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

Chappie (Wide)

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

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 5-7, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

1. Alice in Wonderland – $116,101,023 ($116,101,023 total) {week 1}
5. Avatar – $8,118,102 ($720,607,444 total) {week 12}
9. Crazy Heart – $3,312,591 ($29,532,002 total) {week 12}
12. The Wolfman – $1,636,835 ($60,446,320 total) {week 4}
14. The Blind Side – $1,257,186 ($250,467,047 total) {week 16}
15. The Last Station – $717,675 ($4,527,796 total) {week 8}
16. Up in the Air – $607,465 ($83,011,223 total) {week 14}
21. Sherlock Holmes – $406,338 ($207,022,408 total) {week 11}
22. A Single Man – $376,387 ($8,514,558 total) {week 13}
23. An Education – $365,603 ($12,042,219 total) {week 22}
25. The Princess and the Frog – $307,107 ($103,702,725 total) {week 15}
28. A Prophet – $222,524 ($475,151 total) {week 2}
31. Precious – $181,674 ($47,395,661 total) {week 18}
33. The Lovely Bones – $170,986 ($43,818,839 total) {week 13}
34. The White Ribbon – $140,774 ($1,710,787 total) {week 10}
35. The Young Victoria – $134,896 ($10,422,449 total) {week 12}
38. Invictus – $121,276 ($37,311,423 total) {week 13}
43. Ajami – $53,241 ($329,088 total) {week 5}
45. The Secret of Kells – $39,826 ($39,826 total) {week 1}
46. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $37,848 ($7,504,196 total) {week 11}
49. The Messenger – $32,118 ($1,006,655 total) {week 17}
54. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $26,794 ($20,860,820 total) {week 17}
55. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $25,797 ($208,345 total) {week 6}
66. Nine – $9,552 ($19,664,001 total) {week 12}
105. The Cove – $44 ($853,875 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Alice in Wonderland – $119,485,463 ($119,485,463 total)
5. Avatar – $8,354,751 ($741,613,745 total)
9. Crazy Heart – $3,409,156 ($30,392,884 total)
12. The Wolfman – $1,684,550 ($62,208,380 total)
14. The Blind Side – $1,293,834 ($257,768,368 total)
15. The Last Station – $738,596 ($4,659,785 total)
16. Up in the Air – $625,173 ($85,431,069 total)
21. Sherlock Holmes – $418,183 ($213,057,282 total)
22. A Single Man – $387,359 ($8,762,764 total)
23. An Education – $376,261 ($12,393,260 total)
25. The Princess and the Frog – $316,059 ($106,725,745 total)
28. A Prophet – $229,011 ($489,002 total)
31. Precious – $186,970 ($48,777,284 total)
33. The Lovely Bones – $175,970 ($45,096,194 total)
34. The White Ribbon – $144,878 ($1,760,658 total)
35. The Young Victoria – $138,828 ($10,726,272 total)
38. Invictus – $124,811 ($38,399,082 total)
43. Ajami – $54,793 ($338,681 total)
45. The Secret of Kells – $40,987 ($40,987 total)
46. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $38,951 ($7,722,949 total)
49. The Messenger – $33,054 ($1,036,000 total)
54. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $27,575 ($21,468,930 total)
55. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $26,549 ($214,418 total)
66. Nine – $9,830 ($20,237,223 total)
105. The Cove – $45 ($878,766 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ajami: Foreign Language Film
• Alice in Wonderland: Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Visual Effects
• 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”)
• A Prophet: Foreign Language Film
• The Secret of Kells : Animated Feature
• 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 Mar. 11-13, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

