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

Timbuktu (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Foreign Language Film.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 29-31, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

1. Avatar – $31,280,029 ($595,752,416 total) {week 7}
7. The Lovely Bones – $4,726,828 ($38,005,738 total) {week 8}
8. Sherlock Holmes – $4,515,344 ($197,601,522 total) {week 6}
11. The Blind Side – $3,021,317 ($237,914,805 total) {week 11}
12. Up in the Air – $2,801,141 ($73,273,658 total) {week 9}
14. Crazy Heart – $2,309,245 ($6,657,379 total) {week 7}
17. The Princess and the Frog – $800,570 ($100,352,358 total) {week 10}
20. The Young Victoria – $584,399 ($8,271,771 total) {week 7}
21. A Single Man – $553,019 ($5,281,636 total) {week 8}
23. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $322,908 ($6,406,049 total) {week 6}
26. Invictus – $270,900 ($36,215,979 total) {week 8}
29. Precious – $215,131 ($45,447,889 total) {week 13}
30. Nine – $208,672 ($19,201,488 total) {week 7}
32. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $136,850 ($20,374,545 total) {week 12}
33. An Education – $119,146 ($8,795,228 total) {week 17}
34. The White Ribbon – $116,866 ($611,463 total) {week 5}
37. The Last Station – $84,745 ($343,758 total) {week 3}
56. The Messenger – $17,951 ($770,208 total) {week 12}
62. Coco Before Chanel – $13,780 ($6,095,004 total) {week 19}
82. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $1,114 ($37,989 total) {week 1}
92. Departures – $150 ($1,495,235 total) {week 36}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Avatar – $32,191,868 ($613,119,090 total)
7. The Lovely Bones – $4,864,619 ($39,113,637 total)
8. Sherlock Holmes – $4,646,970 ($203,361,769 total)
11. The Blind Side – $3,109,391 ($244,850,218 total)
12. Up in the Air – $2,882,797 ($75,409,645 total)
14. Crazy Heart – $2,376,561 ($6,851,447 total)
17. The Princess and the Frog – $823,907 ($103,277,712 total)
20. The Young Victoria – $601,435 ($8,512,900 total)
21. A Single Man – $569,140 ($5,435,600 total)
23. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $332,321 ($6,592,791 total)
26. Invictus – $278,797 ($37,271,705 total)
29. Precious – $221,402 ($46,772,732 total)
30. Nine – $214,755 ($19,761,227 total)
32. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $140,839 ($20,968,480 total)
33. An Education – $122,619 ($9,051,616 total)
34. The White Ribbon – $120,273 ($629,288 total)
37. The Last Station – $87,215 ($353,779 total)
56. The Messenger – $18,474 ($792,660 total)
62. Coco Before Chanel – $14,182 ($6,272,678 total)
82. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $1,146 ($39,096 total)
92. Departures – $154 ($1,538,822 total)

Oscar Details:

• Avatar: Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Blind Side: Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
• Coco Before Chanel: Costume Design
• Crazy Heart: Actor (Jeff Bridges) [O], Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Original Song (“The Weary Kind”) [O]
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• An Education: Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
• Fantastic Mr. Fox: Animated Feature, Original Score
• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Invictus: Actor (Morgan Freeman), Supporting Actor (Matt Damon)
• The Last Station : Actress (Helen Mirren), Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer)
• The Lovely Bones : Supporting Actor (Stanley Tucci)
• The Messenger : Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• The Most Dangerous Man in America : Documentary Feature
• Nine: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz), Original Song (“Take It All”), Art Direction, Costume Design
• 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”)
• Sherlock Holmes: Original Score, Art Direction
• A Single Man: Actor (Colin Firth)
• Up in the Air: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick), Adapted Screenplay
• The White Ribbon : Cinematography, Foreign Language Film
• The Young Victoria : Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 4-6, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

