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

A Place at the Table (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 29-Mar. 2, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

8. No Country for Old Men – $4,114,994 ($69,680,625 total) {week 17}
11. Juno – $3,264,570 ($135,049,108 total) {week 13}
15. There Will Be Blood – $1,547,177 ($37,572,245 total) {week 10}
21. In Bruges – $775,255 ($3,763,918 total) {week 4}
24. Atonement – $486,089 ($50,224,809 total) {week 13}
34. Michael Clayton – $193,821 ($48,849,846 total) {week 22}
36. The Counterfeiters – $185,313 ($330,137 total) {week 2}
38. Persepolis – $153,154 ($3,778,450 total) {week 10}
39. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $151,553 ($5,530,368 total) {week 14}
40. The Savages – $135,077 ($6,207,164 total) {week 14}
42. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $110,261 ($52,725,724 total) {week 11}
45. The Kite Runner – $81,457 ($15,458,230 total) {week 12}
48. Charlie Wilson’s War – $68,385 ($66,636,385 total) {week 11}
49. The Golden Compass – $62,419 ($70,083,519 total) {week 13}
58. I’m Not There – $38,100 ($4,001,121 total) {week 15}
63. Into the Wild – $31,435 ($18,304,261 total) {week 24}
64. 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $30,025 ($458,257 total) {week 3}
73. Taxi to the Dark Side – $18,054 ($130,288 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. No Country for Old Men – $4,539,102 ($76,862,194 total)
11. Juno – $3,601,030 ($148,967,818 total)
15. There Will Be Blood – $1,706,635 ($41,444,593 total)
21. In Bruges – $855,156 ($4,151,843 total)
24. Atonement – $536,187 ($55,401,182 total)
34. Michael Clayton – $213,797 ($53,884,510 total)
36. The Counterfeiters – $204,412 ($364,162 total)
38. Persepolis – $168,939 ($4,167,872 total)
39. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $167,173 ($6,100,350 total)
40. The Savages – $148,999 ($6,846,900 total)
42. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $121,625 ($58,159,852 total)
45. The Kite Runner – $89,852 ($17,051,418 total)
48. Charlie Wilson’s War – $75,433 ($73,504,202 total)
49. The Golden Compass – $68,852 ($77,306,611 total)
58. I’m Not There – $42,027 ($4,413,493 total)
63. Into the Wild – $34,675 ($20,190,773 total)
73. Taxi to the Dark Side – $19,915 ($143,716 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
• 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. 28-Mar. 2, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

5. Chicago – $7,853,903 ($104,901,344 total) {week 10}
12. The Hours – $2,051,515 ($33,032,582 total) {week 10}
14. About Schmidt – $1,860,510 ($57,979,861 total) {week 12}
15. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $1,618,139 ($330,338,275 total) {week 11}
16. The Pianist – $1,459,117 ($14,814,127 total) {week 10}
20. Gangs of New York – $696,852 ($74,621,519 total) {week 11}
21. Catch Me If You Can – $582,726 ($161,924,205 total) {week 10}
22. Adaptation. – $487,658 ($20,106,250 total) {week 13}
26. Talk to Her – $361,312 ($6,829,093 total) {week 15}
31. Far From Heaven – $211,897 ($14,633,228 total) {week 17}
32. Frida – $202,301 ($24,286,121 total) {week 19}
39. Bowling for Columbine – $146,135 ($18,855,327 total) {week 21}
40. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $130,928 ($241,250,669 total) {week 46}
56. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $39,989 ($39,205,947 total) {week 11}
61. 8 Mile – $35,340 ($116,691,635 total) {week 17}
87. Spirited Away – $8,813 ($5,591,652 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Chicago – $10,315,574 ($137,780,870 total)
12. The Hours – $2,694,527 ($43,386,078 total)
14. About Schmidt – $2,443,655 ($76,152,653 total)
15. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $2,125,317 ($433,877,137 total)
16. The Pianist – $1,916,452 ($19,457,361 total)
20. Gangs of New York – $915,268 ($98,010,353 total)
21. Catch Me If You Can – $765,371 ($212,676,568 total)
22. Adaptation. – $640,506 ($26,408,209 total)
26. Talk to Her – $474,559 ($8,969,555 total)
31. Far From Heaven – $278,312 ($19,219,762 total)
32. Frida – $265,709 ($31,898,189 total)
39. Bowling for Columbine – $191,939 ($24,765,206 total)
40. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $171,965 ($316,866,550 total)
56. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $52,523 ($51,494,378 total)
61. 8 Mile – $46,417 ($153,266,625 total)
87. Spirited Away – $11,575 ($7,344,259 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. 27-Mar. 1, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. Titanic – $19,633,056 ($426,983,888 total) {week 11}
5. As Good As It Gets – $4,058,350 ($112,852,318 total) {week 10}
12. The Apostle – $2,304,203 ($10,954,109 total) {week 7}
999. Amistad – $252,201 ($43,011,294 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Titanic – $33,154,329 ($721,047,419 total)
5. As Good As It Gets – $6,853,333 ($190,573,637 total)
12. The Apostle – $3,891,106 ($18,498,197 total)
999. Amistad – $425,892 ($72,633,145 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. 26-28, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Crying Game – $4,917,120 ($28,034,360 total) {week 14}
6. Aladdin – $3,879,296 ($184,200,162 total) {week 16}
8. Scent of a Woman – $2,489,760 ($45,017,039 total) {week 10}
10. A Few Good Men – $1,922,151 ($129,462,655 total) {week 12}
13. Unforgiven – $1,437,425 ($78,837,133 total) {week 30}
999. Howards End – $795,323 ($199,100,140 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Crying Game – $9,406,664 ($53,630,950 total)
6. Aladdin – $7,421,262 ($352,382,919 total)
8. Scent of a Woman – $4,763,019 ($86,119,553 total)
10. A Few Good Men – $3,677,158 ($247,667,688 total)
13. Unforgiven – $2,749,857 ($150,818,863 total)
999. Howards End – $1,521,487 ($380,887,224 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. 26-28, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Good Morning, Vietnam – $5,232,945 ($78,493,135 total) {week 10}
4. Moonstruck – $3,376,975 ($41,285,375 total) {week 11}
8. Broadcast News – $1,349,287 ($42,527,943 total) {week 11}
11. The Last Emperor – $1,211,122 ($17,720,495 total) {week 15}
13. Fatal Attraction – $888,368 ($146,488,799 total) {week 24}
18. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $557,540 ($1,500,351 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Good Morning, Vietnam – $10,083,923 ($151,256,844 total)
4. Moonstruck – $6,507,455 ($79,557,219 total)
8. Broadcast News – $2,600,086 ($81,951,657 total)
11. The Last Emperor – $2,333,841 ($34,147,523 total)
13. Fatal Attraction – $1,711,892 ($282,284,985 total)
18. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $1,074,384 ($2,891,187 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 Mar. 4-6, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Tootsie – $4,349,058 ($128,631,605 total) {week 12}
9. The Verdict – $1,124,537 ($47,005,480 total) {week 13}
10. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,014,451 ($335,769,779 total) {week 39}
15. Tender Mercies – $46,977 ($46,977 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Tootsie – $10,934,774 ($323,416,607 total)
9. The Verdict – $2,827,407 ($118,185,207 total)
10. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $2,550,620 ($844,221,159 total)
15. Tender Mercies – $118,114 ($118,114 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]
• Tender Mercies: Picture, Director, Actor (Robert Duvall) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Over You”)
• 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