ($6,541,414 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future Part II: Visual Effects
• Born on the Fourth of July: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Cruise), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound
• Cinema Paradiso: Foreign Language Film
• 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]
• Glory: Supporting Actor (Denzel Washington) [O], Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound [O]
• The Little Mermaid: Original Song (“Kiss the Girl”, “Under the Sea” [O]), Original Score [O]
• My Left Foot: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) [O], Supporting Actress (Brenda Fricker) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Steel Magnolias: Supporting Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 15-17, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $7,770,244 ($160,481,091 total) {week 11}
2. Witness – $6,497,155 ($12,770,386 total) {week 2}
4. The Killing Fields – $3,234,083 ($15,631,365 total) {week 16}
6. A Passage to India – $2,578,374 ($16,644,219 total) {week 10}
13. Amadeus – $1,214,634 ($27,267,335 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $17,773,065 ($367,072,242 total)
2. Witness – $14,861,098 ($29,210,010 total)
4. The Killing Fields – $7,397,395 ($35,753,995 total)
6. A Passage to India – $5,897,577 ($38,070,721 total)
13. Amadeus – $2,778,261 ($62,369,228 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]
• Beverly Hills Cop: Original Screenplay
• 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
• Witness: Picture, Directing, Actor (Harrison Ford), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Art Direction