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

Epic (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

Before Midnight (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay.

We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 23-25, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

3. Iron Man – $20,447,253 ($252,614,669 total) {week 4}
10. The Visitor – $724,183 ($4,375,408 total) {week 7}
25. The Counterfeiters – $102,199 ($5,012,534 total) {week 14}
56. In Bruges – $25,082 ($7,638,950 total) {week 16}
82. Juno – $5,044 ($143,459,962 total) {week 25}
119. Taxi to the Dark Side – $103 ($274,256 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Iron Man – $22,611,586 ($279,353,826 total)
10. The Visitor – $800,837 ($4,838,543 total)
25. The Counterfeiters – $113,017 ($5,543,109 total)
56. In Bruges – $27,737 ($8,447,530 total)
82. Juno – $5,578 ($158,645,139 total)
119. Taxi to the Dark Side – $114 ($303,286 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• In Bruges: Original Screenplay
• Iron Man: Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Juno: Picture, Director, Actress (Ellen Page), Original Screenplay [O]
• Taxi to the Dark Side: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Visitor: Actor (Richard Jenkins)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 23-25, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

12. A Mighty Wind – $1,356,178 ($14,079,482 total) {week 6}
13. The Barbarian Invasions – $604,600 ($2,067,600 total) {week 3}
16. Chicago – $455,990 ($168,138,993 total) {week 22}
18. Nowhere in Africa – $298,482 ($3,887,498 total) {week 12}
20. Winged Migration – $244,656 ($814,947 total) {week 6}
26. Spellbound – $173,512 ($377,839 total) {week 4}
32. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $116,483 ($338,794,804 total) {week 23}
35. The Pianist – $78,241 ($32,426,410 total) {week 22}
40. The Man Without a Past – $54,195 ($588,681 total) {week 8}
43. City of God – $49,599 ($4,173,414 total) {week 19}
55. The Quiet American – $38,591 ($128,020,761 total) {week 27}
58. Bowling for Columbine – $39,156 ($21,363,913 total) {week 33}
65. About Schmidt – $24,660 ($65,010,106 total) {week 24}
98. Talk to Her – $5,584 ($9,273,503 total) {week 27}
117. Spirited Away – $1,606 ($9,957,083 total) {week 36}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

12. A Mighty Wind – $1,785,747 ($18,539,152 total)
13. The Barbarian Invasions – $796,107 ($2,722,511 total)
16. Chicago – $600,425 ($221,396,949 total)
18. Nowhere in Africa – $393,026 ($5,118,861 total)
20. Winged Migration – $322,151 ($1,073,081 total)
26. Spellbound – $228,472 ($497,519 total)
32. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $153,379 ($446,107,918 total)
35. The Pianist – $103,024 ($42,697,462 total)
40. The Man Without a Past – $71,361 ($775,145 total)
43. City of God – $65,309 ($5,495,341 total)
55. The Quiet American – $50,815 ($168,571,284 total)
58. Bowling for Columbine – $51,559 ($28,130,924 total)
65. About Schmidt – $32,471 ($85,602,030 total)
98. Talk to Her – $7,353 ($12,210,881 total)
117. Spirited Away – $2,115 ($13,110,985 total)

Oscar Details:

• About Schmidt: Actor (Jack Nicholson), Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates)
• The Barbarian Invasions: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• 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 Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Picture, Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Man Without a Past: Foreign Language Film
• A Mighty Wind: Original Song (“A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow”)
• 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)
• Spellbound: Documentary Feature
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 22-24, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Horse Whisperer – $14,516,024 ($33,097,956 total) {week 2}
4. Bulworth – $10,515,839 ($10,744,176 total) {week 2}
5. Quest for Camelot – $6,309,793 ($13,771,480 total) {week 2}
7. Titanic – $2,970,044 ($576,357,353 total) {week 23}
13. As Good As It Gets – $368,652 ($146,566,220 total) {week 22}
999. Primary Colors – $198,915 ($38,231,557 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Horse Whisperer – $24,575,102 ($56,033,640 total)
4. Bulworth – $17,802,934 ($18,189,501 total)
5. Quest for Camelot – $10,682,251 ($23,314,616 total)
7. Titanic – $5,028,177 ($975,752,107 total)
13. As Good As It Gets – $624,114 ($248,131,298 total)
999. Primary Colors – $336,756 ($64,724,640 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Bulworth: Original Screenplay
• The Horse Whisperer: Original Song (“A Soft Place to Fall”)
• Primary Colors: Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates), Adapted Screenplay
• Quest for Camelot: Original Song (“The Prayer”)
• 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 May 21-23, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

3. Dave – $7,876,242 ($29,210,262 total) {week 3}
999. A Few Good Men – $452,670 ($140,015,213 total) {week 24}
999. Scent of a Woman – $334,495 ($61,659,174 total) {week 22}
999. Unforgiven – $405,561 ($95,629,641 total) {week 42}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Dave – $15,105,643 ($56,021,614 total)
999. A Few Good Men – $868,164 ($268,531,592 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $641,519 ($118,254,551 total)
999. Unforgiven – $777,815 ($183,405,640 total)

Oscar Details:

• Dave: Original Screenplay
• 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 May 20-22, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Willow – $8,300,169 ($8,300,169 total) {week 1}
4. Beetlejuice – $2,722,643 ($58,821,309 total) {week 8}
6. Moonstruck – $1,176,006 ($73,972,593 total) {week 23}
10. The Last Emperor – $930,729 ($40,295,591 total) {week 27}
11. Beaches – $730,187 ($57,041,866 total) {week 23}
11. The Milagro Beanfield War – $820,182 ($10,219,461 total) {week 10}
12. Good Morning, Vietnam – $817,600 ($118,282,478 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Willow – $16,034,876 ($16,034,876 total)
4. Beetlejuice – $5,259,802 ($113,635,327 total)
6. Moonstruck – $2,271,895 ($142,905,691 total)
10. The Last Emperor – $1,798,051 ($77,845,984 total)
11. Beaches – $1,410,629 ($110,197,668 total)
11. The Milagro Beanfield War – $1,584,488 ($19,742,706 total)
12. Good Morning, Vietnam – $1,579,500 ($228,506,782 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beaches: Art Direction
• Beetlejuice: Makeup [O]
• 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
• Willow: Sound Effects, Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 27-29, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Return of the Jedi – $23,019,618 ($33,660,398 total) {week 1}
2. Blue Thunder – $6,239,999 ($25,942,709 total) {week 3}
3. Flashdance – $4,667,930 ($36,586,389 total) {week 7}
6. Tootsie – $2,439,315 ($169,884,870 total) {week 24}
9. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,437,965 ($351,234,240 total) {week 51}
13. Gandhi – $827,377 ($51,669,867 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Return of the Jedi – $58,024,053 ($84,845,575 total)
2. Blue Thunder – $15,728,759 ($65,392,098 total)
3. Flashdance – $11,766,147 ($92,220,930 total)
6. Tootsie – $6,148,623 ($428,217,736 total)
9. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $3,624,585 ($885,333,291 total)
13. Gandhi – $2,085,515 ($130,240,871 total)

Oscar Details:

• Blue Thunder: Editing
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound [O], Sound Effects Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Flashdance: Original Song (“Flashdance…What a Feeling”) [O], Original Song (“Maniac”), Editing, Cinematography
• 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
• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• 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