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. 22-24, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

1. Avatar – $34,944,081 ($551,741,499 total) {week 6}
5. The Lovely Bones – $8,418,192 ($31,242,633 total) {week 7}
6. Sherlock Holmes – $6,628,069 ($191,076,852 total) {week 5}
11. The Blind Side – $4,166,136 ($233,678,402 total) {week 10}
12. Up in the Air – $3,902,190 ($69,245,716 total) {week 8}
16. Crazy Heart – $1,353,214 ($3,865,689 total) {week 6}
17. The Princess and the Frog – $1,292,793 ($99,248,026 total) {week 9}
19. The Young Victoria – $745,514 ($7,376,880 total) {week 6}
20. A Single Man – $717,077 ($4,466,097 total) {week 7}
22. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $492,735 ($5,882,608 total) {week 5}
23. Invictus – $415,583 ($35,805,147 total) {week 7}
28. Nine – $309,438 ($18,847,587 total) {week 6}
29. Precious – $211,820 ($45,142,926 total) {week 12}
30. An Education – $159,234 ($8,616,457 total) {week 16}
32. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $145,563 ($20,194,544 total) {week 11}
34. The White Ribbon – $114,175 ($446,026 total) {week 4}
37. The Last Station – $99,270 ($219,667 total) {week 2}
53. The Messenger – $20,254 ($742,460 total) {week 11}
64. Coco Before Chanel – $7,525 ($6,075,032 total) {week 18}
76. Departures – $1,350 ($1,494,953 total) {week 35}
82. The Cove – $615 ($849,921 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Avatar – $35,962,730 ($567,825,218 total)
5. The Lovely Bones – $8,663,589 ($32,153,381 total)
6. Sherlock Holmes – $6,821,283 ($196,646,900 total)
11. The Blind Side – $4,287,582 ($240,490,320 total)
12. Up in the Air – $4,015,942 ($71,264,286 total)
16. Crazy Heart – $1,392,661 ($3,978,377 total)
17. The Princess and the Frog – $1,330,479 ($102,141,188 total)
19. The Young Victoria – $767,246 ($7,591,922 total)
20. A Single Man – $737,980 ($4,596,287 total)
22. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $507,099 ($6,054,091 total)
23. Invictus – $427,698 ($36,848,897 total)
28. Nine – $318,458 ($19,397,010 total)
29. Precious – $217,995 ($46,458,879 total)
30. An Education – $163,876 ($8,867,634 total)
32. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $149,806 ($20,783,232 total)
34. The White Ribbon – $117,503 ($459,028 total)
37. The Last Station – $102,164 ($226,070 total)
53. The Messenger – $20,844 ($764,103 total)
64. Coco Before Chanel – $7,744 ($6,252,124 total)
76. Departures – $1,389 ($1,538,532 total)
82. The Cove – $633 ($874,697 total)

Oscar Details:

• Avatar: Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Blind Side: Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
• Coco Before Chanel: Costume Design
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• Crazy Heart: Actor (Jeff Bridges) [O], Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Original Song (“The Weary Kind”) [O]
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• An Education: Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
• Fantastic Mr. Fox: Animated Feature, Original Score
• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Invictus: Actor (Morgan Freeman), Supporting Actress (Matt Damon)
• The Last Station : Actress (Helen Mirren), Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer)
• The Lovely Bones : Supporting Actor (Stanley Tucci)
• The Messenger : Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• Nine: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz), Original Song (“Take It All”), Art Direction, Costume Design
• Precious: Picture, Director, Actress (Gabourey Sidibe), Supporting Actress (Mo’Nique) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing
• The Princess and the Frog : Animated Feature, Original Song (“Almost There”), Original Song (“Down in New Orleans”)
• Sherlock Holmes: Original Score, Art Direction
• A Single Man: Actor (Colin Firth)
• Up in the Air: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick), Adapted Screenplay
• The White Ribbon : Cinematography, Foreign Language Film
• The Young Victoria : Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 28-30, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

