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

The Bourne Legacy (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing.

Hope Springs (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Best Actress (Meryl Streep), Best Actor (Tommy Lee Jones).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 10-12, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Bourne Ultimatum – $32,879,125 ($131,552,425 total) {week 2}
11. Transformers – $3,236,060 ($302,869,658 total) {week 6}
13. Ratatouille – $2,373,416 ($193,415,480 total) {week 7}
25. Sicko – $265,871 ($23,249,325 total) {week 8}
26. Once – $259,923 ($6,964,084 total) {week 13}
28. La Vie en Rose – $190,746 ($8,989,913 total) {week 10}
30. Surf’s Up – $186,072 ($58,365,173 total) {week 10}
35. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $136,536 ($307,592,347 total) {week 12}
36. No End in Sight – $118,581 ($235,594 total) {week 3}
66. The Lives of Others – $11,216 ($11,241,504 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Bourne Ultimatum – $32,879,125 ($131,552,425 total)
11. Transformers – $3,236,060 ($302,869,658 total)
13. Ratatouille – $2,373,416 ($193,415,480 total)
25. Sicko – $265,871 ($23,249,325 total)
26. Once – $259,923 ($6,964,084 total)
28. La Vie en Rose – $190,746 ($8,989,913 total)
30. Surf’s Up – $186,072 ($58,365,173 total)
35. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $136,536 ($307,592,347 total)
36. No End in Sight – $118,581 ($235,594 total)
66. The Lives of Others – $11,216 ($11,241,504 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. 9-11, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

7. Road to Perdition – $4,203,196 ($84,275,972 total) {week 5}
8. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $3,133,316 ($45,063,979 total) {week 17}
15. Minority Report – $733,531 ($128,157,396 total) {week 8}
19. Lilo & Stitch – $483,540 ($138,567,254 total) {week 8}
22. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $346,881 ($298,843,890 total) {week 13}
30. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $126,987 ($72,929,484 total) {week 12}
39. Spider-Man – $84,383 ($403,620,726 total) {week 15}
42. Monsters, Inc. – $79,166 ($255,523,264 total) {week 37}
52. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $43,794 ($313,322,223 total) {week 34}
66. Ice Age – $24,233 ($176,295,381 total) {week 22}
70. Unfaithful – $16,284 ($52,752,475 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Road to Perdition – $4,203,196 ($84,275,972 total)
8. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $3,133,316 ($45,063,979 total)
15. Minority Report – $733,531 ($128,157,396 total)
19. Lilo & Stitch – $483,540 ($138,567,254 total)
22. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $346,881 ($298,843,890 total)
30. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $126,987 ($72,929,484 total)
39. Spider-Man – $84,383 ($403,620,726 total)
42. Monsters, Inc. – $79,166 ($255,523,264 total)
52. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $43,794 ($313,322,223 total)
66. Ice Age – $24,233 ($176,295,381 total)
70. Unfaithful – $16,284 ($52,752,475 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. 8-10, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

2. Air Force One – $17,827,096 ($110,582,800 total) {week 3}
5. Men in Black – $5,652,350 ($218,004,940 total) {week 6}
7. Contact – $4,478,753 ($83,356,776 total) {week 5}
11. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $2,207,569 ($113,110,006 total) {week 8}
14. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $1,054,105 ($225,098,329 total) {week 12}
999. Con Air – $279,388 ($96,326,581 total) {week 10}
999. The Fifth Element – $165,754 ($62,717,503 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Air Force One – $17,827,096 ($110,582,800 total)
5. Men in Black – $5,652,350 ($218,004,940 total)
7. Contact – $4,478,753 ($83,356,776 total)
11. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $2,207,569 ($113,110,006 total)
14. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $1,054,105 ($225,098,329 total)
999. Con Air – $279,388 ($96,326,581 total)
999. The Fifth Element – $165,754 ($62,717,503 total)

Oscar Details:

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

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 7-9, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Unforgiven – $15,018,007 ($15,018,007 total) {week 1}
2. Death Becomes Her – $7,815,250 ($25,660,235 total) {week 2}
999. Batman Returns – $863,928 ($155,505,254 total) {week 8}
999. Enchanted April – $255,398 ($382,260 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Unforgiven – $15,018,007 ($15,018,007 total)
2. Death Becomes Her – $7,815,250 ($25,660,235 total)
999. Batman Returns – $863,928 ($155,505,254 total)
999. Enchanted April – $255,398 ($382,260 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects
• Death Becomes Her: Visual Effects [O]
• Enchanted April: Supporting Actress (Joan Plowright), Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design
• Unforgiven: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 7-9, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

6. Robocop – $3,930,235 ($33,553,132 total) {week 4}
11. Full Metal Jacket – $2,264,906 ($35,347,958 total) {week 7}
13. Beverly Hills Cop II – $1,373,259 ($146,068,529 total) {week 12}
16. The Untouchables – $1,120,275 ($69,218,320 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Robocop – $3,930,235 ($33,553,132 total)
11. Full Metal Jacket – $2,264,906 ($35,347,958 total)
13. Beverly Hills Cop II – $1,373,259 ($146,068,529 total)
16. The Untouchables – $1,120,275 ($69,218,320 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

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 6-8, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $9,525,306 ($186,691,147 total) {week 9}
2. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $6,292,139 ($40,102,965 total) {week 3}
4. An Officer and a Gentleman – $3,329,896 ($9,841,718 total) {week 2}
6. Rocky III – $2,409,498 ($100,478,205 total) {week 11}
9. Poltergeist – $1,903,479 ($58,137,777 total) {week 10}
10. The World According to Garp – $1,766,274 ($10,360,136 total) {week 3}
11. Annie – $1,357,394 ($44,918,207 total) {week 12}
14. Tron – $1,190,254 ($20,411,730 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $9,525,306 ($186,691,147 total)
2. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $6,292,139 ($40,102,965 total)
4. An Officer and a Gentleman – $3,329,896 ($9,841,718 total)
6. Rocky III – $2,409,498 ($100,478,205 total)
9. Poltergeist – $1,903,479 ($58,137,777 total)
10. The World According to Garp – $1,766,274 ($10,360,136 total)
11. Annie – $1,357,394 ($44,918,207 total)
14. Tron – $1,190,254 ($20,411,730 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)