6. Million Dollar Baby – $5,153,356 ($84,054,207 total) {week 13}
12. The Aviator – $1,359,048 ($99,061,021 total) {week 13}
14. Sideways – $1,326,550 ($68,124,638 total) {week 21}
16. Hotel Rwanda – $678,012 ($21,761,845 total) {week 12}
17. Finding Neverland – $604,386 ($50,497,544 total) {week 18}
20. The Incredibles – $404,137 ($260,658,938 total) {week 19}
22. Born Into Brothels – $373,488 ($1,525,508 total) {week 10}
23. Downfall – $329,539 ($582,198 total) {week 4}
24. The Phantom of the Opera – $322,288 ($49,963,653 total) {week 12}
32. The Sea Inside – $151,236 ($1,477,269 total) {week 13}
34. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $125,166 ($118,198,795 total) {week 1}
36. Being Julia – $122,619 ($7,533,009 total) {week 22}
43. The Chorus – $83,725 ($1,038,928 total) {week 9}
49. House of Flying Daggers – $56,475 ($10,856,306 total) {week 15}
50. Vera Drake – $52,885 ($3,627,889 total) {week 23}
61. Ray – $38,695 ($75,305,995 total) {week 20}
75. Kinsey – $13,827 ($9,727,172 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Million Dollar Baby – $6,528,120 ($106,477,404 total)
12. The Aviator – $1,721,602 ($125,487,596 total)
14. Sideways – $1,680,435 ($86,298,293 total)
16. Hotel Rwanda – $858,886 ($27,567,267 total)
17. Finding Neverland – $765,618 ($63,968,808 total)
20. The Incredibles – $511,949 ($330,195,098 total)
22. Born Into Brothels – $473,124 ($1,932,469 total)
23. Downfall – $417,450 ($737,511 total)
24. The Phantom of the Opera – $408,265 ($63,292,490 total)
32. The Sea Inside – $191,581 ($1,871,361 total)
34. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $158,557 ($149,730,767 total)
36. Being Julia – $155,330 ($9,542,595 total)
43. The Chorus – $106,060 ($1,316,084 total)
49. House of Flying Daggers – $71,541 ($13,752,450 total)
50. Vera Drake – $66,993 ($4,595,703 total)
61. Ray – $49,018 ($95,395,426 total)
75. Kinsey – $17,516 ($12,322,096 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
• 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

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 10-12, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

5. American Beauty – $3,664,215 ($98,029,002 total) {week 26}
6. The Cider House Rules – $3,502,676 ($41,961,085 total) {week 14}
12. Wonder Boys – $2,612,849 ($14,967,348 total) {week 3}
20. The Sixth Sense – $967,778 ($286,827,314 total) {week 32}
22. The Green Mile – $657,427 ($133,580,799 total) {week 14}
23. Sleepy Hollow – $564,229 ($99,174,633 total) {week 17}
24. Stuart Little – $515,031 ($137,465,579 total) {week 13}
25. Boys Don’t Cry – $462,078 ($6,070,561 total) {week 23}
27. The Hurricane – $326,845 ($49,481,421 total) {week 11}
28. Toy Story 2 – $275,693 ($241,357,162 total) {week 17}
29. Sweet and Lowdown – $244,662 ($3,609,599 total) {week 15}
32. Topsy-Turvy – $193,460 ($5,216,423 total) {week 13}
35. Angela’s Ashes – $143,106 ($12,531,590 total) {week 12}
36. All About My Mother – $139,943 ($6,439,518 total) {week 19}
37. The Insider – $126,303 ($28,152,558 total) {week 19}
38. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $118,162 ($80,425,238 total) {week 12}
44. Magnolia – $88,317 ($21,903,515 total) {week 13}
45. Snow Falling on Cedars – $83,050 ($14,378,353 total) {week 12}
46. Being John Malkovich – $82,514 ($22,268,399 total) {week 20}
50. Anna and the King – $71,935 ($39,102,320 total) {week 13}
51. The Straight Story – $68,011 ($5,853,100 total) {week 22}
53. Titus – $54,850 ($1,386,790 total) {week 12}
57. The End of the Affair – $42,432 ($10,614,915 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. American Beauty – $5,520,116 ($147,680,055 total)
6. The Cider House Rules – $5,276,759 ($63,214,102 total)
12. Wonder Boys – $3,936,240 ($22,548,213 total)
20. The Sixth Sense – $1,457,951 ($432,103,486 total)
22. The Green Mile – $990,410 ($201,238,606 total)
23. Sleepy Hollow – $850,007 ($149,405,941 total)
24. Stuart Little – $775,891 ($207,091,002 total)
25. Boys Don’t Cry – $696,118 ($9,145,261 total)
27. The Hurricane – $492,390 ($74,543,439 total)
28. Toy Story 2 – $415,330 ($363,602,997 total)
29. Sweet and Lowdown – $368,582 ($5,437,837 total)
32. Topsy-Turvy – $291,446 ($7,858,507 total)
35. Angela’s Ashes – $215,588 ($18,878,759 total)
36. All About My Mother – $210,823 ($9,701,092 total)
37. The Insider – $190,275 ($42,411,646 total)
38. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $178,010 ($121,160,099 total)
44. Magnolia – $133,049 ($32,997,503 total)
45. Snow Falling on Cedars – $125,114 ($21,660,895 total)
46. Being John Malkovich – $124,307 ($33,547,198 total)
50. Anna and the King – $108,370 ($58,907,391 total)
51. The Straight Story – $102,458 ($8,817,657 total)
53. Titus – $82,631 ($2,089,190 total)
57. The End of the Affair – $63,924 ($15,991,301 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
• 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
• 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”)
• Wonder Boys: Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Things Have Changed”), Editing