3. Million Dollar Baby – $12,265,482 ($21,579,631 total) {week 7}
6. The Aviator – $7,550,128 ($68,233,031 total) {week 7}
8. Sideways – $6,347,364 ($40,054,672 total) {week 15}
11. The Phantom of the Opera – $4,033,481 ($38,919,263 total) {week 6}
14. Finding Neverland – $2,755,230 ($35,942,714 total) {week 12}
15. Hotel Rwanda – $1,845,952 ($8,184,175 total) {week 6}
18. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $972,836 ($116,022,076 total) {week 1}
21. Ray – $615,415 ($73,806,940 total) {week 14}
23. House of Flying Daggers – $464,368 ($9,752,170 total) {week 9}
24. The Incredibles – $454,456 ($258,011,487 total) {week 13}
26. Closer – $376,264 ($33,450,206 total) {week 9}
27. The Polar Express – $278,358 ($161,628,521 total) {week 1}
30. Being Julia – $263,303 ($4,176,497 total) {week 16}
33. A Very Long Engagement – $236,729 ($5,324,523 total) {week 10}
37. Kinsey – $156,309 ($9,206,691 total) {week 12}
39. The Chorus – $127,447 ($176,958 total) {week 3}
42. Vera Drake – $90,799 ($2,380,529 total) {week 17}
43. The Motorcycle Diaries – $74,853 ($16,594,348 total) {week 19}
50. The Sea Inside – $44,795 ($387,936 total) {week 7}
55. Born Into Brothels – $31,663 ($121,863 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Million Dollar Baby – $15,537,553 ($27,336,444 total)
6. The Aviator – $9,564,281 ($86,435,602 total)
8. Sideways – $8,040,655 ($50,740,084 total)
11. The Phantom of the Opera – $5,109,495 ($49,301,781 total)
14. Finding Neverland – $3,490,245 ($45,531,176 total)
15. Hotel Rwanda – $2,338,398 ($10,367,473 total)
18. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $1,232,360 ($146,973,363 total)
21. Ray – $779,590 ($93,496,467 total)
23. House of Flying Daggers – $588,248 ($12,353,763 total)
24. The Incredibles – $575,692 ($326,841,384 total)
26. Closer – $476,640 ($42,373,740 total)
27. The Polar Express – $352,616 ($204,746,270 total)
30. Being Julia – $333,545 ($5,290,664 total)
33. A Very Long Engagement – $299,881 ($6,744,950 total)
37. Kinsey – $198,008 ($11,662,766 total)
39. The Chorus – $161,446 ($224,165 total)
42. Vera Drake – $115,022 ($3,015,584 total)
43. The Motorcycle Diaries – $94,822 ($21,021,233 total)
50. The Sea Inside – $56,745 ($491,426 total)
55. Born Into Brothels – $40,110 ($154,372 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Aviator: Picture, Director, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Alan Alda), Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound Mixing
• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Born Into Brothels : Documentary Feature
• The Chorus: Original Song (“Look To Your Path”), Foreign Language Film
• Closer: Supporting Actor (Clive Owen), Supporting Actress (Natalie Portman)
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Hotel Rwanda: Actor (Don Cheadle), Supporting Actress (Sophie Okonedo), Original Screenplay
• House of Flying Daggers: Cinematography
• The Incredibles: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O]
• Kinsey: Supporting Actress (Laura Linney)
• Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events: Original Score, Makeup [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
• Million Dollar Baby: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• The Motorcycle Diaries : Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Al Otro Lado del Rio”) [O]
• The Phantom of the Opera : Original Song (“Learn To Be Lonely”), Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Polar Express : Original Song (“Believe”), Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Ray: Picture, Director, Actor (Jamie Foxx) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing [O]
• The Sea Inside : Makeup, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Sideways: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Vera Drake: Director, Actress (Imelda Staunton), Original Screenplay
• A Very Long Engagement: Cinematography, Art Direction

