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

Captain Phillips (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Tom Hanks), Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 10-12, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

9. The Duchess – $3,304,841 ($5,603,061 total) {week 4}
19. The Dark Knight – $528,328 ($526,690,914 total) {week 13}
25. Rachel Getting Married – $445,628 ($863,746 total) {week 2}
27. WALL-E – $409,355 ($221,595,782 total) {week 16}
29. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $252,468 ($21,445,663 total) {week 9}
33. Tropic Thunder – $150,760 ($109,731,757 total) {week 9}
40. Happy-Go-Lucky – $73,867 ($73,867 total) {week 1}
46. Man on Wire – $53,444 ($2,600,296 total) {week 12}
52. Frozen River – $40,283 ($2,061,019 total) {week 11}
71. Trouble the Water – $16,451 ($354,928 total) {week 8}
108. Encounters at the End of the World – $2,427 ($926,736 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. The Duchess – $3,654,657 ($6,196,143 total)
19. The Dark Knight – $584,251 ($582,440,927 total)
25. Rachel Getting Married – $492,798 ($955,173 total)
27. WALL-E – $452,685 ($245,051,603 total)
29. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $279,192 ($23,715,677 total)
33. Tropic Thunder – $166,718 ($121,346,818 total)
40. Happy-Go-Lucky – $81,686 ($81,686 total)
46. Man on Wire – $59,101 ($2,875,536 total)
52. Frozen River – $44,547 ($2,279,177 total)
71. Trouble the Water – $18,192 ($392,497 total)
108. Encounters at the End of the World – $2,684 ($1,024,831 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Dark Knight: Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• The Duchess: Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• Encounters at the End of the World: Documentary Feature
• Frozen River: Actress (Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay
• Happy-Go-Lucky: Original Screenplay
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• Rachel Getting Married: Actress (Anne Hathaway)
• Tropic Thunder: Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.)
• Trouble the Water: Documentary Feature
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz) [O]
• WALL-E: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Down to Earth”), Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 10-12, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

10. Lost in Translation – $2,812,279 ($18,122,174 total) {week 5}
15. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $1,022,122 ($299,468,874 total) {week 14}
17. Mystic River – $640,815 ($828,422 total) {week 1}
19. Finding Nemo – $626,484 ($337,367,455 total) {week 20}
22. Seabiscuit – $314,985 ($118,742,235 total) {week 12}
32. Thirteen – $145,168 ($4,305,654 total) {week 8}
36. American Splendor – $107,520 ($5,591,638 total) {week 9}
37. Whale Rider – $105,332 ($20,480,971 total) {week 19}
39. Dirty Pretty Things – $100,244 ($7,704,994 total) {week 13}
53. Winged Migration – $56,663 ($10,441,130 total) {week 26}
92. Spellbound – $8,280 ($5,672,176 total) {week 24}
103. Capturing the Friedmans – $5,117 ($3,117,985 total) {week 20}
104. City of God – $4,967 ($4,664,357 total) {week 39}
113. The Weather Underground – $3,698 ($433,766 total) {week 19}
115. Nowhere in Africa – $3,521 ($6,178,092 total) {week 32}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

10. Lost in Translation – $3,703,067 ($23,862,365 total)
15. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $1,345,879 ($394,325,516 total)
17. Mystic River – $843,793 ($1,090,824 total)
19. Finding Nemo – $824,923 ($444,228,457 total)
22. Seabiscuit – $414,756 ($156,353,789 total)
32. Thirteen – $191,150 ($5,669,468 total)
36. American Splendor – $141,577 ($7,362,787 total)
37. Whale Rider – $138,696 ($26,968,310 total)
39. Dirty Pretty Things – $131,996 ($10,145,548 total)
53. Winged Migration – $74,611 ($13,748,354 total)
92. Spellbound – $10,903 ($7,468,835 total)
103. Capturing the Friedmans – $6,738 ($4,105,605 total)
104. City of God – $6,540 ($6,141,790 total)
113. The Weather Underground – $4,869 ($571,161 total)
115. Nowhere in Africa – $4,636 ($8,135,000 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Splendor: Adapted Screenplay
• Capturing the Friedmans: Documentary Feature
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Dirty Pretty Things: Original Screenplay
• Finding Nemo: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Editing
• Lost in Translation: Picture, Director, Actor (Bill Murray), Original Screenplay [O]
• Mystic River: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) [O], Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), Adapted Screenplay
• Nowhere in Africa: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: Actor (Johnny Depp), Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Seabiscuit: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• Spellbound: Documentary Feature
• Thirteen: Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter)
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature
• Whale Rider: Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes)
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 9-11, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

3. What Dreams May Come – $10,917,143 ($31,248,297 total) {week 2}
9. One True Thing – $1,920,795 ($20,183,340 total) {week 4}
10. Saving Private Ryan – $1,300,581 ($186,258,536 total) {week 12}
12. Armageddon – $723,198 ($198,798,517 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. What Dreams May Come – $18,482,327 ($52,902,234 total)
9. One True Thing – $3,251,836 ($34,169,663 total)
10. Saving Private Ryan – $2,201,836 ($315,328,950 total)
12. Armageddon – $1,224,348 ($336,558,683 total)

Oscar Details:

• Armageddon: Original Song (“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”), Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• One True Thing: Actress (Meryl Streep)
• 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]
• What Dreams May Come: Art Direction, Visual Effects [O]

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 8-10, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

5. The Age of Innocence – $3,404,626 ($18,447,142 total) {week 4}
11. The Fugitive – $2,340,011 ($169,640,042 total) {week 10}
16. Jurassic Park – $844,760 ($326,919,630 total) {week 18}
999. Short Cuts – $106,553 ($134,670 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. The Age of Innocence – $6,529,645 ($35,379,301 total)
11. The Fugitive – $4,487,847 ($325,348,293 total)
16. Jurassic Park – $1,620,144 ($626,990,788 total)
999. Short Cuts – $204,355 ($258,280 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Age of Innocence: Supporting Actress (Winona Ryder), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• The Fugitive: Picture, Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones) [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Short Cuts: Director

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct 7-9, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

3. Gorillas in the Mist – $4,042,940 ($9,195,683 total) {week 3}
6. Die Hard – $1,513,576 ($72,770,440 total) {week 13}
8. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $1,404,155 ($141,978,958 total) {week 16}
13. Big – $84,625 ($105,591,874 total) {week 19}
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $308,885 ($7,100,522 total) {week 9}
999. Running on Empty – $343,847 ($1,798,399 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Gorillas in the Mist – $7,810,449 ($17,764,896 total)
6. Die Hard – $2,924,037 ($140,583,283 total)
8. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $2,712,650 ($274,285,384 total)
13. Big – $163,485 ($203,990,141 total)
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $596,727 ($13,717,310 total)
999. Running on Empty – $664,269 ($3,474,279 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• Die Hard: Editing, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• Gorillas in the Mist: Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Sound
• The Last Temptation of Christ: Director
• Running on Empty: Supporting Actor (River Phoenix), Original Screenplay
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Animation Direction, Richard Williams)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 14-16, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Big Chill – $3,253,763 ($13,448,866 total) {week 3}
8. Flashdance – $724,676 ($90,463,574 total) {week 27}
10. Return of the Jedi – $622,402 ($240,962,087 total) {week 21}
11. Trading Places – $542,383 ($88,621,914 total) {week 19}
12. Zelig – $537,769 ($9,772,241 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Big Chill – $8,201,549 ($33,899,681 total)
8. Flashdance – $1,826,644 ($228,025,644 total)
10. Return of the Jedi – $1,568,848 ($607,377,451 total)
11. Trading Places – $1,367,150 ($223,383,491 total)
12. Zelig – $1,355,519 ($24,632,252 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Big Chill: Picture, Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Screenplay
• Flashdance: Original Song (“Flashdance…What a Feeling”) [O], Original Song (“Maniac”), Editing, Cinematography
• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• Trading Places: Original Song Score
• Zelig: Cinematography, Costume Design