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

The Place Beyond the Pines (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Ryan Gosling), Supporting Actor (Bradley Cooper), Original Screenplay, Editing.

Room 237 (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 28, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

4. Tootsie – $2,937,159 ($147,185,684 total) {week 16}
10. Gandhi – $1,484,322 ($35,745,885 total) {week 17}
12. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,049,900 ($339,839,909 total) {week 43}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Tootsie – $7,506,073 ($376,141,192 total)
10. Gandhi – $3,793,267 ($91,350,595 total)
12. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $2,683,078 ($868,479,767 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
• 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

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 28, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

5. Good Morning, Vietnam – $3,322,396 ($101,185,926 total) {week 14}
10. Moonstruck – $1,747,446 ($55,157,338 total) {week 15}
12. The Last Emperor – $842,611 ($23,349,260 total) {week 19}
999. The Milagro Beanfield War – $89,240 ($168,732 total) {week 2}
999. Stand and Deliver – $485,650 ($1,813,093 total) {week 3}
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $555,150 ($4,489,013 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Good Morning, Vietnam – $6,507,369 ($198,186,546 total)
10. Moonstruck – $3,422,613 ($108,033,229 total)
12. The Last Emperor – $1,650,369 ($45,732,736 total)
999. The Milagro Beanfield War – $174,789 ($330,485 total)
999. Stand and Deliver – $951,212 ($3,551,192 total)
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $1,087,338 ($8,792,349 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• The Milagro Beanfield War: Original Score [O]
• Moonstruck: Picture, Director, Actress (Cher) [O], Supporting Actor (Vincent Gardenia), Supporting Actress (Olympia Dukakis) [O], Original Screenplay
• Stand and Deliver: Actor (Edward James Olmos)
• The Unbearable Lightness of Being: Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 27, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Crying Game – $3,399,248 ($47,341,054 total) {week 18}
11. Aladdin – $1,325,527 ($195,390,843 total) {week 20}
12. Scent of a Woman – $1,317,525 ($52,597,079 total) {week 14}
999. Howards End – $837,562 ($22,859,224 total) {week 22}
999. Unforgiven – $855,188 ($82,817,000 total) {week 34}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Crying Game – $6,609,649 ($92,052,049 total)
11. Aladdin – $2,577,414 ($379,926,639 total)
12. Scent of a Woman – $2,561,854 ($102,272,098 total)
999. Howards End – $1,628,593 ($44,448,491 total)
999. Unforgiven – $1,662,866 ($161,033,056 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
• Howards End: Picture, Director, Actress (Emma Thompson) [O], Supporting Actress (Vanessa Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• 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

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 26, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. Titanic – $15,213,500 ($515,262,530 total) {week 15}
3. Primary Colors – $7,005,780 ($22,244,315 total) {week 2}
6. As Good As It Gets – $4,302,498 ($131,786,180 total) {week 14}
7. Good Will Hunting – $4,117,121 ($121,566,085 total) {week 17}
14. L.A. Confidential – $1,477,015 ($59,657,107 total) {week 14}
999. Amistad – $73,319 ($44,107,804 total) {week 16}
999. Character – $37,268 ($37,268 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Titanic – $26,112,724 ($884,405,835 total)
3. Primary Colors – $12,024,846 ($38,180,541 total)
6. As Good As It Gets – $7,384,885 ($226,200,160 total)
7. Good Will Hunting – $7,066,700 ($208,658,206 total)
14. L.A. Confidential – $2,535,175 ($102,396,527 total)
999. Amistad – $125,846 ($75,707,425 total)
999. Character – $63,967 ($63,967 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amistad: Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• 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
• Character: Foreign Language Film [O]
• 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
• L.A. Confidential: Picture, Director, Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound
• Primary Colors: Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates), Adapted Screenplay
• 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]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of March 25, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