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 28-30, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Hurricane – $5,701,085 ($30,943,521 total) {week 5}
4. Stuart Little – $4,778,048 ($123,010,692 total) {week 7}
5. The Green Mile – $4,022,589 ($115,158,512 total) {week 8}
8. Girl, Interrupted – $3,254,074 ($21,160,203 total) {week 6}
9. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $2,780,431 ($72,213,467 total) {week 6}
10. Toy Story 2 – $2,341,447 ($234,301,509 total) {week 11}
12. Angela’s Ashes – $1,822,355 ($6,436,536 total) {week 6}
13. The Cider House Rules – $1,751,673 ($18,012,696 total) {week 8}
15. Magnolia – $1,586,327 ($17,438,194 total) {week 7}
19. The End of the Affair – $1,176,105 ($6,928,198 total) {week 9}
20. Bicentennial Man – $981,842 ($55,702,245 total) {week 7}
21. Snow Falling on Cedars – $905,005 ($11,771,703 total) {week 6}
23. American Beauty – $704,153 ($74,328,708 total) {week 20}
24. Anna and the King – $590,812 ($36,867,339 total) {week 7}
26. Topsy-Turvy – $479,482 ($1,375,951 total) {week 7}
27. Sleepy Hollow – $370,752 ($97,221,699 total) {week 11}
29. Being John Malkovich – $312,603 ($20,604,174 total) {week 14}
31. All About My Mother – $291,307 ($4,262,234 total) {week 13}
33. The Sixth Sense – $235,945 ($278,016,403 total) {week 26}
34. Sweet and Lowdown – $228,424 ($2,014,314 total) {week 9}
41. Titus – $141,213 ($667,444 total) {week 6}
42. Boys Don’t Cry – $133,393 ($3,393,369 total) {week 17}
45. The Straight Story – $94,173 ($5,128,770 total) {week 16}
51. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $57,510 ($431,065,444 total) {week 37}
55. The Insider – $41,451 ($26,600,240 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Hurricane – $8,588,648 ($46,616,213 total)
4. Stuart Little – $7,198,098 ($185,314,809 total)
5. The Green Mile – $6,060,004 ($173,485,551 total)
8. Girl, Interrupted – $4,902,241 ($31,877,708 total)
9. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $4,188,701 ($108,789,119 total)
10. Toy Story 2 – $3,527,375 ($352,973,702 total)
12. Angela’s Ashes – $2,745,366 ($9,696,600 total)
13. The Cider House Rules – $2,638,884 ($27,136,010 total)
15. Magnolia – $2,389,791 ($26,270,526 total)
19. The End of the Affair – $1,771,795 ($10,437,285 total)
20. Bicentennial Man – $1,479,139 ($83,915,070 total)
21. Snow Falling on Cedars – $1,363,384 ($17,733,994 total)
23. American Beauty – $1,060,802 ($111,975,716 total)
24. Anna and the King – $890,054 ($55,540,407 total)
26. Topsy-Turvy – $722,337 ($2,072,861 total)
27. Sleepy Hollow – $558,535 ($146,463,858 total)
29. Being John Malkovich – $470,934 ($31,040,054 total)
31. All About My Mother – $438,852 ($6,421,028 total)
33. The Sixth Sense – $355,450 ($418,829,906 total)
34. Sweet and Lowdown – $344,119 ($3,034,551 total)
41. Titus – $212,736 ($1,005,500 total)
42. Boys Don’t Cry – $200,956 ($5,112,088 total)
45. The Straight Story – $141,871 ($7,726,459 total)
51. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $86,638 ($649,397,292 total)
55. The Insider – $62,446 ($40,073,089 total)

Oscar Details:

• All About My Mother: Foreign Language Film [O]
• American Beauty: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Angela’s Ashes: Original Score
• Anna and the King: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Being John Malkovich: Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay
• Bicentennial Man: Makeup
• Boys Don’t Cry: Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actress (Chloe Sevigny)
• The Cider House Rules : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction
• The End of the Affair : Actress (Julianne Moore), Cinematography
• Girl, Interrupted: Supporting Actress (Angelina Jolie)
• The Green Mile : Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
• The Hurricane : Actor (Denzel Washington)
• The Insider : Picture, Director, Actor (Russell Crowe), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• Magnolia: Supporting Actor (Tom Cruise), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Save Me”)
• The Sixth Sense : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Sleepy Hollow: Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• Snow Falling on Cedars: Cinematography
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Stuart Little: Visual Effects
• Sweet and Lowdown: Actor (Sean Penn), Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton)
• The Talented Mr. Ripley : Supporting Actor (Jude Law), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Titus: Costume Design
• Topsy-Turvy: Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O]
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 27-29, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

1. Legends of the Fall – $6,309,990 ($35,500,402 total) {week 6}
4. Nobody’s Fool – $4,095,561 ($20,245,170 total) {week 1}
8. Little Women – $2,144,975 ($40,286,157 total) {week 6}
12. Pulp Fiction – $1,341,119 ($72,844,144 total) {week 16}
14. Nell – $1,259,687 ($28,491,576 total) {week 7}
18. The Lion King – $1,108,308 ($307,833,456 total) {week 33}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Legends of the Fall – $11,778,648 ($66,267,417 total)
4. Nobody’s Fool – $7,645,047 ($37,790,984 total)
8. Little Women – $4,003,953 ($75,200,826 total)
12. Pulp Fiction – $2,503,422 ($135,975,735 total)
14. Nell – $2,351,416 ($53,184,275 total)
18. The Lion King – $2,068,842 ($574,622,451 total)

Oscar Details:

• Legends of the Fall: Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound
• The Lion King : Original Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” [O], “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”), Original Score [O]
• Little Women: Actress (Winona Ryder), Original Score, Costume Design
• Nell: Actress (Jodie Foster)
• Nobody’s Fool: Actor (Paul Newman), Adapted Screenplay
• Pulp Fiction: Picture, Director, Actor (John Travolta), Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Supporting Actress (Uma Thurman), Original Screenplay [O], Editing

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 26-28, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

1. Driving Miss Daisy – $5,705,721 ($16,045,457 total) {week 7}
2. Born on the Fourth of July – $4,640,940 ($39,160,104 total) {week 6}
8. Steel Magnolias – $2,376,950 ($64,115,820 total) {week 11}
9. The Little Mermaid – $2,174,414 ($68,066,110 total) {week 11}
10. Back to the Future Part II – $1,774,965 ($109,858,821 total) {week 10}
11. Glory – $1,700,460 ($9,503,430 total) {week 7}
13. Music Box – $1,009,470 ($3,223,917 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Driving Miss Daisy – $10,952,826 ($30,801,208 total)
2. Born on the Fourth of July – $8,908,849 ($75,172,587 total)
8. Steel Magnolias – $4,562,845 ($123,078,123 total)
9. The Little Mermaid – $4,174,052 ($130,661,185 total)
10. Back to the Future Part II – $3,407,261 ($210,887,382 total)
11. Glory – $3,264,240 ($18,242,991 total)
13. Music Box – $1,937,801 ($6,188,701 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future Part II: Visual Effects
• Born on the Fourth of July: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Cruise), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound
• Driving Miss Daisy: Picture [O], Actor (Morgan Freeman), Actress (Jessica Tandy) [O], Supporting Actor (Dan Aykroyd), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• Glory: Supporting Actor (Denzel Washington) [O], Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound [O]
• The Little Mermaid: Original Song (“Kiss the Girl”, “Under the Sea” [O]), Original Score [O]
• Music Box: Actress (Jessica Lange)
• Steel Magnolias: Supporting Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 25-27, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $8,216,877 ($133,132,606 total) {week 8}
3. A Passage to India – $2,033,367 ($6,528,622 total) {week 7}
8. The River – $1,364,160 ($7,637,019 total) {week 6}
11. Starman – $1,308,014 ($24,181,385 total) {week 7}
13. The Cotton Club – $1,135,528 ($22,792,891 total) {week 7}
15. 2010 – $894,842 ($38,130,205 total) {week 8}
16. The Killing Fields – $818,450 ($3,898,988 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $18,794,660 ($304,517,397 total)
3. A Passage to India – $4,650,969 ($14,933,073 total)
8. The River – $3,120,276 ($17,468,336 total)
11. Starman – $2,991,852 ($55,310,661 total)
13. The Cotton Club – $2,597,320 ($52,134,725 total)
15. 2010 – $2,046,794 ($87,216,131 total)
16. The Killing Fields – $1,872,060 ($8,918,249 total)

Oscar Details:

• 2010: Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound, Visual Effects
• Beverly Hills Cop: Original Screenplay
• The Cotton Club : Editing, Art Direction
• The Killing Fields : Picture, Director, Actor (Sam Waterston), Supporting Actor (Haing S. Ngor) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O]
• A Passage to India: Picture, Director, Actress (Judy Davis), Supporting Actress (Peggy Ashcroft) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
• The River : Actress (Sissy Spacek), Original Score, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects [O]
• Starman: Actor (Jeff Bridges)