5. Million Dollar Baby – $8,708,118 ($34,436,002 total) {week 8}
6. The Aviator – $5,427,739 ($75,895,720 total) {week 8}
8. Sideways – $4,657,390 ($46,665,695 total) {week 16}
12. The Phantom of the Opera – $2,609,040 ($42,804,436 total) {week 7}
13. Finding Neverland – $2,528,704 ($39,410,213 total) {week 13}
14. Hotel Rwanda – $2,316,416 ($11,225,811 total) {week 7}
19. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $441,354 ($116,652,720 total) {week 1}
23. Ray – $327,340 ($74,347,180 total) {week 15}
24. The Incredibles – $309,563 ($258,419,089 total) {week 14}
25. Being Julia – $282,907 ($4,611,551 total) {week 17}
28. House of Flying Daggers – $236,595 ($10,159,445 total) {week 10}
30. Closer – $204,147 ($33,792,301 total) {week 10}
32. The Polar Express – $178,638 ($161,861,886 total) {week 1}
33. A Very Long Engagement – $175,616 ($5,614,787 total) {week 11}
34. Vera Drake – $163,559 ($2,597,089 total) {week 18}
38. The Sea Inside – $117,070 ($528,835 total) {week 8}
39. The Chorus – $112,513 ($338,777 total) {week 4}
43. Kinsey – $100,773 ($9,372,104 total) {week 13}
45. Born Into Brothels – $77,818 ($211,195 total) {week 5}
46. The Motorcycle Diaries – $53,423 ($16,680,023 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Million Dollar Baby – $11,031,188 ($43,622,517 total)
6. The Aviator – $6,875,701 ($96,142,472 total)
8. Sideways – $5,899,845 ($59,114,734 total)
12. The Phantom of the Opera – $3,305,055 ($54,223,404 total)
13. Finding Neverland – $3,203,288 ($49,923,702 total)
14. Hotel Rwanda – $2,934,368 ($14,220,528 total)
19. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $559,094 ($147,772,244 total)
23. Ray – $414,665 ($94,180,827 total)
24. The Incredibles – $392,145 ($327,357,723 total)
25. Being Julia – $358,378 ($5,841,778 total)
28. House of Flying Daggers – $299,712 ($12,869,687 total)
30. Closer – $258,607 ($42,807,096 total)
32. The Polar Express – $226,293 ($205,041,890 total)
33. A Very Long Engagement – $222,465 ($7,112,647 total)
34. Vera Drake – $207,192 ($3,289,916 total)
38. The Sea Inside – $148,301 ($669,913 total)
39. The Chorus – $142,528 ($429,153 total)
43. Kinsey – $127,656 ($11,872,306 total)
45. Born Into Brothels – $98,578 ($267,536 total)
46. The Motorcycle Diaries – $67,675 ($21,129,764 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Aviator: Picture, Director, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Alan Alda), Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound Mixing
• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Born Into Brothels : Documentary Feature
• The Chorus: Original Song (“Look To Your Path”), Foreign Language Film
• 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
• Hotel Rwanda: Actor (Don Cheadle), Supporting Actress (Sophie Okonedo), Original Screenplay
• House of Flying Daggers: Cinematography
• The Incredibles: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O]
• Kinsey: Supporting Actress (Laura Linney)
• Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events: Original Score, Makeup [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
• Million Dollar Baby: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• The Motorcycle Diaries : Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Al Otro Lado del Rio”) [O]
• The Phantom of the Opera : Original Song (“Learn To Be Lonely”), Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Polar Express : Original Song (“Believe”), Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Ray: Picture, Director, Actor (Jamie Foxx) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing [O]
• The Sea Inside : Makeup, Foreign Language Film [O]
• 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

