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

ParaNorman (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

Sparkle (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Supporting Actress (Whitney Houston), Original Song.

Robot & Frank (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Original Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 17-19, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Bourne Ultimatum – $19,874,370 ($164,694,690 total) {week 3}
15. Transformers – $1,948,099 ($306,487,922 total) {week 7}
16. Ratatouille – $1,643,850 ($196,620,846 total) {week 8}
28. Once – $203,102 ($7,309,077 total) {week 14}
30. Sicko – $200,411 ($23,616,424 total) {week 9}
33. Surf’s Up – $159,208 ($58,645,467 total) {week 11}
35. La Vie en Rose – $134,305 ($9,238,655 total) {week 11}
38. No End in Sight – $107,812 ($404,462 total) {week 4}
40. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $100,195 ($307,771,457 total) {week 13}
73. The Lives of Others – $8,572 ($11,257,599 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Bourne Ultimatum – $19,874,370 ($164,694,690 total)
15. Transformers – $1,948,099 ($306,487,922 total)
16. Ratatouille – $1,643,850 ($196,620,846 total)
28. Once – $203,102 ($7,309,077 total)
30. Sicko – $200,411 ($23,616,424 total)
33. Surf’s Up – $159,208 ($58,645,467 total)
35. La Vie en Rose – $134,305 ($9,238,655 total)
38. No End in Sight – $107,812 ($404,462 total)
40. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $100,195 ($307,771,457 total)
73. The Lives of Others – $8,572 ($11,257,599 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. 16-18, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $5,700,072 ($52,777,170 total) {week 18}
8. Road to Perdition – $3,800,097 ($90,302,959 total) {week 6}
17. Minority Report – $564,101 ($129,115,416 total) {week 9}
19. Lilo & Stitch – $502,239 ($139,487,091 total) {week 9}
23. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $326,513 ($299,401,865 total) {week 14}
37. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $90,955 ($73,120,009 total) {week 13}
45. Spider-Man – $67,390 ($403,706,375 total) {week 16}
46. Monsters, Inc. – $63,691 ($255,660,741 total) {week 39}
69. Ice Age – $20,429 ($176,333,076 total) {week 23}
73. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $18,034 ($313,364,114 total) {week 35}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $5,700,072 ($52,777,170 total)
8. Road to Perdition – $3,800,097 ($90,302,959 total)
17. Minority Report – $564,101 ($129,115,416 total)
19. Lilo & Stitch – $502,239 ($139,487,091 total)
23. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $326,513 ($299,401,865 total)
37. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $90,955 ($73,120,009 total)
45. Spider-Man – $67,390 ($403,706,375 total)
46. Monsters, Inc. – $63,691 ($255,660,741 total)
69. Ice Age – $20,429 ($176,333,076 total)
73. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $18,034 ($313,364,114 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

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 15-17, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

2. Air Force One – $12,350,122 ($130,353,620 total) {week 4}
7. Men in Black – $4,204,505 ($225,304,729 total) {week 7}
9. Contact – $2,872,875 ($88,581,422 total) {week 6}
13. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $1,616,400 ($116,087,939 total) {week 9}
999. Con Air – $206,349 ($96,712,318 total) {week 11}
999. The Fifth Element – $133,912 ($62,951,133 total) {week 15}
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $747,650 ($226,437,834 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Air Force One – $12,350,122 ($130,353,620 total)
7. Men in Black – $4,204,505 ($225,304,729 total)
9. Contact – $2,872,875 ($88,581,422 total)
13. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $1,616,400 ($116,087,939 total)
999. Con Air – $206,349 ($96,712,318 total)
999. The Fifth Element – $133,912 ($62,951,133 total)
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $747,650 ($226,437,834 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. 14-16, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Unforgiven – $11,374,018 ($33,780,840 total) {week 2}
3. Death Becomes Her – $5,902,215 ($35,313,770 total) {week 3}
999. Batman Returns – $481,360 ($156,448,028 total) {week 9}
999. Enchanted April – $404,191 ($939,903 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Unforgiven – $11,374,018 ($33,780,840 total)
3. Death Becomes Her – $5,902,215 ($35,313,770 total)
999. Batman Returns – $481,360 ($156,448,028 total)
999. Enchanted April – $404,191 ($939,903 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. 14-16, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

8. Robocop – $2,701,585 ($38,387,471 total) {week 5}
14. Full Metal Jacket – $1,449,564 ($38,200,129 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. Robocop – $2,701,585 ($38,387,471 total)
14. Full Metal Jacket – $1,449,564 ($38,200,129 total)

Oscar Details:

• Full Metal Jacket: Adapted Screenplay
• Robocop: Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 13-15, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $8,448,840 ($201,968,592 total) {week 10}
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $5,019,863 ($16,974,643 total) {week 3}
4. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $4,445,997 ($48,081,292 total) {week 4}
8. The World According to Garp – $2,351,928 ($13,952,712 total) {week 4}
10. Rocky III – $1,710,820 ($103,689,153 total) {week 12}
12. Poltergeist – $1,425,480 ($60,647,035 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $8,448,840 ($201,968,592 total)
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $5,019,863 ($16,974,643 total)
4. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $4,445,997 ($48,081,292 total)
8. The World According to Garp – $2,351,928 ($13,952,712 total)
10. Rocky III – $1,710,820 ($103,689,153 total)
12. Poltergeist – $1,425,480 ($60,647,035 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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”)
• The World According to Garp: Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Supporting Actress (Glenn Close)