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

Get On Up (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Chadwick Boseman), Supporting Actor (Dan Ackroyd), Supporting Actress (Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer), Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing.

Guardians of the Galaxy (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 31-Aug. 2, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

10. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $4,688,329 ($388,189,320 total) {week 6}
14. The Hurt Locker – $1,909,170 ($6,755,335 total) {week 6}
16. Up – $1,174,631 ($286,053,296 total) {week 10}
21. Star Trek – $327,377 ($254,661,846 total) {week 13}
24. In the Loop – $291,012 ($571,602 total) {week 2}
25. Food, Inc. – $289,888 ($3,203,742 total) {week 8}
44. The Cove – $57,640 ($57,640 total) {week 1}
48. Departures – $47,656 ($1,069,506 total) {week 10}
88. Burma VJ – $3,858 ($47,487 total) {week 11}
108. Il Divo – $675 ($215,315 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

10. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $5,082,149 ($420,797,223 total)
14. The Hurt Locker – $2,069,540 ($7,322,783 total)
16. Up – $1,273,300 ($310,081,773 total)
21. Star Trek – $354,877 ($276,053,441 total)
24. In the Loop – $315,457 ($619,617 total)
25. Food, Inc. – $314,239 ($3,472,856 total)
44. The Cove – $62,482 ($62,482 total)
48. Departures – $51,659 ($1,159,345 total)
88. Burma VJ – $4,182 ($51,476 total)
108. Il Divo – $732 ($233,401 total)

Oscar Details:

• Burma VJ: Documentary Feature
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• 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. 30-Aug. 1, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Village – $50,746,142 ($50,746,142 total) {week 1}
4. I, Robot – $10,355,190 ($115,039,036 total) {week 3}
5. Spider-Man 2 – $8,613,693 ($344,440,594 total) {week 5}
15. Shrek 2 – $1,317,270 ($432,493,392 total) {week 11}
17. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $989,449 ($243,910,542 total) {week 9}
21. Maria Full of Grace – $525,706 ($971,570 total) {week 3}
22. Before Sunset – $459,263 ($3,226,863 total) {week 5}
41. Troy – $115,467 ($132,946,242 total) {week 12}
48. Super Size Me – $66,210 ($11,014,972 total) {week 13}
50. Story of the Weeping Camel – $63,286 ($1,173,411 total) {week 9}
83. The Twilight Samurai – $7,097 ($453,373 total) {week 15}
102. My Architect – $2,439 ($2,748,981 total) {week 38}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Village – $128,525,276 ($128,525,276 total)
4. I, Robot – $26,226,696 ($291,360,549 total)
5. Spider-Man 2 – $21,815,989 ($872,368,233 total)
15. Shrek 2 – $3,336,263 ($1,095,380,460 total)
17. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $2,505,988 ($617,754,737 total)
21. Maria Full of Grace – $1,331,461 ($2,460,705 total)
22. Before Sunset – $1,163,180 ($8,172,709 total)
41. Troy – $292,444 ($336,714,314 total)
48. Super Size Me – $167,691 ($27,897,733 total)
50. Story of the Weeping Camel – $160,285 ($2,971,910 total)
83. The Twilight Samurai – $17,975 ($1,148,262 total)
102. My Architect – $6,177 ($6,962,372 total)

Oscar Details:

• Before Sunset: Adapted Screenplay
• 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
• 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
• The Village : Original Score

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 30-Aug. 1, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

9. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $3,420,720 ($408,597,032 total) {week 11}
10. Tarzan – $3,035,186 ($158,352,002 total) {week 7}
17. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $1,231,068 ($198,003,561 total) {week 8}
18. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $902,152 ($49,893,282 total) {week 5}
22. The Matrix – $612,428 ($168,932,002 total) {week 18}
23. The Mummy – $510,725 ($153,112,105 total) {week 13}
27. The Red Violin – $274,651 ($7,091,503 total) {week 29}
31. Buena Vista Social Club – $191,033 ($2,938,708 total) {week 9}
39. Life – $103,205 ($63,712,159 total) {week 16}
48. Election – $58,804 ($14,813,007 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $5,474,499 ($653,916,116 total)
10. Tarzan – $4,857,493 ($253,425,547 total)
17. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $1,970,193 ($316,883,652 total)
18. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $1,443,798 ($79,848,894 total)
22. The Matrix – $980,126 ($270,357,712 total)
23. The Mummy – $817,361 ($245,039,648 total)
27. The Red Violin – $439,550 ($11,349,197 total)
31. Buena Vista Social Club – $305,728 ($4,703,090 total)
39. Life – $165,169 ($101,964,538 total)
48. Election – $94,110 ($23,706,643 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]
• 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 Aug. 5-7, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Clear and Present Danger – $20,348,017 ($20,348,017 total) {week 1}
2. The Mask – $15,231,375 ($52,328,039 total) {week 2}
3. Forrest Gump – $14,184,752 ($164,711,455 total) {week 5}
5. True Lies – $9,189,733 ($100,824,836 total) {week 4}
6. The Client – $7,147,556 ($56,875,276 total) {week 3}
7. The Lion King – $7,074,280 ($232,392,912 total) {week 8}
11. Speed – $1,704,714 ($107,872,308 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Clear and Present Danger – $39,576,406 ($39,576,406 total)
2. The Mask – $29,624,660 ($101,776,784 total)
3. Forrest Gump – $27,589,003 ($320,359,840 total)
5. True Lies – $17,873,811 ($196,101,894 total)
6. The Client – $13,901,825 ($110,621,051 total)
7. The Lion King – $13,759,305 ($451,998,654 total)
11. Speed – $3,315,628 ($209,809,058 total)

Oscar Details:

• Clear and Present Danger: Sound, Sound Effects
• 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 Aug. 4-6, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Parenthood – $10,506,450 ($14,055,066 total) {week 1}
3. Lethal Weapon 2 – $8,040,033 ($102,164,563 total) {week 5}
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $7,308,491 ($35,693,448 total) {week 4}
5. Batman – $6,702,916 ($214,353,921 total) {week 7}
10. Dead Poets Society – $2,110,905 ($78,307,755 total) {week 10}
12. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $2,020,975 ($180,503,281 total) {week 11}
15. Do the Right Thing – $1,064,650 ($21,203,891 total) {week 6}
999. sex, lies and videotape – $155,982 ($155,982 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Parenthood – $21,515,728 ($28,782,793 total)
3. Lethal Weapon 2 – $16,464,853 ($209,218,614 total)
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $14,966,759 ($73,095,147 total)
5. Batman – $13,726,626 ($438,966,594 total)
10. Dead Poets Society – $4,322,836 ($160,363,236 total)
12. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $4,138,672 ($369,645,258 total)
15. Do the Right Thing – $2,180,253 ($43,422,578 total)
999. sex, lies and videotape – $319,429 ($319,429 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
• Parenthood: Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest), Original Song (“I Love To See You Smile”)
• sex, lies and videotape: Original Screenplay
• When Harry Met Sally…: Original Screenplay

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 3-5, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Ghostbusters – $6,443,646 ($152,985,267 total) {week 9}
2. Purple Rain – $6,280,779 ($18,881,638 total) {week 2}
5. The Karate Kid – $3,609,460 ($48,346,500 total) {week 7}
6. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $2,354,687 ($155,393,853 total) {week 11}
14. The Muppets Take Manhattan – $1,524,552 ($19,691,476 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Ghostbusters – $15,591,322 ($370,169,709 total)
2. Purple Rain – $15,197,242 ($45,686,821 total)
5. The Karate Kid – $8,733,604 ($116,981,263 total)
6. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $5,697,502 ($375,997,626 total)
14. The Muppets Take Manhattan – $3,688,871 ($47,646,339 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]