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 Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Original Song.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 20-22, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Blind Side – $34,119,372 ($34,119,372 total) {week 1}
6. Precious – $10,881,772 ($21,277,521 total) {week 3}
14. An Education – $826,755 ($4,268,905 total) {week 7}
18. A Serious Man – $444,008 ($7,476,004 total) {week 8}
23. Coco Before Chanel – $236,495 ($5,288,153 total) {week 9}
24. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $203,512 ($562,048 total) {week 2}
26. Julie & Julia – $149,746 ($93,900,336 total) {week 16}
28. The Messenger – $110,112 ($167,346 total) {week 2}
34. Inglourious Basterds – $78,017 ($120,278,316 total) {week 14}
52. Bright Star – $26,476 ($4,390,226 total) {week 10}
90. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $3,590 ($469,517 total) {week 14}
100. Food, Inc. – $1,892 ($4,417,124 total) {week 24}
101. Departures – $1,870 ($1,487,901 total) {week 26}
102. The Cove – $1,848 ($845,449 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Blind Side – $36,985,399 ($36,985,399 total)
6. Precious – $11,795,841 ($23,064,833 total)
14. An Education – $896,202 ($4,627,493 total)
18. A Serious Man – $481,305 ($8,103,988 total)
23. Coco Before Chanel – $256,361 ($5,732,358 total)
24. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $220,607 ($609,260 total)
26. Julie & Julia – $162,325 ($101,787,964 total)
28. The Messenger – $119,361 ($181,403 total)
34. Inglourious Basterds – $84,570 ($130,381,695 total)
52. Bright Star – $28,700 ($4,759,005 total)
90. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $3,892 ($508,956 total)
100. Food, Inc. – $2,051 ($4,788,162 total)
101. Departures – $2,027 ($1,612,885 total)
102. The Cove – $2,003 ($916,467 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Baader Meinhof Complex: Foreign Language Film
• The Blind Side: Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
• Bright Star: Costume Design
• Coco Before Chanel: Costume Design
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• An Education: Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
• Fantastic Mr. Fox: Animated Feature, Original Score
• 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)
• The Messenger : Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• 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 Nov. 19-21, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Incredibles – $26,523,852 ($177,555,485 total) {week 3}
4. The Polar Express – $15,668,101 ($51,463,282 total) {week 1}
7. Ray – $4,565,210 ($59,192,215 total) {week 4}
12. Sideways – $1,828,760 ($6,039,004 total) {week 5}
13. Finding Neverland – $836,754 ($1,149,279 total) {week 2}
15. The Motorcycle Diaries – $621,808 ($12,733,850 total) {week 9}
16. Kinsey – $577,721 ($826,679 total) {week 2}
17. Shark Tale – $575,850 ($158,432,301 total) {week 8}
22. Being Julia – $391,051 ($2,195,580 total) {week 6}
31. Vera Drake – $138,359 ($1,695,820 total) {week 7}
41. Hero – $57,020 ($53,583,486 total) {week 1}
44. I, Robot – $49,271 ($144,689,408 total) {week 19}
45. Shrek 2 – $39,778 ($441,220,800 total) {week 27}
48. Collateral – $37,836 ($100,999,953 total) {week 16}
57. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $23,837 ($249,475,676 total) {week 25}
80. The Village – $7,073 ($114,188,187 total) {week 17}
87. Zelary – $6,044 ($282,876 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Incredibles – $67,177,233 ($449,696,602 total)
4. The Polar Express – $39,682,760 ($130,341,583 total)
7. Ray – $11,562,354 ($149,916,731 total)
12. Sideways – $4,631,719 ($15,295,048 total)
13. Finding Neverland – $2,119,255 ($2,910,791 total)
15. The Motorcycle Diaries – $1,574,860 ($32,251,153 total)
16. Kinsey – $1,463,200 ($2,093,738 total)
17. Shark Tale – $1,458,461 ($401,263,117 total)
22. Being Julia – $990,419 ($5,560,768 total)
31. Vera Drake – $350,423 ($4,295,021 total)
41. Hero – $144,415 ($135,711,446 total)
44. I, Robot – $124,789 ($366,456,351 total)
45. Shrek 2 – $100,746 ($1,117,484,456 total)
48. Collateral – $95,828 ($255,803,619 total)
57. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $60,372 ($631,849,609 total)
80. The Village – $17,914 ($289,205,595 total)
87. Zelary – $15,308 ($716,443 total)

Oscar Details:

• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Collateral: Supporting Actor (Jamie Foxx), Editing
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Original Score, Visual Effects
• Hero: Foreign Language Film
• I, Robot: Visual Effects
• The Incredibles: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O]
• Kinsey: Supporting Actress (Laura Linney)
• The Motorcycle Diaries : Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Al Otro Lado del Rio”) [O]
• The Polar Express : Original Song (“Believe”), Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Ray: Picture, Director, Actor (Jamie Foxx) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing [O]
• Shark Tale: Animated Feature
• Shrek 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Accidentally in Love”)
• Sideways: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Vera Drake: Director, Actress (Imelda Staunton), Original Screenplay
• The Village : Original Score
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 19-21, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

2. Sleepy Hollow – $30,060,467 ($30,060,467 total) {week 1}
7. The Insider – $2,829,625 ($18,319,819 total) {week 3}
10. Being John Malkovich – $1,866,210 ($8,767,533 total) {week 4}
11. The Sixth Sense – $1,615,192 ($269,975,523 total) {week 16}
15. American Beauty – $1,293,020 ($64,699,595 total) {week 10}
17. Music of the Heart – $1,000,288 ($12,280,134 total) {week 4}
22. Fight Club – $401,146 ($34,866,702 total) {week 6}
23. The Straight Story – $309,987 ($2,595,401 total) {week 6}
24. Toy Story 2 – $300,163 ($300,163 total) {week 1}
33. Boys Don’t Cry – $155,798 ($1,749,153 total) {week 7}
56. Buena Vista Social Club – $52,961 ($6,580,924 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Sleepy Hollow – $48,108,582 ($48,108,582 total)
7. The Insider – $4,528,514 ($29,318,923 total)
10. Being John Malkovich – $2,986,671 ($14,031,505 total)
11. The Sixth Sense – $2,584,943 ($432,067,126 total)
15. American Beauty – $2,069,341 ($103,544,824 total)
17. Music of the Heart – $1,600,855 ($19,653,049 total)
22. Fight Club – $641,992 ($55,800,450 total)
23. The Straight Story – $496,101 ($4,153,663 total)
24. Toy Story 2 – $480,379 ($480,379 total)
33. Boys Don’t Cry – $249,338 ($2,799,333 total)
56. Buena Vista Social Club – $84,758 ($10,532,069 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Beauty: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• 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 Sixth Sense : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Sleepy Hollow: Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 25-27, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

3. Interview with the Vampire – $11,769,781 ($83,374,491 total) {week 3}
4. Junior – $9,803,145 ($13,441,155 total) {week 1}
6. The Lion King – $6,267,047 ($281,838,756 total) {week 24}
11. Pulp Fiction – $3,241,585 ($53,653,232 total) {week 7}
13. Forrest Gump – $1,260,602 ($294,268,394 total) {week 21}
999. Heavenly Creatures – $152,138 ($242,024 total) {week 2}
999. The Shawshank Redemption – $166,676 ($16,019,187 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Interview with the Vampire – $22,891,942 ($162,161,390 total)
4. Junior – $19,066,883 ($26,142,725 total)
6. The Lion King – $12,189,256 ($548,169,638 total)
11. Pulp Fiction – $6,304,805 ($104,354,253 total)
13. Forrest Gump – $2,451,841 ($572,344,986 total)
999. Heavenly Creatures – $295,905 ($470,731 total)
999. The Shawshank Redemption – $324,181 ($31,156,935 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• Heavenly Creatures: Original Screenplay
• Interview with the Vampire: Original Score, Art Direction
• Junior: Original Song (“Look What Love Has Done”)
• The Lion King : Original Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” [O], “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”), Original Score [O]
• 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 Nov. 24-26, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Back to the Future Part II – $27,835,125 ($43,016,225 total) {week 1}
2. Harlem Nights – $11,136,904 ($34,865,452 total) {week 2}
3. The Little Mermaid – $8,384,862 ($16,832,844 total) {week 2}
5. Steel Magnolias – $7,053,867 ($15,643,935 total) {week 2}
8. Dad – $2,928,420 ($15,050,135 total) {week 5}
9. The Bear – $2,344,243 ($23,457,437 total) {week 5}
10. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $1,458,174 ($13,176,374 total) {week 7}
12. Parenthood – $616,660 ($94,394,910 total) {week 17}
13. The Fabulous Baker Boys – $530,589 ($15,659,569 total) {week 7}
999. Batman – $50,429 ($251,108,315 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Back to the Future Part II – $57,002,410 ($88,091,161 total)
2. Harlem Nights – $22,806,808 ($71,399,528 total)
3. The Little Mermaid – $17,171,015 ($34,471,290 total)
5. Steel Magnolias – $14,445,325 ($32,036,572 total)
8. Dad – $5,996,991 ($30,820,554 total)
9. The Bear – $4,800,679 ($48,037,522 total)
10. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $2,986,135 ($26,983,355 total)
12. Parenthood – $1,262,833 ($193,307,461 total)
13. The Fabulous Baker Boys – $1,086,571 ($32,068,588 total)
999. Batman – $103,271 ($514,234,408 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future Part II: Visual Effects
• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• The Bear : Editing
• Crimes and Misdemeanors: Director, Supporting Actor (Martin Landau), Original Screenplay
• Dad: Makeup
• The Fabulous Baker Boys : Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer), Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Harlem Nights: Costume Design
• The Little Mermaid: Original Song (“Kiss the Girl”, “Under the Sea” [O]), Original Score [O]
• Parenthood: Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest), Original Song (“I Love To See You Smile”)
• Steel Magnolias: Supporting Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 23-25, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

8. Places in the Heart – $1,840,409 ($26,260,402 total) {week 10}
9. Amadeus – $1,652,737 ($13,557,200 total) {week 10}
11. A Soldier’s Story – $1,460,697 ($17,460,039 total) {week 11}
12. Ghostbusters – $730,480 ($218,023,669 total) {week 25}
999. The Killing Fields – $93,786 ($348,212 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. Places in the Heart – $4,453,132 ($63,540,794 total)
9. Amadeus – $3,999,033 ($32,803,582 total)
11. A Soldier’s Story – $3,534,365 ($42,247,059 total)
12. Ghostbusters – $1,767,501 ($527,539,413 total)
999. The Killing Fields – $226,929 ($842,549 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]
• 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