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

White House Down (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Byzantium (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Production Design, Costume Design.

I’m So Excited (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Original Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 27-29, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

1. WALL-E – $63,087,526 ($63,087,526 total) {week 1}
2. Wanted – $50,927,085 ($50,927,085 total) {week 1}
4. Kung Fu Panda – $11,692,061 ($179,276,754 total) {week 4}
11. Iron Man – $2,257,113 ($309,179,318 total) {week 9}
13. Mongol – $812,862 ($2,288,109 total) {week 4}
16. The Visitor – $295,387 ($7,651,884 total) {week 12}
37. Encounters at the End of the World – $49,101 ($127,035 total) {week 3}
56. The Counterfeiters – $20,166 ($5,385,542 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. WALL-E – $69,765,314 ($69,765,314 total)
2. Wanted – $56,317,696 ($56,317,696 total)
4. Kung Fu Panda – $12,929,661 ($198,253,124 total)
11. Iron Man – $2,496,027 ($341,905,820 total)
13. Mongol – $898,903 ($2,530,304 total)
16. The Visitor – $326,654 ($8,461,833 total)
37. Encounters at the End of the World – $54,298 ($140,482 total)
56. The Counterfeiters – $22,301 ($5,955,599 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Encounters at the End of the World: Documentary Feature
• Iron Man: Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Kung Fu Panda: Animated Feature
• Mongol: Foreign Language Film
• The Visitor: Actor (Richard Jenkins)
• WALL-E: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Down to Earth”), Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Wanted: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 27-29, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

