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

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 28-30, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

2. Inglourious Basterds – $19,303,653 ($73,022,841 total) {week 2}
4. District 9 – $10,270,435 ($90,383,712 total) {week 3}
6. Julie & Julia – $7,035,675 ($70,628,063 total) {week 4}
19. Up – $649,188 ($289,639,811 total) {week 14}
20. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $575,531 ($399,416,040 total) {week 10}
27. The Hurt Locker – $280,290 ($11,595,912 total) {week 10}
32. Star Trek – $182,482 ($256,673,273 total) {week 17}
34. In the Loop – $149,041 ($1,779,340 total) {week 6}
42. Food, Inc. – $66,774 ($4,098,279 total) {week 12}
44. The Cove – $45,703 ($619,467 total) {week 5}
48. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $31,685 ($59,191 total) {week 2}
49. Departures – $29,438 ($1,279,245 total) {week 14}
81. Il Divo – $3,009 ($225,313 total) {week 19}
999. Revanche – $3,547 ($354,259 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Inglourious Basterds – $20,925,160 ($79,156,760 total)
4. District 9 – $11,133,152 ($97,975,944 total)
6. Julie & Julia – $7,626,672 ($76,560,820 total)
19. Up – $703,720 ($313,969,555 total)
20. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $623,876 ($432,966,987 total)
27. The Hurt Locker – $303,834 ($12,569,969 total)
32. Star Trek – $197,810 ($278,233,828 total)
34. In the Loop – $161,560 ($1,928,805 total)
42. Food, Inc. – $72,383 ($4,442,534 total)
44. The Cove – $49,542 ($671,502 total)
48. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $34,347 ($64,163 total)
49. Departures – $31,911 ($1,386,702 total)
81. Il Divo – $3,262 ($244,239 total)
999. Revanche – $3,845 ($384,017 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Baader Meinhof Complex: Foreign Language Film
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• District 9: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Visual Effects
• 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
• Inglourious Basterds: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Julie & Julia: Actress (Meryl Streep)
• Revanche: Foreign Language Film
• 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 Aug. 27-29, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. Hero – $18,004,319 ($18,004,319 total) {week 1}
6. Collateral – $6,470,109 ($80,158,380 total) {week 4}
15. The Village – $1,889,981 ($110,507,857 total) {week 5}
16. Spider-Man 2 – $1,574,837 ($367,816,575 total) {week 9}
18. I, Robot – $1,256,914 ($140,549,286 total) {week 7}
23. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $485,683 ($247,598,604 total) {week 13}
24. Maria Full of Grace – $384,635 ($3,923,157 total) {week 7}
36. Before Sunset – $129,394 ($4,779,731 total) {week 9}
55. Story of the Weeping Camel – $50,585 ($1,510,891 total) {week 13}
66. Super Size Me – $26,072 ($11,327,782 total) {week 17}
90. The Twilight Samurai – $7,308 ($503,015 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Hero – $45,599,724 ($45,599,724 total)
6. Collateral – $16,386,912 ($203,017,953 total)
15. The Village – $4,786,774 ($279,884,385 total)
16. Spider-Man 2 – $3,988,606 ($931,572,821 total)
18. I, Robot – $3,183,399 ($355,970,622 total)
23. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $1,230,094 ($627,095,530 total)
24. Maria Full of Grace – $974,169 ($9,936,220 total)
36. Before Sunset – $327,718 ($12,105,674 total)
55. Story of the Weeping Camel – $128,117 ($3,826,649 total)
66. Super Size Me – $66,033 ($28,689,990 total)
90. The Twilight Samurai – $18,509 ($1,273,991 total)

Oscar Details:

• Before Sunset: Adapted Screenplay
• Collateral: Supporting Actor (Jamie Foxx), Editing
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Original Score, Visual Effects
• Hero: Foreign Language Film
• I, Robot: Visual Effects
• Maria Full of Grace: Actress (Catalina Sandino Moreno)
• Spider-Man 2: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• Story of the Weeping Camel : Documentary Feature
• Super Size Me : Documentary Feature
• The Twilight Samurai: Foreign Language Film
• The Village : Original Score

