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 Jan. 23-25, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

5. Slumdog Millionaire – $10,699,629 ($56,065,245 total) {week 11}
9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $6,085,919 ($111,129,482 total) {week 5}
11. Defiance – $5,666,785 ($18,564,544 total) {week 4}
12. Revolutionary Road – $5,185,146 ($11,784,049 total) {week 5}
14. The Wrestler – $3,745,643 ($9,557,610 total) {week 6}
16. Frost/Nixon – $3,022,250 ($12,005,811 total) {week 8}
20. The Reader – $1,403,410 ($9,661,121 total) {week 7}
23. Milk – $884,715 ($21,637,349 total) {week 9}
24. Doubt – $847,855 ($26,753,136 total) {week 7}
26. The Dark Knight – $667,397 ($531,706,809 total) {week 28}
28. Rachel Getting Married – $459,641 ($11,252,249 total) {week 17}
32. Australia – $211,154 ($48,687,600 total) {week 9}
34. Bolt – $182,603 ($112,818,114 total) {week 10}
35. Waltz with Bashir – $150,458 ($754,796 total) {week 5}
40. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $77,453 ($23,118,152 total) {week 24}
86. The Betrayal – $622 ($15,716 total) {week 10}
87. Trouble the Water – $551 ($493,459 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Slumdog Millionaire – $11,327,341 ($59,354,406 total)
9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $6,442,960 ($117,649,078 total)
11. Defiance – $5,999,236 ($19,653,664 total)
12. Revolutionary Road – $5,489,341 ($12,475,380 total)
14. The Wrestler – $3,965,387 ($10,118,323 total)
16. Frost/Nixon – $3,199,555 ($12,710,152 total)
20. The Reader – $1,485,743 ($10,227,907 total)
23. Milk – $936,618 ($22,906,740 total)
24. Doubt – $897,596 ($28,322,653 total)
26. The Dark Knight – $706,551 ($562,900,275 total)
28. Rachel Getting Married – $486,607 ($11,912,381 total)
32. Australia – $223,542 ($51,543,939 total)
34. Bolt – $193,316 ($119,436,777 total)
35. Waltz with Bashir – $159,285 ($799,077 total)
40. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $81,997 ($24,474,417 total)
86. The Betrayal – $658 ($16,638 total)
87. Trouble the Water – $583 ($522,409 total)

Oscar Details:

• Australia: Costume Design
• The Betrayal: Documentary Feature
• Bolt: Animated Feature
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Picture, Director, Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actress (Taraji P. Henson), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Dark Knight: Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Defiance: Original Score
• Doubt: Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), Supporting Actress (Viola Davis), Adapted Screenplay
• Frost/Nixon: Picture, Director, Actor (Frank Langella), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Milk: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Josh Brolin), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
• Rachel Getting Married: Actress (Anne Hathaway)
• The Reader: Picture, Director, Actress (Kate Winslet) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography
• Revolutionary Road: Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon), Art Direction, Costume Design
• Slumdog Millionaire: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Jai Ho”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing
• Trouble the Water: Documentary Feature
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz) [O]
• Waltz with Bashir: Foreign Language Film
• The Wrestler: Actor (Mickey Rourke), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 23-25, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

