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

Big Hero 6 (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature, Original Score, Original Song, Sound Editing.

Interstellar (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

The Theory of Everything (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Eddie Redmayne), Actress (Felicity Jones), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing.

The Way He Looks (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Foreign Language Film.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of November 6-8, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

12. Precious – $1,872,458 ($1,872,458 total) {week 1}
18. A Serious Man – $863,750 ($5,833,069 total) {week 6}
19. An Education – $592,407 ($2,307,837 total) {week 5}
20. Coco Before Chanel – $545,146 ($4,107,048 total) {week 7}
22. Inglourious Basterds – $206,530 ($119,873,433 total) {week 12}
36. Julie & Julia – $86,339 ($93,620,732 total) {week 14}
40. Bright Star – $70,280 ($4,252,058 total) {week 8}
79. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $7,213 ($460,471 total) {week 12}
89. Departures – $3,725 ($1,473,158 total) {week 24}
106. The Cove – $1,183 ($840,788 total) {week 15}
110. Il Divo – $1,018 ($239,294 total) {week 28}
121. Food, Inc. – $451 ($4,411,489 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

12. Precious – $2,029,744 ($2,029,744 total)
18. A Serious Man – $936,305 ($6,323,047 total)
19. An Education – $642,169 ($2,501,695 total)
20. Coco Before Chanel – $590,938 ($4,452,040 total)
22. Inglourious Basterds – $223,879 ($129,942,801 total)
36. Julie & Julia – $93,591 ($101,484,873 total)
40. Bright Star – $76,184 ($4,609,231 total)
79. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $7,819 ($499,151 total)
89. Departures – $4,038 ($1,596,903 total)
106. The Cove – $1,282 ($911,414 total)
110. Il Divo – $1,104 ($259,395 total)
121. Food, Inc. – $489 ($4,782,054 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]
• Il Divo: Makeup
• An Education: Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
• Food, Inc.: Documentary Feature
• Inglourious Basterds: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Julie & Julia: Actress (Meryl Streep)
• Precious: Picture, Director, Actress (Gabourey Sidibe), Supporting Actress (Mo’Nique) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing
• A Serious Man: Picture, Original Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of November 5-7, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Incredibles – $70,467,623 ($70,467,623 total) {week 1}
2. Ray – $13,644,990 ($39,641,775 total) {week 2}
7. Shark Tale – $4,555,382 ($154,031,467 total) {week 6}
15. Sideways – $1,047,607 ($1,917,590 total) {week 3}
16. The Motorcycle Diaries – $948,895 ($10,646,467 total) {week 7}
20. Being Julia – $340,286 ($1,238,163 total) {week 4}
22. Vera Drake – $256,699 ($1,159,014 total) {week 5}
28. Spider-Man 2 – $125,903 ($373,247,668 total) {week 19}
32. I, Robot – $92,706 ($144,494,901 total) {week 17}
36. Hero – $64,510 ($53,345,588 total) {week 1}
41. The Village – $54,667 ($114,118,503 total) {week 15}
52. Maria Full of Grace – $30,767 ($6,517,198 total) {week 17}
58. Zelary – $21,352 ($252,097 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Incredibles – $178,474,073 ($178,474,073 total)
2. Ray – $34,558,806 ($100,401,131 total)
7. Shark Tale – $11,537,463 ($390,117,080 total)
15. Sideways – $2,653,285 ($4,856,700 total)
16. The Motorcycle Diaries – $2,403,276 ($26,964,416 total)
20. Being Julia – $861,846 ($3,135,908 total)
22. Vera Drake – $650,144 ($2,935,447 total)
28. Spider-Man 2 – $318,876 ($945,328,206 total)
32. I, Robot – $234,797 ($365,963,721 total)
36. Hero – $163,385 ($135,108,919 total)
41. The Village – $138,456 ($289,029,106 total)
52. Maria Full of Grace – $77,924 ($16,506,174 total)
58. Zelary – $54,078 ($638,489 total)

Oscar Details:

• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Hero: Foreign Language Film
• I, Robot: Visual Effects
• The Incredibles: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O]
• Maria Full of Grace: Actress (Catalina Sandino Moreno)
• The Motorcycle Diaries : Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Al Otro Lado del Rio”) [O]
• Ray: Picture, Director, Actor (Jamie Foxx) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing [O]
• Shark Tale: Animated Feature
• Sideways: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Spider-Man 2: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• Vera Drake: Director, Actress (Imelda Staunton), Original Screenplay
• The Village : Original Score
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of November 5-7, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Insider – $6,712,361 ($6,712,361 total) {week 1}
7. American Beauty – $3,324,526 ($58,931,005 total) {week 8}
8. The Sixth Sense – $3,131,538 ($264,042,695 total) {week 14}
9. Music of the Heart – $2,821,480 ($7,737,994 total) {week 2}
10. Fight Club – $2,423,069 ($31,909,073 total) {week 4}
14. Being John Malkovich – $1,852,093 ($2,875,714 total) {week 2}
22. The Straight Story – $584,992 ($1,580,095 total) {week 4}
31. Boys Don’t Cry – $204,474 ($1,295,683 total) {week 5}
43. Buena Vista Social Club – $90,158 ($6,367,673 total) {week 23}
49. Tarzan – $69,760 ($170,535,377 total) {week 21}
52. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $53,409 ($205,957,794 total) {week 22}
53. All About My Mother – $50,362 ($110,442 total) {week 1}
54. The Red Violin – $49,544 ($9,956,553 total) {week 43}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Insider – $10,742,420 ($10,742,420 total)
7. American Beauty – $5,320,550 ($94,312,809 total)
8. The Sixth Sense – $5,011,694 ($422,572,266 total)
9. Music of the Heart – $4,515,479 ($12,383,837 total)
10. Fight Club – $3,877,864 ($51,067,079 total)
14. Being John Malkovich – $2,964,078 ($4,602,275 total)
22. The Straight Story – $936,218 ($2,528,774 total)
31. Boys Don’t Cry – $327,239 ($2,073,603 total)
43. Buena Vista Social Club – $144,288 ($10,190,784 total)
49. Tarzan – $111,643 ($272,923,743 total)
52. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $85,475 ($329,613,556 total)
53. All About My Mother – $80,599 ($176,751 total)
54. The Red Violin – $79,290 ($15,934,405 total)

Oscar Details:

• All About My Mother: Foreign Language Film [O]
• American Beauty: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me: Makeup
• Being John Malkovich: Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay
• Boys Don’t Cry: Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actress (Chloe Sevigny)
• Buena Vista Social Club: Documentary Feature
• Fight Club: Sound Effects
• The Insider : Picture, Director, Actor (Russell Crowe), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• Music of the Heart: Actress, Original Song (“Music of My Heart”)
• The Red Violin : Original Score [O]
• The Sixth Sense : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Editing
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Tarzan: Original Song (“You’ll Be In My Heart”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of November 11-13, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Interview with the Vampire – $36,389,705 ($36,389,705 total) {week 1}
4. Pulp Fiction – $4,104,099 ($44,204,134 total) {week 5}
5. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – $3,721,480 ($17,924,332 total) {week 2}
8. Forrest Gump – $1,539,975 ($291,082,361 total) {week 19}
11. Bullets Over Broadway – $1,154,957 ($3,857,030 total) {week 4}
14. The Shawshank Redemption – $802,672 ($15,318,812 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Interview with the Vampire – $70,777,106 ($70,777,106 total)
4. Pulp Fiction – $7,982,374 ($85,975,983 total)
5. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – $7,238,190 ($34,862,397 total)
8. Forrest Gump – $2,995,215 ($566,148,228 total)
11. Bullets Over Broadway – $2,246,364 ($7,501,831 total)
14. The Shawshank Redemption – $1,561,178 ($29,794,723 total)

Oscar Details:

• Bullets Over Broadway: Director, Supporting Actor (Chazz Palminteri), Supporting Actress (Meg Tilly, Dianne Wiest [O]), Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Costume Design
• 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]
• Interview with the Vampire: Original Score, Art Direction
• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Makeup
• Pulp Fiction: Picture, Director, Actor (John Travolta), Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Supporting Actress (Uma Thurman), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• The Shawshank Redemption : Picture, Actor (Morgan Freeman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of November 10-12, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Bear – $4,793,250 ($16,256,672 total) {week 3}
3. Dad – $4,504,020 ($6,306,110 total) {week 3}
5. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $2,066,597 ($9,125,573 total) {week 5}
10. Black Rain – $1,401,320 ($42,826,769 total) {week 8}
12. The Fabulous Baker Boys – $1,286,361 ($13,884,141 total) {week 5}
15. Parenthood – $847,600 ($92,860,010 total) {week 15}
999. Batman – $503,585 ($250,713,403 total) {week 21}
999. Henry V – $64,933 ($78,025 total) {week 1}
999. My Left Foot – $41,165 ($41,165 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Bear – $9,815,900 ($33,291,371 total)
3. Dad – $9,223,598 ($12,914,024 total)
5. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $4,232,099 ($18,687,886 total)
10. Black Rain – $2,869,706 ($87,703,182 total)
12. The Fabulous Baker Boys – $2,634,286 ($28,432,762 total)
15. Parenthood – $1,735,765 ($190,164,202 total)
999. Batman – $1,031,271 ($513,425,684 total)
999. Henry V – $132,974 ($159,784 total)
999. My Left Foot – $84,300 ($84,300 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• The Bear : Editing
• Black Rain: Sound, Sound Effects
• Crimes and Misdemeanors: Director, Supporting Actor (Martin Landau), Original Screenplay
• Dad: Makeup
• The Fabulous Baker Boys : Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer), Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Henry V: Director, Actor (Kenneth Branagh), Costume Design [O]
• My Left Foot: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) [O], Supporting Actress (Brenda Fricker) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Parenthood: Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest), Original Song (“I Love To See You Smile”)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of November 9-11, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

4. Places in the Heart – $2,228,864 ($22,386,442 total) {week 8}
5. A Soldier’s Story – $1,724,727 ($13,847,074 total) {week 9}
6. Amadeus – $1,546,556 ($9,273,450 total) {week 8}
13. Ghostbusters – $1,216,256 ($215,627,420 total) {week 23}
14. Country – $1,051,370 ($9,640,000 total) {week 7}
999. The Killing Fields – $33,948 ($87,981 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Places in the Heart – $5,393,055 ($54,167,194 total)
5. A Soldier’s Story – $4,173,223 ($33,504,974 total)
6. Amadeus – $3,742,113 ($22,438,437 total)
13. Ghostbusters – $2,942,905 ($521,741,347 total)
14. Country – $2,543,940 ($23,325,357 total)
999. The Killing Fields – $82,142 ($212,883 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 Killing Fields : Picture, Director, Actor (Sam Waterston), Supporting Actor (Haing S. Ngor) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O]
• Places in the Heart: Picture, Director, Actress (Sally Field) [O], Supporting Actor (John Malkovich), Supporting Actress (Linsday Crouse), Original Screenplay [O], Costume Design
• A Soldier’s Story: Picture, Supporting Actor (Adolph Caesar), Adapted Screenplay