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 10-12, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

5. Roommates – $2,585,429 ($7,744,385 total) {week 1}
7. Pulp Fiction – $2,142,436 ($88,691,485 total) {week 22}
8. Forrest Gump – $1,804,188 ($312,018,254 total) {week 36}
10. Legends of the Fall – $1,271,387 ($61,516,834 total) {week 12}
11. The Madness of King George – $1,179,899 ($9,595,312 total) {week 11}
12. The Shawshank Redemption – $1,120,701 ($22,215,254 total) {week 25}
14. Nobody’s Fool – $974,718 ($36,727,047 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Roommates – $4,826,134 ($14,456,185 total)
7. Pulp Fiction – $3,999,214 ($165,557,439 total)
8. Forrest Gump – $3,367,818 ($582,434,074 total)
10. Legends of the Fall – $2,373,256 ($114,831,423 total)
11. The Madness of King George – $2,202,478 ($17,911,249 total)
12. The Shawshank Redemption – $2,091,975 ($41,468,474 total)
14. Nobody’s Fool – $1,819,474 ($68,557,154 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]
• Legends of the Fall: Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound
• 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
• Roommates: Makeup
• The Shawshank Redemption : Picture, Actor (Morgan Freeman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 9-11, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Hunt for Red October – $14,058,772 ($37,656,664 total) {week 2}
5. Driving Miss Daisy – $3,467,147 ($65,332,259 total) {week 13}
8. Born on the Fourth of July – $1,453,230 ($61,782,544 total) {week 12}
9. Glory – $863,225 ($21,467,102 total) {week 13}
11. Steel Magnolias – $807,120 ($75,656,368 total) {week 17}
13. My Left Foot – $728,042 ($6,801,651 total) {week 18}
999. Back to the Future Part II – $517,775 ($116,425,676 total) {week 16}
999. Cinema Paradiso – $131,057 ($752,536 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Hunt for Red October – $26,987,525 ($72,286,551 total)
5. Driving Miss Daisy – $6,655,611 ($125,413,225 total)
8. Born on the Fourth of July – $2,789,652 ($118,599,115 total)
9. Glory – $1,657,065 ($41,208,716 total)
11. Steel Magnolias – $1,549,365 ($145,231,609 total)
13. My Left Foot – $1,397,565 ($13,056,597 total)
999. Back to the Future Part II – $993,932 ($223,493,260 total)
999. Cinema Paradiso – $251,580 ($1,444,584 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 Hunt for Red October: Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Editing [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 Mar. 8-10, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

1. Witness – $4,506,587 ($31,596,283 total) {week 5}
2. Beverly Hills Cop – $4,427,390 ($180,418,167 total) {week 14}
7. The Killing Fields – $1,608,401 ($23,222,224 total) {week 19}
10. A Passage to India – $1,075,039 ($21,875,907 total) {week 13}
11. Amadeus – $831,126 ($31,329,290 total) {week 25}
999. Mask – $135,499 ($135,499 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Witness – $10,308,024 ($72,270,935 total)
2. Beverly Hills Cop – $10,126,875 ($412,674,793 total)
7. The Killing Fields – $3,678,934 ($53,116,749 total)
10. A Passage to India – $2,458,962 ($50,037,286 total)
11. Amadeus – $1,901,054 ($71,660,235 total)
999. Mask – $309,930 ($309,930 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]
• Mask: Makeup [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