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

Brave (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Animated Feature, Original Score, Original Song, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Original Screenplay.

The Invisible War (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

To Rome With Love (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 22-24, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

6. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $7,202,086 ($287,001,716 total) {week 5}
7. Surf’s Up – $6,580,743 ($47,193,723 total) {week 3}
15. La Vie en Rose – $773,896 ($3,917,931 total) {week 3}
16. Once – $474,135 ($3,227,004 total) {week 6}
27. Away from Her – $98,347 ($4,343,751 total) {week 8}
31. Sicko – $68,969 ($68,969 total) {week 1}
39. The Lives of Others – $46,411 ($10,688,829 total) {week 20}
52. After the Wedding – $27,057 ($1,470,052 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $7,202,086 ($287,001,716 total)
7. Surf’s Up – $6,580,743 ($47,193,723 total)
15. La Vie en Rose – $773,896 ($3,917,931 total)
16. Once – $474,135 ($3,227,004 total)
27. Away from Her – $98,347 ($4,343,751 total)
31. Sicko – $68,969 ($68,969 total)
39. The Lives of Others – $46,411 ($10,688,829 total)
52. After the Wedding – $27,057 ($1,470,052 total)

Oscar Details:

• After the Wedding: Foreign Language Film
• Away from Her: Actress (Julie Christie), Adapted Screenplay
• The Lives of Others: Foreign Language Film
• Once: Original Song [O]
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End: Makeup, Visual Effects
• Sicko: Documentary Feature
• Surf’s Up: Animated Feature
• La Vie en Rose: Actress [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 21-23, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

1. Minority Report – $35,677,125 ($35,677,125 total) {week 1}
2. Lilo & Stitch – $35,260,212 ($35,260,212 total) {week 1}
9. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $5,151,029 ($279,828,766 total) {week 6}
10. Spider-Man – $4,555,932 ($390,382,313 total) {week 8}
13. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $1,995,439 ($68,310,507 total) {week 5}
14. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $1,776,990 ($16,318,140 total) {week 10}
16. About a Boy – $1,210,015 ($37,305,400 total) {week 6}
20. Unfaithful – $356,399 ($51,340,028 total) {week 7}
21. Ice Age – $263,603 ($174,637,157 total) {week 15}
27. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $167,272 ($12,655,779 total) {week 15}
28. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $156,740 ($312,014,743 total) {week 27}
52. Amelie – $17,733 ($33,177,691 total) {week 34}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Minority Report – $35,677,125 ($35,677,125 total)
2. Lilo & Stitch – $35,260,212 ($35,260,212 total)
9. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $5,151,029 ($279,828,766 total)
10. Spider-Man – $4,555,932 ($390,382,313 total)
13. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $1,995,439 ($68,310,507 total)
14. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $1,776,990 ($16,318,140 total)
16. About a Boy – $1,210,015 ($37,305,400 total)
20. Unfaithful – $356,399 ($51,340,028 total)
21. Ice Age – $263,603 ($174,637,157 total)
27. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $167,272 ($12,655,779 total)
28. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $156,740 ($312,014,743 total)
52. Amelie – $17,733 ($33,177,691 total)

Oscar Details:

• About a Boy: Adapted Screenplay
• Amelie: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Foreign Language Film
• Ice Age: Animated Feature
• Lilo & Stitch: Animated Feature
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Ian McKellen), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Original Song (“May It Be”), Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• Minority Report: Sound Editing
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• Spider-Man: Sound, Visual Effects
• Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron: Animated Feature
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones: Visual Effects
• Unfaithful: Actress (Diane Lane)
• Y Tu Mama Tambien: Original Screenplay

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 20-22, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

2. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $21,678,377 ($21,678,377 total) {week 1}
3. Con Air – $10,431,513 ($67,802,075 total) {week 3}
4. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $8,039,030 ($204,953,959 total) {week 5}
11. Hercules – $852,103 ($1,498,436 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $21,678,377 ($21,678,377 total)
3. Con Air – $10,431,513 ($67,802,075 total)
4. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $8,039,030 ($204,953,959 total)
11. Hercules – $852,103 ($1,498,436 total)

Oscar Details:

• Con Air: Original Song (“How Do I Live”), Sound
• Hercules: Original Song (“Go the Distance”)
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park: Visual Effects
• My Best Friend’s Wedding: Original Comedy/Musical Score

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 19-21, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Batman Returns – $45,687,711 ($47,720,711 total) {week 1}
8. Alien 3 – $1,528,605 ($49,497,102 total) {week 5}
10. Basic Instinct – $951,125 ($107,273,869 total) {week 14}
12. The Player – $559,813 (n/a total) {week 10}
999. Howards End – $465,999 ($6,855,999 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Batman Returns – $45,687,711 ($47,720,711 total)
8. Alien 3 – $1,528,605 ($49,497,102 total)
10. Basic Instinct – $951,125 ($107,273,869 total)
12. The Player – $559,813 (n/a total)
999. Howards End – $465,999 ($6,855,999 total)

Oscar Details:

• Alien 3: Visual Effects
• Basic Instinct: Original Score, Editing
• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects
• Howards End: Picture, Director, Actress (Emma Thompson) [O], Supporting Actress (Vanessa Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• The Player: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 19-21, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Witches of Eastwick – $8,251,230 ($23,040,564 total) {week 2}
2. Preadator – $8,225,869 ($25,738,838 total) {week 2}
3. Beverly Hills Cop II – $7,417,458 ($109,235,528 total) {week 5}
4. The Untouchables – $7,111,602 ($35,775,782 total) {week 3}
6. Harry and the Hendersons – $3,524,400 ($16,059,138 total) {week 3}
11. Crocodile Dundee – $513,916 ($171,495,170 total) {week 39}
12. Platoon – $489,258 ($133,491,989 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Witches of Eastwick – $8,251,230 ($23,040,564 total)
2. Preadator – $8,225,869 ($25,738,838 total)
3. Beverly Hills Cop II – $7,417,458 ($109,235,528 total)
4. The Untouchables – $7,111,602 ($35,775,782 total)
6. Harry and the Hendersons – $3,524,400 ($16,059,138 total)
11. Crocodile Dundee – $513,916 ($171,495,170 total)
12. Platoon – $489,258 ($133,491,989 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beverly Hills Cop II: Original Song (“Shakedown”)
• Crocodile Dundee: Original Screenplay
• Harry and the Hendersons: Makeup [O]
• Platoon: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe), Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound [O]
• Preadator: Visual Effects
• The Untouchables: Supporting Actor (Sean Connery) [O], Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Witches of Eastwick: Original Score, Sound

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 18-20, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $12,610,610 ($34,416,986 total) {week 2}
3. Rocky III – $6,313,576 ($54,997,576 total) {week 4}
5. Annie – $5,312,062 (n/a total) {week 5}
6. Poltergeist – $4,709,044 ($24,296,134 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $12,610,610 ($34,416,986 total)
3. Rocky III – $6,313,576 ($54,997,576 total)
5. Annie – $5,312,062 (n/a total)
6. Poltergeist – $4,709,044 ($24,296,134 total)

Oscar Details:

• Annie: Original Song Score, Art Direction
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound [O], Sound Effects Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Poltergeist: Original Score, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Rocky III: Original Song (“Eye of the Tiger”)