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

The BoxTrolls (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 25-27, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

10. Inglourious Basterds – $2,683,198 ($114,420,733 total) {week 6}
13. Julie & Julia – $1,263,283 ($90,600,766 total) {week 8}
15. District 9 – $1,082,176 ($113,522,260 total) {week 7}
17. Bright Star – $671,895 ($962,153 total) {week 2}
22. Coco Before Chanel – $406,768 ($406,768 total) {week 1}
31. Up – $255,540 ($292,155,222 total) {week 18}
35. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $195,247 ($401,750,700 total) {week 14}
50. Star Trek – $65,844 ($257,704,099 total) {week 21}
53. The Hurt Locker – $45,164 ($12,486,356 total) {week 14}
57. In the Loop – $38,667 ($2,317,833 total) {week 10}
59. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $35,888 ($361,190 total) {week 6}
65. Food, Inc. – $24,335 ($4,330,801 total) {week 16}
72. The Cove – $15,875 ($786,294 total) {week 9}
77. Departures – $13,269 ($1,391,017 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

10. Inglourious Basterds – $2,908,587 ($124,032,075 total)
13. Julie & Julia – $1,369,399 ($98,211,230 total)
15. District 9 – $1,173,079 ($123,058,130 total)
17. Bright Star – $728,334 ($1,042,974 total)
22. Coco Before Chanel – $440,937 ($440,937 total)
31. Up – $277,005 ($316,696,261 total)
35. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $211,648 ($435,497,759 total)
50. Star Trek – $71,375 ($279,351,243 total)
53. The Hurt Locker – $48,958 ($13,535,210 total)
57. In the Loop – $41,915 ($2,512,531 total)
59. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $38,903 ($391,530 total)
65. Food, Inc. – $26,379 ($4,694,588 total)
72. The Cove – $17,209 ($852,343 total)
77. Departures – $14,384 ($1,507,862 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Baader Meinhof Complex: Foreign Language Film
• Bright Star: Costume Design
• Coco Before Chanel: Costume Design
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• District 9: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Visual Effects
• 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. 24-26, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

10. Hero – $2,244,628 ($49,231,569 total) {week 1}
12. Collateral – $1,452,516 ($98,127,149 total) {week 8}
22. Spider-Man 2 – $290,512 ($371,538,616 total) {week 13}
30. I, Robot – $213,789 ($143,373,352 total) {week 11}
31. Maria Full of Grace – $200,295 ($5,639,408 total) {week 11}
35. The Motorcycle Diaries – $159,819 ($159,819 total) {week 1}
36. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $137,868 ($249,031,885 total) {week 17}
38. The Village – $122,057 ($113,224,335 total) {week 9}
52. Before Sunset – $54,143 ($5,650,441 total) {week 13}
70. Story of the Weeping Camel – $25,256 ($1,732,803 total) {week 17}
78. Zelary – $17,927 ($58,937 total) {week 2}
82. Super Size Me – $16,204 ($11,529,368 total) {week 21}
113. The Twilight Samurai – $3,404 ($529,212 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

10. Hero – $5,684,992 ($124,689,301 total)
12. Collateral – $3,678,802 ($248,527,639 total)
22. Spider-Man 2 – $735,783 ($940,999,672 total)
30. I, Robot – $541,466 ($363,123,163 total)
31. Maria Full of Grace – $507,289 ($14,282,987 total)
35. The Motorcycle Diaries – $404,775 ($404,775 total)
36. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $349,180 ($630,725,615 total)
38. The Village – $309,135 ($286,764,437 total)
52. Before Sunset – $137,129 ($14,310,930 total)
70. Story of the Weeping Camel – $63,966 ($4,388,688 total)
78. Zelary – $45,404 ($149,270 total)
82. Super Size Me – $41,040 ($29,200,549 total)
113. The Twilight Samurai – $8,621 ($1,340,341 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)
• The Motorcycle Diaries : Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Al Otro Lado del Rio”) [O]
• 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. 24-26, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Sixth Sense – $8,435,193 ($225,042,276 total) {week 8}
5. American Beauty – $5,939,646 ($7,484,984 total) {week 2}
12. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $801,935 ($424,399,730 total) {week 19}
18. Tarzan – $303,692 ($169,497,568 total) {week 15}
32. Buena Vista Social Club – $161,883 ($5,163,493 total) {week 17}
45. The Red Violin – $88,941 ($9,510,414 total) {week 37}
60. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $51,530 ($52,008,288 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Sixth Sense – $13,499,630 ($360,156,241 total)
5. American Beauty – $9,505,772 ($11,978,921 total)
12. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $1,283,412 ($679,206,655 total)
18. Tarzan – $486,027 ($271,262,840 total)
32. Buena Vista Social Club – $259,077 ($8,263,622 total)
45. The Red Violin – $142,341 ($15,220,407 total)
60. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $82,468 ($83,233,737 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 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. 30-Oct. 2, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

