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

Gone Girl (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director (David Fincher), Actor (Ben Affleck), Supporting Actor (Neil Patrick Harris), Supporting Actress (Rosamund Pike), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematogaphy.

Men, Women & Children (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director (Jason Reitman), Adapted Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 2-4, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

13. Inglourious Basterds – $1,419,256 ($116,894,138 total) {week 7}
17. Bright Star – $716,096 ($1,936,829 total) {week 3}
18. Julie & Julia – $687,252 ($91,845,115 total) {week 9}
22. District 9 – $480,524 ($114,402,938 total) {week 8}
23. Coco Before Chanel – $445,738 ($1,075,244 total) {week 2}
30. A Serious Man – $251,337 ($251,337 total) {week 1}
33. Up – $212,283 ($292,438,123 total) {week 19}
37. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $150,079 ($401,954,762 total) {week 15}
60. The Hurt Locker – $24,683 ($12,536,431 total) {week 15}
65. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $17,357 ($399,093 total) {week 7}
66. In the Loop – $16,831 ($2,351,317 total) {week 11}
74. Food, Inc. – $11,091 ($4,361,985 total) {week 17}
77. Departures – $9,520 ($1,406,938 total) {week 19}
85. The Cove – $7,584 ($805,056 total) {week 10}
114. Il Divo – $796 ($234,121 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

13. Inglourious Basterds – $1,538,474 ($126,713,246 total)
17. Bright Star – $776,248 ($2,099,523 total)
18. Julie & Julia – $744,981 ($99,560,105 total)
22. District 9 – $520,888 ($124,012,785 total)
23. Coco Before Chanel – $483,180 ($1,165,564 total)
30. A Serious Man – $272,449 ($272,449 total)
33. Up – $230,115 ($317,002,925 total)
37. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $162,686 ($435,718,962 total)
60. The Hurt Locker – $26,756 ($13,589,491 total)
65. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $18,815 ($432,617 total)
66. In the Loop – $18,245 ($2,548,828 total)
74. Food, Inc. – $12,023 ($4,728,392 total)
77. Departures – $10,320 ($1,525,121 total)
85. The Cove – $8,221 ($872,681 total)
114. Il Divo – $863 ($253,787 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
• 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)
• A Serious Man: Picture, Original Screenplay
• 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 Oct. 1-3, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. Shark Tale – $47,604,606 ($47,604,606 total) {week 1}
14. Hero – $1,235,134 ($51,149,752 total) {week 1}
15. The Motorcycle Diaries – $1,085,460 ($1,341,265 total) {week 2}
17. Collateral – $703,378 ($99,341,934 total) {week 9}
27. I, Robot – $192,816 ($143,629,781 total) {week 12}
28. Spider-Man 2 – $179,950 ($371,795,119 total) {week 14}
29. Maria Full of Grace – $173,875 ($5,895,011 total) {week 12}
44. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $64,387 ($249,133,782 total) {week 18}
50. The Village – $55,408 ($113,313,702 total) {week 10}
64. Before Sunset – $30,521 ($5,706,846 total) {week 14}
72. Zelary – $20,347 ($86,752 total) {week 3}
91. Story of the Weeping Camel – $10,029 ($1,742,832 total) {week 18}
102. The Twilight Samurai – $5,464 ($536,743 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Shark Tale – $120,568,675 ($120,568,675 total)
14. Hero – $3,128,237 ($129,547,503 total)
15. The Motorcycle Diaries – $2,749,156 ($3,397,036 total)
17. Collateral – $1,781,453 ($251,604,338 total)
27. I, Robot – $488,347 ($363,772,623 total)
28. Spider-Man 2 – $455,761 ($941,649,320 total)
29. Maria Full of Grace – $440,375 ($14,930,355 total)
44. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $163,074 ($630,983,691 total)
50. The Village – $140,332 ($286,990,778 total)
64. Before Sunset – $77,301 ($14,453,788 total)
72. Zelary – $51,533 ($219,718 total)
91. Story of the Weeping Camel – $25,401 ($4,414,089 total)
102. The Twilight Samurai – $13,839 ($1,359,415 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]
• Shark Tale: Animated Feature
• Spider-Man 2: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• Story of the Weeping Camel : Documentary Feature
• The Twilight Samurai: Foreign Language Film
• The Village : Original Score
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 1-3, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

