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 Sessions (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor (John Hawkes), Supporting Actress (Helen Hunt), Original Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 19-21, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

4. Michael Clayton – $6,677,272 ($21,563,586 total) {week 3}
6. Gone Baby Gone – $5,501,406 ($5,501,406 total) {week 1}
11. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $3,150,180 ($11,224,145 total) {week 2}
12. Across the Universe – $2,653,475 ($16,720,931 total) {week 6}
14. Into the Wild – $2,138,403 ($6,490,408 total) {week 5}
21. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $531,282 ($2,178,826 total) {week 5}
22. 3:10 to Yuma – $502,313 ($52,738,678 total) {week 7}
23. Transformers – $479,694 ($318,326,165 total) {week 16}
29. Ratatouille – $340,588 ($204,907,550 total) {week 17}
30. The Bourne Ultimatum – $320,405 ($226,096,325 total) {week 12}
32. Eastern Promises – $245,961 ($16,866,286 total) {week 6}
48. In the Valley of Elah – $79,310 ($6,585,535 total) {week 6}
68. Once – $23,100 ($9,330,916 total) {week 23}
81. La Vie en Rose – $8,816 ($10,056,573 total) {week 20}
101. No End in Sight – $4,051 ($1,424,221 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Michael Clayton – $7,686,627 ($24,823,198 total)
6. Gone Baby Gone – $6,333,014 ($6,333,014 total)
11. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $3,626,370 ($12,920,818 total)
12. Across the Universe – $3,054,582 ($19,248,514 total)
14. Into the Wild – $2,461,650 ($7,471,516 total)
21. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $611,592 ($2,508,183 total)
22. 3:10 to Yuma – $578,244 ($60,710,804 total)
23. Transformers – $552,206 ($366,445,236 total)
29. Ratatouille – $392,072 ($235,881,947 total)
30. The Bourne Ultimatum – $368,838 ($260,273,676 total)
32. Eastern Promises – $283,141 ($19,415,841 total)
48. In the Valley of Elah – $91,299 ($7,581,023 total)
68. Once – $26,592 ($10,741,403 total)
81. La Vie en Rose – $10,149 ($11,576,753 total)
101. No End in Sight – $4,663 ($1,639,510 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]
• Gone Baby Gone: Supporting Actress (Amy Ryan)
• 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
• Transformers: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• La Vie en Rose: Actress [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 18-20, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $7,145,309 ($169,292,979 total) {week 27}
19. Bowling for Columbine – $728,051 ($1,052,554 total) {week 2}
20. Spirited Away – $519,252 ($3,424,435 total) {week 5}
23. Lilo & Stitch – $341,991 ($144,561,702 total) {week 18}
58. Minority Report – $36,771 ($131,976,147 total) {week 18}
61. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $29,707 ($302,155,373 total) {week 23}
65. Road to Perdition – $24,361 ($103,902,447 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $9,740,249 ($230,774,594 total)
19. Bowling for Columbine – $992,455 ($1,434,807 total)
20. Spirited Away – $707,827 ($4,668,077 total)
23. Lilo & Stitch – $466,191 ($197,061,735 total)
58. Minority Report – $50,125 ($179,905,522 total)
61. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $40,496 ($411,888,219 total)
65. Road to Perdition – $33,208 ($141,636,382 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. 17-19, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

5. In & Out – $3,713,247 ($53,147,645 total) {week 5}
9. L.A. Confidential – $2,543,752 ($26,864,037 total) {week 5}
12. The Full Monty – $1,734,066 ($22,389,354 total) {week 10}
16. Boogie Nights – $869,146 ($1,025,671 total) {week 2}
999. Air Force One – $169,478 ($169,792,834 total) {week 13}
999. Men in Black – $301,530 ($244,064,365 total) {week 16}
999. The Sweet Hereafter – $47,286 ($143,274 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. In & Out – $6,407,171 ($91,705,740 total)
9. L.A. Confidential – $4,389,219 ($46,353,632 total)
12. The Full Monty – $2,992,114 ($38,632,611 total)
16. Boogie Nights – $1,499,703 ($1,769,785 total)
999. Air Force One – $292,433 ($292,975,870 total)
999. Men in Black – $520,287 ($421,130,669 total)
999. The Sweet Hereafter – $81,592 ($247,218 total)

Oscar Details:

• Air Force One: Editing, Sound
• Boogie Nights: Supporting Actor (Burt Reynolds), Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore), Original Screenplay
• 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
• 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. 16-18, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Under Siege – $11,151,874 ($30,301,259 total) {week 2}
2. The Last of the Mohicans – $5,828,251 ($43,734,536 total) {week 4}
11. Glengarry Glen Ross – $1,087,947 ($5,841,652 total) {week 3}
999. A River Runs Through It – $471,968 ($859,445 total) {week 2}
999. Unforgiven – $144,378 ($74,079,040 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Under Siege – $21,282,613 ($57,827,945 total)
2. The Last of the Mohicans – $11,122,831 ($83,464,464 total)
11. Glengarry Glen Ross – $2,076,275 ($11,148,406 total)
999. A River Runs Through It – $900,720 ($1,640,194 total)
999. Unforgiven – $275,536 ($141,374,939 total)

Oscar Details:

• Glengarry Glen Ross: Supporting Actor (Al Pacino)
• The Last of the Mohicans: Sound [O]
• 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. 16-18, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Fatal Attraction – $7,688,730 ($55,482,673 total) {week 5}
3. The Princess Bride – $3,632,285 ($9,407,905 total) {week 4}
5. Dirty Dancing – $1,839,181 ($34,837,670 total) {week 9}
999. Hope and Glory – $25,497 ($25,497 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Fatal Attraction – $15,574,103 ($112,384,340 total)
3. The Princess Bride – $7,357,467 ($19,056,421 total)
5. Dirty Dancing – $3,725,400 ($70,566,329 total)
999. Hope and Glory – $51,646 ($51,646 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
• Hope and Glory: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Princess Bride: Original Song (“Storybook Love”)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 15-17, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $3,315,692 ($270,557,116 total) {week 19}
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $3,260,328 ($75,479,008 total) {week 12}
3. My Favorite Year – $2,205,749 ($5,567,783 total) {week 2}
7. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $546,295 ($69,701,637 total) {week 13}
8. Rocky III – $475,759 ($117,432,059 total) {week 21}
10. Annie – $298,613 (N/A) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $8,932,068 ($728,847,741 total)
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $8,782,924 ($203,331,205 total)
3. My Favorite Year – $5,942,018 ($14,998,926 total)
7. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $1,471,652 ($187,767,675 total)
8. Rocky III – $1,281,636 ($316,347,588 total)
10. Annie – $804,427 (N/A)

Oscar Details:

• Annie: Original Song Score, Art Direction
• 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”)