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

Wild (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Best Actress (Reese Witherspoon).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 4-6, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Blind Side – $20,043,181 ($128,867,559 total) {week 3}
11. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $2,918,331 ($14,084,495 total) {week 4}
12. Precious – $2,282,077 ($36,252,012 total) {week 5}
13. Up in the Air – $1,181,450 ($1,181,450 total) {week 1}
16. The Princess and the Frog – $747,710 ($2,410,810 total) {week 2}
17. An Education – $479,774 ($6,264,756 total) {week 9}
23. A Serious Man – $221,428 ($8,488,738 total) {week 10}
33. Coco Before Chanel – $81,193 ($5,795,589 total) {week 11}
34. The Messenger – $71,515 ($464,878 total) {week 4}
36. Inglourious Basterds – $62,924 ($120,464,449 total) {week 16}
58. Bright Star – $13,128 ($4,440,055 total) {week 12}
89. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $2,046 ($476,270 total) {week 16}
107. The Cove – $320 ($848,540 total) {week 19}
110. Departures – $94 ($1,490,694 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Blind Side – $21,726,808 ($139,692,434 total)
11. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $3,163,471 ($15,267,593 total)
12. Precious – $2,473,771 ($39,297,181 total)
13. Up in the Air – $1,280,692 ($1,280,692 total)
16. The Princess and the Frog – $810,518 ($2,613,318 total)
17. An Education – $520,075 ($6,790,996 total)
23. A Serious Man – $240,028 ($9,201,792 total)
33. Coco Before Chanel – $88,013 ($6,282,418 total)
34. The Messenger – $77,522 ($503,928 total)
36. Inglourious Basterds – $68,210 ($130,583,463 total)
58. Bright Star – $14,231 ($4,813,020 total)
89. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $2,218 ($516,277 total)
107. The Cove – $347 ($919,817 total)
110. Departures – $102 ($1,615,912 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
• 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
• Up in the Air: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick), Adapted Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 3-5, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Polar Express – $10,778,094 ($96,127,863 total) {week 1}
4. The Incredibles – $9,015,796 ($225,858,787 total) {week 5}
5. Closer – $7,707,972 ($7,707,972 total) {week 1}
8. Finding Neverland – $2,824,222 ($11,683,573 total) {week 4}
10. Ray – $1,888,860 ($67,792,750 total) {week 6}
11. Sideways – $1,802,826 ($12,478,931 total) {week 7}
16. Kinsey – $740,669 ($3,653,063 total) {week 4}
18. The Motorcycle Diaries – $407,538 ($14,277,652 total) {week 11}
19. House of Flying Daggers – $397,472 ($397,472 total) {week 1}
23. Being Julia – $178,271 ($2,971,460 total) {week 8}
26. Shark Tale – $147,382 ($159,160,152 total) {week 10}
36. A Very Long Engagement – $72,585 ($213,031 total) {week 2}
39. Vera Drake – $60,704 ($1,923,886 total) {week 9}
56. I, Robot – $14,761 ($144,758,543 total) {week 21}
63. Zelary – $9,221 ($304,494 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Polar Express – $27,297,789 ($243,464,027 total)
4. The Incredibles – $22,834,399 ($572,034,872 total)
5. Closer – $19,522,060 ($19,522,060 total)
8. Finding Neverland – $7,152,936 ($29,591,105 total)
10. Ray – $4,783,935 ($171,699,395 total)
11. Sideways – $4,566,036 ($31,605,517 total)
16. Kinsey – $1,875,900 ($9,252,150 total)
18. The Motorcycle Diaries – $1,032,176 ($36,161,156 total)
19. House of Flying Daggers – $1,006,681 ($1,006,681 total)
23. Being Julia – $451,509 ($7,525,847 total)
26. Shark Tale – $373,276 ($403,106,553 total)
36. A Very Long Engagement – $183,837 ($539,546 total)
39. Vera Drake – $153,746 ($4,872,646 total)
56. I, Robot – $37,385 ($366,631,450 total)
63. Zelary – $23,354 ($771,195 total)

Oscar Details:

• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Closer: Supporting Actor (Clive Owen), Supporting Actress (Natalie Portman)
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• House of Flying Daggers: Cinematography
• 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
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 3-5, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. Toy Story 2 – $27,760,276 ($116,781,392 total) {week 3}
4. Sleepy Hollow – $8,868,259 ($74,133,875 total) {week 3}
8. Being John Malkovich – $1,363,626 ($13,826,808 total) {week 6}
9. The Insider – $1,328,825 ($23,927,806 total) {week 5}
11. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $1,292,968 ($429,002,763 total) {week 29}
12. The Sixth Sense – $966,524 ($273,549,908 total) {week 18}
14. American Beauty – $780,219 ($67,589,142 total) {week 12}
19. Music of the Heart – $418,925 ($14,050,608 total) {week 6}
22. Fight Club – $233,069 ($35,635,696 total) {week 8}
26. The Straight Story – $208,406 ($3,355,921 total) {week 8}
28. The End of the Affair – $198,535 ($198,535 total) {week 1}
32. All About My Mother – $156,334 ($628,399 total) {week 5}
38. Boys Don’t Cry – $106,993 ($2,118,767 total) {week 9}
40. Sweet and Lowdown – $94,686 ($94,686 total) {week 1}
52. Buena Vista Social Club – $52,161 ($6,740,759 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Toy Story 2 – $44,427,371 ($186,896,204 total)
4. Sleepy Hollow – $14,192,706 ($118,643,387 total)
8. Being John Malkovich – $2,182,338 ($22,128,336 total)
9. The Insider – $2,126,643 ($38,293,910 total)
11. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $2,069,258 ($686,573,320 total)
12. The Sixth Sense – $1,546,819 ($437,787,550 total)
14. American Beauty – $1,248,658 ($108,169,237 total)
19. Music of the Heart – $670,445 ($22,486,505 total)
22. Fight Club – $373,002 ($57,031,143 total)
26. The Straight Story – $333,532 ($5,370,795 total)
28. The End of the Affair – $317,734 ($317,734 total)
32. All About My Mother – $250,196 ($1,005,686 total)
38. Boys Don’t Cry – $171,231 ($3,390,861 total)
40. Sweet and Lowdown – $151,535 ($151,535 total)
52. Buena Vista Social Club – $83,478 ($10,787,868 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
• The End of the Affair : Actress (Julianne Moore), Cinematography
• 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
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Sweet and Lowdown: Actor (Sean Penn), Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton)
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 9-11, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

5. Junior – $2,716,240 ($24,043,830 total) {week 3}
7. Interview with the Vampire – $2,216,367 ($94,551,514 total) {week 5}
8. The Lion King – $2,211,922 ($289,021,690 total) {week 26}
12. Pulp Fiction – $1,042,589 ($57,475,172 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Junior – $5,283,022 ($46,764,674 total)
7. Interview with the Vampire – $4,310,781 ($183,900,433 total)
8. The Lion King – $4,302,135 ($562,140,273 total)
12. Pulp Fiction – $2,027,811 ($111,787,835 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. 8-10, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

3. Back to the Future Part II – $7,010,580 ($69,486,570 total) {week 3}
5. Steel Magnolias – $3,021,928 ($27,468,769 total) {week 4}
6. Harlem Nights – $2,917,788 ($46,876,890 total) {week 4}
7. The Little Mermaid – $2,764,119 ($25,748,251 total) {week 4}
11. The Bear – $683,513 ($25,993,678 total) {week 7}
12. Dad – $637,315 ($18,173,025 total) {week 7}
999. Batman – $11,133 ($251,185,407 total) {week 25}
999. Parenthood – $106,760 ($94,832,407 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Back to the Future Part II – $14,356,679 ($142,298,694 total)
5. Steel Magnolias – $6,188,482 ($56,252,164 total)
6. Harlem Nights – $5,975,218 ($95,997,258 total)
7. The Little Mermaid – $5,660,526 ($52,728,786 total)
11. The Bear – $1,399,738 ($53,231,386 total)
12. Dad – $1,305,131 ($37,215,792 total)
999. Batman – $22,799 ($514,392,282 total)
999. Parenthood – $218,629 ($194,203,393 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future Part II: Visual Effects
• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• The Bear : Editing
• 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 Dec. 7-9, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $15,214,805 ($15,214,805 total) {week 1}
2. 2010 – $7,393,361 ($7,393,361 total) {week 1}
10. Amadeus – $634,773 ($16,015,463 total) {week 12}
11. Places in the Heart – $544,285 ($28,404,734 total) {week 12}
13. Ghostbusters – $679,554 ($219,376,581 total) {week 27}
999. The Killing Fields – $56,308 ($571,996 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $36,814,394 ($36,814,394 total)
2. 2010 – $17,889,293 ($17,889,293 total)
10. Amadeus – $1,535,924 ($38,751,701 total)
11. Places in the Heart – $1,316,975 ($68,729,312 total)
13. Ghostbusters – $1,644,278 ($530,812,977 total)
999. The Killing Fields – $136,245 ($1,384,026 total)

Oscar Details:

• 2010: Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound, Visual Effects
• 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]
• Beverly Hills Cop: Original Screenplay
• 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