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

Hotel Transylvania (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

Won’t Back Down (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

The Other Dream Team (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 28-30, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

5. 3:10 to Yuma – $4,208,366 ($43,951,910 total) {week 4}
8. Eastern Promises – $2,938,847 ($11,281,492 total) {week 3}
10. Across the Universe – $2,016,224 ($5,476,433 total) {week 3}
11. The Bourne Ultimatum – $1,745,475 ($222,788,180 total) {week 9}
14. In the Valley of Elah – $1,512,310 ($3,438,958 total) {week 3}
15. Transformers – $1,200,730 ($315,175,018 total) {week 13}
20. Into the Wild – $631,451 ($930,015 total) {week 2}
26. Ratatouille – $243,895 ($203,360,412 total) {week 14}
40. Once – $98,868 ($9,087,735 total) {week 20}
42. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $92,351 ($300,737 total) {week 2}
46. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $72,876 ($309,404,152 total) {week 19}
56. Sicko – $32,742 ($24,481,743 total) {week 15}
62. La Vie en Rose – $24,967 ($9,985,261 total) {week 17}
66. No End in Sight – $19,778 ($1,380,560 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. 3:10 to Yuma – $4,844,514 ($50,595,803 total)
8. Eastern Promises – $3,383,091 ($12,986,834 total)
10. Across the Universe – $2,321,002 ($6,304,266 total)
11. The Bourne Ultimatum – $2,009,326 ($256,465,463 total)
14. In the Valley of Elah – $1,740,915 ($3,958,800 total)
15. Transformers – $1,382,236 ($362,817,753 total)
20. Into the Wild – $726,903 ($1,070,599 total)
26. Ratatouille – $280,763 ($234,100,939 total)
40. Once – $113,813 ($10,461,462 total)
42. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $106,311 ($346,197 total)
46. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $83,892 ($356,174,547 total)
56. Sicko – $37,691 ($28,182,472 total)
62. La Vie en Rose – $28,741 ($11,494,661 total)
66. No End in Sight – $22,768 ($1,589,249 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. 27-29, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $9,434,602 ($136,628,662 total) {week 24}
17. Spirited Away – $527,719 ($1,110,559 total) {week 2}
28. Road to Perdition – $176,480 ($103,550,075 total) {week 12}
33. Lilo & Stitch – $146,850 ($143,513,625 total) {week 15}
36. Minority Report – $109,927 ($131,719,843 total) {week 15}
38. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $106,553 ($301,921,139 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $12,860,938 ($186,247,677 total)
17. Spirited Away – $719,369 ($1,513,877 total)
28. Road to Perdition – $240,572 ($141,156,040 total)
33. Lilo & Stitch – $200,181 ($195,633,031 total)
36. Minority Report – $149,849 ($179,556,137 total)
38. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $145,250 ($411,568,919 total)

Oscar Details:

• Lilo & Stitch: Animated Feature
• Minority Report: 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. 26-28, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

2. In & Out – $11,225,464 ($30,376,543 total) {week 2}
6. L.A. Confidential – $4,422,450 ($11,574,944 total) {week 2}
8. The Full Monty – $2,752,802 ($13,999,115 total) {week 7}
11. Air Force One – $1,216,315 ($167,901,381 total) {week 10}
13. Men in Black – $906,890 ($242,117,436 total) {week 13}
999. Con Air – $61,268 ($101,035,795 total) {week 17}
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $142,595 ($228,893,639 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. In & Out – $19,369,428 ($52,414,427 total)
6. L.A. Confidential – $7,630,894 ($19,972,452 total)
8. The Full Monty – $4,749,933 ($24,155,336 total)
11. Air Force One – $2,098,740 ($289,712,187 total)
13. Men in Black – $1,564,830 ($417,771,262 total)
999. Con Air – $105,717 ($174,336,274 total)
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $246,046 ($394,953,730 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 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. 25-27, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Last of the Mohicans – $10,976,661 ($10,976,661 total) {week 1}
4. Mr. Saturday Night – $4,514,027 ($4,514,027 total) {week 1}
9. Husbands and Wives – $1,783,740 ($6,350,940 total) {week 2}
13. Unforgiven – $1,009,810 ($72,105,359 total) {week 8}
999. Batman Returns – $363,315 ($161,511,928 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Last of the Mohicans – $20,948,230 ($20,948,230 total)
4. Mr. Saturday Night – $8,614,721 ($8,614,721 total)
9. Husbands and Wives – $3,404,150 ($12,120,348 total)
13. Unforgiven – $1,927,155 ($137,608,300 total)
999. Batman Returns – $693,363 ($308,234,812 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects
• Husbands and Wives: Supporting Actress (Judy Davis), Original Screenplay
• The Last of the Mohicans: Sound [O]
• Mr. Saturday Night: Supporting Actor (David Paymer)
• 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. 25-27, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Fatal Attraction – $7,707,763 ($18,709,510 total) {week 2}
6. Dirty Dancing – $2,100,759 ($27,376,139 total) {week 6}
13. Robocop – $640,647 ($50,616,395 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Fatal Attraction – $15,612,655 ($37,897,524 total)
6. Dirty Dancing – $4,255,246 ($55,452,435 total)
13. Robocop – $1,297,679 ($102,527,327 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. 24-26, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $4,091,788 ($256,031,594 total) {week 16}
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $3,819,909 ($61,500,061 total) {week 9}
7. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $1,208,906 ($66,939,244 total) {week 10}
9. The World According to Garp – $780,951 ($26,748,650 total) {week 10}
10. Rocky III – $757,000 ($115,007,000 total) {week 18}
11. Poltergeist – $720,000 ($68,850,000 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $11,022,776 ($689,717,763 total)
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $10,290,367 ($165,673,634 total)
7. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $3,256,645 ($180,326,127 total)
9. The World According to Garp – $2,103,786 ($72,057,588 total)
10. Rocky III – $2,039,265 ($309,814,776 total)
11. Poltergeist – $1,939,592 ($185,473,469 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)