Oscar in Box Office History (Week 52, 2012)

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

Django Unchained (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Leonardo Di Caprio, Christoph Waltz), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Original Song, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing.

Les Misérables (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Hugh Jackman), Supporting Actor (Eddie Redmayne, Russell Crowe), Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway, Samantha Barks), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing.

Promised Land (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Original Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 28-30, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

Charlie Wilson’s War – $12,012,360 ($34,750,790 total) {week 2}
Juno – $10,634,576 ($26,015,794 total) {week 4}
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $8,194,360 ($26,913,596 total) {week 2}
The Golden Compass – $4,683,801 ($58,775,336 total) {week 4}
Atonement – $3,123,028 ($11,237,143 total) {week 4}
No Country for Old Men – $2,218,782 ($41,068,444 total) {week 8}
The Kite Runner – $1,845,396 ($5,396,683 total) {week 3}
The Savages – $522,952 ($1,690,511 total) {week 5}
American Gangster – $294,715 ($129,018,725 total) {week 9}
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $273,246 ($882,696 total) {week 5}
August Rush – $240,036 ($30,035,617 total) {week 6}
There Will Be Blood – $190,739 ($314,917 total) {week 1}
Into the Wild – $127,275 ($16,991,299 total) {week 15}
I’m Not There – $117,143 ($3,087,475 total) {week 6}
Persepolis – $88,826 ($163,372 total) {week 1}
Michael Clayton – $59,482 ($39,132,109 total) {week 13}
Gone Baby Gone – $30,044 ($20,285,084 total) {week 11}
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $4,262 ($3,876,717 total) {week 15}
In the Valley of Elah – $100 ($6,765,023 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Charlie Wilson’s War – $13,828,182 ($40,003,816 total)
Juno – $12,242,128 ($29,948,414 total)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $9,433,042 ($30,981,930 total)
The Golden Compass – $5,391,817 ($67,659,980 total)
Atonement – $3,595,114 ($12,935,781 total)
No Country for Old Men – $2,554,179 ($47,276,465 total)
The Kite Runner – $2,124,351 ($6,212,461 total)
The Savages – $602,003 ($1,946,053 total)
American Gangster – $339,265 ($148,521,556 total)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $314,551 ($1,016,127 total)
August Rush – $276,321 ($34,575,885 total)
There Will Be Blood – $219,572 ($362,521 total)
Into the Wild – $146,514 ($19,559,751 total)
I’m Not There – $134,851 ($3,554,186 total)
Persepolis – $102,253 ($188,068 total)
Michael Clayton – $68,473 ($45,047,428 total)
Gone Baby Gone – $34,586 ($23,351,434 total)
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $4,906 ($4,462,732 total)
In the Valley of Elah – $115 ($7,787,643 total)

Oscar Details:

American Gangster: Supporting Actress (Ruby Dee), Art Direction
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: Supporting Actor (Casey Affleck), Cinematography
Atonement: Picture, Supporting Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
August Rush: Original Song (“Raise It Up”)
Charlie Wilson’s War: Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
The Golden Compass: Art Direction, Visual Effects [O]
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
Juno: Picture, Director, Actress (Ellen Page), Original Screenplay [O]
The Kite Runner: Original Score
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
Persepolis: Animated Feature
The Savages: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: Actor (Johnny Depp), Art Direction [O], Costume Design
There Will Be Blood: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 27-29, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $48,875,549 ($200,058,231 total) {week 2}
Catch Me If You Can – $30,053,627 ($48,646,930 total) {week 1}
Gangs of New York – $10,948,803 ($29,873,147 total) {week 2}
The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $7,364,432 ($18,418,284 total) {week 2}
My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2,760,697 ($222,517,469 total) {week 37}
Chicago – $2,074,929 ($2,074,929 total) {week 1}
Treasure Planet – $1,549,980 ($32,849,870 total) {week 5}
Adaptation. – $1,033,875 ($4,074,984 total) {week 4}
About Schmidt – $845,041 ($2,572,811 total) {week 3}
Far From Heaven – $646,897 ($10,048,405 total) {week 8}
Frida – $551,484 ($20,305,922 total) {week 10}
Talk to Her – $429,634 ($1,338,550 total) {week 6}
Bowling for Columbine – $417,215 ($15,203,743 total) {week 12}
8 Mile – $346,620 ($114,707,095 total) {week 8}
The Hours – $338,622 ($338,622 total) {week 1}
The Crime of Father Amaro – $210,405 ($4,262,754 total) {week 7}
The Pianist – $111,261 ($143,197 total) {week 1}
Spirited Away – $30,141 ($5,392,006 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $66,625,533 ($272,712,769 total)
Catch Me If You Can – $40,968,111 ($66,313,887 total)
Gangs of New York – $14,925,046 ($40,722,087 total)
The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $10,038,950 ($25,107,196 total)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $3,763,291 ($303,328,460 total)
Chicago – $2,828,475 ($2,828,475 total)
Treasure Planet – $2,112,882 ($44,779,857 total)
Adaptation. – $1,409,344 ($5,554,884 total)
About Schmidt – $1,151,932 ($3,507,171 total)
Far From Heaven – $881,829 ($13,697,654 total)
Frida – $751,765 ($27,680,362 total)
Talk to Her – $585,663 ($1,824,667 total)
Bowling for Columbine – $568,734 ($20,725,240 total)
8 Mile – $472,501 ($156,364,921 total)
The Hours – $461,598 ($461,598 total)
The Crime of Father Amaro – $286,817 ($5,810,845 total)
The Pianist – $151,667 ($195,201 total)
Spirited Away – $41,087 ($7,350,204 total)

