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 Legend of Hercules (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 9-11, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $9,212,515 ($94,092,395 total) {week 3}
7. The Blind Side – $7,531,467 ($218,978,376 total) {week 8}
11. Slumdog Millionaire – $3,782,340 ($34,127,195 total) {week 9}
14. Doubt – $2,521,118 ($22,959,422 total) {week 5}
16. Revolutionary Road – $1,427,744 ($3,158,054 total) {week 3}
17. Bolt – $1,370,487 ($111,806,897 total) {week 8}
18. The Reader – $1,346,742 ($5,510,453 total) {week 5}
19. Milk – $1,296,051 ($19,163,996 total) {week 7}
20. Frost/Nixon – $891,627 ($7,631,181 total) {week 6}
21. The Wrestler – $848,410 ($2,822,431 total) {week 4}
22. Australia – $617,314 ($47,764,206 total) {week 7}
28. Rachel Getting Married – $179,805 ($10,558,970 total) {week 15}
34. Waltz with Bashir – $70,737 ($374,325 total) {week 3}
35. Defiance – $68,183 ($309,017 total) {week 2}
45. Happy-Go-Lucky – $39,659 ($3,384,240 total) {week 14}
46. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $38,628 ($22,886,033 total) {week 22}
64. The Dark Knight – $8,012 ($531,026,626 total) {week 26}
77. Trouble the Water – $3,003 ($489,992 total) {week 21}
89. The Betrayal – $672 ($12,136 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $9,752,983 ($99,612,482 total)
7. The Blind Side – $7,973,313 ($231,825,107 total)
11. Slumdog Millionaire – $4,004,237 ($36,129,324 total)
14. Doubt – $2,669,024 ($24,306,375 total)
16. Revolutionary Road – $1,511,505 ($3,343,327 total)
17. Bolt – $1,450,889 ($118,366,235 total)
18. The Reader – $1,425,751 ($5,833,733 total)
19. Milk – $1,372,086 ($20,288,284 total)
20. Frost/Nixon – $943,936 ($8,078,877 total)
21. The Wrestler – $898,183 ($2,988,014 total)
22. Australia – $653,530 ($50,566,373 total)
28. Rachel Getting Married – $190,354 ($11,178,430 total)
34. Waltz with Bashir – $74,887 ($396,285 total)
35. Defiance – $72,183 ($327,146 total)
45. Happy-Go-Lucky – $41,986 ($3,582,782 total)
46. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $40,894 ($24,228,680 total)
64. The Dark Knight – $8,482 ($562,180,188 total)
77. Trouble the Water – $3,179 ($518,738 total)
89. The Betrayal – $711 ($12,848 total)

Oscar Details:

• Australia: Costume Design
• The Betrayal: Documentary Feature
• The Blind Side: Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
• Bolt: Animated Feature
• 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
• 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
• Trouble the Water: Documentary Feature
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz) [O]
• Waltz with Bashir: Foreign Language Film
• The Wrestler: Actor (Mickey Rourke), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 9-11, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $14,209,098 ($312,320,936 total) {week 4}
2. Big Fish – $13,811,191 ($23,386,775 total) {week 5}
4. Cold Mountain – $7,881,729 ($55,340,445 total) {week 3}
5. Something’s Gotta Give – $7,727,359 ($92,515,314 total) {week 5}
9. The Last Samurai – $4,550,419 ($97,181,327 total) {week 6}
13. House of Sand and Fog – $1,420,267 ($7,476,800 total) {week 4}
14. 21 Grams – $1,254,050 ($9,124,030 total) {week 8}
18. In America – $914,429 ($6,637,216 total) {week 7}
19. Monster – $844,259 ($1,406,502 total) {week 3}
20. Lost in Translation – $747,470 ($32,520,390 total) {week 18}
21. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $624,874 ($84,016,741 total) {week 9}
28. Mystic River – $327,905 ($54,787,496 total) {week 14}
29. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $316,628 ($1,275,933 total) {week 5}
30. The Cooler – $304,638 ($2,281,044 total) {week 7}
