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

Total Recall (Wide)

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

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 3-5, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Bourne Ultimatum – $69,283,690 ($69,283,690 total) {week 1}
8. Transformers – $6,021,472 ($296,379,328 total) {week 5}
11. Ratatouille – $3,987,800 ($188,246,213 total) {week 6}
20. Sicko – $503,702 ($22,640,294 total) {week 7}
25. Once – $284,084 ($6,529,474 total) {week 12}
27. Surf’s Up – $234,036 ($58,002,217 total) {week 9}
29. La Vie en Rose – $221,623 ($8,662,108 total) {week 9}
30. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $192,124 ($307,318,071 total) {week 11}
47. No End in Sight – $44,057 ($93,586 total) {week 2}
57. The Lives of Others – $18,114 ($11,215,009 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Bourne Ultimatum – $69,283,690 ($69,283,690 total)
8. Transformers – $6,021,472 ($296,379,328 total)
11. Ratatouille – $3,987,800 ($188,246,213 total)
20. Sicko – $503,702 ($22,640,294 total)
25. Once – $284,084 ($6,529,474 total)
27. Surf’s Up – $234,036 ($58,002,217 total)
29. La Vie en Rose – $221,623 ($8,662,108 total)
30. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $192,124 ($307,318,071 total)
47. No End in Sight – $44,057 ($93,586 total)
57. The Lives of Others – $18,114 ($11,215,009 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Bourne Ultimatum: Film Editing [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O]
• The Lives of Others: Foreign Language Film
• No End in Sight: Documentary Feature
• 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
• Transformers: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• La Vie en Rose: Actress [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 2-4, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

5. Road to Perdition – $6,600,143 ($77,153,318 total) {week 4}
9. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $3,002,241 ($40,172,975 total) {week 16}
12. Minority Report – $1,727,031 ($126,618,621 total) {week 7}
15. Lilo & Stitch – $1,358,317 ($137,263,211 total) {week 7}
22. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $624,323 ($298,104,876 total) {week 12}
25. Spider-Man – $234,714 ($403,505,336 total) {week 14}
27. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $199,502 ($72,643,084 total) {week 11}
43. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $69,067 ($313,240,158 total) {week 33}
44. Monsters, Inc. – $67,470 ($255,352,147 total) {week 35}
51. Ice Age – $44,487 ($176,233,459 total) {week 21}
55. Unfaithful – $33,660 ($52,716,903 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Road to Perdition – $6,600,143 ($77,153,318 total)
9. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $3,002,241 ($40,172,975 total)
12. Minority Report – $1,727,031 ($126,618,621 total)
15. Lilo & Stitch – $1,358,317 ($137,263,211 total)
22. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $624,323 ($298,104,876 total)
25. Spider-Man – $234,714 ($403,505,336 total)
27. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $199,502 ($72,643,084 total)
43. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $69,067 ($313,240,158 total)
44. Monsters, Inc. – $67,470 ($255,352,147 total)
51. Ice Age – $44,487 ($176,233,459 total)
55. Unfaithful – $33,660 ($52,716,903 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Monsters, Inc.: Animated Feature, Original Song (If I Didn’t Have You [O]), Original Score, Sound Editing
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• Road to Perdition: Supporting Actor (Paul Newman), Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound, Sound Editing
• 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)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 1-3, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

1. Air Force One – $25,731,622 ($80,738,833 total) {week 2}
4. Men in Black – $8,011,097 ($208,122,305 total) {week 5}
6. Contact – $6,249,420 ($75,642,069 total) {week 4}
11. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $3,120,933 ($108,928,218 total) {week 7}
13. Hercules – $1,590,092 ($86,820,878 total) {week 8}
999. Con Air – $464,927 ($95,801,264 total) {week 9}
999. The Fifth Element – $327,830 ($62,339,880 total) {week 13}
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $258,965 ($223,886,079 total) {week 11}
999. Mrs. Brown – $442,634 ($1,049,409 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Air Force One – $25,731,622 ($80,738,833 total)
4. Men in Black – $8,011,097 ($208,122,305 total)
6. Contact – $6,249,420 ($75,642,069 total)
11. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $3,120,933 ($108,928,218 total)
13. Hercules – $1,590,092 ($86,820,878 total)
999. Con Air – $464,927 ($95,801,264 total)
999. The Fifth Element – $327,830 ($62,339,880 total)
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $258,965 ($223,886,079 total)
999. Mrs. Brown – $442,634 ($1,049,409 total)