Oscar Details:

8 Mile: Original Song (“Lose Yourself”) [O]
About Schmidt: Actor (Jack Nicholson), Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates)
Adaptation.: Actor (Nicoals Cage), Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper) [O], Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Adapted Screenplay
Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
Catch Me If You Can: Supporting Actor (Christopher Walken), Original Score
Chicago: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Renee Zellweger), Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly), Supporting Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones [O], Queen Latifah), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“I Move On”), Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [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]
Gangs of New York: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Hands That Built America”), Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
The Hours: Picture, Director, Actress (Nicole Kidman) [O], Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Picture, Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
The Pianist: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Adrien Brody) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
Treasure Planet: Animated Feature
The Wild Thornberrys Movie: Original Song (“Father and Daughter”)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 26-28, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

Titanic – $35,455,673 ($88,425,009 total) {week 2}
As Good As It Gets – $12,606,928 ($16,164,889 total) {week 1}
Jackie Brown – $9,292,248 ($12,888,609 total) {week 1}
Amistad – $5,176,006 ($17,768,155 total) {week 3}
Anastasia – $2,159,889 ($48,360,644 total) {week 7}
Good Will Hunting – $1,720,540 ($3,165,055 total) {week 4}
Deconstructing Harry – $880,900 ($1,994,179 total) {week 3}
Afterglow – $50,052 ($50,052 total) {week 1}
Kundun – $72,095 ($99,608 total) {week 1}
Wag the Dog – $92,079 ($124,217 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Titanic – $61,178,416 ($152,576,486 total)
As Good As It Gets – $21,753,131 ($27,892,357 total)
Jackie Brown – $16,033,683 ($22,239,168 total)
Amistad – $8,931,148 ($30,658,777 total)
Anastasia – $3,726,867 ($83,445,817 total)
Good Will Hunting – $2,968,775 ($5,461,271 total)
Deconstructing Harry – $1,519,984 ($3,440,936 total)
Afterglow – $86,364 ($86,364 total)
Kundun – $124,399 ($171,873 total)
Wag the Dog – $158,881 ($214,335 total)

Oscar Details:

Afterglow: Actress (Julie Christie)
Amistad: Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
Anastasia: Original Song (“Journey to the Past”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
As Good As It Gets: Picture, Actor (Jack Nicholson) [O], Actress (Helen Hunt) [O], Supporting Actor (Greg Kinnear), Original Screenplay, Original Musical or Comedy Score, Editing
Deconstructing Harry: Original Screenplay
Good Will Hunting: Picture, Director, Actor (Matt Damon), Supporting Actor (Robin Williams) [O], Supporting Actress (Minnie Driver), Original Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Original Song (“Miss Misery”), Editing
Jackie Brown: Supporting Actor (Robert Forster)
Kundun: Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
Titanic: Picture [O], Director [O], Actress (Kate Winslet), Supporting Actress (Gloria Stuart), Original Dramatic Score [O], Original Song (“My Heart Will Go On”) [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
Wag the Dog: Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Adapted Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 25-27, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