31. Brother Bear – $286,846 ($83,689,855 total) {week 12}
35. The Triplets of Belleville – $155,806 ($1,280,038 total) {week 7}
50. The Fog of War – $59,973 ($373,342 total) {week 4}
51. My Architect – $54,431 ($439,221 total) {week 9}
67. Pieces of April – $15,882 ($2,421,558 total) {week 13}
85. Dirty Pretty Things – $4,601 ($8,083,257 total) {week 26}
88. City of God – $3,921 ($4,799,197 total) {week 52}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $35,146,492 ($772,532,159 total)
2. Big Fish – $34,162,261 ($57,847,662 total)
4. Cold Mountain – $19,495,616 ($136,885,711 total)
5. Something’s Gotta Give – $19,113,779 ($228,838,503 total)
9. The Last Samurai – $11,255,554 ($240,379,980 total)
13. House of Sand and Fog – $3,513,059 ($18,494,016 total)
14. 21 Grams – $3,101,918 ($22,568,473 total)
18. In America – $2,261,859 ($16,417,288 total)
19. Monster – $2,088,292 ($3,479,011 total)
20. Lost in Translation – $1,848,882 ($80,439,843 total)
21. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $1,545,638 ($207,817,110 total)
28. Mystic River – $811,080 ($135,517,981 total)
29. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $783,186 ($3,156,046 total)
30. The Cooler – $753,528 ($5,642,209 total)
31. Brother Bear – $709,519 ($207,008,551 total)
35. The Triplets of Belleville – $385,389 ($3,166,200 total)
50. The Fog of War – $148,344 ($923,469 total)
51. My Architect – $134,636 ($1,086,422 total)
67. Pieces of April – $39,284 ($5,989,773 total)
85. Dirty Pretty Things – $11,381 ($19,994,100 total)
88. City of God – $9,699 ($11,870,911 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)
• Something’s Gotta Give: Actress (Diane Keaton)
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 8-10, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. A Civil Action – $15,163,484 ($15,452,632 total) {week 3}
2. Patch Adams – $12,686,600 ($83,504,170 total) {week 3}
5. The Prince of Egypt – $6,074,356 ($74,864,804 total) {week 4}
6. Mighty Joe Young – $5,041,684 ($34,833,616 total) {week 3}
7. A Bug’s Life – $4,723,951 ($142,955,209 total) {week 8}
8. Shakespeare in Love – $4,224,426 ($15,018,242 total) {week 5}
15. The Thin Red Line – $1,276,384 ($2,486,047 total) {week 3}
17. Life Is Beautiful – $904,692 ($12,758,122 total) {week 12}
19. Elizabeth – $801,412 ($17,735,564 total) {week 10}
23. A Simple Plan – $308,891 ($2,999,234 total) {week 5}
25. Babe: Pig in the City – $256,795 ($16,492,655 total) {week 7}
31. Little Voice – $189,926 ($1,143,688 total) {week 3}
32. Gods and Monsters – $165,181 ($2,191,051 total) {week 10}
35. Central Station – $121,208 ($852,672 total) {week 8}
37. Hilary and Jackie – $84,303 ($260,816 total) {week 2}
38. Pleasantville – $83,720 ($38,995,327 total) {week 12}
42. Affliction – $51,833 ($178,940 total) {week 2}
43. American History X – $50,371 ($6,205,537 total) {week 10}
44. The Red Violin – $49,582 ($1,278,392 total) {week 11}
55. Saving Private Ryan – $27,088 ($190,878,157 total) {week 25}
56. The Mask of Zorro – $22,737 ($93,819,423 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. A Civil Action – $23,700,406 ($24,152,342 total)
2. Patch Adams – $19,829,056 ($130,516,360 total)
5. The Prince of Egypt – $9,494,171 ($117,013,099 total)
6. Mighty Joe Young – $7,880,112 ($54,444,668 total)
7. A Bug’s Life – $7,383,498 ($223,437,866 total)
8. Shakespeare in Love – $6,602,745 ($23,473,394 total)
15. The Thin Red Line – $1,994,978 ($3,885,672 total)
17. Life Is Beautiful – $1,414,026 ($19,940,844 total)
19. Elizabeth – $1,252,601 ($27,720,547 total)
23. A Simple Plan – $482,794 ($4,687,779 total)
25. Babe: Pig in the City – $401,369 ($25,777,890 total)
31. Little Voice – $296,853 ($1,787,575 total)
