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

The Lego Movie (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

Kids for Cash (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 6-8, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

3. Coraline – $16,849,640 ($16,849,640 total) {week 1}
7. Slumdog Millionaire – $7,177,270 ($77,203,055 total) {week 13}
13. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $2,302,188 ($119,950,285 total) {week 7}
14. The Reader – $2,275,489 ($16,033,070 total) {week 9}
15. The Wrestler – $2,207,555 ($16,170,788 total) {week 8}
17. Revolutionary Road – $1,670,594 ($18,738,643 total) {week 7}
19. Defiance – $1,393,322 ($25,196,967 total) {week 6}
21. Milk – $1,125,312 ($25,257,922 total) {week 11}
22. Frost/Nixon – $771,985 ($15,651,111 total) {week 10}
23. Doubt – $722,534 ($29,103,495 total) {week 9}
30. The Dark Knight – $353,826 ($532,831,967 total) {week 30}
36. The Class – $180,590 ($575,846 total) {week 8}
40. Waltz with Bashir – $137,749 ($1,216,131 total) {week 7}
41. Rachel Getting Married – $133,042 ($11,892,890 total) {week 19}
42. Australia – $127,375 ($49,181,873 total) {week 11}
43. Bolt – $111,175 ($113,120,614 total) {week 12}
53. Frozen River – $29,439 ($2,385,656 total) {week 28}
58. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $17,743 ($23,191,990 total) {week 26}
72. Trouble the Water – $3,950 ($504,078 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Coraline – $17,838,152 ($17,838,152 total)
7. Slumdog Millionaire – $7,598,337 ($81,732,301 total)
13. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $2,437,250 ($126,987,368 total)
14. The Reader – $2,408,984 ($16,973,677 total)
15. The Wrestler – $2,337,065 ($17,119,474 total)
17. Revolutionary Road – $1,768,602 ($19,837,977 total)
19. Defiance – $1,475,064 ($26,675,189 total)
21. Milk – $1,191,330 ($26,739,720 total)
22. Frost/Nixon – $817,275 ($16,569,310 total)
23. Doubt – $764,923 ($30,810,900 total)
30. The Dark Knight – $374,584 ($564,091,442 total)
36. The Class – $191,185 ($609,629 total)
40. Waltz with Bashir – $145,830 ($1,287,477 total)
41. Rachel Getting Married – $140,847 ($12,590,606 total)
42. Australia – $134,848 ($52,067,210 total)
43. Bolt – $117,697 ($119,757,023 total)
53. Frozen River – $31,166 ($2,525,614 total)
58. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $18,784 ($24,552,587 total)
72. Trouble the Water – $4,182 ($533,651 total)

Oscar Details:

• Australia: Costume Design
• Bolt: Animated Feature
• The Class: Foreign Language Film
• Coraline: Animated Feature
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Picture, Director, Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actress (Taraji P. Henson), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Dark Knight: Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Defiance: Original Score
• Doubt: Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), Supporting Actress (Viola Davis), Adapted Screenplay
• Frost/Nixon: Picture, Director, Actor (Frank Langella), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Frozen River: Actress (Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay
• 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)
• The Reader: Picture, Director, Actress (Kate Winslet) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography
• Revolutionary Road: Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon), Art Direction, Costume Design
• 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]
• Waltz with Bashir: Foreign Language Film
• The Wrestler: Actor (Mickey Rourke), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 6-8, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

7. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $4,293,671 ($351,133,343 total) {week 8}
8. Mystic River – $3,638,203 ($69,880,053 total) {week 18}
9. Monster – $3,513,456 ($15,291,762 total) {week 7}
10. Cold Mountain – $3,242,434 ($82,869,814 total) {week 7}
11. Big Fish – $3,151,302 ($59,715,819 total) {week 9}
13. Something’s Gotta Give – $2,583,857 ($115,488,095 total) {week 9}
15. Lost in Translation – $1,731,915 ($39,853,665 total) {week 22}
17. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $1,339,567 ($89,605,191 total) {week 13}
20. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $1,102,023 ($5,822,504 total) {week 9}
21. In America – $875,232 ($11,186,500 total) {week 11}
22. The Last Samurai – $693,214 ($108,635,117 total) {week 10}
23. 21 Grams – $529,735 ($13,925,237 total) {week 12}
24. The Cooler – $427,987 ($6,589,425 total) {week 11}
26. City of God – $376,999 ($5,263,822 total) {week 56}
28. The Triplets of Belleville – $318,714 ($2,571,901 total) {week 11}
29. House of Sand and Fog – $318,394 ($11,470,845 total) {week 8}
30. The Fog of War – $226,025 ($1,228,408 total) {week 8}
39. Brother Bear – $117,762 ($84,601,985 total) {week 16}
48. My Architect – $73,969 ($784,830 total) {week 13}
80. Pieces of April – $9,265 ($2,498,144 total) {week 17}
89. The Weather Underground – $5,937 ($518,148 total) {week 36}
101. Dirty Pretty Things – $1,948 ($8,107,488 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $10,620,482 ($868,535,434 total)
8. Mystic River – $8,999,169 ($172,849,726 total)
9. Monster – $8,690,605 ($37,824,483 total)
10. Cold Mountain – $8,020,226 ($204,980,163 total)
11. Big Fish – $7,794,809 ($147,708,287 total)
13. Something’s Gotta Give – $6,391,223 ($285,662,142 total)
15. Lost in Translation – $4,283,927 ($98,578,847 total)
17. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $3,313,446 ($221,640,254 total)
20. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $2,725,876 ($14,402,082 total)
21. In America – $2,164,904 ($27,670,034 total)
22. The Last Samurai – $1,714,679 ($268,711,162 total)
23. 21 Grams – $1,310,310 ($34,444,356 total)
24. The Cooler – $1,058,635 ($16,299,076 total)
26. City of God – $932,515 ($13,020,170 total)
28. The Triplets of Belleville – $788,346 ($6,361,649 total)
29. House of Sand and Fog – $787,554 ($28,373,367 total)
30. The Fog of War – $559,077 ($3,038,492 total)
39. Brother Bear – $291,287 ($209,264,723 total)
48. My Architect – $182,964 ($1,941,293 total)
80. Pieces of April – $22,917 ($6,179,210 total)
89. The Weather Underground – $14,685 ($1,281,650 total)
101. Dirty Pretty Things – $4,818 ($20,054,036 total)

Oscar Details:

• 21 Grams: Actress (Naomi Watts), Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro)
• Big Fish: Original Score
• Brother Bear: Animated Feature
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Cold Mountain: Actor (Jude Law), Supporting Actress (Renee Zellweger) [O], Original Song (“Scarlet Tide”), Original Song (“You Will Be My Ain True Love”), Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• The Cooler: Supporting Actor (Alec Baldwin)
• Dirty Pretty Things: Original Screenplay
• The Fog of War: Documentary Feature [O]
• Girl with a Pearl Earring: Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• House of Sand and Fog: Actor (Ben Kingsley), Supporting Actress (Shohreh Aghdashloo), Original Score
• In America: Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Original Screenplay
• The Last Samurai: Supporting Actor (Ken Watanabe), Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Into the West”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound Mixing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• 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
• Monster: Actress (Charlize Theron) [O]
• 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)
• Something’s Gotta Give: Actress (Diane Keaton)
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 5-7, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

