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! (My apologies. I only just now discovered that the inflation adjustments weren’t displaying, so prior weeks were incorrectly listed using current-year figures. This has been corrected for this week and will be accurately displayed for weeks to come.)

This Year: Potential Oscar Nominees Releasing This Weekend

Trouble With the Curve (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Clint Eastwood).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 21-23, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

4. 3:10 to Yuma – $6,157,624 ($37,718,878 total) {week 3}
5. Eastern Promises – $5,659,133 ($6,461,093 total) {week 2}
9. The Bourne Ultimatum – $2,872,565 ($220,239,735 total) {week 8}
13. Across the Universe – $1,950,871 ($2,896,771 total) {week 2}
16. Transformers – $1,436,280 ($313,588,051 total) {week 12}
17. In the Valley of Elah – $1,266,869 ($1,449,030 total) {week 2}
26. Ratatouille – $360,229 ($203,040,254 total) {week 13}
33. Into the Wild – $212,440 ($212,440 total) {week 1}
38. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $147,812 ($147,812 total) {week 1}
39. Once – $141,790 ($8,926,918 total) {week 19}
41. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $120,310 ($309,302,628 total) {week 18}
55. No End in Sight – $38,668 ($1,337,004 total) {week 9}
56. Sicko – $38,603 ($24,416,389 total) {week 14}
57. La Vie en Rose – $37,418 ($9,935,209 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. 3:10 to Yuma – $7,088,428 ($43,420,569 total)
5. Eastern Promises – $6,514,583 ($7,437,770 total)
9. The Bourne Ultimatum – $3,306,790 ($253,531,788 total)
13. Across the Universe – $2,245,770 ($3,334,655 total)
16. Transformers – $1,653,392 ($360,990,896 total)
17. In the Valley of Elah – $1,458,372 ($1,668,069 total)
26. Ratatouille – $414,682 ($233,732,385 total)
33. Into the Wild – $244,553 ($244,553 total)
38. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $170,156 ($170,156 total)
39. Once – $163,223 ($10,276,336 total)
41. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $138,496 ($356,057,676 total)
55. No End in Sight – $44,513 ($1,539,109 total)
56. Sicko – $44,438 ($28,107,239 total)
57. La Vie en Rose – $43,074 ($11,437,043 total)

Oscar Details:

• 3:10 to Yuma: Original Score, Sound Mixing
• Across the Universe: Costume Design
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: Supporting Actor (Casey Affleck), Cinematography
• The Bourne Ultimatum: Film Editing [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O]
• Eastern Promises: Actor (Viggo Mortensen)
• In the Valley of Elah: Actor (Tommy Lee Jones)
• Into the Wild: Supporting Actor (Hal Holbrook), Editing
• 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
• Transformers: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• La Vie en Rose: Actress [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 20-22, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $9,748,969 ($124,052,987 total) {week 23}
18. Spirited Away – $449,839 ($449,839 total) {week 1}
19. Road to Perdition – $390,839 ($103,235,362 total) {week 11}
29. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $189,572 ($301,765,141 total) {week 19}
30. Lilo & Stitch – $187,410 ($143,327,275 total) {week 14}
35. Minority Report – $143,871 ($131,552,004 total) {week 14}
97. Monsters, Inc. – $8,427 ($255,870,172 total) {week 47}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $13,289,472 ($169,104,932 total)
18. Spirited Away – $613,206 ($613,206 total)
19. Road to Perdition – $532,779 ($140,727,034 total)
29. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $258,418 ($411,356,268 total)
30. Lilo & Stitch – $255,471 ($195,379,005 total)
35. Minority Report – $196,120 ($179,327,345 total)
97. Monsters, Inc. – $11,487 ($348,793,763 total)

Oscar Details:

• Lilo & Stitch: Animated Feature
• 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
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones: Visual Effects

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 19-21, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

1. In & Out – $15,019,821 ($15,019,821 total) {week 1}
4. L.A. Confidential – $5,211,198 ($5,211,198 total) {week 1}
5. The Full Monty – $3,022,096 ($10,254,090 total) {week 6}
9. Air Force One – $2,073,198 ($166,093,896 total) {week 9}
13. Men in Black – $1,208,375 ($240,942,775 total) {week 12}
999. Con Air – $154,258 ($100,927,613 total) {week 16}
999. The Long Way Home – $10,606 ($13,258 total) {week 1}
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $184,795 ($228,709,214 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. In & Out – $25,916,554 ($25,916,554 total)
4. L.A. Confidential – $8,991,871 ($8,991,871 total)
5. The Full Monty – $5,214,597 ($17,693,332 total)
9. Air Force One – $3,577,283 ($286,593,389 total)
13. Men in Black – $2,085,039 ($415,744,396 total)
999. Con Air – $266,171 ($174,149,607 total)
999. The Long Way Home – $18,301 ($22,877 total)
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $318,862 ($394,635,507 total)

Oscar Details:

• Air Force One: Editing, Sound
• Con Air: Original Song (“How Do I Live”), Sound
• The Full Monty: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Musical or Comedy Score [O]
• In & Out: Supporting Actress (Joan Cusack)
• L.A. Confidential: Picture, Director, Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound
• The Long Way Home: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park: Visual Effects
• Men in Black: Original Musical or Comedy Score, Art Direction, Makeup [O]

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 18-20, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

999. Batman Returns – $454,551 ($160,954,135 total) {week 14}
11. Death Becomes Her – $1,122,990 ($54,230,665 total) {week 8}
4. Husbands and Wives – $3,520,550 ($3,520,550 total) {week 1}
8. Unforgiven – $1,822,173 ($70,256,353 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Husbands and Wives – $6,718,736 ($6,718,736 total)
8. Unforgiven – $3,477,496 ($134,079,594 total)
11. Death Becomes Her – $2,143,152 ($103,495,631 total)
999. Batman Returns – $867,480 ($307,170,301 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects
• Death Becomes Her: Visual Effects [O]
• Husbands and Wives: Supporting Actress (Judy Davis), Original Screenplay
• 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 Sep. 18-20, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Fatal Attraction – $7,602,740 ($7,602,740 total) {week 1}
6. Dirty Dancing – $2,471,555 ($24,469,975 total) {week 5}
12. Robocop – $696,944 ($49,715,016 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Fatal Attraction – $15,399,923 ($15,399,923 total)
6. Dirty Dancing – $5,006,321 ($49,565,781 total)
12. Robocop – $1,411,713 ($100,701,516 total)

Oscar Details:

• Dirty Dancing: Original Song (“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”) [O]
• Fatal Attraction: Picture, Director, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Anne Archer), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Robocop: Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 17-19, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $4,261,887 ($250,600,981 total) {week 15}
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $4,061,544 ($56,435,409 total) {week 8}
6. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $1,462,555 ($65,204,639 total) {week 9}
7. Rocky III – $972,703 ($113,928,936 total) {week 17}
8. The World According to Garp – $900,466 ($25,637,018 total) {week 9}
12. Poltergeist – $738,292 ($67,938,442 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $11,481,002 ($675,088,357 total)
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $10,941,302 ($152,030,081 total)
6. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $3,939,944 ($175,653,313 total)
7. Rocky III – $2,620,343 ($306,910,603 total)
8. The World According to Garp – $2,425,745 ($69,062,987 total)
12. Poltergeist – $1,988,868 ($183,017,844 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)