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 4-6, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Hurricane – $4,940,420 ($37,559,916 total) {week 6}
3. Stuart Little – $4,713,252 ($128,636,752 total) {week 8}
6. The Green Mile – $4,017,133 ($120,403,882 total) {week 9}
9. Girl, Interrupted – $2,556,403 ($24,906,736 total) {week 7}
10. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $2,488,414 ($75,610,389 total) {week 7}
11. Toy Story 2 – $2,254,993 ($237,113,435 total) {week 12}
12. The Cider House Rules – $1,934,415 ($20,587,459 total) {week 9}
14. Angela’s Ashes – $1,539,191 ($8,636,345 total) {week 7}
15. Magnolia – $1,290,415 ($19,300,617 total) {week 8}
16. The End of the Affair – $1,054,011 ($8,437,884 total) {week 10}
19. Bicentennial Man – $794,701 ($56,718,027 total) {week 8}
20. Snow Falling on Cedars – $732,035 ($12,868,743 total) {week 7}
21. Topsy-Turvy – $730,330 ($2,307,119 total) {week 8}
27. Anna and the King – $482,512 ($37,578,493 total) {week 8}
29. All About My Mother – $349,337 ($4,727,232 total) {week 14}
30. Being John Malkovich – $313,840 ($21,058,680 total) {week 15}
31. Sleepy Hollow – $303,043 ($97,666,682 total) {week 12}
32. The Sixth Sense – $298,909 ($278,386,554 total) {week 27}
34. Sweet and Lowdown – $221,321 ($2,328,962 total) {week 10}
43. The Straight Story – $130,151 ($5,300,526 total) {week 17}
44. Boys Don’t Cry – $127,887 ($3,578,044 total) {week 18}
46. Titus – $119,376 ($853,245 total) {week 7}
54. American Beauty – $75,233 ($74,680,983 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Hurricane – $7,442,711 ($56,583,770 total)
3. Stuart Little – $7,100,484 ($193,790,432 total)
6. The Green Mile – $6,051,785 ($181,387,666 total)
9. Girl, Interrupted – $3,851,205 ($37,521,836 total)
10. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $3,748,780 ($113,906,560 total)
11. Toy Story 2 – $3,397,132 ($357,209,850 total)
12. The Cider House Rules – $2,914,184 ($31,014,873 total)
14. Angela’s Ashes – $2,318,781 ($13,010,598 total)
15. Magnolia – $1,944,002 ($29,076,254 total)
16. The End of the Affair – $1,587,861 ($12,711,617 total)
19. Bicentennial Man – $1,197,212 ($85,445,339 total)
20. Snow Falling on Cedars – $1,102,806 ($19,386,678 total)
21. Topsy-Turvy – $1,100,237 ($3,475,660 total)
27. Anna and the King – $726,901 ($56,611,756 total)
29. All About My Mother – $526,274 ($7,121,544 total)
30. Being John Malkovich – $472,798 ($31,724,765 total)
31. Sleepy Hollow – $456,532 ($147,134,222 total)
32. The Sixth Sense – $450,304 ($419,387,536 total)
34. Sweet and Lowdown – $333,419 ($3,508,566 total)
43. The Straight Story – $196,072 ($7,985,208 total)
44. Boys Don’t Cry – $192,661 ($5,390,300 total)
46. Titus – $179,839 ($1,285,408 total)
54. American Beauty – $113,338 ($112,506,416 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
• Angela’s Ashes: Original Score
• Anna and the King: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Being John Malkovich: Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay
• Bicentennial Man: Makeup
• Boys Don’t Cry: Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actress (Chloe Sevigny)
• The Cider House Rules : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction
• The End of the Affair : Actress (Julianne Moore), Cinematography
• Girl, Interrupted: Supporting Actress (Angelina Jolie)
• The Green Mile : Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
• The Hurricane : Actor (Denzel Washington)
• Magnolia: Supporting Actor (Tom Cruise), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Save Me”)
• 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
• Snow Falling on Cedars: Cinematography
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Stuart Little: Visual Effects
• Sweet and Lowdown: Actor (Sean Penn), Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton)
• The Talented Mr. Ripley : Supporting Actor (Jude Law), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Titus: Costume Design
• Topsy-Turvy: Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O]
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 3-5, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

