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

Hercules (Wide)

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

Magic in the Moonlight (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director (Woody Allen), Actress (Emma Stone), Actor (Colin Firth), Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden, Jacki Weaver), Original Screenplay.

A Most Wanted Man (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Best Actor (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), Adapted Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 24-26, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $8,124,427 ($379,214,172 total) {week 5}
11. Up – $1,687,307 ($283,690,231 total) {week 9}
13. The Hurt Locker – $1,438,355 ($4,015,070 total) {week 5}
18. Star Trek – $439,445 ($254,020,378 total) {week 12}
23. Food, Inc. – $291,006 ($2,720,125 total) {week 7}
27. In the Loop – $191,866 ($191,866 total) {week 1}
44. Departures – $46,750 ($992,666 total) {week 9}
97. Il Divo – $916 ($213,440 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $8,806,879 ($411,068,162 total)
11. Up – $1,829,041 ($307,520,210 total)
13. The Hurt Locker – $1,559,177 ($4,352,336 total)
18. Star Trek – $476,358 ($275,358,090 total)
23. Food, Inc. – $315,451 ($2,948,616 total)
27. In the Loop – $207,983 ($207,983 total)
44. Departures – $50,677 ($1,076,050 total)
97. Il Divo – $993 ($231,369 total)

Oscar Details:

• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Il Divo: Makeup
• Food, Inc.: Documentary Feature
• The Hurt Locker: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Jeremy Renner), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O]
• In the Loop: Adapted Screenplay
• Star Trek: Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Sound Mixing
• Up: Picture, Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 23-25, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

2. I, Robot – $21,728,525 ($95,123,749 total) {week 2}
4. Spider-Man 2 – $15,015,872 ($328,468,763 total) {week 4}
10. Shrek 2 – $2,316,663 ($429,441,294 total) {week 10}
12. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $1,677,458 ($241,770,359 total) {week 8}
20. Before Sunset – $522,434 ($2,527,918 total) {week 4}
30. Troy – $170,897 ($132,703,006 total) {week 11}
33. Maria Full of Grace – $136,932 ($365,456 total) {week 2}
38. Super Size Me – $118,498 ($10,861,901 total) {week 12}
42. Story of the Weeping Camel – $103,164 ($1,055,919 total) {week 8}
67. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $18,551 ($34,366,518 total) {week 19}
73. The Twilight Samurai – $9,807 ($440,424 total) {week 14}
82. The Passion of the Christ – $5,750 ($370,270,943 total) {week 22}
109. My Architect – $1,223 ($2,745,404 total) {week 37}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. I, Robot – $55,032,059 ($240,920,897 total)
4. Spider-Man 2 – $38,030,853 ($831,916,213 total)
10. Shrek 2 – $5,867,436 ($1,087,650,380 total)
12. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $4,248,515 ($612,334,274 total)
20. Before Sunset – $1,323,174 ($6,402,484 total)
30. Troy – $432,833 ($336,098,268 total)
33. Maria Full of Grace – $346,809 ($925,594 total)
38. Super Size Me – $300,121 ($27,510,048 total)
42. Story of the Weeping Camel – $261,285 ($2,674,337 total)
67. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $46,984 ($87,040,433 total)
73. The Twilight Samurai – $24,838 ($1,115,466 total)
82. The Passion of the Christ – $14,563 ($937,789,024 total)
109. My Architect – $3,098 ($6,953,313 total)

Oscar Details:

• Before Sunset: Adapted Screenplay
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Actress (Kate Winslet), Original Screenplay [O]
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Original Score, Visual Effects
• I, Robot: Visual Effects
• Maria Full of Grace: Actress (Catalina Sandino Moreno)
• My Architect: Documentary Feature
• The Passion of the Christ : Original Score, Cinematography, Makeup
• Shrek 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Accidentally in Love”)
• Spider-Man 2: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• Story of the Weeping Camel : Documentary Feature
• Super Size Me : Documentary Feature
• Troy: Costume Design
• The Twilight Samurai: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 23-25, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

