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

Locke (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor: Tom Hardy.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 24-26, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

35. Coraline – $80,815 ($74,928,014 total) {week 12}
37. Slumdog Millionaire – $71,403 ($141,171,367 total) {week 24}
40. Paris 36 – $58,735 ($529,121 total) {week 4}
45. Defiance – $40,672 ($28,622,873 total) {week 17}
49. The Class – $33,650 ($3,642,327 total) {week 19}
56. The Reader – $20,822 ($34,157,651 total) {week 20}
61. Il Divo – $13,867 ($13,867 total) {week 1}
63. The Wrestler – $12,205 ($26,212,442 total) {week 19}
77. 12 – $6,057 ($98,676 total) {week 8}
90. The Garden – $4,114 ($4,114 total) {week 1}
91. Katyn – $4,075 ($103,778 total) {week 10}
96. Waltz with Bashir – $2,420 ($2,273,903 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

35. Coraline – $87,603 ($81,221,967 total)
37. Slumdog Millionaire – $77,401 ($153,029,762 total)
40. Paris 36 – $63,669 ($573,567 total)
45. Defiance – $44,088 ($31,027,194 total)
49. The Class – $36,477 ($3,948,282 total)
56. The Reader – $22,571 ($37,026,894 total)
61. Il Divo – $15,032 ($15,032 total)
63. The Wrestler – $13,230 ($28,414,287 total)
77. 12 – $6,566 ($106,965 total)
90. The Garden – $4,460 ($4,460 total)
91. Katyn – $4,417 ($112,495 total)
96. Waltz with Bashir – $2,623 ($2,464,911 total)

Oscar Details:

• 12: Foreign Language Film
• The Class: Foreign Language Film
• Coraline: Animated Feature
• Defiance: Original Score
• Il Divo: Makeup
• The Garden: Documentary Feature
• Katyn: Foreign Language Film
• Paris 36: Original Song (“Loin de Paname”)
• The Reader: Picture, Director, Actress (Kate Winslet) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography
• 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
• Waltz with Bashir: Foreign Language Film
• The Wrestler: Actor (Mickey Rourke), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 23-25, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

11. The Passion of the Christ – $2,216,051 ($364,414,581 total) {week 9}
17. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $1,111,048 ($29,718,070 total) {week 6}
27. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $194,730 ($376,337,432 total) {week 19}
28. Mystic River – $188,305 ($89,738,307 total) {week 29}
46. My Architect – $60,267 ($2,321,771 total) {week 24}
47. The Triplets of Belleville – $55,341 ($6,728,778 total) {week 22}
59. Monster – $28,690 ($34,383,171 total) {week 18}
60. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $28,560 ($11,568,709 total) {week 20}
62. The Fog of War – $27,347 ($4,099,735 total) {week 19}
67. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $19,870 ($93,902,719 total) {week 24}
74. City of God – $14,739 ($7,481,479 total) {week 67}
75. Cold Mountain – $14,634 ($95,355,061 total) {week 18}
76. In America – $14,132 ($15,487,960 total) {week 22}
87. The Twilight Samurai – $8,573 ($8,573 total) {week 1}
129. The Weather Underground – $882 ($556,632 total) {week 47}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

11. The Passion of the Christ – $5,612,615 ($922,956,556 total)
17. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $2,813,963 ($75,267,261 total)
27. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $493,195 ($953,153,683 total)
28. Mystic River – $476,922 ($227,281,133 total)
46. My Architect – $152,639 ($5,880,373 total)
47. The Triplets of Belleville – $140,163 ($17,042,045 total)
59. Monster – $72,663 ($87,082,611 total)
60. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $72,334 ($29,300,188 total)
62. The Fog of War – $69,262 ($10,383,441 total)
67. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $50,325 ($237,828,382 total)
74. City of God – $37,330 ($18,948,419 total)
75. Cold Mountain – $37,064 ($241,506,743 total)
76. In America – $35,792 ($39,226,516 total)
87. The Twilight Samurai – $21,713 ($21,713 total)
129. The Weather Underground – $2,234 ($1,409,788 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Actress (Kate Winslet), Original Screenplay [O]
• The Fog of War: Documentary Feature [O]
• Girl with a Pearl Earring: Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• In America: Actress (Samantha Morton), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Original Screenplay
• 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]
• 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
• The Passion of the Christ : Original Score, Cinematography, Makeup
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
• The Twilight Samurai: Foreign Language Film
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 23-25, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Matrix – $12,642,717 ($117,082,992 total) {week 4}
2. Life – $11,257,995 ($37,016,425 total) {week 2}
12. Shakespeare in Love – $1,256,967 ($91,661,717 total) {week 20}
13. Life Is Beautiful – $1,222,901 ($51,808,890 total) {week 27}
23. Saving Private Ryan – $431,753 ($214,954,781 total) {week 40}
32. A Bug’s Life – $165,222 ($162,577,627 total) {week 23}
36. The Prince of Egypt – $123,074 ($100,800,804 total) {week 19}
41. Patch Adams – $114,745 ($134,688,010 total) {week 18}
42. Elizabeth – $113,948 ($29,837,333 total) {week 25}
44. A Simple Plan – $113,313 ($16,131,697 total) {week 20}
51. Central Station – $86,747 ($5,755,212 total) {week 23}
53. Gods and Monsters – $68,398 ($6,131,292 total) {week 25}
55. Tango – $67,493 ($1,643,890 total) {week 14}
56. Affliction – $54,903 ($6,135,986 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Matrix – $20,233,325 ($187,378,883 total)
2. Life – $18,017,224 ($59,240,853 total)
12. Shakespeare in Love – $2,011,642 ($146,694,834 total)
13. Life Is Beautiful – $1,957,123 ($82,914,621 total)
23. Saving Private Ryan – $690,975 ($344,012,277 total)
32. A Bug’s Life – $264,420 ($260,188,210 total)
36. The Prince of Egypt – $196,967 ($161,320,972 total)
41. Patch Adams – $183,637 ($215,553,843 total)
42. Elizabeth – $182,362 ($47,751,480 total)
44. A Simple Plan – $181,345 ($25,817,066 total)
51. Central Station – $138,829 ($9,210,605 total)
53. Gods and Monsters – $109,464 ($9,812,481 total)
55. Tango – $108,015 ($2,630,871 total)
56. Affliction – $87,866 ($9,819,993 total)