3. Patch Adams – $4,407,335 ($122,377,900 total) {week 7}
5. Saving Private Ryan – $3,609,717 ($194,634,361 total) {week 29}
6. Shakespeare in Love – $3,463,943 ($36,158,631 total) {week 9}
7. A Civil Action – $3,075,382 ($51,632,380 total) {week 7}
11. The Prince of Egypt – $1,921,629 ($93,389,964 total) {week 8}
12. The Thin Red Line – $1,912,400 ($30,426,042 total) {week 7}
15. A Bug’s Life – $1,417,171 ($155,959,885 total) {week 12}
16. A Simple Plan – $1,367,177 ($12,121,149 total) {week 9}
18. Mighty Joe Young – $1,083,576 ($46,938,617 total) {week 7}
20. Life Is Beautiful – $837,586 ($18,369,921 total) {week 16}
22. Elizabeth – $538,776 ($21,323,412 total) {week 14}
23. Hilary and Jackie – $530,029 ($2,532,321 total) {week 6}
24. Little Voice – $509,224 ($2,806,511 total) {week 7}
33. Central Station – $255,830 ($1,735,112 total) {week 12}
35. Babe: Pig in the City – $195,360 ($17,934,910 total) {week 11}
37. Gods and Monsters – $137,195 ($2,986,560 total) {week 14}
41. Affliction – $104,557 ($635,750 total) {week 6}
50. The Red Violin – $57,006 ($1,582,412 total) {week 15}
54. Children of Heaven – $37,718 ($96,179 total) {week 3}
56. Pleasantville – $35,336 ($39,304,146 total) {week 16}
999. The Last Days – $20,492 ($20,492 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Patch Adams – $6,888,630 ($191,275,694 total)
5. Saving Private Ryan – $5,641,959 ($304,211,974 total)
6. Shakespeare in Love – $5,414,116 ($56,515,656 total)
7. A Civil Action – $4,806,798 ($80,701,003 total)
11. The Prince of Egypt – $3,003,491 ($145,967,778 total)
12. The Thin Red Line – $2,989,066 ($47,555,664 total)
15. A Bug’s Life – $2,215,027 ($243,764,072 total)
16. A Simple Plan – $2,136,887 ($18,945,260 total)
18. Mighty Joe Young – $1,693,621 ($73,364,689 total)
20. Life Is Beautiful – $1,309,140 ($28,712,042 total)
22. Elizabeth – $842,103 ($33,328,325 total)
23. Hilary and Jackie – $828,431 ($3,957,998 total)
24. Little Voice – $795,913 ($4,386,555 total)
33. Central Station – $399,860 ($2,711,966 total)
35. Babe: Pig in the City – $305,346 ($28,032,123 total)
37. Gods and Monsters – $214,435 ($4,667,970 total)
41. Affliction – $163,422 ($993,672 total)
50. The Red Violin – $89,100 ($2,473,297 total)
54. Children of Heaven – $58,953 ($150,327 total)
56. Pleasantville – $55,230 ($61,432,071 total)
999. The Last Days – $32,029 ($32,029 total)

Oscar Details:

• Affliction: Actor (Nick Nolte), Supporting Actor (James Coburn) [O]
• Babe: Pig in the City: Original Song (“That’ll Do”)
• A Bug’s Life: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Central Station: Actress (Fernanda Montenegro), Foreign Language Film
• Children of Heaven: Foreign Language Film
• A Civil Action: Supporting Actor (Robert Duvall), Cinematography
• Elizabeth: Picture, Actress (Cate Blanchett), Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup
• Gods and Monsters: Actor (Ian McKellen), Supporting Actress (Lynn Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Hilary and Jackie: Actress (Emily Watson), Supporting Actress (Rachel Griffiths)
• The Last Days: Documentary Feature [O]
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Little Voice: Supporting Actress (Brenda Blethyn)
• Mighty Joe Young: Visual Effects
• Patch Adams: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Pleasantville: Original Dramatic Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Prince of Egypt: Original Song (“When You Believe”) [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score
• The Red Violin : Original Score [O]
• Saving Private Ryan: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• Shakespeare in Love: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• A Simple Plan: Supporting Actor (Billy Bob Thornton), Adapted Screenplay
• The Thin Red Line: Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 11-13, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

5. Schindler’s List – $4,703,730 ($35,629,263 total) {week 9}
6. Mrs. Doubtfire – $4,406,663 ($187,298,739 total) {week 12}
7. Philadelphia – $4,223,332 ($50,465,943 total) {week 8}
10. In the Name of the Father – $2,309,180 ($9,124,957 total) {week 7}
13. The Piano – $1,301,973 ($27,104,500 total) {week 13}
16. Shadowlands – $1,024,403 ($21,152,781 total) {week 7}
999. Jurassic Park – $387,045 ($343,554,480 total) {week 36}
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $51,467 ($1,066,005 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Schindler’s List – $8,934,836 ($67,678,552 total)
6. Mrs. Doubtfire – $8,370,551 ($355,777,987 total)
7. Philadelphia – $8,022,310 ($95,861,145 total)
10. In the Name of the Father – $4,386,337 ($17,333,052 total)
13. The Piano – $2,473,126 ($51,485,581 total)
16. Shadowlands – $1,945,876 ($40,180,163 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $735,200 ($652,589,132 total)
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $97,763 ($2,024,899 total)

