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

Oz the Great and Powerful (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Production Design, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Emperor (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 7-9, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

13. Juno – $1,968,057 ($137,937,208 total) {week 14}
15. No Country for Old Men – $1,549,788 ($72,607,607 total) {week 18}
19. There Will Be Blood – $649,414 ($38,740,358 total) {week 11}
21. In Bruges – $518,908 ($4,548,837 total) {week 5}
26. The Counterfeiters – $279,604 ($679,822 total) {week 3}
33. Atonement – $155,314 ($50,558,834 total) {week 14}
40. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $84,625 ($5,681,995 total) {week 15}
41. The Savages – $82,343 ($6,336,173 total) {week 15}
42. Persepolis – $81,832 ($3,929,918 total) {week 11}
43. The Kite Runner – $81,764 ($15,588,994 total) {week 13}
46. Michael Clayton – $64,988 ($48,976,323 total) {week 23}
51. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $52,038 ($52,829,046 total) {week 12}
67. Taxi to the Dark Side – $14,870 ($152,997 total) {week 8}
71. Into the Wild – $14,287 ($18,330,682 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

13. Juno – $2,170,893 ($152,153,578 total)
15. No Country for Old Men – $1,709,515 ($80,090,842 total)
19. There Will Be Blood – $716,345 ($42,733,097 total)
21. In Bruges – $572,389 ($5,017,659 total)
26. The Counterfeiters – $308,421 ($749,887 total)
33. Atonement – $171,321 ($55,769,633 total)
40. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $93,347 ($6,267,605 total)
41. The Savages – $90,830 ($6,989,205 total)
42. Persepolis – $90,266 ($4,334,951 total)
43. The Kite Runner – $90,191 ($17,195,659 total)
46. Michael Clayton – $71,686 ($54,024,022 total)
51. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $57,401 ($58,273,822 total)
67. Taxi to the Dark Side – $16,403 ($168,765 total)
71. Into the Wild – $15,759 ($20,219,917 total)

Oscar Details:

• Atonement: Picture, Supporting Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• In Bruges: Original Screenplay
• Into the Wild: Supporting Actor (Hal Holbrook), Editing
• Juno: Picture, Director, Actress (Ellen Page), Original Screenplay [O]
• The Kite Runner: Original Score
• Michael Clayton: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score
• No Country for Old Men: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Persepolis: Animated Feature
• The Savages: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: Actor (Johnny Depp), Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• Taxi to the Dark Side: Documentary Feature [O]
• There Will Be Blood: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 7-9, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

4. Chicago – $6,844,634 ($114,442,185 total) {week 11}
11. The Hours – $1,475,801 ($35,303,998 total) {week 11}
12. The Pianist – $1,393,292 ($16,779,231 total) {week 11}
14. About Schmidt – $1,376,030 ($60,007,505 total) {week 13}
16. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $1,227,603 ($332,075,527 total) {week 12}
20. Gangs of New York – $518,916 ($75,469,504 total) {week 12}
23. Adaptation. – $358,183 ($20,624,783 total) {week 14}
24. Catch Me If You Can – $338,851 ($162,459,578 total) {week 11}
26. Talk to Her – $274,730 ($7,241,289 total) {week 16}
28. City of God – $241,284 ($2,006,001 total) {week 8}
30. Far From Heaven – $220,198 ($14,940,014 total) {week 18}
37. Bowling for Columbine – $162,715 ($19,100,026 total) {week 22}
40. Frida – $147,333 ($24,527,488 total) {week 20}
48. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $74,437 ($39,291,670 total) {week 12}
49. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $71,321 ($241,356,536 total) {week 47}
62. The Crime of Father Amaro – $35,508 ($5,631,307 total) {week 17}
70. 8 Mile – $22,540 ($116,724,075 total) {week 18}
71. Nowhere in Africa – $22,070 ($22,070 total) {week 1}
96. Spirited Away – $6,931 ($5,601,243 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Chicago – $8,989,967 ($150,312,124 total)
11. The Hours – $1,938,365 ($46,369,430 total)
12. The Pianist – $1,829,995 ($22,038,393 total)
14. About Schmidt – $1,807,323 ($78,815,827 total)
16. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $1,612,374 ($436,158,901 total)
20. Gangs of New York – $681,561 ($99,124,125 total)
23. Adaptation. – $470,449 ($27,089,267 total)
24. Catch Me If You Can – $445,058 ($213,379,744 total)
26. Talk to Her – $360,839 ($9,510,947 total)
28. City of God – $316,910 ($2,634,748 total)
30. Far From Heaven – $289,215 ($19,622,705 total)
37. Bowling for Columbine – $213,715 ($25,086,601 total)
40. Frida – $193,512 ($32,215,208 total)
48. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $97,768 ($51,606,970 total)
49. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $93,675 ($317,005,600 total)
62. The Crime of Father Amaro – $46,637 ($7,396,344 total)
70. 8 Mile – $29,605 ($153,309,233 total)
71. Nowhere in Africa – $28,987 ($28,987 total)
96. Spirited Away – $9,103 ($7,356,856 total)

Oscar Details:

• 8 Mile: Original Song (“Lose Yourself”) [O]
• About Schmidt: Actor (Jack Nicholson), Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates)
• Adaptation.: Actor (Nicoals Cage), Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper) [O], Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Adapted Screenplay
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• Catch Me If You Can: Supporting Actor (Christopher Walken), Original Score
• Chicago: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Renee Zellweger), Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly), Supporting Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones [O], Queen Latifah), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“I Move On”), Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• The Crime of Father Amaro: Foreign Language Film
• Far From Heaven: Actress (Julianne Moore), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography
• Frida: Actress, Original Score [O], Original Song (“Burn It Blue”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• Gangs of New York: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Hands That Built America”), Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
• The Hours: Picture, Director, Actress (Nicole Kidman) [O], Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Picture, Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• Nowhere in Africa: Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Pianist: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Adrien Brody) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
• The Wild Thornberrys Movie: Original Song (“Father and Daughter”)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 6-8, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. Titanic – $17,605,849 ($449,157,395 total) {week 12}
7. Good Will Hunting – $5,175,514 ($103,427,470 total) {week 14}
8. As Good As It Gets – $3,220,350 ($117,231,402 total) {week 11}
12. The Apostle – $1,512,756 ($13,231,775 total) {week 8}
999. Amistad – $114,550 ($43,222,082 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Titanic – $29,730,986 ($758,491,806 total)
7. Good Will Hunting – $8,739,887 ($174,657,902 total)
8. As Good As It Gets – $5,438,203 ($197,968,594 total)
12. The Apostle – $2,554,590 ($22,344,490 total)
999. Amistad – $193,441 ($72,989,102 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amistad: Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• The Apostle: Actor (Robert Duvall)
• As Good As It Gets: Picture, Actor (Jack Nicholson) [O], Actress (Helen Hunt) [O], Supporting Actor (Greg Kinnear), Original Screenplay, Original Musical or Comedy Score, Editing
• Good Will Hunting: Picture, Director, Actor (Matt Damon), Supporting Actor (Robin Williams) [O], Supporting Actress (Minnie Driver), Original Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Original Song (“Miss Misery”), Editing
• Titanic: Picture [O], Director [O], Actress (Kate Winslet), Supporting Actress (Gloria Stuart), Original Dramatic Score [O], Original Song (“My Heart Will Go On”) [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 5-7, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Crying Game – $4,292,561 ($33,831,016 total) {week 15}
9. Aladdin – $2,834,359 ($187,926,542 total) {week 17}
12. Scent of a Woman – $1,727,075 ($47,427,249 total) {week 11}
13. A Few Good Men – $1,253,355 ($131,165,860 total) {week 13}
999. Unforgiven – $835,059 ($80,120,695 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Crying Game – $8,211,856 ($64,720,205 total)
9. Aladdin – $5,422,252 ($359,511,646 total)
12. Scent of a Woman – $3,303,970 ($90,730,389 total)
13. A Few Good Men – $2,397,723 ($250,925,993 total)
999. Unforgiven – $1,597,504 ($153,274,373 total)

Oscar Details:

• Aladdin: Original Song (“A Whole New World” [O], “Friend Like Me”), Original Score [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing
• The Crying Game: Picture, Director, Actor (Stephen Rea), Supporting Actor (Jaye Davidson), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• A Few Good Men: Picture, Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson), Editing, Sound
• Scent of a Woman: Picture, Director, Actor (Al Pacino) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Unforgiven: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 4-6, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Good Morning, Vietnam – $5,141,491 ($85,203,373 total) {week 11}
4. Moonstruck – $3,287,038 ($45,670,253 total) {week 12}
10. The Last Emperor – $1,342,857 ($19,458,722 total) {week 16}
12. Broadcast News – $1,136,401 ($44,113,177 total) {week 12}
15. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $576,735 ($2,312,233 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Good Morning, Vietnam – $9,907,691 ($164,187,522 total)
4. Moonstruck – $6,334,146 ($88,006,911 total)
10. The Last Emperor – $2,587,695 ($37,497,099 total)
12. Broadcast News – $2,189,853 ($85,006,414 total)
15. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $1,111,373 ($4,455,690 total)

Oscar Details:

• Broadcast News: Picture, Actor (William Hurt), Actress (Holly Hunter), Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks), Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Good Morning, Vietnam: Actor (Robin Williams)
• The Last Emperor: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
• Moonstruck: Picture, Director, Actress (Cher) [O], Supporting Actor (Vincent Gardenia), Supporting Actress (Olympia Dukakis) [O], Original Screenplay
• The Unbearable Lightness of Being: Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 11-13, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Tootsie – $4,044,440 ($133,976,164 total) {week 13}
3. Gandhi – $2,265,483 ($28,429,296 total) {week 14}
8. The Verdict – $919,040 ($48,331,408 total) {week 14}
13. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $730,988 ($336,811,284 total) {week 40}
999. Tender Mercies – $50,933 ($118,029 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Tootsie – $10,168,878 ($336,854,355 total)
3. Gandhi – $5,696,072 ($71,479,373 total)
8. The Verdict – $2,310,729 ($121,518,969 total)
13. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,837,913 ($846,839,800 total)
999. Tender Mercies – $128,060 ($296,759 total)

Oscar Details:

• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound [O], Sound Effects Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Gandhi: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Ben Kingsley) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• Tender Mercies: Picture, Director, Actor (Robert Duvall) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Over You”)
• Tootsie: Picture, Director, Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Teri Garr), Supporting Actress (Jessica Lange) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“It Might Be You”), Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• The Verdict: Picture, Director, Actor (Paul Newman), Supporting Actor (James Mason), Adapted Screenplay