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

Turbo (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

The Act of Killing (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

Blackfish (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

Only God Forgives (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Supporting Actress (Kristin Scott Thomas).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of July 18-20, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Dark Knight – $158,411,483 ($158,411,483 total) {week 1}
5. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $10,117,815 ($56,526,885 total) {week 2}
6. WALL-E – $10,070,396 ($182,732,709 total) {week 4}
8. Wanted – $5,072,805 ($123,322,635 total) {week 4}
10. Kung Fu Panda – $1,860,854 ($206,616,381 total) {week 7}
16. Iron Man – $451,838 ($314,376,968 total) {week 12}
20. Mongol – $257,411 ($4,867,490 total) {week 7}
24. The Visitor – $160,251 ($8,817,732 total) {week 15}
36. Encounters at the End of the World – $65,900 ($479,501 total) {week 6}
66. The Counterfeiters – $8,887 ($5,458,024 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Dark Knight – $175,179,272 ($175,179,272 total)
5. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $11,188,781 ($62,510,232 total)
6. WALL-E – $11,136,343 ($202,074,890 total)
8. Wanted – $5,609,759 ($136,376,284 total)
10. Kung Fu Panda – $2,057,825 ($228,486,639 total)
16. Iron Man – $499,665 ($347,653,639 total)
20. Mongol – $284,658 ($5,382,712 total)
24. The Visitor – $177,214 ($9,751,085 total)
36. Encounters at the End of the World – $72,875 ($530,256 total)
66. The Counterfeiters – $9,828 ($6,035,754 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Dark Knight: Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Encounters at the End of the World: Documentary Feature
• Hellboy II: The Golden Army: Makeup
• 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 July 18-20, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $34,034,597 ($133,007,414 total) {week 2}
6. Finding Nemo – $7,275,723 ($303,795,720 total) {week 8}
15. Whale Rider – $1,356,525 ($7,735,642 total) {week 7}
20. Winged Migration – $420,034 ($5,371,789 total) {week 14}
23. Spellbound – $259,172 ($4,086,521 total) {week 12}
26. Capturing the Friedmans – $181,219 ($2,142,625 total) {week 8}
29. Chicago – $157,582 ($170,095,608 total) {week 30}
36. Dirty Pretty Things – $100,512 ($100,512 total) {week 1}
39. Nowhere in Africa – $74,372 ($5,707,936 total) {week 20}
51. A Mighty Wind – $33,902 ($17,475,811 total) {week 14}
55. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $29,000 ($339,687,608 total) {week 31}
61. The Quiet American – $17,510 ($12,968,384 total) {week 35}
73. City of God – $9,454 ($4,481,241 total) {week 27}
79. The Man Without a Past – $8,211 ($860,372 total) {week 16}
83. Bowling for Columbine – $6,728 ($21,541,516 total) {week 41}
89. The Weather Underground – $5,623 ($102,699 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $44,815,041 ($175,137,457 total)
6. Finding Nemo – $9,580,305 ($400,022,888 total)
15. Whale Rider – $1,786,204 ($10,185,903 total)
20. Winged Migration – $553,080 ($7,073,301 total)
23. Spellbound – $341,265 ($5,380,925 total)
26. Capturing the Friedmans – $238,620 ($2,821,301 total)
29. Chicago – $207,496 ($223,973,321 total)
36. Dirty Pretty Things – $132,349 ($132,349 total)
39. Nowhere in Africa – $97,929 ($7,515,922 total)
51. A Mighty Wind – $44,640 ($23,011,267 total)
55. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $38,186 ($447,283,517 total)
61. The Quiet American – $23,056 ($17,076,114 total)
73. City of God – $12,449 ($5,900,672 total)
79. The Man Without a Past – $10,812 ($1,132,894 total)
83. Bowling for Columbine – $8,859 ($28,364,782 total)
89. The Weather Underground – $7,404 ($135,229 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Dirty Pretty Things: Original Screenplay
• 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]
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: Actor (Johnny Depp), Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• 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 July 17-19, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Mask of Zorro – $22,525,855 ($22,525,855 total) {week 1}
3. Armageddon – $16,591,782 ($129,134,246 total) {week 3}
7. Mulan – $4,914,002 ($101,272,675 total) {week 5}
9. The Truman Show – $2,172,376 ($120,028,048 total) {week 7}
11. Out of Sight – $2,044,915 ($33,733,865 total) {week 4}
13. Titanic – $1,337,493 ($590,489,873 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Mask of Zorro – $38,135,456 ($38,135,456 total)
3. Armageddon – $28,089,286 ($218,619,598 total)
7. Mulan – $8,319,227 ($171,450,968 total)
9. The Truman Show – $3,677,754 ($203,203,135 total)
11. Out of Sight – $3,461,967 ($57,110,211 total)
13. Titanic – $2,264,327 ($999,677,951 total)