Oscar Details:

• In the Name of the Father: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Supporting Actor (Pete Postlethwaite), Supporting Actress (Emma Thompson), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Mrs. Doubtfire: Makeup [O]
• Philadelphia: Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Philadelphia”), Original Song (“Streets of Philadelphia”) [O]
• The Piano: Picture, Director, Actress (Holly Hunter) [O], Supporting Actress (Anna Paquin) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Schindler’s List: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Liam Neeson), Supporting Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup, Sound
• Shadowlands: Actress (Debra Winger), Adapted Screenplay
• What’s Eating Gilbert Grape: Supporting Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 10-12, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

3. Rain Man – $4,540,785 ($102,224,027 total) {week 9}
4. Beaches – $3,707,524 ($30,887,641 total) {week 8}
10. Working Girl – $2,109,890 ($44,500,809 total) {week 8}
11. Dangerous Liaisons – $1,808,801 ($8,670,444 total) {week 8}
12. Mississippi Burning – $1,725,034 ($20,692,406 total) {week 10}
14. The Accidental Tourist – $855,614 ($25,230,033 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Rain Man – $9,081,570 ($204,448,054 total)
4. Beaches – $7,415,048 ($61,775,282 total)
10. Working Girl – $4,219,780 ($89,001,618 total)
11. Dangerous Liaisons – $3,617,602 ($17,340,888 total)
12. Mississippi Burning – $3,450,068 ($41,384,812 total)
14. The Accidental Tourist – $1,711,228 ($50,460,066 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Accidental Tourist: Picture, Supporting Actress (Geena Davis) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Beaches: Art Direction
• Dangerous Liaisons: Picture, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O]
• Mississippi Burning: Picture, Director, Actor (Gene Hackman), Supporting Actress (Frances McDormand), Editing, Cinematography [O], Sound
• Rain Man: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Dustin Hoffman) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction
• Working Girl: Picture, Director, Actress (Melanie Griffith), Supporting Actress (Joan Cusack), Supporting Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Original Song (“Let the River Run”) [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 10-12, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

2. Terms of Endearment – $2,277,981 ($72,704,975 total) {week 12}
3. Silkwood – $1,891,522 ($27,741,234 total) {week 9}
4. Nevery Cry Wolf – $1,634,886 ($18,768,049 total) {week 19}
11. Yentl – $1,006,136 ($34,336,852 total) {week 13}
14. The Big Chill – $735,765 ($52,434,893 total) {week 20}
999. Broadway Danny Rose – $729,758 ($3,184,993 total) {week 3}
999. The Dresser – $26,877 ($559,088 total) {week 10}
999. Return of the Jedi – $115,198 ($251,983,141 total) {week 38}
999. The Right Stuff – $195,817 ($15,609,776 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Terms of Endearment – $5,383,086 ($171,808,780 total)
3. Silkwood – $4,469,847 ($65,555,178 total)
4. Nevery Cry Wolf – $3,863,391 ($44,350,687 total)
11. Yentl – $2,377,595 ($81,141,251 total)
14. The Big Chill – $1,738,683 ($123,908,646 total)
999. Broadway Danny Rose – $1,724,488 ($7,526,442 total)
999. The Dresser – $63,513 ($1,321,178 total)
999. Return of the Jedi – $272,224 ($595,460,161 total)
999. The Right Stuff – $462,734 ($36,887,387 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Big Chill: Picture, Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Screenplay
• Broadway Danny Rose: Director, Original Screenplay
• The Dresser: Picture, Directing, Actor (Tom Courtenay), Actor (Albert Finney), Adapted Screenplay
• Nevery Cry Wolf: Sound
• 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]
• Silkwood: Directing, Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actress (Cher), Original Screenplay, Editing
• 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
• Yentl: Supporting Actress (Amy Irving), Original Song (“Papa, Can You Hear Me?”), Original Song (“The Way He Makes Me Feel”), Original Song Score [O], Art Direction