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

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 20-22, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

2. Coraline – $11,432,124 ($53,766,843 total) {week 3}
5. Slumdog Millionaire – $8,384,680 ($98,354,395 total) {week 15}
14. The Reader – $2,642,770 ($23,011,596 total) {week 11}
16. The Wrestler – $1,851,324 ($21,578,377 total) {week 10}
18. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $1,232,517 ($124,211,606 total) {week 9}
19. Milk – $1,066,727 ($28,120,218 total) {week 13}
21. Doubt – $711,360 ($31,126,827 total) {week 11}
22. Frost/Nixon – $653,580 ($17,386,586 total) {week 12}
25. Revolutionary Road – $546,034 ($21,376,846 total) {week 9}
28. Defiance – $484,134 ($27,176,722 total) {week 8}
31. Bolt – $316,792 ($114,053,579 total) {week 14}
32. The Class – $273,252 ($1,248,101 total) {week 10}
33. Rachel Getting Married – $204,246 ($12,354,351 total) {week 21}
41. Waltz with Bashir – $115,901 ($1,599,005 total) {week 9}
44. The Dark Knight – $93,957 ($533,184,219 total) {week 32}
50. Australia – $56,850 ($49,420,849 total) {week 13}
63. Frozen River – $21,009 ($2,459,187 total) {week 30}
65. Katyn – $11,053 ($14,115 total) {week 1}
83. Trouble the Water – $1,660 ($509,838 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Coraline – $12,392,422 ($58,283,258 total)
5. Slumdog Millionaire – $9,088,993 ($106,616,164 total)
14. The Reader – $2,864,763 ($24,944,570 total)
16. The Wrestler – $2,006,835 ($23,390,961 total)
18. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $1,336,048 ($134,645,381 total)
19. Milk – $1,156,332 ($30,482,316 total)
21. Doubt – $771,114 ($33,741,480 total)
22. Frost/Nixon – $708,481 ($18,847,059 total)
25. Revolutionary Road – $591,901 ($23,172,501 total)
28. Defiance – $524,801 ($29,459,567 total)
31. Bolt – $343,403 ($123,634,080 total)
32. The Class – $296,205 ($1,352,941 total)
33. Rachel Getting Married – $221,403 ($13,392,116 total)
41. Waltz with Bashir – $125,637 ($1,733,321 total)
44. The Dark Knight – $101,849 ($577,971,693 total)
50. Australia – $61,625 ($53,572,200 total)
63. Frozen River – $22,774 ($2,665,759 total)
65. Katyn – $11,981 ($15,301 total)
83. Trouble the Water – $1,799 ($552,664 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
• Katyn: Foreign Language Film
• 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
• Waltz with Bashir: Foreign Language Film
• The Wrestler: Actor (Mickey Rourke), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 20-22, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

7. Mystic River – $3,094,569 ($79,206,839 total) {week 20}
10. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $2,850,455 ($361,118,934 total) {week 10}
12. Monster – $2,512,463 ($23,778,582 total) {week 9}
13. Cold Mountain – $2,264,111 ($90,712,258 total) {week 9}
16. Something’s Gotta Give – $1,601,175 ($121,417,924 total) {week 11}
17. Big Fish – $1,187,814 ($65,150,895 total) {week 11}
18. Lost in Translation – $831,250 ($43,217,012 total) {week 24}
20. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $724,269 ($8,536,275 total) {week 11}
21. In America – $676,117 ($13,324,075 total) {week 13}
22. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $575,589 ($92,076,135 total) {week 15}
24. The Triplets of Belleville – $472,235 ($4,317,181 total) {week 13}
27. The Last Samurai – $391,141 ($110,068,738 total) {week 12}
28. 21 Grams – $381,452 ($15,311,855 total) {week 14}
30. City of God – $336,790 ($6,475,140 total) {week 58}
31. The Cooler – $281,421 ($7,574,897 total) {week 13}
32. House of Sand and Fog – $253,915 ($12,242,407 total) {week 10}
36. The Fog of War – $209,030 ($1,867,838 total) {week 10}
38. My Architect – $138,088 ($1,112,545 total) {week 15}
49. Brother Bear – $85,130 ($84,874,178 total) {week 18}
90. Pieces of April – $8,394 ($2,521,314 total) {week 19}
104. The Weather Underground – $3,641 ($529,584 total) {week 38}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Mystic River – $7,837,647 ($200,607,975 total)
10. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $7,219,377 ($914,609,637 total)
12. Monster – $6,363,341 ($60,224,259 total)
13. Cold Mountain – $5,734,337 ($229,747,868 total)
16. Something’s Gotta Give – $4,055,312 ($307,516,424 total)
17. Big Fish – $3,008,389 ($165,008,342 total)
18. Lost in Translation – $2,105,315 ($109,456,171 total)
20. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $1,834,364 ($21,619,911 total)
21. In America – $1,712,408 ($33,746,022 total)
22. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $1,457,800 ($233,202,174 total)
24. The Triplets of Belleville – $1,196,034 ($10,934,169 total)
27. The Last Samurai – $990,647 ($278,772,224 total)
28. 21 Grams – $966,107 ($38,780,493 total)
30. City of God – $852,991 ($16,399,654 total)
31. The Cooler – $712,758 ($19,185,020 total)
32. House of Sand and Fog – $643,093 ($31,006,470 total)
36. The Fog of War – $529,412 ($4,730,693 total)
38. My Architect – $349,737 ($2,817,754 total)
49. Brother Bear – $215,610 ($214,961,703 total)
90. Pieces of April – $21,260 ($6,385,758 total)
104. The Weather Underground – $9,222 ($1,341,283 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)
• 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. 19-21, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

6. Shakespeare in Love – $5,827,713 ($54,127,857 total) {week 11}
10. Saving Private Ryan – $2,417,157 ($203,151,532 total) {week 31}
11. Life Is Beautiful – $2,350,648 ($24,666,327 total) {week 18}
12. Patch Adams – $1,742,395 ($129,358,260 total) {week 9}
15. Affliction – $1,111,636 ($2,115,023 total) {week 8}
16. Elizabeth – $1,098,569 ($24,038,506 total) {week 16}
17. The Thin Red Line – $932,267 ($34,370,394 total) {week 9}
20. A Civil Action – $770,820 ($55,150,049 total) {week 9}
21. A Simple Plan – $703,845 ($14,654,632 total) {week 11}
23. The Prince of Egypt – $659,388 ($96,360,722 total) {week 10}
24. A Bug’s Life – $563,966 ($158,069,884 total) {week 14}
25. Mighty Joe Young – $562,241 ($48,549,424 total) {week 9}
30. Central Station – $369,818 ($2,989,385 total) {week 14}
32. Hilary and Jackie – $325,640 ($3,682,601 total) {week 8}
33. Little Voice – $281,316 ($3,897,361 total) {week 9}
34. Gods and Monsters – $251,235 ($3,657,447 total) {week 16}
44. Children of Heaven – $54,724 ($253,015 total) {week 5}
45. Tango – $52,698 ($168,088 total) {week 5}
46. Babe: Pig in the City – $50,880 ($18,177,545 total) {week 13}
49. American History X – $45,186 ($6,479,476 total) {week 16}
50. The Last Days – $43,825 ($115,382 total) {week 3}
52. The Red Violin – $42,527 ($1,734,793 total) {week 17}
60. Pleasantville – $34,099 ($39,393,515 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Shakespeare in Love – $9,326,635 ($86,625,881 total)
10. Saving Private Ryan – $3,868,403 ($325,122,432 total)
11. Life Is Beautiful – $3,761,962 ($39,475,834 total)
12. Patch Adams – $2,788,518 ($207,024,144 total)
15. Affliction – $1,779,055 ($3,384,869 total)
16. Elizabeth – $1,758,143 ($38,471,074 total)
17. The Thin Red Line – $1,491,994 ($55,006,162 total)
20. A Civil Action – $1,233,615 ($88,261,791 total)
21. A Simple Plan – $1,126,429 ($23,453,181 total)
23. The Prince of Egypt – $1,055,280 ($154,215,092 total)
24. A Bug’s Life – $902,568 ($252,974,047 total)
25. Mighty Joe Young – $899,807 ($77,698,192 total)
30. Central Station – $591,854 ($4,784,193 total)
32. Hilary and Jackie – $521,152 ($5,893,611 total)
33. Little Voice – $450,216 ($6,237,312 total)
34. Gods and Monsters – $402,075 ($5,853,355 total)
44. Children of Heaven – $87,580 ($404,924 total)
45. Tango – $84,338 ($269,007 total)
46. Babe: Pig in the City – $81,428 ($29,091,229 total)
49. American History X – $72,315 ($10,369,713 total)
50. The Last Days – $70,137 ($184,657 total)
52. The Red Violin – $68,060 ($2,776,352 total)
60. Pleasantville – $54,572 ($63,045,133 total)

Oscar Details:

• Affliction: Actor (Nick Nolte), Supporting Actor (James Coburn) [O]
• American History X: Actor (Edward Norton)
• 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
• Tango: Foreign Language Film
• The Thin Red Line: Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 25-27, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

8. Schindler’s List – $2,938,980 ($45,903,023 total) {week 11}
9. Mrs. Doubtfire – $2,785,353 ($196,922,430 total) {week 14}
12. Philadelphia – $2,225,776 ($58,794,587 total) {week 10}
13. In the Name of the Father – $1,960,175 ($14,885,182 total) {week 9}
16. The Piano – $1,033,458 ($31,379,124 total) {week 15}
999. Jurassic Park – $232,515 ($344,286,930 total) {week 38}
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $42,055 ($1,188,088 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. Schindler’s List – $5,716,246 ($89,280,282 total)
9. Mrs. Doubtfire – $5,417,445 ($383,009,415 total)
12. Philadelphia – $4,329,081 ($114,354,065 total)
13. In the Name of the Father – $3,812,493 ($28,951,323 total)
16. The Piano – $2,010,051 ($61,031,645 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $452,236 ($669,629,842 total)
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $81,796 ($2,310,803 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
• What’s Eating Gilbert Grape: Supporting Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 24-26, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

2. Rain Man – $4,711,275 ($116,572,725 total) {week 11}
4. Dangerous Liaisons – $2,840,201 ($15,503,187 total) {week 10}
6. Beaches – $2,311,569 ($38,871,762 total) {week 10}
9. Working Girl – $1,855,016 ($50,302,085 total) {week 10}
11. Mississippi Burning – $1,530,823 ($25,764,248 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Rain Man – $9,648,027 ($238,724,497 total)
4. Dangerous Liaisons – $5,816,331 ($31,748,340 total)
6. Beaches – $4,733,767 ($79,603,885 total)
9. Working Girl – $3,798,811 ($103,011,575 total)
11. Mississippi Burning – $3,134,910 ($52,761,546 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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. 24-26, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Footloose – $6,617,737 ($16,857,254 total) {week 2}
4. Terms of Endearment – $2,808,728 ($81,849,462 total) {week 14}
6. The Right Stuff – $1,318,438 ($19,153,704 total) {week 19}
7. Broadway Danny Rose – $1,301,278 ($7,157,784 total) {week 5}
9. Nevery Cry Wolf – $1,192,265 ($22,485,743 total) {week 21}
10. Silkwood – $1,076,927 ($31,449,222 total) {week 11}
999. Return of the Jedi – $71,546 ($252,212,411 total) {week 40}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Footloose – $16,012,560 ($40,788,534 total)
4. Terms of Endearment – $6,796,119 ($198,046,466 total)
6. The Right Stuff – $3,190,149 ($46,345,123 total)
7. Broadway Danny Rose – $3,148,628 ($17,319,281 total)
9. Nevery Cry Wolf – $2,884,855 ($54,407,467 total)
10. Silkwood – $2,605,779 ($76,095,885 total)
999. Return of the Jedi – $173,116 ($610,263,959 total)

Oscar Details:

• Broadway Danny Rose: Director, Original Screenplay
• Footloose: Original Song (“Footloose”, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy”)
• 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