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

Beasts of the Southern Wild (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Supporting Actress (Quvenzhané Wallis).

Neil Young Journeys (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

Take This Waltz (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actress (Michelle Williams), Original Screenplay, Editing.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 29-Jul. 1, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

1. Ratatouille – $47,027,395 ($47,027,395 total) {week 1}
8. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $4,960,368 ($295,703,075 total) {week 6}
9. Sicko – $4,501,712 ($4,616,786 total) {week 2}
12. Surf’s Up – $2,446,757 ($53,760,658 total) {week 4}
15. La Vie en Rose – $617,080 ($4,933,571 total) {week 4}
19. Once – $381,336 ($3,842,578 total) {week 7}
38. Away from Her – $38,287 ($4,443,603 total) {week 9}
42. The Lives of Others – $29,468 ($10,748,017 total) {week 21}
51. After the Wedding – $12,946 ($1,504,179 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Ratatouille – $47,027,395 ($47,027,395 total)
8. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $4,960,368 ($295,703,075 total)
9. Sicko – $4,501,712 ($4,616,786 total)
12. Surf’s Up – $2,446,757 ($53,760,658 total)
15. La Vie en Rose – $617,080 ($4,933,571 total)
19. Once – $381,336 ($3,842,578 total)
38. Away from Her – $38,287 ($4,443,603 total)
42. The Lives of Others – $29,468 ($10,748,017 total)
51. After the Wedding – $12,946 ($1,504,179 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
• Ratatouille: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• 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. 28-30, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

2. Minority Report – $21,590,412 ($73,424,800 total) {week 2}
3. Lilo & Stitch – $21,515,886 ($77,086,002 total) {week 2}
9. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $3,668,293 ($286,253,887 total) {week 7}
11. Spider-Man – $3,130,214 ($395,874,471 total) {week 9}
13. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2,002,184 ($19,340,988 total) {week 11}
15. About a Boy – $939,770 ($38,912,870 total) {week 7}
17. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $752,185 ($70,374,398 total) {week 6}
22. Unfaithful – $243,283 ($51,768,343 total) {week 8}
25. Ice Age – $192,820 ($174,995,186 total) {week 16}
27. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $157,190 ($12,908,933 total) {week 16}
29. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $149,167 ($312,274,288 total) {week 28}
65. Amelie – $9,446 ($33,201,661 total) {week 35}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Minority Report – $21,590,412 ($73,424,800 total)
3. Lilo & Stitch – $21,515,886 ($77,086,002 total)
9. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $3,668,293 ($286,253,887 total)
11. Spider-Man – $3,130,214 ($395,874,471 total)
13. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2,002,184 ($19,340,988 total)
15. About a Boy – $939,770 ($38,912,870 total)
17. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $752,185 ($70,374,398 total)
22. Unfaithful – $243,283 ($51,768,343 total)
25. Ice Age – $192,820 ($174,995,186 total)
27. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $157,190 ($12,908,933 total)
29. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $149,167 ($312,274,288 total)
65. Amelie – $9,446 ($33,201,661 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. 27-29, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

2. Hercules – $21,454,451 ($23,658,555 total) {week 3}
4. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $15,016,921 ($49,220,136 total) {week 2}
5. Con Air – $5,898,935 ($78,549,925 total) {week 4}
6. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $4,536,180 ($213,223,429 total) {week 6}
11. Ulee’s Gold – $603,274 ($1,185,317 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Hercules – $21,454,451 ($23,658,555 total)
4. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $15,016,921 ($49,220,136 total)
5. Con Air – $5,898,935 ($78,549,925 total)
6. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $4,536,180 ($213,223,429 total)
11. Ulee’s Gold – $603,274 ($1,185,317 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
• Ulee’s Gold: Actor (Peter Fonda)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 26-28, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Batman Returns – $25,425,426 ($96,770,068 total) {week 2}
10. Alien 3 – $1,001,574 ($51,312,822 total) {week 6}
12. Basic Instinct – $792,189 ($108,648,808 total) {week 15}
13. Howards End – $501,657 ($7,610,087 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Batman Returns – $25,425,426 ($96,770,068 total)
10. Alien 3 – $1,001,574 ($51,312,822 total)
12. Basic Instinct – $792,189 ($108,648,808 total)
13. Howards End – $501,657 ($7,610,087 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

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 26-28, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Witches of Eastwick – $6,309,402 ($33,555,541 total) {week 3}
4. Beverly Hills Cop II – $5,559,475 ($118,619,024 total) {week 6}
5. Preadator – $5,222,538 ($34,925,416 total) {week 3}
6. The Untouchables – $5,070,891 ($44,639,598 total) {week 4}
9. Harry and the Hendersons – $2,293,075 ($20,402,273 total) {week 4}
10. Full Metal Jacket – $2,217,307 ($2,217,307 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Witches of Eastwick – $6,309,402 ($33,555,541 total)
4. Beverly Hills Cop II – $5,559,475 ($118,619,024 total)
5. Preadator – $5,222,538 ($34,925,416 total)
6. The Untouchables – $5,070,891 ($44,639,598 total)
9. Harry and the Hendersons – $2,293,075 ($20,402,273 total)
10. Full Metal Jacket – $2,217,307 ($2,217,307 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beverly Hills Cop II: Original Song (“Shakedown”)
• Full Metal Jacket: Adapted Screenplay
• Harry and the Hendersons: Makeup [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. 25-27, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $13,729,552 ($58,551,562 total) {week 3}
2. Blade Runner – $6,150,002 ($6,150,002 total) {week 1}
4. Rocky III – $5,092,684 ($64,192,584 total) {week 5}
6. Annie – $4,539,983 ($16,865,255 total) {week 6}
7. Poltergeist – $4,103,235 ($31,328,050 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $13,729,552 ($58,551,562 total)
2. Blade Runner – $6,150,002 ($6,150,002 total)
4. Rocky III – $5,092,684 ($64,192,584 total)
6. Annie – $4,539,983 ($16,865,255 total)
7. Poltergeist – $4,103,235 ($31,328,050 total)

Oscar Details:

• Annie: Original Song Score, Art Direction
• Blade Runner: Art Direction, Visual Effects
• 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”)