5. Chicago – $7,210,721 ($144,652,474 total) {week 14}
11. The Pianist – $2,456,117 ($23,595,709 total) {week 14}
15. Spirited Away – $1,765,491 ($7,386,075 total) {week 28}
17. The Hours – $744,712 ($40,118,369 total) {week 14}
19. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $623,597 ($335,800,124 total) {week 15}
21. The Quiet American – $512,716 ($10,654,096 total) {week 19}
22. About Schmidt – $449,835 ($63,676,882 total) {week 16}
25. Catch Me If You Can – $307,102 ($163,788,757 total) {week 14}
26. Nowhere in Africa – $284,104 ($609,996 total) {week 4}
28. Talk to Her – $273,351 ($8,380,192 total) {week 19}
29. Bowling for Columbine – $271,108 ($19,941,096 total) {week 25}
32. Adaptation. – $234,005 ($21,878,965 total) {week 17}
33. Gangs of New York – $204,731 ($77,454,139 total) {week 15}
36. Frida – $158,551 ($25,382,634 total) {week 23}
40. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $112,266 ($39,766,233 total) {week 15}
41. Far From Heaven – $109,667 ($15,776,481 total) {week 21}
90. The Crime of Father Amaro – $7,955 ($5,701,331 total) {week 20}
96. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $5,587 ($241,433,282 total) {week 50}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Chicago – $9,626,253 ($193,109,853 total)
11. The Pianist – $3,278,896 ($31,500,076 total)
15. Spirited Away – $2,356,916 ($9,860,349 total)
17. The Hours – $994,184 ($53,557,690 total)
19. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $832,497 ($448,290,381 total)
21. The Quiet American – $684,472 ($14,223,130 total)
22. About Schmidt – $600,526 ($85,008,109 total)
25. Catch Me If You Can – $409,979 ($218,656,632 total)
26. Nowhere in Africa – $379,276 ($814,340 total)
28. Talk to Her – $364,921 ($11,187,487 total)
29. Bowling for Columbine – $361,927 ($26,621,198 total)
32. Adaptation. – $312,395 ($29,208,237 total)
33. Gangs of New York – $273,314 ($103,400,633 total)
36. Frida – $211,664 ($33,885,606 total)
40. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $149,874 ($53,087,591 total)
41. Far From Heaven – $146,405 ($21,061,471 total)
90. The Crime of Father Amaro – $10,620 ($7,611,230 total)
96. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $7,459 ($322,311,430 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• 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
• The Quiet American: Actor (Michael Caine)
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
• The Wild Thornberrys Movie: Original Song (“Father and Daughter”)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of April 1, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

20. Juno – $485,416 ($141,976,542 total) {week 17}
24. The Counterfeiters – $373,580 ($2,412,581 total) {week 6}
26. In Bruges – $335,336 ($6,456,934 total) {week 8}
38. There Will Be Blood – $180,946 ($39,982,631 total) {week 14}
49. No Country for Old Men – $71,444 ($74,223,625 total) {week 21}
60. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $35,833 ($5,941,276 total) {week 18}
61. Atonement – $35,070 ($50,890,159 total) {week 17}
63. Persepolis – $28,070 ($4,155,965 total) {week 14}
67. The Savages – $20,587 ($6,536,275 total) {week 18}
77. Taxi to the Dark Side – $13,103 ($216,459 total) {week 11}
84. La Vie en Rose – $9,883 ($10,291,523 total) {week 27}
90. The Kite Runner – $8,137 ($15,782,947 total) {week 16}
109. 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $2,888 ($507,575 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

20. Juno – $544,234 ($159,179,828 total)
24. The Counterfeiters – $418,847 ($2,704,913 total)
26. In Bruges – $375,969 ($7,239,320 total)
38. There Will Be Blood – $202,871 ($44,827,323 total)
49. No Country for Old Men – $80,101 ($83,217,295 total)
60. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $40,175 ($6,661,180 total)
61. Atonement – $39,319 ($57,056,515 total)
63. Persepolis – $31,471 ($4,659,543 total)
67. The Savages – $23,082 ($7,328,275 total)
77. Taxi to the Dark Side – $14,691 ($242,687 total)
84. La Vie en Rose – $11,081 ($11,538,546 total)
90. The Kite Runner – $9,123 ($17,695,365 total)
109. 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $3,238 ($569,078 total)

Oscar Details:

• 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film
• 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
• Juno: Picture, Director, Actress (Ellen Page), Original Screenplay [O]
• The Kite Runner: 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
• 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
• La Vie en Rose: Actress (Marion Cotillard) [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O]