Oscar Details:

• Affliction: Actor (Nick Nolte), Supporting Actor (James Coburn) [O]
• A Bug’s Life: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Central Station: Actress (Fernanda Montenegro), Foreign Language Film
• 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]
• Life: Makeup
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Matrix : Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Patch Adams: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• The Prince of Egypt: Original Song (“When You Believe”) [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score
• 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
• Tango: Foreign Language Film

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 29-May. 1, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

3. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $3,997,944 ($23,883,365 total) {week 8}
8. The Paper – $1,517,775 ($31,012,330 total) {week 7}
9. Schindler’s List – $1,497,735 ($87,840,933 total) {week 20}
20. Mrs. Doubtfire – $737,098 ($217,674,277 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $7,775,905 ($46,452,574 total)
8. The Paper – $2,952,036 ($60,318,240 total)
9. Schindler’s List – $2,913,059 ($170,848,513 total)
20. Mrs. Doubtfire – $1,433,638 ($423,371,261 total)

Oscar Details:

• Four Weddings and a Funeral: Picture, Original Screenplay
• Mrs. Doubtfire: Makeup [O]
• The Paper : Original Song (“Make Up Your Mind”)
• 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

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 28-30, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

7. Rain Man – $1,729,486 ($158,225,948 total) {week 20}
9. Field of Dreams – $1,577,431 ($2,368,000 total) {week 2}
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $291,607 ($5,607,381 total) {week 8}
999. Dangerous Liaisons – $349,856 ($31,739,934 total) {week 19}
999. Mississippi Burning – $151,463 ($33,932,706 total) {week 21}
999. Working Girl – $326,764 ($62,152,437 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Rain Man – $3,541,743 ($324,024,422 total)
9. Field of Dreams – $3,230,356 ($4,849,330 total)
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $597,170 ($11,483,125 total)
999. Dangerous Liaisons – $716,456 ($64,998,908 total)
999. Mississippi Burning – $310,175 ($69,489,395 total)
999. Working Girl – $669,167 ($127,279,424 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen : Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Visual Effects
• Dangerous Liaisons: Picture, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O]
• Field of Dreams: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• 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
• 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 Apr. 27-29, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

2. Romancing the Stone – $4,673,725 ($34,659,289 total) {week 5}
3. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $3,351,346 ($32,403,301 total) {week 5}
5. Splash – $2,854,681 ($52,346,523 total) {week 8}
7. Footloose – $2,257,778 ($63,767,719 total) {week 11}
10. Terms of Endearment – $1,139,684 ($102,348,450 total) {week 23}
11. Swing Shift – $1,096,274 ($6,650,206 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Romancing the Stone – $11,308,745 ($83,863,101 total)
3. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $8,109,060 ($78,404,416 total)
5. Splash – $6,907,308 ($126,659,890 total)
7. Footloose – $5,463,016 ($154,295,106 total)
10. Terms of Endearment – $2,757,628 ($247,646,696 total)
11. Swing Shift – $2,652,592 ($16,091,123 total)

Oscar Details:

• Footloose: Original Song (“Footloose”, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy”)
• Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes: Supporting Actor (Ralph Richardson), Adapted Screenplay, Makeup
• Romancing the Stone: Editing
• Splash: Original Screenplay
• Swing Shift: Supporting Actress (Christine Lahti)
• 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