4. Forrest Gump – $4,368,160 ($269,670,909 total) {week 13}
5. Quiz Show – $3,365,119 ($8,430,084 total) {week 3}
7. Clear and Present Danger – $2,003,122 ($115,669,022 total) {week 9}
9. The Mask – $1,253,951 ($110,190,781 total) {week 10}
11. True Lies – $975,803 ($140,779,782 total) {week 12}
999. Ed Wood – $71,566 ($71,566 total) {week 1}
999. Jurassic Park – $409,590 ($356,190,495 total) {week 69}
999. The Shawshank Redemption – $604,259 ($1,642,635 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Forrest Gump – $8,495,967 ($524,503,467 total)
5. Quiz Show – $6,545,076 ($16,396,312 total)
7. Clear and Present Danger – $3,896,024 ($224,973,481 total)
9. The Mask – $2,438,905 ($214,318,433 total)
11. True Lies – $1,897,913 ($273,813,308 total)
999. Ed Wood – $139,194 ($139,194 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $796,643 ($692,781,991 total)
999. The Shawshank Redemption – $1,175,269 ($3,194,886 total)

Oscar Details:

• Clear and Present Danger: Sound, Sound Effects
• Ed Wood: Supporting Actor (Martin Landau) [O], Makeup [O]
• 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. 29-Oct. 1, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Black Rain – $6,503,065 ($19,236,379 total) {week 2}
4. Parenthood – $2,629,600 ($81,702,263 total) {week 9}
6. When Harry Met Sally… – $1,961,676 ($80,795,888 total) {week 12}
8. sex, lies and videotape – $1,368,443 ($17,173,786 total) {week 9}
10. Lethal Weapon 2 – $1,227,039 ($141,872,763 total) {week 13}
11. The Abyss – $1,206,035 ($51,361,458 total) {week 8}
13. Batman – $877,891 ($245,893,171 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Black Rain – $13,317,360 ($39,393,391 total)
4. Parenthood – $5,385,050 ($167,314,710 total)
6. When Harry Met Sally… – $4,017,236 ($165,458,582 total)
8. sex, lies and videotape – $2,802,378 ($35,169,491 total)
10. Lethal Weapon 2 – $2,512,803 ($290,535,406 total)
11. The Abyss – $2,469,790 ($105,181,021 total)
13. Batman – $1,797,797 ($503,554,529 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Abyss : Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• Black Rain: Sound, Sound Effects
• 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. 28-30, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

5. Ghostbusters – $2,373,369 ($204,079,999 total) {week 17}
6. Purple Rain – $1,752,753 ($58,004,255 total) {week 10}
7. The Karate Kid – $1,517,087 ($80,058,084 total) {week 15}
12. The Woman in Red – $977,439 ($23,200,313 total) {week 7}
999. Amadeus – $500,910 ($1,404,057 total) {week 2}
999. Country – $24,443 ($24,443 total) {week 1}
999. Places in the Heart – $254,524 ($661,632 total) {week 2}
999. A Soldier’s Story – $378,914 ($898,706 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Ghostbusters – $5,742,705 ($493,800,712 total)
6. Purple Rain – $4,241,036 ($140,349,581 total)
7. The Karate Kid – $3,670,809 ($193,711,971 total)
12. The Woman in Red – $2,365,053 ($56,136,472 total)
999. Amadeus – $1,212,023 ($3,397,316 total)
999. Country – $59,143 ($59,143 total)
999. Places in the Heart – $615,857 ($1,600,913 total)
999. A Soldier’s Story – $916,837 ($2,174,548 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]
• Country: Actress (Jessica Lange)
• 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]