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

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5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 18-20, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

7. Inglourious Basterds – $3,818,142 ($110,116,807 total) {week 5}
12. Julie & Julia – $1,914,186 ($88,460,267 total) {week 7}
13. District 9 – $1,913,150 ($111,685,356 total) {week 6}
25. Up – $314,758 ($291,819,165 total) {week 17}
31. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $254,295 ($401,485,117 total) {week 13}
34. Bright Star – $189,703 ($206,649 total) {week 1}
40. Star Trek – $100,316 ($257,604,001 total) {week 20}
43. The Hurt Locker – $72,193 ($12,402,612 total) {week 13}
48. In the Loop – $54,561 ($2,251,324 total) {week 9}
49. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $50,504 ($299,475 total) {week 5}
58. Food, Inc. – $22,134 ($4,288,938 total) {week 15}
60. Departures – $19,551 ($1,369,856 total) {week 17}
63. The Cove – $17,930 ($757,611 total) {week 8}
128. Il Divo – $345 ($233,124 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Inglourious Basterds – $4,138,866 ($119,366,619 total)
12. Julie & Julia – $2,074,978 ($95,890,929 total)
13. District 9 – $2,073,855 ($121,066,926 total)
25. Up – $341,198 ($316,331,975 total)
31. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $275,656 ($435,209,867 total)
34. Bright Star – $205,638 ($224,008 total)
40. Star Trek – $108,743 ($279,242,737 total)
43. The Hurt Locker – $78,257 ($13,444,431 total)
48. In the Loop – $59,144 ($2,440,435 total)
49. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $54,746 ($324,631 total)
58. Food, Inc. – $23,993 ($4,649,209 total)
60. Departures – $21,193 ($1,484,924 total)
63. The Cove – $19,436 ($821,250 total)
128. Il Divo – $374 ($252,706 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Baader Meinhof Complex: Foreign Language Film
• Bright Star: Costume Design
• 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)
• 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 Sep. 17-19, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

7. Hero – $2,836,698 ($46,090,351 total) {week 1}
9. Collateral – $2,265,532 ($95,970,209 total) {week 7}
19. I, Robot – $541,457 ($143,011,482 total) {week 10}
24. Spider-Man 2 – $342,622 ($371,168,083 total) {week 12}
29. Maria Full of Grace – $281,230 ($5,340,457 total) {week 10}
31. The Village – $207,473 ($113,029,508 total) {week 8}
34. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $170,088 ($248,854,854 total) {week 16}
40. Before Sunset – $119,867 ($5,563,693 total) {week 12}
68. Zelary – $29,002 ($29,002 total) {week 1}
79. Story of the Weeping Camel – $17,504 ($1,680,036 total) {week 16}
82. Super Size Me – $13,773 ($11,487,995 total) {week 20}
120. The Twilight Samurai – $2,639 ($523,205 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Hero – $7,184,534 ($116,733,506 total)
9. Collateral – $5,737,936 ($243,064,735 total)
19. I, Robot – $1,371,354 ($362,206,651 total)
24. Spider-Man 2 – $867,762 ($940,061,220 total)
29. Maria Full of Grace – $712,274 ($13,525,830 total)
31. The Village – $525,469 ($286,270,997 total)
34. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $430,784 ($630,277,247 total)
40. Before Sunset – $303,588 ($14,091,222 total)
68. Zelary – $73,454 ($73,454 total)
79. Story of the Weeping Camel – $44,333 ($4,255,044 total)
82. Super Size Me – $34,883 ($29,095,763 total)
120. The Twilight Samurai – $6,684 ($1,325,127 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
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 17-19, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Sixth Sense – $11,207,422 ($213,275,834 total) {week 7}
11. American Beauty – $861,531 ($1,021,385 total) {week 1}
13. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $799,369 ($423,299,088 total) {week 18}
23. Tarzan – $384,901 ($169,067,188 total) {week 14}
37. Buena Vista Social Club – $148,234 ($4,927,855 total) {week 16}
39. The Red Violin – $135,903 ($9,291,544 total) {week 36}
51. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $56,778 ($51,932,314 total) {week 12}
58. The Matrix – $42,761 ($171,383,253 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Sixth Sense – $17,936,288 ($341,325,301 total)
11. American Beauty – $1,378,789 ($1,634,618 total)
13. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $1,279,305 ($677,445,194 total)
23. Tarzan – $615,993 ($270,574,063 total)
37. Buena Vista Social Club – $237,233 ($7,886,508 total)
39. The Red Violin – $217,498 ($14,870,128 total)
51. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $90,867 ($83,112,148 total)
58. The Matrix – $68,434 ($274,280,679 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Beauty: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Buena Vista Social Club: Documentary Feature
• The Matrix : Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• 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. 23-25, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