A Few Good Men – $13,608,117 ($51,438,945 total) {week 3}
Aladdin – $13,381,926 ($80,440,097 total) {week 7}
The Bodyguard – $8,775,104 ($72,243,913 total) {week 5}
Hoffa – $6,406,012 ($6,406,012 total) {week 1}
Toys – $3,978,283 ($11,631,487 total) {week 2}
Malcolm X – $2,062,696 ($40,913,666 total) {week 6}
Chaplin – $84,669 ($84,669 total) {week 1}
The Crying Game – $887,535 ($2,578,554 total) {week 5}
Damage – $101,707 ($101,707 total) {week 1}
Scent of a Woman – $357,468 ($480,296 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

A Few Good Men – $25,970,190 ($98,167,818 total)
Aladdin – $25,538,519 ($153,514,595 total)
The Bodyguard – $16,746,705 ($137,872,721 total)
Hoffa – $12,225,449 ($12,225,449 total)
Toys – $7,592,289 ($22,197,922 total)
Malcolm X – $3,936,519 ($78,081,020 total)
Chaplin – $161,585 ($161,585 total)
The Crying Game – $1,693,802 ($4,920,999 total)
Damage – $194,101 ($194,101 total)
Scent of a Woman – $682,204 ($916,613 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”)
Chaplin: Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), Original Score, Art Direction
The Crying Game: Picture, Director, Actor (Stephen Rea), Supporting Actor (Jaye Davidson), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
Damage: Actress (Miranda Richardson)
A Few Good Men: Picture, Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson), Editing, Sound
Hoffa: Cinematography, Makeup
Malcolm X: Actor, Costume Design
Scent of a Woman: Picture, Director, Actor (Al Pacino) [O], Adapted Screenplay
Toys: Art Direction, Costume Design

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 25-27, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

Throw Momma From the Train – $6,760,890 ($25,137,640 total) {week 3}
Broadcast News – $5,449,920 ($5,890,959 total) {week 2}
Wall Street – $4,407,619 ($14,722,326 total) {week 3}
Fatal Attraction – $3,086,152 ($123,532,687 total) {week 15}
Empire of the Sun – $2,914,509 ($6,610,192 total) {week 3}
The Last Emperor – $999,042 ($3,676,398 total) {week 6}
Good Morning, Vietnam – $194,308 ($194,308 total) {week 1}
Ironweed – $48,140 ($112,929 total) {week 2}
Moonstruck – $172,367 ($442,298 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Throw Momma From the Train – $13,694,693 ($50,918,186 total)
Broadcast News – $11,039,224 ($11,932,582 total)
Wall Street – $8,927,965 ($29,821,182 total)
Fatal Attraction – $6,251,234 ($250,224,778 total)
Empire of the Sun – $5,903,558 ($13,389,443 total)
The Last Emperor – $2,023,635 ($7,446,822 total)
Good Morning, Vietnam – $393,586 ($393,586 total)
Ironweed – $97,511 ($228,746 total)
Moonstruck – $349,142 ($895,908 total)

Oscar Details:

Broadcast News: Picture, Actor (William Hurt), Actress (Holly Hunter), Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks), Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
Empire of the Sun: Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
Fatal Attraction: Picture, Director, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Anne Archer), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
Good Morning, Vietnam: Actor (Robin Williams)
Ironweed: Actor (Jack Nicholson), Actress (Meryl Streep)
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]
Moonstruck: Picture, Director, Actress (Cher) [O], Supporting Actor (Vincent Gardenia), Supporting Actress (Olympia Dukakis) [O], Original Screenplay
Throw Momma From the Train: Supporting Actress (Anne Ramsey)
Wall Street: Actor (Michael Douglas) [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 24-26, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

Tootsie – $7,469,326 ($18,109,741 total) {week 2}
The Verdict – $3,048,801 ($7,367,709 total) {week 3}
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $2,540,555 ($309,375,473 total) {week 29}
An Officer and a Gentleman – $790,902 ($106,836,041 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Tootsie – $20,121,450 ($48,785,425 total)
The Verdict – $8,213,097 ($19,847,706 total)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $6,843,944 ($833,419,642 total)
An Officer and a Gentleman – $2,130,593 ($287,803,212 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]
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
Tootsie: Picture, Director, Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Teri Garr), Supporting Actress (Jessica Lange) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“It Might Be You”), Editing, Cinematography, Sound
The Verdict: Picture, Director, Actor (Paul Newman), Supporting Actor (James Mason), Adapted Screenplay