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

Leviathan (Limited, releases 12/31/14)

Oscar Potential: Foreign Language Film.

A Most Violent Year (Limited, releases 12/31/14)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Oscar Isaac), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 1-3, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

1. Avatar – $68,490,688 ($352,114,898 total) {week 3}
2. Sherlock Holmes – $36,612,481 ($138,715,437 total) {week 2}
5. The Blind Side – $11,912,749 ($208,476,067 total) {week 7}
6. Up in the Air – $10,720,052 ($44,375,265 total) {week 5}
7. The Princess and the Frog – $9,824,311 ($85,859,339 total) {week 6}
9. Invictus – $3,909,312 ($30,586,445 total) {week 4}
10. Nine – $3,901,203 ($13,745,956 total) {week 3}
15. The Young Victoria – $1,011,466 ($2,980,856 total) {week 3}
16. Precious – $924,203 ($43,492,192 total) {week 9}
20. A Single Man – $486,958 ($1,731,649 total) {week 4}
21. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $478,633 ($19,123,189 total) {week 8}
23. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $368,836 ($1,029,821 total) {week 2}
26. An Education – $271,834 ($7,883,524 total) {week 13}
28. Crazy Heart – $220,988 ($702,188 total) {week 3}
35. A Serious Man – $92,069 ($9,190,505 total) {week 14}
38. The Lovely Bones – $64,678 ($383,101 total) {week 4}
41. The White Ribbon – $59,848 ($85,690 total) {week 1}
48. Coco Before Chanel – $20,459 ($5,997,682 total) {week 15}
50. The Messenger – $18,755 ($654,374 total) {week 8}
66. Departures – $1,004 ($1,492,410 total) {week 32}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Avatar – $70,574,055 ($362,825,617 total)
2. Sherlock Holmes – $37,726,169 ($142,934,918 total)
5. The Blind Side – $12,275,114 ($214,817,544 total)
6. Up in the Air – $11,046,137 ($45,725,083 total)
7. The Princess and the Frog – $10,123,149 ($88,471,030 total)
9. Invictus – $4,028,226 ($31,516,831 total)
10. Nine – $4,019,871 ($14,164,084 total)
15. The Young Victoria – $1,042,233 ($3,071,528 total)
16. Precious – $952,316 ($44,815,148 total)
20. A Single Man – $501,770 ($1,784,323 total)
21. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $493,192 ($19,704,883 total)
23. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $380,055 ($1,061,146 total)
26. An Education – $280,103 ($8,123,327 total)
28. Crazy Heart – $227,710 ($723,547 total)
35. A Serious Man – $94,870 ($9,470,064 total)
38. The Lovely Bones – $66,645 ($394,754 total)
41. The White Ribbon – $61,668 ($88,297 total)
48. Coco Before Chanel – $21,081 ($6,180,121 total)
50. The Messenger – $19,325 ($674,279 total)
66. Departures – $1,035 ($1,537,807 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• Coco Before Chanel: Costume Design
• Crazy Heart: Actor (Jeff Bridges) [O], Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Original Song (“The Weary Kind”) [O]
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [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 Actress (Matt Damon)
• The Lovely Bones : Supporting Actor (Stanley Tucci)
• The Messenger : Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• 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 Serious Man: Picture, Original Screenplay
• 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 Young Victoria : Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 7-9, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Aviator – $7,492,647 ($42,798,842 total) {week 4}
4. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $7,438,867 ($105,568,980 total) {week 1}
9. The Phantom of the Opera – $3,420,307 ($21,548,803 total) {week 3}
11. Finding Neverland – $2,264,995 ($27,893,366 total) {week 9}
13. The Polar Express – $2,068,051 ($158,656,180 total) {week 1}
14. The Incredibles – $2,057,544 ($254,738,382 total) {week 10}
15. Million Dollar Baby – $1,920,418 ($3,107,704 total) {week 4}
16. Sideways – $1,907,439 ($25,123,613 total) {week 12}
17. Closer – $1,712,924 ($30,301,153 total) {week 6}
20. Hotel Rwanda – $1,171,250 ($1,673,743 total) {week 3}
23. Kinsey – $841,093 ($7,833,174 total) {week 9}
24. A Very Long Engagement – $614,964 ($3,615,445 total) {week 7}
25. House of Flying Daggers – $552,031 ($5,011,446 total) {week 6}
26. Ray – $374,295 ($72,143,190 total) {week 11}
30. The Motorcycle Diaries – $208,308 ($16,025,595 total) {week 16}
44. The Sea Inside – $44,612 ($197,281 total) {week 4}
45. Being Julia – $44,462 ($3,628,523 total) {week 13}
55. Vera Drake – $24,365 ($2,162,855 total) {week 14}
70. Born Into Brothels – $7,495 ($66,725 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Aviator – $9,503,154 ($54,283,087 total)
4. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $9,434,944 ($133,896,382 total)
9. The Phantom of the Opera – $4,338,080 ($27,331,009 total)
11. Finding Neverland – $2,872,763 ($35,378,013 total)
13. The Polar Express – $2,622,973 ($201,228,509 total)
14. The Incredibles – $2,609,646 ($323,092,519 total)
15. Million Dollar Baby – $2,435,725 ($3,941,596 total)
16. Sideways – $2,419,264 ($31,865,050 total)
17. Closer – $2,172,554 ($38,431,884 total)
20. Hotel Rwanda – $1,485,532 ($2,122,860 total)
23. Kinsey – $1,066,784 ($9,935,055 total)
24. A Very Long Engagement – $779,978 ($4,585,580 total)
25. House of Flying Daggers – $700,158 ($6,356,171 total)
26. Ray – $474,730 ($91,501,425 total)
30. The Motorcycle Diaries – $264,203 ($20,325,755 total)
44. The Sea Inside – $56,583 ($250,218 total)
45. Being Julia – $56,393 ($4,602,167 total)
55. Vera Drake – $30,903 ($2,743,215 total)
70. Born Into Brothels – $9,506 ($84,629 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
• 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
• 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 Motorcycle Diaries : Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Al Otro Lado del Rio”) [O]
• 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 Jan. 7-9, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

