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

The Judge (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Robert Downey Jr), Supporting Actor (Robert Duvall).

Kill the Messenger (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Jeremy Renner), Film Editing.

One Chance (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Original Song.

St. Vincent (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Bill Murray), Supporting Actress (Naomi Watts).

Whiplash (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Supporting Actor (J.K. Simmons).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 9-11, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

15. Inglourious Basterds – $848,970 ($118,297,669 total) {week 8}
20. Bright Star – $624,834 ($2,846,921 total) {week 4}
22. Julie & Julia – $465,762 ($92,600,584 total) {week 10}
23. Coco Before Chanel – $460,069 ($1,744,148 total) {week 3}
24. A Serious Man – $459,318 ($811,304 total) {week 2}
28. District 9 – $290,909 ($114,873,680 total) {week 9}
39. An Education – $159,017 ($159,017 total) {week 1}
40. Up – $144,156 ($292,639,937 total) {week 20}
49. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $79,072 ($402,076,689 total) {week 16}
62. The Hurt Locker – $20,551 ($12,571,395 total) {week 16}
68. In the Loop – $11,763 ($2,370,344 total) {week 12}
69. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $11,432 ($419,516 total) {week 8}
74. Departures – $9,691 ($1,423,333 total) {week 20}
84. The Cove – $6,495 ($816,430 total) {week 11}
85. Food, Inc. – $6,116 ($4,386,822 total) {week 18}
132. Il Divo – $21 ($234,726 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

15. Inglourious Basterds – $920,283 ($128,234,673 total)
20. Bright Star – $677,320 ($3,086,062 total)
22. Julie & Julia – $504,886 ($100,379,033 total)
23. Coco Before Chanel – $498,715 ($1,890,656 total)
24. A Serious Man – $497,901 ($879,454 total)
28. District 9 – $315,345 ($124,523,069 total)
39. An Education – $172,374 ($172,374 total)
40. Up – $156,265 ($317,221,692 total)
49. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $85,714 ($435,851,131 total)
62. The Hurt Locker – $22,277 ($13,627,392 total)
68. In the Loop – $12,751 ($2,569,453 total)
69. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $12,392 ($454,755 total)
74. Departures – $10,505 ($1,542,893 total)
84. The Cove – $7,041 ($885,010 total)
85. Food, Inc. – $6,630 ($4,755,315 total)
132. Il Divo – $23 ($254,443 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
• An Education: Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
• 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. 8-10, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. Shark Tale – $31,330,299 ($87,350,275 total) {week 2}
9. The Motorcycle Diaries – $1,510,020 ($3,293,132 total) {week 3}
17. Hero – $657,625 ($52,199,022 total) {week 1}
21. Collateral – $423,450 ($100,003,492 total) {week 10}
24. Spider-Man 2 – $345,666 ($372,191,244 total) {week 15}
25. The Village – $180,688 ($113,517,816 total) {week 11}
27. I, Robot – $146,615 ($143,838,905 total) {week 13}
28. Maria Full of Grace – $133,351 ($6,097,808 total) {week 13}
43. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $43,500 ($249,194,525 total) {week 19}
68. Before Sunset – $20,712 ($5,741,822 total) {week 15}
71. Zelary – $18,480 ($113,624 total) {week 4}
76. Vera Drake – $13,207 ($13,207 total) {week 1}
126. The Twilight Samurai – $1,399 ($542,421 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Shark Tale – $79,350,570 ($221,232,939 total)
9. The Motorcycle Diaries – $3,824,443 ($8,340,549 total)
17. Hero – $1,665,574 ($132,205,000 total)
21. Collateral – $1,072,476 ($253,279,872 total)
24. Spider-Man 2 – $875,472 ($942,652,590 total)
25. The Village – $457,630 ($287,507,740 total)
27. I, Robot – $371,333 ($364,302,273 total)
28. Maria Full of Grace – $337,739 ($15,443,981 total)
43. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $110,173 ($631,137,535 total)
68. Before Sunset – $52,457 ($14,542,372 total)
71. Zelary – $46,804 ($287,777 total)
76. Vera Drake – $33,450 ($33,450 total)
126. The Twilight Samurai – $3,543 ($1,373,795 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]
• The Twilight Samurai: Foreign Language Film
• Vera Drake: Director, Actress (Imelda Staunton), Original Screenplay
• The Village : Original Score
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 8-10, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

4. American Beauty – $9,505,313 ($31,120,695 total) {week 4}
6. The Sixth Sense – $6,123,967 ($242,710,195 total) {week 10}
16. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $538,206 ($426,141,814 total) {week 21}
27. Tarzan – $181,116 ($170,066,044 total) {week 17}
31. Buena Vista Social Club – $149,818 ($5,639,043 total) {week 19}
43. Boys Don’t Cry – $73,720 ($73,720 total) {week 1}
50. The Red Violin – $53,613 ($9,686,833 total) {week 39}
999. The Grandfather – $12,726 ($12,726 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. American Beauty – $15,212,243 ($49,805,364 total)
6. The Sixth Sense – $9,800,758 ($388,431,867 total)
16. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $861,341 ($681,994,675 total)
27. Tarzan – $289,857 ($272,172,626 total)
31. Buena Vista Social Club – $239,768 ($9,024,689 total)
43. Boys Don’t Cry – $117,981 ($117,981 total)
50. The Red Violin – $85,802 ($15,502,747 total)
999. The Grandfather – $20,367 ($20,367 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Beauty: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Boys Don’t Cry: Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actress (Chloe Sevigny)
• Buena Vista Social Club: Documentary Feature
• The Grandfather: Foreign Language Film
• 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. 14-16, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Pulp Fiction – $9,311,882 ($9,311,882 total) {week 1}
7. Forrest Gump – $3,272,015 ($279,699,757 total) {week 15}
9. The Shawshank Redemption – $2,402,549 ($7,151,056 total) {week 4}
10. Quiz Show – $2,148,473 ($15,736,644 total) {week 5}
13. Ed Wood – $992,427 ($4,018,104 total) {week 3}
999. Jurassic Park – $159,500 ($356,748,415 total) {week 71}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Pulp Fiction – $18,111,388 ($18,111,388 total)
7. Forrest Gump – $6,363,991 ($544,009,336 total)
9. The Shawshank Redemption – $4,672,900 ($13,908,633 total)
10. Quiz Show – $4,178,729 ($30,607,396 total)
13. Ed Wood – $1,930,247 ($7,815,116 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $310,224 ($693,867,133 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• Pulp Fiction: Picture, Director, Actor (John Travolta), Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Supporting Actress (Uma Thurman), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• Quiz Show: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Paul Scofield), Adapted Screenplay
• The Shawshank Redemption : Picture, Actor (Morgan Freeman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 13-15, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

5. Black Rain – $3,440,755 ($32,401,378 total) {week 4}
6. The Fabulous Baker Boys – $3,313,815 ($3,313,815 total) {week 1}
7. Parenthood – $1,688,505 ($87,460,970 total) {week 11}
9. When Harry Met Sally… – $1,229,589 ($85,127,088 total) {week 14}
10. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $911,385 ($911,385 total) {week 1}
11. sex, lies and videotape – $756,702 ($19,929,218 total) {week 11}
999. Batman – $405,964 ($247,501,202 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Black Rain – $7,046,181 ($66,353,452 total)
6. The Fabulous Baker Boys – $6,786,226 ($6,786,226 total)
7. Parenthood – $3,457,820 ($179,107,729 total)
9. When Harry Met Sally… – $2,518,025 ($174,328,268 total)
10. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $1,866,388 ($1,866,388 total)
11. sex, lies and videotape – $1,549,619 ($40,812,227 total)
999. Batman – $831,357 ($506,847,550 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• Black Rain: Sound, Sound Effects
• Crimes and Misdemeanors: Director, Supporting Actor (Martin Landau), Original Screenplay
• The Fabulous Baker Boys : Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer), Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• 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. 12-14, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

2. Places in the Heart – $3,440,272 ($9,278,524 total) {week 4}
5. Ghostbusters – $2,262,648 ($209,096,247 total) {week 19}
6. A Soldier’s Story – $1,551,490 ($5,105,085 total) {week 5}
8. Purple Rain – $1,306,205 ($61,795,270 total) {week 12}
9. The Karate Kid – $1,226,063 ($83,335,068 total) {week 17}
12. Amadeus – $1,016,836 ($3,627,088 total) {week 4}
999. Country – $539,895 ($796,386 total) {week 3}
999. Songwriter – $497,406 ($497,406 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Places in the Heart – $8,324,230 ($22,450,714 total)
5. Ghostbusters – $5,474,800 ($505,938,241 total)
6. A Soldier’s Story – $3,754,052 ($12,352,482 total)
8. Purple Rain – $3,160,550 ($149,522,484 total)
9. The Karate Kid – $2,966,635 ($201,641,102 total)
12. Amadeus – $2,460,380 ($8,776,258 total)
999. Country – $1,306,353 ($1,926,970 total)
999. Songwriter – $1,203,545 ($1,203,545 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
• 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
• Songwriter: