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

Argo (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Ben Affleck), Supporting Actor (Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 12-14, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

4. Michael Clayton – $10,373,422 ($11,450,629 total) {week 2}
6. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $6,153,075 ($6,153,075 total) {week 1}
8. Across the Universe – $3,824,988 ($12,734,454 total) {week 5}
12. 3:10 to Yuma – $1,538,167 ($51,535,461 total) {week 6}
16. Into the Wild – $928,678 ($3,959,354 total) {week 4}
17. Eastern Promises – $842,067 ($16,263,330 total) {week 5}
18. Transformers – $735,000 ($317,601,309 total) {week 15}
21. The Bourne Ultimatum – $638,480 ($225,568,340 total) {week 11}
27. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $432,273 ($1,404,225 total) {week 4}
28. In the Valley of Elah – $412,826 ($6,324,571 total) {week 5}
30. Ratatouille – $389,332 ($204,431,330 total) {week 16}
53. Once – $46,850 ($9,282,658 total) {week 22}
73. Sicko – $12,801 ($24,530,513 total) {week 17}
83. No End in Sight – $7,154 ($1,414,687 total) {week 12}
85. La Vie en Rose – $6,766 ($10,042,799 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Michael Clayton – $11,941,497 ($13,181,538 total)
6. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $7,083,191 ($7,083,191 total)
8. Across the Universe – $4,403,184 ($14,659,430 total)
12. 3:10 to Yuma – $1,770,681 ($59,325,705 total)
16. Into the Wild – $1,069,060 ($4,557,861 total)
17. Eastern Promises – $969,356 ($18,721,740 total)
18. Transformers – $846,105 ($365,610,809 total)
21. The Bourne Ultimatum – $734,994 ($259,665,880 total)
27. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $497,617 ($1,616,492 total)
28. In the Valley of Elah – $475,230 ($7,280,611 total)
30. Ratatouille – $448,185 ($235,333,740 total)
53. Once – $53,932 ($10,685,850 total)
73. Sicko – $14,736 ($28,238,614 total)
83. No End in Sight – $8,235 ($1,628,535 total)
85. La Vie en Rose – $7,789 ($11,560,897 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)
• Elizabeth: The Golden Age: Actress (Cate Blanchett), Costume Design [O]
• In the Valley of Elah: Actor (Tommy Lee Jones)
• Into the Wild: Supporting Actor (Hal Holbrook), Editing
• Michael Clayton: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score
• No End in Sight: Documentary Feature
• Once: Original Song [O]
• 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 Oct. 11-13, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $8,453,159 ($158,954,054 total) {week 26}
19. Spirited Away – $634,901 ($2,668,591 total) {week 4}
25. Lilo & Stitch – $344,788 ($144,051,446 total) {week 17}
31. Bowling for Columbine – $209,148 ($209,148 total) {week 1}
47. Road to Perdition – $54,057 ($103,855,536 total) {week 14}
50. Minority Report – $47,905 ($131,917,534 total) {week 17}
53. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $41,817 ($302,105,639 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $11,523,067 ($216,680,914 total)
19. Spirited Away – $865,476 ($3,637,735 total)
25. Lilo & Stitch – $470,004 ($196,366,171 total)
31. Bowling for Columbine – $285,104 ($285,104 total)
47. Road to Perdition – $73,689 ($141,572,435 total)
50. Minority Report – $65,303 ($179,825,623 total)
53. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $57,004 ($411,820,424 total)

Oscar Details:

• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• 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 Oct. 10-12, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

4. In & Out – $5,474,143 ($47,953,963 total) {week 4}
7. L.A. Confidential – $3,665,776 ($22,976,873 total) {week 4}
12. The Full Monty – $1,901,003 ($19,877,999 total) {week 9}
999. Air Force One – $308,185 ($169,517,032 total) {week 12}
999. Boogie Nights – $50,168 ($50,168 total) {week 1}
999. Con Air – $20,006 ($101,111,259 total) {week 19}
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $40,935 ($229,074,524 total) {week 21}
999. Men in Black – $443,442 ($243,629,478 total) {week 15}
999. The Sweet Hereafter – $31,149 ($31,149 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. In & Out – $9,445,580 ($82,744,093 total)
7. L.A. Confidential – $6,325,261 ($39,646,369 total)
12. The Full Monty – $3,280,162 ($34,299,292 total)
999. Air Force One – $531,770 ($292,499,977 total)
999. Boogie Nights – $86,564 ($86,564 total)
999. Con Air – $34,520 ($174,466,486 total)
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $70,633 ($395,265,845 total)
999. Men in Black – $765,155 ($420,380,276 total)
999. The Sweet Hereafter – $53,747 ($53,747 total)

Oscar Details:

• Air Force One: Editing, Sound
• Boogie Nights: Supporting Actor (Burt Reynolds), Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore), Original Screenplay
• 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]
• The Sweet Hereafter: Director, Adapted Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 9-12, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Under Siege – $15,760,003 ($15,760,003 total) {week 1}
2. The Last of the Mohicans – $8,793,116 ($36,290,402 total) {week 3}
8. Mr. Saturday Night – $1,739,159 ($10,994,522 total) {week 3}
10. Glengarry Glen Ross – $1,615,165 ($4,446,320 total) {week 2}
999. A River Runs Through It – $298,277 ($298,277 total) {week 1}
999. Unforgiven – $384,306 ($73,799,714 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Under Siege – $30,076,921 ($30,076,921 total)
2. The Last of the Mohicans – $16,781,079 ($69,257,827 total)
8. Mr. Saturday Night – $3,319,070 ($20,982,317 total)
10. Glengarry Glen Ross – $3,082,435 ($8,485,507 total)
999. A River Runs Through It – $569,242 ($569,242 total)
999. Unforgiven – $733,423 ($140,841,864 total)

Oscar Details:

• Glengarry Glen Ross: Supporting Actor (Al Pacino)
• The Last of the Mohicans: Sound [O]
• Mr. Saturday Night: Supporting Actor (David Paymer)
• A River Runs Through It: Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O]
• Under Siege: Sound, Sound Effects
• 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 Oct. 9-12, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Fatal Attraction – $10,554,336 ($45,422,863 total) {week 4}
3. The Princess Bride – $4,480,140 ($5,065,954 total) {week 3}
6. Dirty Dancing – $2,021,673 ($32,631,532 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Fatal Attraction – $21,378,604 ($92,007,436 total)
3. The Princess Bride – $9,074,862 ($10,261,472 total)
6. Dirty Dancing – $4,095,051 ($66,097,630 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
• The Princess Bride: Original Song (“Storybook Love”)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 8-10, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. An Officer and a Gentleman – $4,509,267 ($71,461,729 total) {week 11}
2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $3,761,768 ($265,973,075 total) {week 18}
3. My Favorite Year – $2,400,696 ($2,783,008 total) {week 1}
7. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $809,889 ($69,508,404 total) {week 12}
8. Rocky III – $686,371 ($116,806,871 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. An Officer and a Gentleman – $12,147,413 ($192,509,148 total)
2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $10,133,742 ($716,498,896 total)
3. My Favorite Year – $6,467,181 ($7,497,083 total)
7. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $2,181,742 ($187,247,129 total)
8. Rocky III – $1,848,999 ($314,663,408 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]
• My Favorite Year: Actor (Peter O’Toole)
• 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
• Rocky III: Original Song (“Eye of the Tiger”)