4. Big Fish – $7,110,138 ($48,934,111 total) {week 7}
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $6,786,756 ($337,817,998 total) {week 6}
7. Cold Mountain – $5,004,505 ($72,570,380 total) {week 5}
9. Something’s Gotta Give – $4,017,675 ($107,054,327 total) {week 7}
10. Mystic River – $3,368,197 ($58,766,374 total) {week 16}
12. The Last Samurai – $2,177,479 ($105,521,192 total) {week 8}
13. Monster – $2,070,619 ($6,021,051 total) {week 5}
18. The Cooler – $913,089 ($5,002,374 total) {week 9}
20. 21 Grams – $854,003 ($12,126,282 total) {week 10}
21. In America – $792,684 ($9,005,655 total) {week 9}
22. Lost in Translation – $725,768 ($34,676,744 total) {week 20}
24. House of Sand and Fog – $668,418 ($10,241,296 total) {week 6}
25. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $540,954 ($2,629,489 total) {week 7}
26. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $355,772 ($85,299,861 total) {week 11}
31. The Triplets of Belleville – $208,437 ($1,800,796 total) {week 9}
34. Brother Bear – $170,451 ($84,270,653 total) {week 14}
37. The Fog of War – $155,826 ($677,152 total) {week 6}
51. My Architect – $58,383 ($574,610 total) {week 11}
75. Pieces of April – $11,300 ($2,466,662 total) {week 15}
84. City of God – $5,845 ($4,815,624 total) {week 54}
89. Dirty Pretty Things – $3,637 ($8,094,919 total) {week 28}
112. The Weather Underground – $589 ($505,110 total) {week 34}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Big Fish – $17,587,070 ($121,039,514 total)
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $16,787,178 ($835,599,659 total)
7. Cold Mountain – $12,378,744 ($179,504,304 total)
9. Something’s Gotta Give – $9,937,800 ($264,801,046 total)
10. Mystic River – $8,331,303 ($145,359,816 total)
12. The Last Samurai – $5,386,038 ($261,008,805 total)
13. Monster – $5,121,718 ($14,893,192 total)
18. The Cooler – $2,258,544 ($12,373,473 total)
20. 21 Grams – $2,112,394 ($29,994,604 total)
21. In America – $1,960,720 ($22,275,670 total)
22. Lost in Translation – $1,795,202 ($85,773,628 total)
24. House of Sand and Fog – $1,653,345 ($25,332,053 total)
25. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $1,338,061 ($6,504,094 total)
26. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $880,009 ($210,990,933 total)
31. The Triplets of Belleville – $515,573 ($4,454,305 total)
34. Brother Bear – $421,614 ($208,445,167 total)
37. The Fog of War – $385,439 ($1,674,949 total)
51. My Architect – $144,412 ($1,421,309 total)
75. Pieces of April – $27,951 ($6,101,338 total)
84. City of God – $14,458 ($11,911,543 total)
89. Dirty Pretty Things – $8,996 ($20,022,946 total)
112. The Weather Underground – $1,457 ($1,249,400 total)

Oscar Details:

• 21 Grams: Actress (Naomi Watts), Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro)
• Big Fish: Original Score
• Brother Bear: Animated Feature
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Cold Mountain: Actor (Jude Law), Supporting Actress (Renee Zellweger) [O], Original Song (“Scarlet Tide”), Original Song (“You Will Be My Ain True Love”), Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• The Cooler: Supporting Actor (Alec Baldwin)
• Dirty Pretty Things: Original Screenplay
• The Fog of War: Documentary Feature [O]
• Girl with a Pearl Earring: Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• House of Sand and Fog: Actor (Ben Kingsley), Supporting Actress (Shohreh Aghdashloo), Original Score
• In America: Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Original Screenplay
• The Last Samurai: Supporting Actor (Ken Watanabe), Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Into the West”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound Mixing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Lost in Translation: Picture, Director, Actor (Bill Murray), Original Screenplay [O]
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: Picture, Director, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Monster: Actress (Charlize Theron) [O]
• My Architect: Documentary Feature
• Mystic River: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) [O], Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), Adapted Screenplay
• Pieces of April: Supporting Actress (Patricia Clarkson)
• Something’s Gotta Give: Actress (Diane Keaton)
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 22-24, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