1. Legends of the Fall – $5,111,888 ($42,617,018 total) {week 7}
6. Nobody’s Fool – $3,008,748 ($24,483,636 total) {week 1}
10. Little Women – $1,673,008 ($42,774,021 total) {week 7}
13. Pulp Fiction – $1,140,984 ($74,538,655 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Legends of the Fall – $9,542,191 ($79,551,767 total)
6. Nobody’s Fool – $5,616,330 ($45,702,787 total)
10. Little Women – $3,122,948 ($79,844,839 total)
13. Pulp Fiction – $2,129,837 ($139,138,823 total)

Oscar Details:

• Legends of the Fall: Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound
• Little Women: Actress (Winona Ryder), Original Score, Costume Design
• Nobody’s Fool: Actor (Paul Newman), Adapted Screenplay
• 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 Feb. 2-4, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

1. Driving Miss Daisy – $6,011,600 ($24,384,883 total) {week 8}
3. Born on the Fourth of July – $4,012,085 ($44,496,299 total) {week 7}
10. Steel Magnolias – $2,019,275 ($67,032,445 total) {week 12}
12. The Little Mermaid – $1,866,417 ($70,437,542 total) {week 12}
13. Back to the Future Part II – $1,604,265 ($111,875,356 total) {week 11}
14. Glory – $1,559,890 ($11,638,984 total) {week 8}
999. Cinema Paradiso – $16,552 ($16,552 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Driving Miss Daisy – $11,539,998 ($46,809,752 total)
3. Born on the Fourth of July – $7,701,686 ($85,416,063 total)
10. Steel Magnolias – $3,876,244 ($128,676,939 total)
12. The Little Mermaid – $3,582,815 ($135,213,438 total)
13. Back to the Future Part II – $3,079,582 ($214,758,367 total)
14. Glory – $2,994,399 ($22,342,447 total)
999. Cinema Paradiso – $31,774 ($31,774 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future Part II: Visual Effects
• Born on the Fourth of July: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Cruise), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound
• Cinema Paradiso: Foreign Language Film
• Driving Miss Daisy: Picture [O], Actor (Morgan Freeman), Actress (Jessica Tandy) [O], Supporting Actor (Dan Aykroyd), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• Glory: Supporting Actor (Denzel Washington) [O], Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound [O]
• The Little Mermaid: Original Song (“Kiss the Girl”, “Under the Sea” [O]), Original Score [O]
• Steel Magnolias: Supporting Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 1-3, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $7,143,280 ($140,275,886 total) {week 9}
2. The Killing Fields – $3,019,640 ($6,918,628 total) {week 14}
3. A Passage to India – $2,522,842 ($9,051,464 total) {week 8}
7. Amadeus – $1,296,953 ($24,086,640 total) {week 20}
10. Starman – $1,047,979 ($25,229,364 total) {week 8}
12. The River – $824,765 ($8,461,784 total) {week 7}
13. The Cotton Club – $688,853 ($23,581,744 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $16,338,995 ($320,856,393 total)
2. The Killing Fields – $6,906,895 ($15,825,143 total)
3. A Passage to India – $5,770,557 ($20,703,630 total)
7. Amadeus – $2,966,552 ($55,093,948 total)
10. Starman – $2,397,067 ($57,707,728 total)
12. The River – $1,886,505 ($19,354,841 total)
13. The Cotton Club – $1,575,630 ($53,939,088 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]
• Beverly Hills Cop: Original Screenplay
• The Cotton Club : Editing, Art Direction
• The Killing Fields : Picture, Director, Actor (Sam Waterston), Supporting Actor (Haing S. Ngor) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O]
• A Passage to India: Picture, Director, Actress (Judy Davis), Supporting Actress (Peggy Ashcroft) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
• The River : Actress (Sissy Spacek), Original Score, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects [O]
• Starman: Actor (Jeff Bridges)