1. Stuart Little – $11,214,503 ($95,320,551 total) {week 4}
2. The Green Mile – $9,731,478 ($91,298,396 total) {week 5}
3. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $9,322,535 ($54,186,228 total) {week 3}
6. Toy Story 2 – $7,153,489 ($219,705,755 total) {week 8}
7. Magnolia – $5,694,588 ($6,610,047 total) {week 4}
8. Bicentennial Man – $5,308,109 ($47,224,648 total) {week 4}
10. Snow Falling on Cedars – $3,910,055 ($4,078,058 total) {week 3}
11. Anna and the King – $3,646,935 ($30,929,136 total) {week 4}
13. The Cider House Rules – $3,077,420 ($8,222,514 total) {week 5}
15. The Hurricane – $2,531,280 ($3,191,951 total) {week 2}
17. Sleepy Hollow – $1,105,558 ($94,723,339 total) {week 8}
19. The End of the Affair – $636,573 ($2,422,131 total) {week 6}
20. American Beauty – $577,310 ($71,917,100 total) {week 17}
21. Being John Malkovich – $488,303 ($19,039,056 total) {week 11}
24. All About My Mother – $367,007 ($2,825,785 total) {week 10}
25. The Sixth Sense – $332,484 ($276,862,853 total) {week 23}
29. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $180,997 ($430,727,381 total) {week 34}
30. The Straight Story – $171,381 ($4,634,293 total) {week 13}
33. Girl, Interrupted – $153,135 ($713,877 total) {week 3}
36. Sweet and Lowdown – $141,309 ($1,145,905 total) {week 6}
39. Tumbleweeds – $122,378 ($1,243,042 total) {week 5}
40. The Insider – $115,128 ($26,330,729 total) {week 10}
43. Boys Don’t Cry – $107,803 ($2,881,431 total) {week 14}
47. Fight Club – $94,034 ($36,673,009 total) {week 13}
50. Angela’s Ashes – $64,342 ($288,210 total) {week 3}
54. Titus – $51,424 ($167,272 total) {week 3}
56. Music of the Heart – $40,342 ($14,810,538 total) {week 11}
60. Topsy-Turvy – $32,954 ($217,666 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Stuart Little – $16,915,382 ($143,776,638 total)
2. The Green Mile – $14,678,463 ($137,709,826 total)
3. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $14,061,634 ($81,731,732 total)
6. Toy Story 2 – $10,789,957 ($331,392,911 total)
7. Magnolia – $8,589,425 ($9,970,256 total)
8. Bicentennial Man – $8,006,480 ($71,231,241 total)
10. Snow Falling on Cedars – $5,897,727 ($6,151,134 total)
11. Anna and the King – $5,500,850 ($46,651,925 total)
13. The Cider House Rules – $4,641,823 ($12,402,419 total)
15. The Hurricane – $3,818,053 ($4,814,575 total)
17. Sleepy Hollow – $1,667,567 ($142,875,834 total)
19. The End of the Affair – $960,174 ($3,653,418 total)
20. American Beauty – $870,785 ($108,476,071 total)
21. Being John Malkovich – $736,531 ($28,717,537 total)
24. All About My Mother – $553,575 ($4,262,269 total)
25. The Sixth Sense – $501,502 ($417,605,750 total)
29. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $273,007 ($649,687,126 total)
30. The Straight Story – $258,502 ($6,990,130 total)
33. Girl, Interrupted – $230,981 ($1,076,776 total)
36. Sweet and Lowdown – $213,143 ($1,728,424 total)
39. Tumbleweeds – $184,589 ($1,874,941 total)
40. The Insider – $173,653 ($39,715,923 total)
43. Boys Don’t Cry – $162,605 ($4,346,203 total)
47. Fight Club – $141,836 ($55,315,689 total)
50. Angela’s Ashes – $97,050 ($434,721 total)
54. Titus – $77,565 ($252,305 total)
56. Music of the Heart – $60,850 ($22,339,457 total)
60. Topsy-Turvy – $49,706 ($328,316 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
• Fight Club: Sound Effects
• 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”)
• 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
• Snow Falling on Cedars: Cinematography
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• 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”)
• Tumbleweeds: Actress (Janet McTeer)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 6-8, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

4. Little Women – $5,057,940 ($27,538,057 total) {week 3}
5. Nell – $4,613,817 ($18,668,249 total) {week 4}
12. Pulp Fiction – $1,861,065 ($66,259,220 total) {week 13}
16. The Lion King – $1,017,238 ($301,867,002 total) {week 30}
999. Legends of the Fall – $229,538 ($791,144 total) {week 3}
999. Nobody’s Fool – $135,696 ($549,924 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Little Women – $9,453,115 ($51,467,679 total)
5. Nell – $8,623,065 ($34,890,314 total)
12. Pulp Fiction – $3,478,266 ($123,836,197 total)
16. The Lion King – $1,901,183 ($564,179,018 total)
999. Legends of the Fall – $428,999 ($1,478,621 total)
999. Nobody’s Fool – $253,611 ($1,027,789 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Nell: Actress (Jodie Foster)
• 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

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 5-7, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

1. Born on the Fourth of July – $11,023,650 ($12,177,584 total) {week 3}
5. The Little Mermaid – $4,585,047 ($56,126,383 total) {week 8}
6. Steel Magnolias – $4,502,641 ($50,943,805 total) {week 8}
7. Back to the Future Part II – $3,740,036 ($100,666,516 total) {week 7}
10. Blaze – $2,258,865 ($13,295,371 total) {week 4}
11. Harlem Nights – $1,244,030 ($56,817,615 total) {week 8}
999. Driving Miss Daisy – $451,538 ($2,216,112 total) {week 4}
999. Enemies, A Love Story – $407,331 ($1,074,889 total) {week 4}
999. Glory – $170,376 ($625,157 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Born on the Fourth of July – $21,187,299 ($23,405,144 total)
5. The Little Mermaid – $8,812,395 ($107,874,112 total)
6. Steel Magnolias – $8,654,012 ($97,913,271 total)
7. Back to the Future Part II – $7,188,296 ($193,479,616 total)
10. Blaze – $4,341,506 ($25,553,514 total)
11. Harlem Nights – $2,391,008 ($109,202,650 total)
999. Driving Miss Daisy – $867,850 ($4,259,336 total)
999. Enemies, A Love Story – $782,884 ($2,065,921 total)
999. Glory – $327,460 ($1,201,543 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future Part II: Visual Effects
• Blaze: Cinematography
• Born on the Fourth of July: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Cruise), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound
• 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]
• Steel Magnolias: Supporting Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 4-6, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $11,515,665 ($99,022,468 total) {week 5}
4. 2010 – $3,105,068 ($32,255,092 total) {week 5}
7. Starman – $2,989,938 ($18,139,055 total) {week 4}
9. The Cotton Club – $2,562,311 ($16,654,422 total) {week 4}
10. Dune – $2,390,736 ($23,867,837 total) {week 4}
15. Amadeus – $656,786 ($19,496,703 total) {week 16}
18. Places in the Heart – $342,000 ($30,031,038 total) {week 16}
19. A Passage to India – $290,952 ($1,340,681 total) {week 4}
23. The Killing Fields – $201,613 ($1,503,309 total) {week 10}
24. A Soldier’s Story – $172,153 ($20,293,297 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $26,372,495 ($226,775,399 total)
4. 2010 – $7,111,043 ($73,868,704 total)
7. Starman – $6,847,379 ($41,540,991 total)
9. The Cotton Club – $5,868,053 ($38,140,972 total)
10. Dune – $5,475,122 ($54,660,708 total)
15. Amadeus – $1,504,132 ($44,650,196 total)
18. Places in the Heart – $783,228 ($68,775,307 total)
19. A Passage to India – $666,321 ($3,070,348 total)
23. The Killing Fields – $461,722 ($3,442,789 total)
24. A Soldier’s Story – $394,255 ($46,474,508 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
• 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
• 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
• Starman: Actor (Jeff Bridges)