3. American Beauty – $8,188,587 ($18,395,497 total) {week 3}
5. The Sixth Sense – $7,025,098 ($234,547,781 total) {week 9}
15. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $697,097 ($425,360,285 total) {week 20}
24. Tarzan – $229,196 ($169,812,824 total) {week 16}
29. Buena Vista Social Club – $151,180 ($5,411,991 total) {week 18}
50. The Red Violin – $55,342 ($9,604,782 total) {week 38}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. American Beauty – $13,104,963 ($29,440,038 total)
5. The Sixth Sense – $11,242,923 ($375,368,791 total)
15. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $1,115,630 ($680,743,921 total)
24. Tarzan – $366,804 ($271,767,374 total)
29. Buena Vista Social Club – $241,948 ($8,661,316 total)
50. The Red Violin – $88,569 ($15,371,433 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
• 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 Oct. 7-9, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

4. Forrest Gump – $3,950,473 ($276,005,307 total) {week 14}
7. Quiz Show – $3,160,749 ($12,565,785 total) {week 4}
8. The Shawshank Redemption – $1,968,808 ($3,881,734 total) {week 3}
9. Ed Wood – $1,903,768 ($2,301,695 total) {week 2}
11. Clear and Present Danger – $1,151,879 ($117,356,187 total) {week 10}
12. The Client – $1,037,464 ($87,411,197 total) {week 12}
13. The Mask – $1,117,843 ($111,308,624 total) {week 11}
999. Jurassic Park – $283,240 ($356,547,160 total) {week 70}
999. Schindler’s List – $41,610 ($96,045,248 total) {week 43}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Forrest Gump – $7,683,575 ($536,823,719 total)
7. Quiz Show – $6,147,581 ($24,440,151 total)
8. The Shawshank Redemption – $3,829,284 ($7,549,880 total)
9. Ed Wood – $3,702,783 ($4,476,742 total)
11. Clear and Present Danger – $2,240,377 ($228,254,976 total)
12. The Client – $2,017,843 ($170,012,687 total)
13. The Mask – $2,174,178 ($216,492,611 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $550,895 ($693,475,696 total)
999. Schindler’s List – $80,930 ($186,805,710 total)

Oscar Details:

• Clear and Present Danger: Sound, Sound Effects
• The Client: Actress (Susan Sarandon)
• 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
• 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
• The Shawshank Redemption : Picture, Actor (Morgan Freeman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 6-8, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Black Rain – $6,100,000 ($27,397,648 total) {week 3}
4. Parenthood – $2,753,701 ($85,038,295 total) {week 10}
6. When Harry Met Sally… – $2,086,602 ($83,470,987 total) {week 13}
8. sex, lies and videotape – $1,196,776 ($18,897,609 total) {week 10}
11. Lethal Weapon 2 – $1,118,457 ($143,378,369 total) {week 14}
14. The Abyss – $1,026,739 ($52,729,696 total) {week 9}
999. Batman – $700,149 ($246,842,109 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Black Rain – $12,491,940 ($56,106,518 total)
4. Parenthood – $5,639,191 ($174,146,433 total)
6. When Harry Met Sally… – $4,273,067 ($170,936,807 total)
8. sex, lies and videotape – $2,450,828 ($38,699,638 total)
11. Lethal Weapon 2 – $2,290,442 ($293,618,675 total)
14. The Abyss – $2,102,617 ($107,982,979 total)
999. Batman – $1,433,806 ($505,497,820 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 Oct. 5-7, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

3. Places in the Heart – $4,128,711 ($4,868,667 total) {week 3}
6. Ghostbusters – $2,029,921 ($206,722,052 total) {week 18}
7. A Soldier’s Story – $2,028,935 ($3,113,181 total) {week 4}
9. Purple Rain – $1,576,507 ($60,140,797 total) {week 11}
10. The Karate Kid – $1,407,105 ($81,911,436 total) {week 16}
12. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $929,524 ($173,511,145 total) {week 20}
14. Amadeus – $781,958 ($2,541,918 total) {week 3}
999. Country – $163,818 ($211,000 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Places in the Heart – $9,990,006 ($11,780,435 total)
6. Ghostbusters – $4,911,684 ($500,193,537 total)
7. A Soldier’s Story – $4,909,298 ($7,532,786 total)
9. Purple Rain – $3,814,584 ($145,519,250 total)
10. The Karate Kid – $3,404,692 ($198,196,421 total)
12. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $2,249,116 ($419,835,003 total)
14. Amadeus – $1,892,059 ($6,150,534 total)
999. Country – $396,381 ($510,545 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
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Original Score, Visual Effects [O]
• 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