32. Gods and Monsters – $258,177 ($3,424,595 total)
35. Central Station – $189,447 ($1,332,720 total)
37. Hilary and Jackie – $131,765 ($407,653 total)
38. Pleasantville – $130,854 ($60,949,389 total)
42. Affliction – $81,015 ($279,682 total)
43. American History X – $78,729 ($9,699,205 total)
44. The Red Violin – $77,496 ($1,998,117 total)
55. Saving Private Ryan – $42,338 ($298,341,056 total)
56. The Mask of Zorro – $35,538 ($146,639,019 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. 14-16, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Philadelphia – $13,817,010 ($14,766,736 total) {week 4}
2. Mrs. Doubtfire – $10,281,452 ($151,757,238 total) {week 8}
9. Shadowlands – $3,679,026 ($9,410,812 total) {week 3}
10. Schindler’s List – $3,121,020 ($14,297,003 total) {week 5}
11. Beethoven’s 2nd – $3,459,445 ($40,778,195 total) {week 5}
13. The Piano – $1,691,518 ($22,454,941 total) {week 10}
15. In the Name of the Father – $956,414 ($1,595,431 total) {week 3}
999. Jurassic Park – $512,200 ($341,146,820 total) {week 32}
999. Six Degrees of Separation – $158,599 ($1,357,848 total) {week 6}
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $57,225 ($545,100 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Philadelphia – $26,245,708 ($28,049,733 total)
2. Mrs. Doubtfire – $19,529,839 ($288,266,141 total)
9. Shadowlands – $6,988,389 ($17,876,040 total)
10. Schindler’s List – $5,928,445 ($27,157,465 total)
11. Beethoven’s 2nd – $6,571,290 ($77,459,059 total)
13. The Piano – $3,213,075 ($42,653,644 total)
15. In the Name of the Father – $1,816,729 ($3,030,556 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $972,935 ($648,015,730 total)
999. Six Degrees of Separation – $301,262 ($2,579,262 total)
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $108,700 ($1,035,429 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. 13-15, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Rain Man – $10,111,504 ($69,089,510 total) {week 5}
3. Beaches – $5,160,258 ($6,203,535 total) {week 4}
4. The Accidental Tourist – $4,872,212 ($13,491,258 total) {week 4}
5. Working Girl – $4,514,221 ($29,697,876 total) {week 4}
7. Mississippi Burning – $4,040,640 ($5,714,916 total) {week 6}
12. Tequila Sunrise – $1,553,673 ($34,999,664 total) {week 7}
16. Dangerous Liaisons – $940,855 ($1,836,695 total) {week 4}
17. Scrooged – $761,415 ($58,159,923 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Rain Man – $20,223,008 ($138,179,020 total)
3. Beaches – $10,320,516 ($12,407,070 total)
4. The Accidental Tourist – $9,744,424 ($26,982,516 total)
5. Working Girl – $9,028,442 ($59,395,752 total)
7. Mississippi Burning – $8,081,280 ($11,429,832 total)
12. Tequila Sunrise – $3,107,346 ($69,999,328 total)
16. Dangerous Liaisons – $1,881,710 ($3,673,390 total)
17. Scrooged – $1,522,830 ($116,319,846 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. 13-15, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Terms of Endearment – $5,211,394 ($55,781,706 total) {week 8}
5. Yentl – $2,398,768 ($25,764,348 total) {week 9}
6. Silkwood – $2,333,091 ($13,917,249 total) {week 5}
10. The Big Chill – $1,526,370 ($47,671,598 total) {week 16}
13. To Be or Not to Be – $1,161,023 ($10,438,224 total) {week 5}
999. Return of the Jedi – $435,461 ($251,010,234 total) {week 34}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Terms of Endearment – $12,315,020 ($131,817,484 total)
5. Yentl – $5,668,517 ($60,883,608 total)
6. Silkwood – $5,513,316 ($32,887,785 total)
10. The Big Chill – $3,606,958 ($112,652,526 total)
13. To Be or Not to Be – $2,743,608 ($24,666,517 total)
999. Return of the Jedi – $1,029,036 ($593,161,089 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