2. Patch Adams – $8,101,565 ($108,588,660 total) {week 5}
3. A Civil Action – $7,648,388 ($40,786,181 total) {week 5}
4. The Thin Red Line – $5,794,840 ($22,313,555 total) {week 5}
8. The Prince of Egypt – $3,926,434 ($87,327,161 total) {week 6}
9. Shakespeare in Love – $3,629,432 ($25,882,499 total) {week 7}
10. A Simple Plan – $3,422,072 ($7,070,184 total) {week 7}
13. A Bug’s Life – $2,700,616 ($151,734,828 total) {week 10}
14. Mighty Joe Young – $2,575,283 ($43,401,380 total) {week 5}
20. Life Is Beautiful – $1,055,993 ($15,838,666 total) {week 14}
24. Elizabeth – $561,256 ($19,603,529 total) {week 12}
25. Hilary and Jackie – $418,368 ($1,153,765 total) {week 4}
28. Babe: Pig in the City – $316,740 ($17,319,215 total) {week 9}
33. Little Voice – $197,928 ($1,777,974 total) {week 5}
39. Central Station – $130,499 ($1,204,949 total) {week 10}
42. Gods and Monsters – $105,283 ($2,564,731 total) {week 12}
47. Affliction – $89,944 ($400,618 total) {week 4}
51. Pleasantville – $53,452 ($39,194,840 total) {week 14}
52. The Red Violin – $51,229 ($1,428,329 total) {week 13}
56. Saving Private Ryan – $26,340 ($190,964,587 total) {week 27}
59. Children of Heaven – $20,100 ($20,100 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Patch Adams – $12,662,682 ($169,723,221 total)
3. A Civil Action – $11,954,370 ($63,748,480 total)
4. The Thin Red Line – $9,057,289 ($34,875,911 total)
8. The Prince of Egypt – $6,136,985 ($136,491,665 total)
9. Shakespeare in Love – $5,672,774 ($40,454,142 total)
10. A Simple Plan – $5,348,672 ($11,050,642 total)
13. A Bug’s Life – $4,221,042 ($237,160,341 total)
14. Mighty Joe Young – $4,025,147 ($67,836,015 total)
20. Life Is Beautiful – $1,650,509 ($24,755,710 total)
24. Elizabeth – $877,239 ($30,640,161 total)
25. Hilary and Jackie – $653,906 ($1,803,326 total)
28. Babe: Pig in the City – $495,062 ($27,069,797 total)
33. Little Voice – $309,360 ($2,778,959 total)
39. Central Station – $203,969 ($1,883,326 total)
42. Gods and Monsters – $164,557 ($4,008,654 total)
47. Affliction – $140,582 ($626,163 total)
51. Pleasantville – $83,545 ($61,261,226 total)
52. The Red Violin – $80,071 ($2,232,467 total)
56. Saving Private Ryan – $41,169 ($298,476,146 total)
59. Children of Heaven – $31,416 ($31,416 total)

Oscar Details:

• Affliction: Actor (Nick Nolte), Supporting Actor (James Coburn) [O]
• Babe: Pig in the City: Original Song (“That’ll Do”)
• A Bug’s Life: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Central Station: Actress (Fernanda Montenegro), Foreign Language Film
• Children of Heaven: Foreign Language Film
• A Civil Action: Supporting Actor (Robert Duvall), Cinematography
• Elizabeth: Picture, Actress (Cate Blanchett), Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup
• Gods and Monsters: Actor (Ian McKellen), Supporting Actress (Lynn Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Hilary and Jackie: Actress (Emily Watson), Supporting Actress (Rachel Griffiths)
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Little Voice: Supporting Actress (Brenda Blethyn)
• Mighty Joe Young: Visual Effects
• Patch Adams: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Pleasantville: Original Dramatic Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Prince of Egypt: Original Song (“When You Believe”) [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score
• The Red Violin : Original Score [O]
• Saving Private Ryan: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• Shakespeare in Love: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• A Simple Plan: Supporting Actor (Billy Bob Thornton), Adapted Screenplay
• The Thin Red Line: Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 28-30, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Mrs. Doubtfire – $7,742,001 ($172,513,134 total) {week 10}
2. Philadelphia – $7,316,408 ($36,600,339 total) {week 6}
7. Schindler’s List – $3,064,898 ($23,517,491 total) {week 7}
9. Shadowlands – $2,442,036 ($16,860,561 total) {week 5}
13. Beethoven’s 2nd – $1,504,845 ($45,144,210 total) {week 7}
14. In the Name of the Father – $1,124,151 ($4,927,317 total) {week 5}
15. The Piano – $1,019,992 ($25,270,569 total) {week 12}
999. Jurassic Park – $501,685 ($342,429,585 total) {week 34}
999. Six Degrees of Separation – $552,807 ($2,713,930 total) {week 8}
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $109,264 ($858,515 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Mrs. Doubtfire – $14,706,098 ($327,692,412 total)
2. Philadelphia – $13,897,675 ($69,523,132 total)
7. Schindler’s List – $5,821,840 ($44,671,981 total)
9. Shadowlands – $4,638,700 ($32,026,999 total)
13. Beethoven’s 2nd – $2,858,485 ($85,752,399 total)
14. In the Name of the Father – $2,135,349 ($9,359,545 total)
15. The Piano – $1,937,497 ($48,001,990 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $952,961 ($650,452,370 total)
999. Six Degrees of Separation – $1,050,069 ($5,155,168 total)
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $207,549 ($1,630,768 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beethoven’s 2nd: Original Song (“The Day I Fall in Love”)
• In the Name of the Father: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Supporting Actor (Pete Postlethwaite), Supporting Actress (Emma Thompson), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Mrs. Doubtfire: Makeup [O]
• Philadelphia: Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Philadelphia”), Original Song (“Streets of Philadelphia”) [O]
• The Piano: Picture, Director, Actress (Holly Hunter) [O], Supporting Actress (Anna Paquin) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Schindler’s List: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Liam Neeson), Supporting Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup, Sound
• Shadowlands: Actress (Debra Winger), Adapted Screenplay
• Six Degrees of Separation: Actress (Stockard Channing)
• What’s Eating Gilbert Grape: Supporting Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 27-29, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Rain Man – $6,829,705 ($88,805,610 total) {week 7}
3. Beaches – $4,939,903 ($20,138,468 total) {week 6}
5. Mississippi Burning – $3,545,305 ($14,726,112 total) {week 8}
6. Working Girl – $3,004,374 ($38,232,402 total) {week 6}
8. The Accidental Tourist – $2,561,533 ($21,844,098 total) {week 6}
11. Dangerous Liaisons – $1,300,240 ($4,900,088 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Rain Man – $13,659,410 ($177,611,220 total)
3. Beaches – $9,879,806 ($40,276,936 total)
5. Mississippi Burning – $7,090,610 ($29,452,224 total)
6. Working Girl – $6,008,748 ($76,464,804 total)
8. The Accidental Tourist – $5,123,066 ($43,688,196 total)
11. Dangerous Liaisons – $2,600,480 ($9,800,176 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Accidental Tourist: Picture, Supporting Actress (Geena Davis) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Beaches: Art Direction
• Dangerous Liaisons: Picture, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O]
• Mississippi Burning: Picture, Director, Actor (Gene Hackman), Supporting Actress (Frances McDormand), Editing, Cinematography [O], Sound
• Rain Man: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Dustin Hoffman) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction
• Working Girl: Picture, Director, Actress (Melanie Griffith), Supporting Actress (Joan Cusack), Supporting Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Original Song (“Let the River Run”) [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 27-29, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Silkwood – $3,547,122 ($21,501,926 total) {week 7}
2. Terms of Endearment – $3,383,539 ($65,425,742 total) {week 10}
3. Nevery Cry Wolf – $2,679,108 ($13,680,149 total) {week 17}
6. Yentl – $1,851,461 ($30,783,557 total) {week 11}
11. The Big Chill – $1,092,153 ($50,298,170 total) {week 18}
12. Broadway Danny Rose – $953,794 ($953,794 total) {week 1}
999. Return of the Jedi – $183,493 ($251,640,919 total) {week 36}
999. The Right Stuff – $278,022 ($15,183,991 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Silkwood – $8,382,187 ($50,811,099 total)
2. Terms of Endearment – $7,995,625 ($154,607,259 total)
3. Nevery Cry Wolf – $6,330,987 ($32,327,495 total)
6. Yentl – $4,375,179 ($72,744,477 total)
11. The Big Chill – $2,580,862 ($118,859,366 total)
12. Broadway Danny Rose – $2,253,906 ($2,253,906 total)
999. Return of the Jedi – $433,611 ($594,651,457 total)
999. The Right Stuff – $656,992 ($35,881,217 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Big Chill: Picture, Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Screenplay
• Broadway Danny Rose: Director, Original Screenplay
• Nevery Cry Wolf: Sound
• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• The Right Stuff: Picture, Supporting Actor (Sam Shepard), Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• Silkwood: Directing, Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actress (Cher), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Terms of Endearment: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actress (Shirley MacLaine) [O], Actress (Debra Winger), Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction, Sound
• Yentl: Supporting Actress (Amy Irving), Original Song (“Papa, Can You Hear Me?”), Original Song (“The Way He Makes Me Feel”), Original Song Score [O], Art Direction