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 27-29, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Sixth Sense – $20,099,149 ($138,853,903 total) {week 4}
20. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $910,246 ($419,423,967 total) {week 15}
23. Tarzan – $591,192 ($166,496,093 total) {week 11}
24. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $561,089 ($204,213,909 total) {week 12}
36. Buena Vista Social Club – $184,776 ($4,060,940 total) {week 13}
40. The Mummy – $1,430,405 ($154,964,260 total) {week 17}
44. The Red Violin – $114,683 ($7,926,723 total) {week 33}
45. The Matrix – $112,756 ($171,051,684 total) {week 22}
57. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $59,902 ($51,247,370 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Sixth Sense – $32,166,551 ($222,220,912 total)
20. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $1,456,752 ($671,243,475 total)
23. Tarzan – $946,140 ($266,459,298 total)
24. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $897,963 ($326,822,654 total)
36. Buena Vista Social Club – $295,714 ($6,499,103 total)
40. The Mummy – $2,289,211 ($248,003,826 total)
44. The Red Violin – $183,538 ($12,685,878 total)
45. The Matrix – $180,454 ($273,750,038 total)
57. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $95,867 ($82,015,968 total)

Oscar Details:

• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me: Makeup
• Buena Vista Social Club: Documentary Feature
• The Matrix : Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Mummy : Sound
• The Red Violin : Original Score [O]
• The Sixth Sense : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Editing
• 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 Sep. 2-4, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Forrest Gump – $12,221,147 ($238,771,095 total) {week 9}
3. Clear and Present Danger – $9,271,153 ($98,735,989 total) {week 5}
4. The Mask – $660,654 ($100,251,076 total) {week 6}
6. True Lies – $4,130,340 ($132,204,043 total) {week 8}
7. The Lion King – $3,919,074 ($262,317,184 total) {week 12}
10. The Client – $3,010,045 ($82,469,691 total) {week 7}
16. Maverick – $1,714,088 ($98,456,702 total) {week 16}
18. Speed – $1,427,292 ($111,798,221 total) {week 13}
20. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – $1,037,094 ($2,821,185 total) {week 4}
999. Jurassic Park – $537,615 ($353,929,000 total) {week 65}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Forrest Gump – $23,769,839 ($464,404,068 total)
3. Clear and Present Danger – $18,032,171 ($192,039,137 total)
4. The Mask – $1,284,956 ($194,985,944 total)
6. True Lies – $8,033,412 ($257,133,701 total)
7. The Lion King – $7,622,505 ($510,200,647 total)
10. The Client – $5,854,466 ($160,401,576 total)
16. Maverick – $3,333,860 ($191,495,930 total)
18. Speed – $2,776,049 ($217,444,865 total)
20. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – $2,017,123 ($5,487,137 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $1,045,648 ($688,383,438 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert : Costume Design [O]
• 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]
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], 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
• Maverick: Costume Design
• Speed: Editing, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• True Lies: Visual Effects

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 1-3, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

2. Parenthood – $6,074,333 ($62,682,519 total) {week 5}
3. The Abyss – $5,532,135 ($40,726,991 total) {week 4}
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $4,849,364 ($67,515,438 total) {week 8}
5. Lethal Weapon 2 – $4,659,654 ($131,302,932 total) {week 9}
7. Batman – $2,866,560 ($237,866,300 total) {week 11}
8. sex, lies and videotape – $3,416,823 ($8,064,653 total) {week 5}
11. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $2,701,555 ($189,539,802 total) {week 15}
14. Dead Poets Society – $1,370,827 ($86,402,887 total) {week 14}
999. Shirley Valentine – $245,422 ($245,422 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Parenthood – $12,439,377 ($128,364,957 total)
3. The Abyss – $11,329,032 ($83,403,133 total)
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $9,930,813 ($138,262,093 total)
5. Lethal Weapon 2 – $9,542,314 ($268,889,883 total)
7. Batman – $5,870,311 ($487,116,629 total)
8. sex, lies and videotape – $6,997,172 ($16,515,272 total)
11. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $5,532,404 ($388,150,778 total)
14. Dead Poets Society – $2,807,260 ($176,940,925 total)
999. Shirley Valentine – $502,590 ($502,590 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Abyss : Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• Dead Poets Society: Picture, Director, Actor (Robin Williams), Original Screenplay [O]
• 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
• Shirley Valentine:
• When Harry Met Sally…: Original Screenplay

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 31-Sep. 2, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Ghostbusters – $5,004,808 ($186,704,084 total) {week 13}
4. The Karate Kid – $4,155,645 ($69,959,648 total) {week 11}
5. Purple Rain – $4,068,212 ($45,660,272 total) {week 6}
7. The Woman in Red – $3,577,644 ($13,683,901 total) {week 3}
10. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $2,175,460 ($167,334,648 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Ghostbusters – $12,109,848 ($451,757,203 total)
4. The Karate Kid – $10,055,177 ($169,277,363 total)
5. Purple Rain – $9,843,620 ($110,481,551 total)
7. The Woman in Red – $8,656,621 ($33,110,153 total)
10. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $5,263,836 ($404,890,086 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)
• Purple Rain: Original Song Score [O]
• The Woman in Red : Original Song (“I Just Called to Say I Love You”) [O]