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

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

7. August Rush – $5,021,435 ($20,225,907 total) {week 2}
10. No Country for Old Men – $4,385,290 ($22,914,851 total) {week 4}
11. American Gangster – $4,263,175 ($121,716,990 total) {week 5}
15. I’m Not There – $495,397 ($1,702,145 total) {week 2}
16. Into the Wild – $450,918 ($15,654,395 total) {week 11}
20. Gone Baby Gone – $387,282 ($19,598,858 total) {week 7}
21. Michael Clayton – $291,450 ($38,444,992 total) {week 9}
26. Across the Universe – $180,676 ($24,160,537 total) {week 12}
30. The Savages – $151,859 ($184,507 total) {week 1}
34. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $75,721 ($75,721 total) {week 1}
36. Ratatouille – $59,838 ($206,385,425 total) {week 23}
47. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $25,109 ($3,794,352 total) {week 11}
62. War/Dance – $7,772 ($45,078 total) {week 4}
66. Once – $6,017 ($9,421,523 total) {week 29}
75. In the Valley of Elah – $3,583 ($6,752,233 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. August Rush – $5,780,489 ($23,283,312 total)
10. No Country for Old Men – $5,048,183 ($26,378,724 total)
11. American Gangster – $4,907,608 ($140,116,070 total)
15. I’m Not There – $570,283 ($1,959,446 total)
16. Into the Wild – $519,080 ($18,020,757 total)
20. Gone Baby Gone – $445,825 ($22,561,476 total)
21. Michael Clayton – $335,506 ($44,256,444 total)
26. Across the Universe – $207,987 ($27,812,711 total)
30. The Savages – $174,814 ($212,398 total)
34. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $87,167 ($87,167 total)
36. Ratatouille – $68,883 ($237,583,222 total)
47. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $28,905 ($4,367,917 total)
62. War/Dance – $8,947 ($51,892 total)
66. Once – $6,927 ($10,845,707 total)
75. In the Valley of Elah – $4,125 ($7,772,919 total)

Oscar Details:

• Across the Universe: Costume Design
• American Gangster: Supporting Actress (Ruby Dee), Art Direction
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: Supporting Actor (Casey Affleck), Cinematography
• August Rush: Original Song (“Raise It Up”)
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Gone Baby Gone: Supporting Actress (Amy Ryan)
• I’m Not There: Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett)
• 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 Country for Old Men: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Once: Original Song [O]
• Ratatouille: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• The Savages: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay
• War/Dance: Documentary Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

4. Treasure Planet – $12,083,248 ($16,599,714 total) {week 1}
8. 8 Mile – $5,758,815 ($107,393,455 total) {week 4}
11. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $3,985,057 ($210,585,352 total) {week 33}
14. Frida – $2,125,156 ($15,201,924 total) {week 6}
15. Far From Heaven – $1,639,138 ($5,506,446 total) {week 4}
17. Bowling for Columbine – $966,682 ($11,914,512 total) {week 8}
19. The Crime of Father Amaro – $700,103 ($2,509,869 total) {week 3}
36. The Quiet American – $111,193 ($271,648 total) {week 2}
37. Talk to Her – $93,223 ($266,331 total) {week 2}
47. Spirited Away – $57,706 ($5,220,569 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Treasure Planet – $16,471,484 ($22,628,182 total)
8. 8 Mile – $7,850,226 ($146,395,209 total)
11. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $5,432,298 ($287,062,993 total)
14. Frida – $2,896,942 ($20,722,760 total)
15. Far From Heaven – $2,234,419 ($7,506,205 total)
17. Bowling for Columbine – $1,317,749 ($16,241,469 total)
19. The Crime of Father Amaro – $954,357 ($3,421,370 total)
36. The Quiet American – $151,575 ($370,302 total)
37. Talk to Her – $127,079 ($363,054 total)
47. Spirited Away – $78,663 ($7,116,507 total)

Oscar Details:

• 8 Mile: Original Song (“Lose Yourself”) [O]
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Crime of Father Amaro: Foreign Language Film
• Far From Heaven: Actress (Julianne Moore), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography
• Frida: Actress, Original Score [O], Original Song (“Burn It Blue”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• The Quiet American: Actor (Michael Caine)
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
• Treasure Planet: Animated Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 28-30, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

3. Anastasia – $11,837,750 ($31,311,194 total) {week 3}
14. The Wings of the Dove – $1,456,110 ($4,717,312 total) {week 4}
16. Boogie Nights – $930,136 ($21,794,752 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Anastasia – $20,425,922 ($54,027,158 total)
14. The Wings of the Dove – $2,512,504 ($8,139,676 total)
16. Boogie Nights – $1,604,941 ($37,606,631 total)

Oscar Details:

• Anastasia: Original Song (“Journey to the Past”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Boogie Nights: Supporting Actor (Burt Reynolds), Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore), Original Screenplay
• The Wings of the Dove: Actress (Helena Bonham Carter), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Costume Design

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 27-29, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

2. Aladdin – $19,289,073 ($25,784,522 total) {week 3}
3. The Bodyguard – $16,611,793 ($24,402,567 total) {week 1}
4. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $9,848,470 ($70,063,638 total) {week 3}
5. Malcolm X – $8,561,890 ($26,877,774 total) {week 2}
7. A River Runs Through It – $3,090,893 ($28,339,280 total) {week 8}
8. Under Siege – $2,420,106 ($72,400,590 total) {week 8}
9. The Last of the Mohicans – $1,520,997 ($68,022,855 total) {week 10}
999. The Crying Game – $101,107 ($101,107 total) {week 1}
999. Unforgiven – $60,949 ($74,896,651 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Aladdin – $36,811,918 ($49,208,052 total)
3. The Bodyguard – $31,702,506 ($46,570,682 total)
4. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $18,795,152 ($133,711,810 total)
5. Malcolm X – $16,339,800 ($51,294,451 total)
7. A River Runs Through It – $5,898,764 ($54,083,638 total)
8. Under Siege – $4,618,612 ($138,171,728 total)
9. The Last of the Mohicans – $2,902,722 ($129,817,111 total)
999. The Crying Game – $192,956 ($192,956 total)
999. Unforgiven – $116,317 ($142,935,295 total)

Oscar Details:

• Aladdin: Original Song (“A Whole New World” [O], “Friend Like Me”), Original Score [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing
• The Bodyguard: Original Song (“I Have Nothing”, “Run to You”)
• Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound Effects Editing
• The Crying Game: Picture, Director, Actor (Stephen Rea), Supporting Actor (Jaye Davidson), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• The Last of the Mohicans: Sound [O]
• Malcolm X: Actor, Costume Design
• 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 Nov. 27-29, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

4. Fatal Attraction – $5,565,428 ($110,023,750 total) {week 11}
9. Dirty Dancing – $1,704,317 ($48,431,980 total) {week 15}
12. The Princess Bride – $1,215,527 ($24,650,738 total) {week 10}
999. The Last Emperor – $198,737 ($497,903 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Fatal Attraction – $11,273,194 ($222,861,407 total)
9. Dirty Dancing – $3,452,223 ($98,102,630 total)
12. The Princess Bride – $2,462,142 ($49,931,930 total)
999. The Last Emperor – $402,557 ($1,008,540 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
• The Last Emperor: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
• The Princess Bride: Original Song (“Storybook Love”)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 26-28, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $3,976,778 ($295,989,738 total) {week 25}
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $3,805,813 ($99,497,474 total) {week 18}
8. My Favorite Year – $1,111,649 ($15,963,486 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $10,712,953 ($797,360,111 total)
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $10,252,394 ($268,034,012 total)
8. My Favorite Year – $2,994,646 ($43,003,677 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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