3. Forrest Gump – $5,457,584 ($263,646,568 total) {week 12}
4. Quiz Show – $2,925,602 ($4,098,362 total) {week 2}
5. Clear and Present Danger – $2,755,767 ($112,879,094 total) {week 8}
7. The Mask – $1,571,237 ($108,557,722 total) {week 9}
9. True Lies – $1,465,254 ($139,358,691 total) {week 11}
999. Jurassic Park – $448,800 ($355,658,400 total) {week 68}
999. The Shawshank Redemption – $727,327 ($727,327 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Forrest Gump – $10,614,870 ($512,786,267 total)
4. Quiz Show – $5,690,226 ($7,971,216 total)
5. Clear and Present Danger – $5,359,901 ($219,547,137 total)
7. The Mask – $3,056,018 ($211,142,172 total)
9. True Lies – $2,849,884 ($271,049,320 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $872,905 ($691,747,079 total)
999. The Shawshank Redemption – $1,414,634 ($1,414,634 total)

Oscar Details:

• Clear and Present Danger: Sound, Sound Effects
• 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 Mask : Visual Effects
• Quiz Show: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Paul Scofield), Adapted Screenplay
• The Shawshank Redemption : Picture, Actor (Morgan Freeman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• True Lies: Visual Effects

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 22-24, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Black Rain – $9,677,102 ($9,677,102 total) {week 1}
4. Parenthood – $3,007,850 ($78,393,013 total) {week 8}
5. When Harry Met Sally… – $2,042,900 ($78,144,204 total) {week 11}
6. sex, lies and videotape – $1,801,816 ($15,701,978 total) {week 8}
7. Lethal Weapon 2 – $1,608,068 ($140,144,384 total) {week 12}
8. The Abyss – $1,512,309 ($49,710,458 total) {week 7}
11. Batman – $1,101,767 ($244,670,914 total) {week 14}
999. Dry White Season, A – $202,507 ($219,777 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Black Rain – $19,817,340 ($19,817,340 total)
4. Parenthood – $6,159,653 ($160,537,833 total)
5. When Harry Met Sally… – $4,183,571 ($160,028,307 total)
6. sex, lies and videotape – $3,689,865 ($32,155,436 total)
7. Lethal Weapon 2 – $3,293,096 ($286,995,930 total)
8. The Abyss – $3,096,996 ($101,800,006 total)
11. Batman – $2,256,263 ($501,051,519 total)
999. Dry White Season, A – $414,706 ($450,072 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Abyss : Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• Black Rain: Sound, Sound Effects
• Dry White Season, A:
• 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 Sep. 21-23, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

3. Ghostbusters – $2,850,809 ($201,036,554 total) {week 16}
4. Purple Rain – $2,157,231 ($55,547,623 total) {week 9}
7. The Karate Kid – $1,871,102 ($78,148,511 total) {week 14}
8. The Woman in Red – $1,508,284 ($21,752,769 total) {week 6}
999. Amadeus – $505,276 ($505,276 total) {week 1}
999. Places in the Heart – $274,279 ($274,279 total) {week 1}
999. A Soldier’s Story – $166,401 ($417,655 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Ghostbusters – $6,897,940 ($486,436,662 total)
4. Purple Rain – $5,219,729 ($134,405,409 total)
7. The Karate Kid – $4,527,399 ($189,091,486 total)
8. The Woman in Red – $3,649,509 ($52,633,932 total)
999. Amadeus – $1,222,587 ($1,222,587 total)
999. Places in the Heart – $663,657 ($663,657 total)
999. A Soldier’s Story – $402,631 ($1,010,576 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amadeus: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (F. Murray Abraham [O], Tom Hulce), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound [O]
• Ghostbusters: Original Song (“Ghostbusters”), Visual Effects
• The Karate Kid : Supporting Actor (Noriyuki ‘Pat’ Morita)
• Places in the Heart: Picture, Director, Actress (Sally Field) [O], Supporting Actor (John Malkovich), Supporting Actress (Linsday Crouse), Original Screenplay [O], Costume Design
• Purple Rain: Original Song Score [O]
• A Soldier’s Story: Picture, Supporting Actor (Adolph Caesar), Adapted Screenplay
• The Woman in Red : Original Song (“I Just Called to Say I Love You”) [O]