Oscar Details:

• Air Force One: Editing, Sound
• Con Air: Original Song (“How Do I Live”), Sound
• Contact: Sound
• The Fifth Element: Sound Editing
• Hercules: Original Song (“Go the Distance”)
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park: Visual Effects
• Men in Black: Original Musical or Comedy Score, Art Direction, Makeup [O]
• Mrs. Brown: Actress (Judi Dench), Makeup
• My Best Friend’s Wedding: Original Comedy/Musical Score

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 31-Aug. 2, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Death Becomes Her – $12,110,355 ($12,110,355 total) {week 1}
11. Batman Returns – $1,746,593 ($153,730,886 total) {week 7}
999. Enchanted April – $73,041 ($73,041 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Death Becomes Her – $12,110,355 ($12,110,355 total)
11. Batman Returns – $1,746,593 ($153,730,886 total)
999. Enchanted April – $73,041 ($73,041 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects
• Death Becomes Her: Visual Effects [O]
• Enchanted April: Supporting Actress (Joan Plowright), Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 31-Aug. 2, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

4. Robocop – $4,749,533 ($26,907,302 total) {week 3}
8. Full Metal Jacket – $2,736,128 ($31,471,827 total) {week 6}
11. Beverly Hills Cop II – $1,791,425 ($143,757,298 total) {week 11}
14. The Untouchables – $1,441,259 ($67,302,495 total) {week 9}
16. The Witches of Eastwick – $1,167,796 ($57,306,187 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Robocop – $4,749,533 ($26,907,302 total)
8. Full Metal Jacket – $2,736,128 ($31,471,827 total)
11. Beverly Hills Cop II – $1,791,425 ($143,757,298 total)
14. The Untouchables – $1,441,259 ($67,302,495 total)
16. The Witches of Eastwick – $1,167,796 ($57,306,187 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beverly Hills Cop II: Original Song (“Shakedown”)
• Full Metal Jacket: Adapted Screenplay
• Robocop: Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• 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 Jul. 30-Aug. 1, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $10,425,071 ($169,506,056 total) {week 8}
2. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $9,012,785 ($28,414,748 total) {week 2}
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $3,304,679 ($3,304,679 total) {week 1}
6. Rocky III – $2,405,990 ($96,444,000 total) {week 10}
7. The World According to Garp – $2,378,221 ($7,180,391 total) {week 2}
9. Poltergeist – $1,847,018 ($54,890,000 total) {week 9}
11. Annie – $1,435,056 ($42,125,691 total) {week 11}
14. Tron – $1,198,339 ($18,076,682 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $10,425,071 ($169,506,056 total)
2. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $9,012,785 ($28,414,748 total)
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $3,304,679 ($3,304,679 total)
6. Rocky III – $2,405,990 ($96,444,000 total)
7. The World According to Garp – $2,378,221 ($7,180,391 total)
9. Poltergeist – $1,847,018 ($54,890,000 total)
11. Annie – $1,435,056 ($42,125,691 total)
14. Tron – $1,198,339 ($18,076,682 total)

Oscar Details:

• Annie: Original Song Score, Art Direction
• The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: Supporting Actor (Charles Durning)
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound [O], Sound Effects Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• An Officer and a Gentleman: Actress (Debra Winger), Supporting Actor (Louis Gossett Jr.) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Up Where We Belong”) [O], Original Score, Film Editing
• Poltergeist: Original Score, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Rocky III: Original Song (“Eye of the Tiger”)
• Tron: Costume Design, Sound
• The World According to Garp: Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Supporting Actress (Glenn Close)