Oscar Details:

• Armageddon: Original Song (“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”), Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• The Mask of Zorro: Sound, Sound Effects
• 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 July 16-18, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Firm – $13,281,416 ($95,804,149 total) {week 3}
2. In the Line of Fire – $13,056,252 ($36,058,993 total) {week 2}
3. Jurassic Park – $10,867,250 ($255,723,520 total) {week 6}
6. Sleepless in Seattle – $7,355,423 ($71,780,155 total) {week 4}
11. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $2,710,326 ($31,206,663 total) {week 6}
14. Cliffhanger – $1,039,539 ($75,886,646 total) {week 8}
999. Scent of a Woman – $31,450 ($62,763,024 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Firm – $25,472,088 ($183,740,324 total)
2. In the Line of Fire – $25,040,251 ($69,156,619 total)
3. Jurassic Park – $20,842,021 ($490,445,591 total)
6. Sleepless in Seattle – $14,106,777 ($137,665,321 total)
11. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $5,198,065 ($59,850,460 total)
14. Cliffhanger – $1,993,705 ($145,541,055 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $60,317 ($120,371,597 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cliffhanger: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• The Firm: Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter), Original Score
• In the Line of Fire: Supporting Actor (John Malkovich), Original Screenplay, Editing
• 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”)
• What’s Love Got to Do With It: Actor (Laurence Fishburne), Actress (Angela Bassett)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of July 15-17, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Coming to America – $10,417,790 ($66,732,490 total) {week 3}
3. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $8,589,255 ($69,291,854 total) {week 4}
5. Big – $5,034,273 ($68,565,226 total) {week 7}
6. Bull Durham – $3,312,771 ($32,308,810 total) {week 5}
15. Willow – $1,101,539 ($48,076,190 total) {week 9}
16. Die Hard – $601,851 ($601,851 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Coming to America – $20,125,852 ($128,918,728 total)
3. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $16,593,354 ($133,863,095 total)
5. Big – $9,725,578 ($132,459,342 total)
6. Bull Durham – $6,399,854 ($62,416,533 total)
15. Willow – $2,128,034 ($92,877,116 total)
16. Die Hard – $1,162,700 ($1,162,700 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• Bull Durham: Original Screenplay
• Coming to America: Costume Design, Makeup
• Die Hard: Editing, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• 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 July 22-24, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

3. Return of the Jedi – $7,239,419 ($191,442,124 total) {week 9}
6. Trading Places – $3,854,140 ($59,304,502 total) {week 7}
7. WarGames – $2,880,014 ($51,474,449 total) {week 8}
10. Flashdance – $1,964,377 ($65,545,839 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Return of the Jedi – $18,247,932 ($482,555,703 total)
6. Trading Places – $9,714,880 ($149,484,999 total)
7. WarGames – $7,259,464 ($129,748,294 total)
10. Flashdance – $4,951,477 ($165,217,131 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• Trading Places: Original Song Score
• WarGames: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound