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

Frozen (Wide)

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

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Actor (Idris Elba), Actress (Naomie Harris), Original Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 28-30, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

2. Bolt – $26,581,002 ($66,848,840 total) {week 2}
5. Australia – $14,800,723 ($20,004,456 total) {week 1}
10. Milk – $1,453,844 ($1,941,472 total) {week 1}
11. Slumdog Millionaire – $1,346,039 ($3,544,374 total) {week 3}
12. Changeling – $1,207,240 ($33,849,632 total) {week 6}
15. Rachel Getting Married – $530,210 ($8,802,274 total) {week 9}
19. The Dark Knight – $343,366 ($530,258,989 total) {week 20}
20. Happy-Go-Lucky – $289,208 ($2,641,426 total) {week 8}
29. WALL-E – $116,758 ($223,641,119 total) {week 23}
44. The Duchess – $46,483 ($13,759,842 total) {week 11}
46. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $43,433 ($22,478,183 total) {week 16}
61. Man on Wire – $12,366 ($2,882,536 total) {week 19}
80. Frozen River – $3,189 ($2,284,536 total) {week 18}
87. The Betrayal – $2,554 ($10,648 total) {week 2}
91. Trouble the Water – $1,816 ($470,844 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Bolt – $29,394,590 ($73,924,762 total)
5. Australia – $16,367,373 ($22,121,919 total)
10. Milk – $1,607,733 ($2,146,976 total)
11. Slumdog Millionaire – $1,488,517 ($3,919,545 total)
12. Changeling – $1,335,026 ($37,432,601 total)
15. Rachel Getting Married – $586,333 ($9,733,991 total)
19. The Dark Knight – $379,711 ($586,386,681 total)
20. Happy-Go-Lucky – $319,821 ($2,921,020 total)
29. WALL-E – $129,117 ($247,313,438 total)
44. The Duchess – $51,403 ($15,216,316 total)
46. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $48,030 ($24,857,489 total)
61. Man on Wire – $13,675 ($3,187,651 total)
80. Frozen River – $3,527 ($2,526,353 total)
87. The Betrayal – $2,824 ($11,775 total)
91. Trouble the Water – $2,008 ($520,683 total)

Oscar Details:

• Australia: Costume Design
• The Betrayal: Documentary Feature
• Bolt: Animated Feature
• Changeling: Actress (Angelina Jolie), Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Dark Knight: Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• The Duchess: Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• Frozen River: Actress (Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay
• Happy-Go-Lucky: Original Screenplay
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• Milk: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Josh Brolin), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
• Rachel Getting Married: Actress (Anne Hathaway)
• Slumdog Millionaire: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Jai Ho”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing
• Trouble the Water: Documentary Feature
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz) [O]
• WALL-E: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Down to Earth”), Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 28-30, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

6. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $12,048,731 ($66,632,517 total) {week 3}
10. Brother Bear – $4,872,344 ($77,695,232 total) {week 6}
14. Mystic River – $1,610,234 ($50,948,862 total) {week 8}
16. 21 Grams – $988,321 ($1,598,378 total) {week 2}
19. Lost in Translation – $544,363 ($28,901,635 total) {week 12}
23. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $430,070 ($304,879,615 total) {week 21}
30. Pieces of April – $254,799 ($1,962,946 total) {week 7}
32. In America – $205,229 ($260,353 total) {week 1}
37. The Cooler – $128,973 ($171,621 total) {week 1}
39. The Triplets of Belleville – $108,080 ($143,762 total) {week 1}
44. Seabiscuit – $71,540 ($120,147,445 total) {week 19}
50. My Architect – $43,265 ($184,629 total) {week 3}
61. Finding Nemo – $17,845 ($339,703,580 total) {week 27}
62. American Splendor – $16,718 ($6,003,587 total) {week 16}
65. Winged Migration – $15,044 ($10,736,058 total) {week 33}
71. Dirty Pretty Things – $10,079 ($8,018,335 total) {week 20}
86. Thirteen – $4,963 ($4,589,737 total) {week 15}
97. City of God – $3,209 ($4,741,076 total) {week 46}
100. The Weather Underground – $2,354 ($483,010 total) {week 26}
123. Spellbound – $605 ($5,727,803 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $15,865,162 ($87,738,339 total)
10. Brother Bear – $6,415,657 ($102,305,165 total)
14. Mystic River – $2,120,275 ($67,086,893 total)
16. 21 Grams – $1,301,371 ($2,104,664 total)
19. Lost in Translation – $716,790 ($38,056,216 total)
23. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $566,294 ($401,450,107 total)
30. Pieces of April – $335,506 ($2,584,708 total)
32. In America – $270,235 ($342,820 total)
37. The Cooler – $169,825 ($225,982 total)
39. The Triplets of Belleville – $142,314 ($189,299 total)
44. Seabiscuit – $94,200 ($158,204,098 total)
50. My Architect – $56,969 ($243,110 total)
61. Finding Nemo – $23,497 ($447,304,548 total)
62. American Splendor – $22,013 ($7,905,221 total)
65. Winged Migration – $19,809 ($14,136,700 total)
71. Dirty Pretty Things – $13,272 ($10,558,139 total)
86. Thirteen – $6,535 ($6,043,534 total)
97. City of God – $4,225 ($6,242,810 total)
100. The Weather Underground – $3,100 ($636,003 total)
123. Spellbound – $797 ($7,542,082 total)

