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

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5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 22-24, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

8. Juno – $4,154,502 ($130,431,948 total) {week 12}
10. There Will Be Blood – $2,687,229 ($35,112,557 total) {week 9}
12. No Country for Old Men – $2,404,682 ($64,291,179 total) {week 16}
18. Atonement – $1,204,022 ($49,391,133 total) {week 12}
21. In Bruges – $738,318 ($2,744,872 total) {week 3}
25. Michael Clayton – $594,383 ($48,517,861 total) {week 21}
29. Persepolis – $387,267 ($3,454,903 total) {week 9}
31. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $255,979 ($5,277,103 total) {week 13}
32. The Savages – $196,380 ($5,996,522 total) {week 13}
35. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $152,724 ($52,540,577 total) {week 10}
40. Charlie Wilson’s War – $112,035 ($66,528,215 total) {week 10}
42. The Kite Runner – $107,842 ($15,319,828 total) {week 11}
44. 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $101,338 ($394,793 total) {week 2}
45. The Golden Compass – $91,936 ($69,990,336 total) {week 12}
46. The Counterfeiters – $87,514 ($87,514 total) {week 1}
56. Into the Wild – $51,358 ($18,247,795 total) {week 23}
64. I’m Not There – $34,555 ($3,944,522 total) {week 14}
66. August Rush – $24,567 ($31,655,091 total) {week 14}
77. Taxi to the Dark Side – $9,583 ($105,677 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. Juno – $4,582,682 ($143,874,795 total)
10. There Will Be Blood – $2,964,186 ($38,731,400 total)
12. No Country for Old Men – $2,652,518 ($70,917,289 total)
18. Atonement – $1,328,113 ($54,481,584 total)
21. In Bruges – $814,412 ($3,027,770 total)
25. Michael Clayton – $655,643 ($53,518,309 total)
29. Persepolis – $427,180 ($3,810,979 total)
31. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $282,361 ($5,820,983 total)
32. The Savages – $216,620 ($6,614,548 total)
35. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $168,464 ($57,955,623 total)
40. Charlie Wilson’s War – $123,582 ($73,384,883 total)
42. The Kite Runner – $118,957 ($16,898,752 total)
45. The Golden Compass – $101,411 ($77,203,825 total)
46. The Counterfeiters – $96,534 ($96,534 total)
56. Into the Wild – $56,651 ($20,128,487 total)
64. I’m Not There – $38,116 ($4,351,060 total)
66. August Rush – $27,099 ($34,917,593 total)
77. Taxi to the Dark Side – $10,571 ($116,569 total)

Oscar Details:

• 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film
• 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 Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• The Golden Compass: Art Direction, Visual Effects [O]
• I’m Not There: Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett)
• In Bruges: Original Screenplay
• 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
• Taxi to the Dark Side: Documentary Feature [O]
• 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 Feb. 21-23, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

5. Chicago – $8,241,306 ($94,094,784 total) {week 9}
12. The Hours – $2,437,861 ($30,041,901 total) {week 9}
14. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $1,925,167 ($328,156,417 total) {week 10}
16. About Schmidt – $1,700,614 ($55,481,339 total) {week 11}
17. The Pianist – $1,158,160 ($12,850,463 total) {week 9}
19. Catch Me If You Can – $829,759 ($161,066,038 total) {week 9}
22. Gangs of New York – $674,069 ($73,616,351 total) {week 10}
23. Adaptation. – $575,083 ($19,427,398 total) {week 12}
25. Talk to Her – $381,801 ($6,310,336 total) {week 14}
29. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $214,809 ($241,055,385 total) {week 45}
32. Frida – $174,490 ($24,003,335 total) {week 18}
33. Far From Heaven – $159,234 ($14,352,246 total) {week 16}
34. Bowling for Columbine – $158,857 ($18,648,592 total) {week 20}
51. 8 Mile – $45,585 ($116,638,030 total) {week 16}
52. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $43,654 ($39,158,023 total) {week 10}
93. Spirited Away – $5,753 ($5,580,541 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Chicago – $10,824,402 ($123,587,179 total)
12. The Hours – $3,201,967 ($39,458,019 total)
14. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $2,528,578 ($431,011,413 total)
16. About Schmidt – $2,233,642 ($72,871,012 total)
17. The Pianist – $1,521,165 ($16,878,220 total)
19. Catch Me If You Can – $1,089,833 ($211,549,423 total)
22. Gangs of New York – $885,344 ($96,690,133 total)
23. Adaptation. – $755,333 ($25,516,582 total)
25. Talk to Her – $501,470 ($8,288,203 total)
29. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $282,137 ($316,610,058 total)
32. Frida – $229,181 ($31,526,768 total)
33. Far From Heaven – $209,143 ($18,850,711 total)
34. Bowling for Columbine – $208,648 ($24,493,673 total)
51. 8 Mile – $59,873 ($153,196,219 total)
52. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $57,337 ($51,431,433 total)
93. Spirited Away – $7,556 ($7,329,666 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]
• 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]
• The Wild Thornberrys Movie: Original Song (“Father and Daughter”)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 20-22, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. Titanic – $21,036,343 ($402,561,881 total) {week 10}
6. As Good As It Gets – $4,608,900 ($107,510,852 total) {week 9}
9. The Apostle – $2,403,800 ($7,928,300 total) {week 5}
999. Amistad – $412,888 ($42,606,630 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Titanic – $35,524,059 ($679,805,991 total)
6. As Good As It Gets – $7,783,046 ($181,553,507 total)
9. The Apostle – $4,059,296 ($13,388,515 total)
999. Amistad – $697,244 ($71,949,789 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amistad: Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• The Apostle: Actor (Robert Duvall)
• 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
• 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]

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 19-21, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Crying Game – $5,210,415 ($21,471,575 total) {week 13}
5. Aladdin – $4,471,705 ($179,260,441 total) {week 15}
8. Scent of a Woman – $2,935,445 ($41,723,159 total) {week 9}
10. A Few Good Men – $2,329,315 ($126,902,865 total) {week 11}
11. Unforgiven – $1,535,638 ($76,870,772 total) {week 29}
999. Howards End – $751,954 ($18,871,324 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Crying Game – $9,967,750 ($41,076,057 total)
5. Aladdin – $8,554,566 ($342,933,018 total)
8. Scent of a Woman – $5,615,634 ($79,818,217 total)
10. A Few Good Men – $4,456,081 ($242,770,698 total)
11. Unforgiven – $2,937,742 ($147,057,129 total)
999. Howards End – $1,438,521 ($36,101,663 total)

Oscar Details:

• Aladdin: Original Song (“A Whole New World” [O], “Friend Like Me”), Original Score [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing
• The Crying Game: Picture, Director, Actor (Stephen Rea), Supporting Actor (Jaye Davidson), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• A Few Good Men: Picture, Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson), Editing, Sound
• Howards End: Picture, Director, Actress (Emma Thompson) [O], Supporting Actress (Vanessa Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• Scent of a Woman: Picture, Director, Actor (Al Pacino) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Unforgiven: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 19-21, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Good Morning, Vietnam – $6,883,781 ($71,489,494 total) {week 9}
3. Moonstruck – $4,738,329 ($36,554,875 total) {week 10}
9. The Last Emperor – $1,710,481 ($16,008,433 total) {week 14}
10. Broadcast News – $1,647,772 ($40,671,744 total) {week 10}
12. Fatal Attraction – $1,328,606 ($145,112,706 total) {week 23}
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $189,152 ($849,720 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Good Morning, Vietnam – $13,265,096 ($137,760,777 total)
3. Moonstruck – $9,130,795 ($70,441,511 total)
9. The Last Emperor – $3,296,109 ($30,848,367 total)
10. Broadcast News – $3,175,269 ($78,374,748 total)
12. Fatal Attraction – $2,560,233 ($279,633,244 total)
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $364,497 ($1,637,417 total)

Oscar Details:

• Broadcast News: Picture, Actor (William Hurt), Actress (Holly Hunter), Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks), Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Fatal Attraction: Picture, Director, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Anne Archer), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Good Morning, Vietnam: Actor (Robin Williams)
• 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
• The Unbearable Lightness of Being: Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 25-27, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Tootsie – $5,236,117 ($122,866,401 total) {week 11}
7. The Sting II – $1,805,047 ($5,288,047 total) {week 2}
8. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,390,334 ($334,376,230 total) {week 38}
9. The Verdict – $1,299,939 ($45,503,156 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Tootsie – $13,165,094 ($308,921,237 total)
7. The Sting II – $4,538,404 ($13,295,661 total)
8. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $3,495,697 ($840,717,378 total)
9. The Verdict – $3,268,418 ($114,407,935 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]
• The Sting II: Original Song Score or Adaptation Score
• 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