8. Tarzan – $4,879,671 ($152,518,073 total) {week 6}
10. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $4,197,100 ($402,770,726 total) {week 10}
14. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $2,326,541 ($195,690,074 total) {week 7}
15. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $2,283,767 ($47,933,255 total) {week 4}
20. The Mummy – $866,975 ($152,026,790 total) {week 12}
25. The Red Violin – $332,568 ($6,494,735 total) {week 28}
30. Buena Vista Social Club – $213,510 ($2,635,444 total) {week 8}
31. The Matrix – $182,807 ($168,220,229 total) {week 17}
32. Election – $134,209 ($14,675,321 total) {week 14}
33. Life – $133,590 ($63,535,589 total) {week 15}
43. Shakespeare in Love – $83,104 ($100,241,322 total) {week 33}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. Tarzan – $7,809,395 ($244,088,963 total)
10. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $6,717,012 ($644,591,733 total)
14. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $3,723,382 ($313,181,162 total)
15. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $3,654,926 ($76,712,079 total)
20. The Mummy – $1,387,501 ($243,302,717 total)
25. The Red Violin – $532,240 ($10,394,133 total)
30. Buena Vista Social Club – $341,700 ($4,217,748 total)
31. The Matrix – $292,563 ($269,218,595 total)
32. Election – $214,787 ($23,486,291 total)
33. Life – $213,797 ($101,681,956 total)
43. Shakespeare in Love – $132,999 ($160,425,580 total)

Oscar Details:

• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me: Makeup
• Buena Vista Social Club: Documentary Feature
• Election: Adapted Screenplay
• Life: Makeup
• The Matrix : Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Mummy : Sound
• The Red Violin : Original Score [O]
• Shakespeare in Love: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut: Original Song (“Blame Canada”)
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• Tarzan: Original Song (“You’ll Be In My Heart”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 29-31, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Mask – $23,117,068 ($23,117,068 total) {week 1}
2. Forrest Gump – $18,200,256 ($140,661,419 total) {week 4}
3. True Lies – $13,741,443 ($85,168,601 total) {week 3}
4. The Client – $12,582,854 ($44,071,415 total) {week 2}
5. The Lion King – $9,946,473 ($218,645,104 total) {week 7}
8. Speed – $2,659,336 ($104,805,847 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Mask – $44,962,144 ($44,962,144 total)
2. Forrest Gump – $35,399,063 ($273,583,095 total)
3. True Lies – $26,726,778 ($165,650,891 total)
4. The Client – $24,473,350 ($85,717,848 total)
5. The Lion King – $19,345,652 ($425,259,497 total)
8. Speed – $5,172,345 ($203,844,865 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Client: Actress (Susan Sarandon)
• Forrest Gump: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Supporting Actor (Gary Sinise), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• The Lion King : Original Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” [O], “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”), Original Score [O]
• The Mask : Visual Effects
• Speed: Editing, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• True Lies: Visual Effects

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 28-30, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

2. Lethal Weapon 2 – $10,401,958 ($88,845,480 total) {week 4}
3. Batman – $8,952,993 ($202,867,563 total) {week 6}
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $7,858,941 ($24,157,072 total) {week 3}
8. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $2,813,538 ($177,001,203 total) {week 10}
9. Dead Poets Society – $2,609,319 ($74,665,205 total) {week 9}
13. Do the Right Thing – $1,514,265 ($19,418,306 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Lethal Weapon 2 – $21,301,743 ($181,943,011 total)
3. Batman – $18,334,467 ($415,444,153 total)
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $16,094,003 ($49,470,276 total)
8. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $5,761,729 ($362,473,496 total)
9. Dead Poets Society – $5,343,517 ($152,903,808 total)
13. Do the Right Thing – $3,101,001 ($39,765,952 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• Dead Poets Society: Picture, Director, Actor (Robin Williams), Original Screenplay [O]
• Do the Right Thing: Supporting Actor (Danny Aiello), Original Screenplay
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Original Score, Sound, Sound Effects [O]
• Lethal Weapon 2: Sound Effects
• When Harry Met Sally…: Original Screenplay

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 27-29, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Purple Rain – $7,766,201 ($7,766,201 total) {week 1}
2. Ghostbusters – $7,433,758 ($142,440,431 total) {week 8}
5. The Karate Kid – $3,891,130 ($42,355,726 total) {week 6}
8. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $2,591,995 ($151,469,837 total) {week 10}
10. The Muppets Take Manhattan – $2,291,250 ($16,979,378 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Purple Rain – $18,791,433 ($18,791,433 total)
2. Ghostbusters – $17,987,039 ($344,654,971 total)
5. The Karate Kid – $9,415,145 ($102,485,730 total)
8. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $6,271,702 ($366,502,909 total)
10. The Muppets Take Manhattan – $5,544,007 ($41,084,031 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ghostbusters: Original Song (“Ghostbusters”), Visual Effects
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Original Score, Visual Effects [O]
• The Karate Kid : Supporting Actor (Noriyuki ‘Pat’ Morita)
• The Muppets Take Manhattan : Original Song Score
• Purple Rain: Original Song Score [O]