Oscar Details:

• 21 Grams: Actress (Naomi Watts), Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro)
• American Splendor: Adapted Screenplay
• Brother Bear: Animated Feature
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• The Cooler: Supporting Actor (Alec Baldwin)
• Dirty Pretty Things: Original Screenplay
• Finding Nemo: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Editing
• In America: Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Original Screenplay
• Lost in Translation: Picture, Director, Actor (Bill Murray), Original Screenplay [O]
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: Picture, Director, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• My Architect: Documentary Feature
• Mystic River: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) [O], Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), Adapted Screenplay
• Pieces of April: Supporting Actress (Patricia Clarkson)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: Actor (Johnny Depp), Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Seabiscuit: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• Spellbound: Documentary Feature
• Thirteen: Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter)
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 27-29, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. A Bug’s Life – $33,258,052 ($46,111,456 total) {week 2}
5. Babe: Pig in the City – $6,162,640 ($8,200,515 total) {week 1}
9. Elizabeth – $3,391,187 ($6,958,276 total) {week 4}
14. Pleasantville – $1,204,095 ($36,720,568 total) {week 6}
16. American History X – $989,684 ($4,001,063 total) {week 5}
18. Life Is Beautiful – $871,072 ($5,248,338 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. A Bug’s Life – $56,304,677 ($78,065,024 total)
5. Babe: Pig in the City – $10,433,126 ($13,883,175 total)
9. Elizabeth – $5,741,157 ($11,780,109 total)
14. Pleasantville – $2,038,489 ($62,166,591 total)
16. American History X – $1,675,499 ($6,773,655 total)
18. Life Is Beautiful – $1,474,693 ($8,885,246 total)

Oscar Details:

• American History X: Actor (Edward Norton)
• Babe: Pig in the City: Original Song (“That’ll Do”)
• A Bug’s Life: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Elizabeth: Picture, Actress (Cate Blanchett), Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Pleasantville: Original Dramatic Score, Art Direction, Costume Design

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 26-28, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. Mrs. Doubtfire – $20,468,847 ($27,558,032 total) {week 1}
2. Addams Family Values – $10,650,625 ($30,235,417 total) {week 2}
8. The Nightmare Before Christmas – $3,328,681 ($43,682,814 total) {week 7}
10. The Piano – $2,446,752 ($5,177,499 total) {week 3}
11. The Remains of the Day – $2,200,701 ($10,702,678 total) {week 4}
13. Jurassic Park – $1,855,720 ($333,307,310 total) {week 25}
999. Children of Fate – $1,099 ($1,489 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Mrs. Doubtfire – $39,256,678 ($52,852,844 total)
2. Addams Family Values – $20,426,561 ($57,987,732 total)
8. The Nightmare Before Christmas – $6,383,992 ($83,778,151 total)
10. The Piano – $4,692,563 ($9,929,793 total)
11. The Remains of the Day – $4,220,668 ($20,526,392 total)
13. Jurassic Park – $3,559,038 ($639,241,556 total)
999. Children of Fate – $2,108 ($2,856 total)

Oscar Details:

• Addams Family Values: Art Direction
• Children of Fate: Documentary Feature
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Mrs. Doubtfire: Makeup [O]
• The Nightmare Before Christmas: Visual Effects
• The Piano: Picture, Director, Actress (Holly Hunter) [O], Supporting Actress (Anna Paquin) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
• The Remains of the Day: Picture, Director, Anthony Hopkins, Actress (Emma Thompson), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 25-27, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Scrooged – $13,027,842 ($18,548,158 total) {week 1}
8. The Accused – $1,600,449 ($26,601,440 total) {week 7}
14. A Cry in the Dark – $914,190 ($4,552,759 total) {week 3}
15. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $721,424 ($148,375,903 total) {week 23}
17. Buster – $265,038 ($350,071 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Scrooged – $25,168,142 ($35,832,695 total)
8. The Accused – $3,091,865 ($51,390,616 total)
14. A Cry in the Dark – $1,766,099 ($8,795,354 total)
15. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $1,393,700 ($286,643,472 total)
17. Buster – $512,020 ($676,293 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Accused: Actress (Jodie Foster) [O]
• Buster: Original Song (“Two Hearts”)
• A Cry in the Dark: Actress (Meryl Streep)
• Scrooged: Makeup
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Animation Direction, Richard Williams)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 2-4, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Terms of Endearment – $3,125,453 ($8,949,207 total) {week 2}
3. The Big Chill – $2,037,252 ($38,587,201 total) {week 10}
8. Educating Rita – $753,983 ($8,741,012 total) {week 11}
11. The Right Stuff – $681,997 ($11,378,193 total) {week 7}
999. Return of the Jedi – $239,932 ($244,354,181 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Terms of Endearment – $7,878,126 ($22,557,684 total)
3. The Big Chill – $5,135,169 ($97,264,246 total)
8. Educating Rita – $1,900,516 ($22,032,900 total)
11. The Right Stuff – $1,719,065 ($28,680,271 total)
999. Return of the Jedi – $604,781 ($615,927,682 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Big Chill: Picture, Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Screenplay
• Educating Rita: Actor (Michael Caine), Actress (Julie Walters), Adapted Screenplay
• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• The Right Stuff: Picture, Supporting Actor (Sam Shepard), Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• Terms of Endearment: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actress (Shirley MacLaine) [O], Actress (Debra Winger), Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction, Sound