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

Penguins of Madagascar (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

The Imitation Game (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Benedict Cumberbatch), Supporting Actress (Keira Knightley), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 27-29, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Blind Side – $40,111,364 ($100,238,841 total) {week 2}
8. Precious – $7,081,032 ($32,433,482 total) {week 4}
9. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $6,965,267 ($10,024,072 total) {week 3}
15. An Education – $911,388 ($5,563,649 total) {week 8}
18. The Princess and the Frog – $786,190 ($1,216,860 total) {week 1}
22. A Serious Man – $478,235 ($8,163,478 total) {week 9}
26. Coco Before Chanel – $197,578 ($5,627,432 total) {week 10}
29. The Messenger – $140,203 ($353,303 total) {week 3}
30. Julie & Julia – $135,211 ($94,125,426 total) {week 17}
42. Inglourious Basterds – $56,456 ($120,381,050 total) {week 15}
61. Bright Star – $19,120 ($4,420,963 total) {week 11}
92. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $1,969 ($474,224 total) {week 15}
97. The Cove – $1,248 ($847,443 total) {week 18}
100. Departures – $945 ($1,490,231 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Blind Side – $43,480,719 ($108,658,904 total)
8. Precious – $7,675,839 ($35,157,894 total)
9. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $7,550,349 ($10,866,094 total)
15. An Education – $987,945 ($6,030,996 total)
18. The Princess and the Frog – $852,230 ($1,319,076 total)
22. A Serious Man – $518,407 ($8,849,210 total)
26. Coco Before Chanel – $214,175 ($6,100,136 total)
29. The Messenger – $151,980 ($382,980 total)
30. Julie & Julia – $146,569 ($102,031,962 total)
42. Inglourious Basterds – $61,198 ($130,493,058 total)
61. Bright Star – $20,726 ($4,792,324 total)
92. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $2,134 ($514,059 total)
97. The Cove – $1,353 ($918,628 total)
100. Departures – $1,024 ($1,615,410 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
• 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
• The Princess and the Frog: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Almost There”), Original Song (“Down in New Orleans”)
• A Serious Man: Picture, Original Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 26-28, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Incredibles – $23,580,279 ($214,294,035 total) {week 4}
4. The Polar Express – $19,389,297 ($81,479,861 total) {week 1}
8. Finding Neverland – $4,670,177 ($7,753,315 total) {week 3}
9. Ray – $3,976,685 ($65,126,870 total) {week 5}
11. Sideways – $2,912,836 ($9,950,066 total) {week 6}
16. Kinsey – $1,292,518 ($2,545,366 total) {week 3}
17. The Motorcycle Diaries – $657,028 ($13,677,171 total) {week 10}
19. Shark Tale – $325,442 ($158,966,465 total) {week 9}
20. Being Julia – $324,394 ($2,674,051 total) {week 7}
33. A Very Long Engagement – $101,749 ($101,749 total) {week 1}
37. Vera Drake – $91,170 ($1,833,121 total) {week 8}
47. I, Robot – $27,703 ($144,738,046 total) {week 20}
64. Zelary – $7,553 ($292,221 total) {week 11}
78. The Village – $4,255 ($114,195,633 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Incredibles – $59,722,015 ($542,744,705 total)
4. The Polar Express – $49,107,472 ($206,364,882 total)
8. Finding Neverland – $11,828,205 ($19,636,901 total)
9. Ray – $10,071,791 ($164,947,493 total)
11. Sideways – $7,377,370 ($25,200,634 total)
16. Kinsey – $3,273,574 ($6,446,675 total)
17. The Motorcycle Diaries – $1,664,062 ($34,640,312 total)
19. Shark Tale – $824,250 ($402,616,000 total)
20. Being Julia – $821,596 ($6,772,596 total)
33. A Very Long Engagement – $257,701 ($257,701 total)
37. Vera Drake – $230,907 ($4,642,764 total)
47. I, Robot – $70,164 ($366,579,537 total)
64. Zelary – $19,130 ($740,111 total)
78. The Village – $10,777 ($289,224,454 total)

Oscar Details:

• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• 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
• Sideways: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Vera Drake: Director, Actress (Imelda Staunton), Original Screenplay
• A Very Long Engagement: Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Village : Original Score
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 26-28, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. Toy Story 2 – $57,388,839 ($80,481,962 total) {week 2}
4. Sleepy Hollow – $18,414,444 ($61,638,812 total) {week 2}
9. The Insider – $2,480,294 ($22,052,444 total) {week 4}
10. Being John Malkovich – $2,044,834 ($11,908,584 total) {week 5}
12. The Sixth Sense – $1,542,524 ($272,318,916 total) {week 17}
15. American Beauty – $1,170,667 ($66,524,764 total) {week 11}
18. Music of the Heart – $780,118 ($13,452,635 total) {week 5}
25. The Straight Story – $334,165 ($3,072,928 total) {week 7}
29. Fight Club – $222,867 ($35,301,496 total) {week 7}
30. All About My Mother – $210,562 ($505,211 total) {week 4}
36. Boys Don’t Cry – $142,294 ($1,961,871 total) {week 8}
53. Buena Vista Social Club – $59,361 ($6,663,437 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Toy Story 2 – $91,844,736 ($128,802,825 total)
4. Sleepy Hollow – $29,470,360 ($98,646,366 total)
9. The Insider – $3,969,447 ($35,292,592 total)
10. Being John Malkovich – $3,272,539 ($19,058,423 total)
12. The Sixth Sense – $2,468,646 ($435,817,478 total)
15. American Beauty – $1,873,528 ($106,465,813 total)
18. Music of the Heart – $1,248,496 ($21,529,512 total)
25. The Straight Story – $534,796 ($4,917,895 total)
29. Fight Club – $356,675 ($56,496,292 total)
30. All About My Mother – $336,982 ($808,537 total)
36. Boys Don’t Cry – $227,726 ($3,139,766 total)
53. Buena Vista Social Club – $95,001 ($10,664,123 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
• 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 Dec. 2-4, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

3. Junior – $5,150,805 ($20,313,750 total) {week 2}
4. Interview with the Vampire – $5,119,150 ($91,018,110 total) {week 4}
6. The Lion King – $3,110,403 ($285,973,976 total) {week 25}
12. Pulp Fiction – $1,668,538 ($55,918,361 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Junior – $10,018,193 ($39,509,758 total)
4. Interview with the Vampire – $9,956,624 ($177,028,046 total)
6. The Lion King – $6,049,659 ($556,212,542 total)
12. Pulp Fiction – $3,245,266 ($108,759,874 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 1-3, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Back to the Future Part II – $12,110,340 ($60,003,540 total) {week 2}
3. Harlem Nights – $5,202,610 ($42,544,572 total) {week 3}
4. Steel Magnolias – $4,856,409 ($22,685,485 total) {week 3}
5. The Little Mermaid – $4,030,274 ($22,109,571 total) {week 3}
9. Dad – $1,386,905 ($17,094,150 total) {week 6}
10. The Bear – $1,081,344 ($25,002,168 total) {week 6}
11. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $820,248 ($14,309,992 total) {week 8}
999. Batman – $31,264 ($251,161,818 total) {week 24}
999. Parenthood – $195,767 ($94,681,427 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Back to the Future Part II – $24,800,268 ($122,878,786 total)
3. Harlem Nights – $10,654,211 ($87,125,282 total)
4. Steel Magnolias – $9,945,241 ($46,456,673 total)
5. The Little Mermaid – $8,253,433 ($45,277,283 total)
9. Dad – $2,840,186 ($35,006,408 total)
10. The Bear – $2,214,440 ($51,200,913 total)
11. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $1,679,752 ($29,304,845 total)
999. Batman – $64,024 ($514,343,975 total)
999. Parenthood – $400,903 ($193,894,207 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
• 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. 30-Dec. 2, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

9. Amadeus – $1,104,448 ($15,061,352 total) {week 11}
10. Places in the Heart – $1,090,962 ($27,700,854 total) {week 11}
11. A Soldier’s Story – $943,471 ($18,768,078 total) {week 12}
13. Ghostbusters – $991,525 ($218,865,876 total) {week 26}
999. The Killing Fields – $81,806 ($479,285 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Amadeus – $2,672,370 ($36,443,093 total)
10. Places in the Heart – $2,639,738 ($67,026,174 total)
11. A Soldier’s Story – $2,282,863 ($45,412,046 total)
13. Ghostbusters – $2,399,136 ($529,577,254 total)
999. The Killing Fields – $197,941 ($1,159,699 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