3. Finding Nemo – $13,968,116 ($253,991,677 total) {week 5}
14. Whale Rider – $977,791 ($2,303,543 total) {week 4}
20. Winged Migration – $348,597 ($3,149,841 total) {week 11}
21. Spellbound – $329,688 ($2,620,095 total) {week 9}
22. Capturing the Friedmans – $251,602 ($1,111,503 total) {week 5}
31. Nowhere in Africa – $122,861 ($5,224,272 total) {week 17}
32. A Mighty Wind – $104,743 ($17,204,276 total) {week 11}
38. The Barbarian Invasions – $76,072 ($3,983,946 total) {week 8}
39. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $73,395 ($339,457,993 total) {week 28}
41. Chicago – $63,836 ($169,478,994 total) {week 27}
55. The Man Without a Past – $23,885 ($794,306 total) {week 13}
60. City of God – $20,671 ($4,410,540 total) {week 24}
75. Bowling for Columbine – $10,270 ($21,489,851 total) {week 38}
84. The Quiet American – $8,198 ($12,928,483 total) {week 32}
93. The Weather Underground – $5,557 ($69,620 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Finding Nemo – $18,392,511 ($334,443,435 total)
14. Whale Rider – $1,287,506 ($3,033,189 total)
20. Winged Migration – $459,015 ($4,147,552 total)
21. Spellbound – $434,117 ($3,450,009 total)
22. Capturing the Friedmans – $331,297 ($1,463,571 total)
31. Nowhere in Africa – $161,777 ($6,879,058 total)
32. A Mighty Wind – $137,920 ($22,653,723 total)
38. The Barbarian Invasions – $100,168 ($5,245,859 total)
39. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $96,643 ($446,981,172 total)
41. Chicago – $84,056 ($223,161,395 total)
55. The Man Without a Past – $31,451 ($1,045,902 total)
60. City of God – $27,219 ($5,807,577 total)
75. Bowling for Columbine – $13,523 ($28,296,752 total)
84. The Quiet American – $10,795 ($17,023,575 total)
93. The Weather Underground – $7,317 ($91,672 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Barbarian Invasions: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• Capturing the Friedmans: Documentary Feature
• 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
• Finding Nemo: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Editing
• 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 Quiet American: Actor (Michael Caine)
• Spellbound: Documentary Feature
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature
• Whale Rider: Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes)
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 26-28, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. Mulan – $17,017,845 ($54,234,591 total) {week 2}
4. Out of Sight – $12,020,435 ($12,020,435 total) {week 1}
5. The Truman Show – $8,505,589 ($99,495,475 total) {week 4}
10. The Horse Whisperer – $1,885,386 ($66,532,043 total) {week 7}
14. Titanic – $922,618 ($587,071,239 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Mulan – $28,810,595 ($91,817,197 total)
4. Out of Sight – $20,350,161 ($20,350,161 total)
5. The Truman Show – $14,399,654 ($168,442,233 total)
10. The Horse Whisperer – $3,191,890 ($112,636,337 total)
14. Titanic – $1,561,959 ($993,890,328 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Horse Whisperer: Original Song (“A Soft Place to Fall”)
• Mulan: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Out of Sight: Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• 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]
• The Truman Show: Director, Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 25-27, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. Jurassic Park – $27,690,520 ($171,098,465 total) {week 3}
2. Sleepless in Seattle – $17,253,733 ($17,253,733 total) {week 1}
5. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $5,483,384 ($13,207,699 total) {week 3}
6. Cliffhanger – $4,147,456 ($65,558,170 total) {week 5}
10. Dave – $1,474,850 ($58,340,177 total) {week 8}
999. Scent of a Woman – $50,575 ($62,620,514 total) {week 27}
999. Unforgiven – $346,709 ($100,579,546 total) {week 47}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Jurassic Park – $53,106,939 ($328,145,365 total)
2. Sleepless in Seattle – $33,090,493 ($33,090,493 total)
5. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $10,516,442 ($25,330,708 total)
6. Cliffhanger – $7,954,300 ($125,732,336 total)
10. Dave – $2,828,577 ($111,889,132 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $96,996 ($120,098,280 total)
999. Unforgiven – $664,944 ($192,898,936 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cliffhanger: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• Dave: Original Screenplay
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Scent of a Woman: Picture, Director, Actor (Al Pacino) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Sleepless in Seattle: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“A Wink and a Smile”)
• Unforgiven: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound
• What’s Love Got to Do With It: Actor (Laurence Fishburne), Actress (Angela Bassett)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 24-26, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $11,226,239 ($11,226,239 total) {week 1}
2. Big – $7,209,488 ($42,533,775 total) {week 4}
6. Bull Durham – $5,111,244 ($14,159,843 total) {week 2}
8. Willow – $2,541,603 ($39,555,153 total) {week 6}
999. A Handful of Dust – $35,470 ($35,470 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $21,687,673 ($21,687,673 total)
2. Big – $13,927,819 ($82,169,872 total)
6. Bull Durham – $9,874,277 ($27,355,025 total)
8. Willow – $4,910,055 ($76,415,551 total)
999. A Handful of Dust – $68,524 ($68,524 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• Bull Durham: Original Screenplay
• A Handful of Dust: Costume Design
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Animation Direction, Richard Williams)
• Willow: Sound Effects, Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 1-3, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Return of the Jedi – $12,038,626 ($153,077,895 total) {week 6}
3. Trading Places – $6,537,144 ($39,336,962 total) {week 4}
7. WarGames – $4,733,597 ($36,820,844 total) {week 5}
10. Flashdance – $2,256,608 ($54,950,023 total) {week 12}
12. Blue Thunder – $1,240,688 ($39,684,916 total) {week 8}
14. Tootsie – $625,927 ($176,188,774 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Return of the Jedi – $30,344,981 ($385,853,488 total)
3. Trading Places – $16,477,753 ($99,154,120 total)
7. WarGames – $11,931,670 ($92,811,905 total)
10. Flashdance – $5,688,085 ($138,508,947 total)
12. Blue Thunder – $3,127,321 ($100,031,185 total)
14. Tootsie – $1,577,733 ($444,107,576 total)

Oscar Details:

• Blue Thunder: Editing
• Flashdance: Original Song (“Flashdance…What a Feeling”) [O], Original Song (“Maniac”), Editing, Cinematography
• 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
• Trading Places: Original Song Score
• WarGames: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound