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 Jan. 2-4, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $18,691,248 ($79,297,086 total) {week 2}
5. The Blind Side – $11,912,749 ($208,476,067 total) {week 7}
9. Doubt – $5,000,893 ($18,705,481 total) {week 4}
10. Slumdog Millionaire – $4,690,769 ($28,676,598 total) {week 8}
12. Bolt – $3,291,944 ($109,917,145 total) {week 7}
16. Milk – $1,888,510 ($17,157,994 total) {week 6}
17. The Reader – $1,598,472 ($3,553,578 total) {week 4}
18. Frost/Nixon – $1,400,484 ($6,291,176 total) {week 5}
19. Australia – $1,163,169 ($46,686,713 total) {week 6}
21. Revolutionary Road – $985,961 ($1,375,749 total) {week 2}
23. The Wrestler – $437,815 ($1,762,043 total) {week 3}
29. Rachel Getting Married – $166,733 ($10,307,424 total) {week 14}
32. Defiance – $123,513 ($200,614 total) {week 1}
38. Changeling – $80,040 ($35,707,327 total) {week 11}
40. Happy-Go-Lucky – $70,229 ($3,310,429 total) {week 13}
43. The Dark Knight – $65,140 ($531,001,578 total) {week 25}
47. Waltz with Bashir – $53,564 ($220,441 total) {week 2}
54. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $40,424 ($22,830,692 total) {week 21}
64. Man on Wire – $10,919 ($2,942,990 total) {week 24}
71. WALL-E – $7,148 ($223,806,889 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $19,787,801 ($83,949,182 total)
5. The Blind Side – $12,611,630 ($220,706,663 total)
9. Doubt – $5,294,279 ($19,802,869 total)
10. Slumdog Millionaire – $4,965,961 ($30,358,958 total)
12. Bolt – $3,485,071 ($116,365,618 total)
16. Milk – $1,999,303 ($18,164,596 total)
17. The Reader – $1,692,249 ($3,762,055 total)
18. Frost/Nixon – $1,482,646 ($6,660,258 total)
19. Australia – $1,231,408 ($49,425,667 total)
21. Revolutionary Road – $1,043,804 ($1,456,460 total)
23. The Wrestler – $463,500 ($1,865,416 total)
29. Rachel Getting Married – $176,515 ($10,912,126 total)
32. Defiance – $130,759 ($212,383 total)
38. Changeling – $84,736 ($37,802,157 total)
40. Happy-Go-Lucky – $74,349 ($3,504,641 total)
43. The Dark Knight – $68,962 ($562,153,671 total)
47. Waltz with Bashir – $56,706 ($233,374 total)
54. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $42,796 ($24,170,093 total)
64. Man on Wire – $11,560 ($3,115,645 total)
71. WALL-E – $7,567 ($236,936,893 total)

Oscar Details:

• Australia: Costume Design
• The Blind Side: Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
• Bolt: Animated Feature
• Changeling: Actress (Angelina Jolie), Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Picture, Director, Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actress (Taraji P. Henson), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Dark Knight: Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Defiance: Original Score
• Doubt: Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), Supporting Actress (Viola Davis), Adapted Screenplay
• Frost/Nixon: Picture, Director, Actor (Frank Langella), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Happy-Go-Lucky: Original Screenplay
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• Milk: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Josh Brolin), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
• Rachel Getting Married: Actress (Anne Hathaway)
• The Reader: Picture, Director, Actress (Kate Winslet) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography
• Revolutionary Road: Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon), Art Direction, Costume Design
• Slumdog Millionaire: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Jai Ho”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz) [O]
• WALL-E: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Down to Earth”), Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Waltz with Bashir: Foreign Language Film
• The Wrestler: Actor (Mickey Rourke), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 2-4, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $28,180,378 ($290,410,961 total) {week 3}
3. Something’s Gotta Give – $11,705,123 ($81,211,676 total) {week 4}
4. Cold Mountain – $11,579,747 ($43,737,222 total) {week 2}
8. The Last Samurai – $7,373,719 ($90,017,337 total) {week 5}
12. Big Fish – $2,544,450 ($8,454,208 total) {week 4}
16. House of Sand and Fog – $1,788,293 ($5,383,663 total) {week 3}
17. 21 Grams – $1,340,872 ($7,272,165 total) {week 7}
18. In America – $1,229,445 ($5,305,891 total) {week 6}
19. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $1,117,880 ($83,006,144 total) {week 8}
24. Brother Bear – $529,059 ($83,297,298 total) {week 11}
25. Lost in Translation – $499,543 ($31,586,245 total) {week 17}
26. Mystic River – $409,678 ($54,300,385 total) {week 13}
28. The Cooler – $340,002 ($1,836,224 total) {week 6}
29. The Triplets of Belleville – $282,236 ($1,097,053 total) {week 6}
31. Monster – $230,642 ($455,848 total) {week 2}
33. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $210,348 ($865,240 total) {week 4}
46. The Fog of War – $81,427 ($276,427 total) {week 3}
57. My Architect – $28,984 ($366,039 total) {week 8}
65. Pieces of April – $21,413 ($2,397,565 total) {week 12}
76. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $7,784 ($305,411,224 total) {week 26}
81. City of God – $6,081 ($4,792,553 total) {week 51}
84. Dirty Pretty Things – $5,754 ($8,075,861 total) {week 25}
96. The Weather Underground – $1,612 ($500,877 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $69,704,736 ($718,337,393 total)
3. Something’s Gotta Give – $28,952,859 ($200,878,725 total)
4. Cold Mountain – $28,642,739 ($108,184,904 total)
8. The Last Samurai – $18,239,043 ($222,659,706 total)
12. Big Fish – $6,293,749 ($20,911,655 total)
16. House of Sand and Fog – $4,423,379 ($13,316,599 total)
17. 21 Grams – $3,316,674 ($17,987,847 total)
18. In America – $3,041,057 ($13,124,229 total)
19. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $2,765,099 ($205,317,378 total)
24. Brother Bear – $1,308,638 ($206,037,553 total)
25. Lost in Translation – $1,235,630 ($78,129,217 total)
26. Mystic River – $1,013,347 ($134,313,102 total)
28. The Cooler – $841,002 ($4,541,937 total)
29. The Triplets of Belleville – $698,116 ($2,713,583 total)
31. Monster – $570,498 ($1,127,549 total)
33. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $520,300 ($2,140,189 total)
46. The Fog of War – $201,411 ($683,748 total)
57. My Architect – $71,693 ($905,405 total)
65. Pieces of April – $52,965 ($5,930,426 total)
76. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $19,254 ($755,440,847 total)
81. City of God – $15,041 ($11,854,477 total)
84. Dirty Pretty Things – $14,233 ($19,975,806 total)
96. The Weather Underground – $3,987 ($1,238,929 total)

Oscar Details:

• 21 Grams: Actress (Naomi Watts), Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro)
• Big Fish: Original Score
• Brother Bear: Animated Feature
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Cold Mountain: Actor (Jude Law), Supporting Actress (Renee Zellweger) [O], Original Song (“Scarlet Tide”), Original Song (“You Will Be My Ain True Love”), Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• The Cooler: Supporting Actor (Alec Baldwin)
• Dirty Pretty Things: Original Screenplay
• The Fog of War: Documentary Feature [O]
• Girl with a Pearl Earring: Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• House of Sand and Fog: Actor (Ben Kingsley), Supporting Actress (Shohreh Aghdashloo), Original Score
• In America: Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Original Screenplay
• The Last Samurai: Supporting Actor (Ken Watanabe), Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Into the West”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound Mixing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Lost in Translation: Picture, Director, Actor (Bill Murray), Original Screenplay [O]
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: Picture, Director, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Monster: Actress (Charlize Theron) [O]
• My Architect: Documentary Feature
• Mystic River: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) [O], Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), Adapted Screenplay
• Pieces of April: Supporting Actress (Patricia Clarkson)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: Actor (Johnny Depp), Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Something’s Gotta Give: Actress (Diane Keaton)
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 1-3, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. Patch Adams – $19,050,675 ($65,495,000 total) {week 2}
4. The Prince of Egypt – $11,244,612 ($66,351,243 total) {week 3}
5. A Bug’s Life – $8,830,882 ($136,420,446 total) {week 7}
6. Mighty Joe Young – $8,119,749 ($28,148,105 total) {week 2}
10. Shakespeare in Love – $3,172,107 ($9,411,676 total) {week 4}
17. Life Is Beautiful – $1,073,415 ($11,409,840 total) {week 11}
18. Elizabeth – $1,037,419 ($16,510,380 total) {week 9}
20. A Simple Plan – $512,070 ($2,515,990 total) {week 4}
23. The Thin Red Line – $375,636 ($1,020,438 total) {week 2}
24. Babe: Pig in the City – $364,030 ($16,132,210 total) {week 6}
32. Gods and Monsters – $255,344 ($1,922,758 total) {week 9}
34. Little Voice – $206,512 ($880,046 total) {week 2}
37. Central Station – $140,153 ($695,022 total) {week 7}
39. Pleasantville – $106,854 ($38,868,118 total) {week 11}
43. Hilary and Jackie – $92,956 ($134,929 total) {week 1}
44. A Civil Action – $70,869 ($226,465 total) {week 2}
45. American History X – $68,990 ($6,114,166 total) {week 9}
47. Affliction – $63,979 ($90,017 total) {week 1}
50. The Mask of Zorro – $55,810 ($93,771,072 total) {week 25}
53. The Red Violin – $46,353 ($1,191,999 total) {week 10}
58. Saving Private Ryan – $34,590 ($190,839,849 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Patch Adams – $29,776,055 ($102,368,169 total)
4. The Prince of Egypt – $17,575,240 ($103,706,470 total)
5. A Bug’s Life – $13,802,599 ($213,224,083 total)
6. Mighty Joe Young – $12,691,104 ($43,995,266 total)
10. Shakespeare in Love – $4,957,978 ($14,710,375 total)
17. Life Is Beautiful – $1,677,739 ($17,833,490 total)
18. Elizabeth – $1,621,478 ($25,805,594 total)
20. A Simple Plan – $800,361 ($3,932,473 total)
23. The Thin Red Line – $587,116 ($1,594,937 total)
24. Babe: Pig in the City – $568,976 ($25,214,517 total)
32. Gods and Monsters – $399,101 ($3,005,256 total)
34. Little Voice – $322,777 ($1,375,505 total)
37. Central Station – $219,058 ($1,086,314 total)
39. Pleasantville – $167,012 ($60,750,562 total)
43. Hilary and Jackie – $145,289 ($210,893 total)
44. A Civil Action – $110,768 ($353,963 total)
45. American History X – $107,831 ($9,556,393 total)
47. Affliction – $99,999 ($140,696 total)
50. The Mask of Zorro – $87,231 ($146,563,447 total)
53. The Red Violin – $72,449 ($1,863,085 total)
58. Saving Private Ryan – $54,064 ($298,281,181 total)

Oscar Details:

• Affliction: Actor (Nick Nolte), Supporting Actor (James Coburn) [O]
• American History X: Actor (Edward Norton)
• Babe: Pig in the City: Original Song (“That’ll Do”)
• A Bug’s Life: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Central Station: Actress (Fernanda Montenegro), Foreign Language Film
• A Civil Action: Supporting Actor (Robert Duvall), Cinematography
• Elizabeth: Picture, Actress (Cate Blanchett), Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup
• Gods and Monsters: Actor (Ian McKellen), Supporting Actress (Lynn Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Hilary and Jackie: Actress (Emily Watson), Supporting Actress (Rachel Griffiths)
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Little Voice: Supporting Actress (Brenda Blethyn)
• The Mask of Zorro: Sound, Sound Effects
• Mighty Joe Young: Visual Effects
• Patch Adams: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Pleasantville: Original Dramatic Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Prince of Egypt: Original Song (“When You Believe”) [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score
• The Red Violin : Original Score [O]
• Saving Private Ryan: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• Shakespeare in Love: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• A Simple Plan: Supporting Actor (Billy Bob Thornton), Adapted Screenplay
• The Thin Red Line: Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 7-9, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Mrs. Doubtfire – $11,536,024 ($138,317,167 total) {week 7}
6. Shadowlands – $4,006,417 ($4,190,660 total) {week 2}
8. Beethoven’s 2nd – $3,556,005 ($36,623,520 total) {week 4}
9. Schindler’s List – $2,603,636 ($9,861,441 total) {week 4}
11. The Piano – $1,810,099 ($20,009,133 total) {week 9}
999. In the Name of the Father – $238,849 ($494,008 total) {week 2}
999. Jurassic Park – $610,855 ($340,414,435 total) {week 31}
999. Philadelphia – $141,015 ($838,696 total) {week 3}
999. Six Degrees of Separation – $189,966 ($1,108,744 total) {week 5}
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $75,307 ($457,665 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Mrs. Doubtfire – $21,912,926 ($262,736,437 total)
6. Shadowlands – $7,610,275 ($7,960,249 total)
8. Beethoven’s 2nd – $6,754,708 ($69,567,165 total)
9. Schindler’s List – $4,945,663 ($18,732,020 total)
11. The Piano – $3,438,322 ($38,007,779 total)
999. In the Name of the Father – $453,699 ($938,379 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $1,160,332 ($646,624,549 total)
999. Philadelphia – $267,861 ($1,593,121 total)
999. Six Degrees of Separation – $360,845 ($2,106,083 total)
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $143,047 ($869,345 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beethoven’s 2nd: Original Song (“The Day I Fall in Love”)
• In the Name of the Father: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Supporting Actor (Pete Postlethwaite), Supporting Actress (Emma Thompson), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Mrs. Doubtfire: Makeup [O]
• Philadelphia: Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Philadelphia”), Original Song (“Streets of Philadelphia”) [O]
• The Piano: Picture, Director, Actress (Holly Hunter) [O], Supporting Actress (Anna Paquin) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Schindler’s List: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Liam Neeson), Supporting Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup, Sound
• Shadowlands: Actress (Debra Winger), Adapted Screenplay
• Six Degrees of Separation: Actress (Stockard Channing)
• What’s Eating Gilbert Grape: Supporting Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 6-8, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Rain Man – $9,245,626 ($55,258,945 total) {week 4}
3. The Accidental Tourist – $6,118,618 ($6,557,452 total) {week 3}
4. Working Girl – $5,011,589 ($23,485,828 total) {week 3}
7. Tequila Sunrise – $3,003,110 ($32,681,732 total) {week 6}
9. Scrooged – $1,538,761 ($57,009,579 total) {week 7}
999. Beaches – $202,492 ($917,184 total) {week 3}
999. Dangerous Liaisons – $187,297 ($774,245 total) {week 3}
999. Mississippi Burning – $255,914 ($1,541,313 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Rain Man – $18,491,252 ($110,517,890 total)
3. The Accidental Tourist – $12,237,236 ($13,114,904 total)
4. Working Girl – $10,023,178 ($46,971,656 total)
7. Tequila Sunrise – $6,006,220 ($65,363,464 total)
9. Scrooged – $3,077,522 ($114,019,158 total)
999. Beaches – $404,984 ($1,834,368 total)
999. Dangerous Liaisons – $374,594 ($1,548,490 total)
999. Mississippi Burning – $511,828 ($3,082,626 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Accidental Tourist: Picture, Supporting Actress (Geena Davis) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Beaches: Art Direction
• Dangerous Liaisons: Picture, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O]
• Mississippi Burning: Picture, Director, Actor (Gene Hackman), Supporting Actress (Frances McDormand), Editing, Cinematography [O], Sound
• Rain Man: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Dustin Hoffman) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction
• Scrooged: Makeup
• Tequila Sunrise: Cinematography
• Working Girl: Picture, Director, Actress (Melanie Griffith), Supporting Actress (Joan Cusack), Supporting Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Original Song (“Let the River Run”) [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 6-8, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Terms of Endearment – $6,234,421 ($48,435,726 total) {week 7}
4. Yentl – $2,799,566 ($22,489,899 total) {week 8}
7. Silkwood – $2,137,349 ($10,845,623 total) {week 4}
10. The Big Chill – $1,692,413 ($45,607,821 total) {week 15}
13. To Be or Not to Be – $1,498,540 ($8,957,242 total) {week 4}
999. Return of the Jedi – $771,287 ($250,380,055 total) {week 33}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Terms of Endearment – $14,732,531 ($114,458,233 total)
4. Yentl – $6,615,641 ($53,145,773 total)
7. Silkwood – $5,050,759 ($25,629,240 total)
10. The Big Chill – $3,999,333 ($107,775,625 total)
13. To Be or Not to Be – $3,541,193 ($21,166,816 total)
999. Return of the Jedi – $1,822,625 ($591,671,916 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Big Chill: Picture, Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Screenplay
• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• Silkwood: Directing, Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actress (Cher), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Terms of Endearment: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actress (Shirley MacLaine) [O], Actress (Debra Winger), Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction, Sound
• To Be or Not to Be: Supporting Actor (Charles Durning)
• Yentl: Supporting Actress (Amy Irving), Original Song (“Papa, Can You Hear Me?”), Original Song (“The Way He Makes Me Feel”), Original Song Score [O], Art Direction