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. 27-Mar. 1, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

3. Slumdog Millionaire – $12,026,343 ($115,024,121 total) {week 16}
7. Coraline – $5,261,129 ($61,112,744 total) {week 4}
13. The Reader – $2,860,429 ($26,949,964 total) {week 12}
18. Milk – $1,483,395 ($30,004,709 total) {week 14}
19. The Wrestler – $1,387,672 ($23,512,104 total) {week 11}
20. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $787,261 ($125,388,340 total) {week 10}
23. Doubt – $514,527 ($31,886,500 total) {week 12}
28. Revolutionary Road – $375,147 ($21,945,941 total) {week 10}
30. Frost/Nixon – $364,660 ($17,891,416 total) {week 13}
32. Defiance – $319,636 ($27,691,636 total) {week 9}
33. The Class – $282,785 ($1,628,301 total) {week 11}
35. Waltz with Bashir – $205,098 ($1,846,384 total) {week 10}
44. Rachel Getting Married – $111,893 ($12,566,167 total) {week 22}
46. The Dark Knight – $102,067 ($533,316,061 total) {week 33}
56. Australia – $37,688 ($49,486,698 total) {week 14}
68. Katyn – $14,206 ($35,285 total) {week 2}
71. Man on Wire – $11,222 ($2,957,978 total) {week 32}
74. Frozen River – $9,547 ($2,477,794 total) {week 31}
79. The Betrayal – $4,591 ($25,329 total) {week 15}
94. Trouble the Water – $768 ($510,949 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Slumdog Millionaire – $13,036,556 ($124,686,147 total)
7. Coraline – $5,703,064 ($66,246,214 total)
13. The Reader – $3,100,705 ($29,213,761 total)
18. Milk – $1,608,000 ($32,525,105 total)
19. The Wrestler – $1,504,236 ($25,487,121 total)
20. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $853,391 ($135,920,961 total)
23. Doubt – $557,747 ($34,564,966 total)
28. Revolutionary Road – $406,659 ($23,789,400 total)
30. Frost/Nixon – $395,291 ($19,394,295 total)
32. Defiance – $346,485 ($30,017,733 total)
33. The Class – $306,539 ($1,765,078 total)
35. Waltz with Bashir – $222,326 ($2,001,480 total)
44. Rachel Getting Married – $121,292 ($13,621,725 total)
46. The Dark Knight – $110,641 ($578,114,610 total)
56. Australia – $40,854 ($53,643,581 total)
68. Katyn – $15,399 ($38,249 total)
71. Man on Wire – $12,165 ($3,206,448 total)
74. Frozen River – $10,349 ($2,685,929 total)
79. The Betrayal – $4,977 ($27,457 total)
94. Trouble the Water – $833 ($553,869 total)

Oscar Details:

• Australia: Costume Design
• The Betrayal: Documentary 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
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• 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. 27-29, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Passion of the Christ – $83,848,082 ($125,185,971 total) {week 1}
11. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $2,174,665 ($364,115,612 total) {week 11}
12. Mystic River – $2,085,463 ($82,234,706 total) {week 21}
13. Monster – $2,006,422 ($26,815,005 total) {week 10}
14. Cold Mountain – $1,333,182 ($92,685,850 total) {week 10}
18. Something’s Gotta Give – $811,412 ($122,736,489 total) {week 12}
20. In America – $514,012 ($14,058,905 total) {week 14}
21. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $464,648 ($9,298,540 total) {week 12}
23. Lost in Translation – $432,129 ($43,871,278 total) {week 25}
24. Big Fish – $354,677 ($65,815,103 total) {week 12}
25. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $324,195 ($92,569,819 total) {week 16}
27. The Triplets of Belleville – $310,608 ($4,790,711 total) {week 14}
29. The Fog of War – $286,643 ($2,249,523 total) {week 11}
30. 21 Grams – $270,679 ($15,792,712 total) {week 15}
33. City of God – $208,603 ($6,814,830 total) {week 59}
35. House of Sand and Fog – $207,263 ($12,544,025 total) {week 11}
37. The Cooler – $179,102 ($7,855,973 total) {week 14}
41. The Last Samurai – $151,370 ($110,330,124 total) {week 13}
43. My Architect – $124,818 ($1,287,185 total) {week 16}
51. Brother Bear – $65,684 ($85,005,561 total) {week 19}
99. The Weather Underground – $3,411 ($533,822 total) {week 39}
110. Pieces of April – $1,661 ($2,525,743 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Passion of the Christ – $212,362,899 ($317,059,796 total)
11. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $5,507,796 ($922,199,354 total)
12. Mystic River – $5,281,874 ($208,276,685 total)
13. Monster – $5,081,686 ($67,914,639 total)
14. Cold Mountain – $3,376,564 ($234,746,405 total)
18. Something’s Gotta Give – $2,055,072 ($310,855,967 total)
20. In America – $1,301,843 ($35,607,133 total)
21. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $1,176,819 ($23,550,508 total)
23. Lost in Translation – $1,094,458 ($111,113,237 total)
24. Big Fish – $898,294 ($166,690,588 total)
25. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $821,092 ($234,452,532 total)
27. The Triplets of Belleville – $786,680 ($12,133,483 total)
29. The Fog of War – $725,984 ($5,697,390 total)
30. 21 Grams – $685,551 ($39,998,364 total)
33. City of God – $528,331 ($17,259,990 total)
35. House of Sand and Fog – $524,937 ($31,770,381 total)
37. The Cooler – $453,613 ($19,896,904 total)
41. The Last Samurai – $383,376 ($279,434,239 total)
43. My Architect – $316,128 ($3,260,067 total)
51. Brother Bear – $166,359 ($215,294,458 total)
99. The Weather Underground – $8,639 ($1,352,016 total)
110. Pieces of April – $4,207 ($6,396,975 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
• The Passion of the Christ : Original Score, Cinematography, Makeup
• 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. 26-28, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

7. Shakespeare in Love – $4,372,632 ($60,143,613 total) {week 12}
13. Life Is Beautiful – $1,915,628 ($27,335,876 total) {week 19}
14. Saving Private Ryan – $1,635,318 ($205,564,906 total) {week 32}
15. Patch Adams – $873,260 ($130,674,665 total) {week 10}
16. Elizabeth – $787,961 ($25,196,377 total) {week 17}
19. Affliction – $704,855 ($3,160,729 total) {week 9}
23. The Prince of Egypt – $538,859 ($97,067,401 total) {week 11}
26. Mighty Joe Young – $433,257 ($49,121,341 total) {week 10}
27. The Thin Red Line – $392,982 ($35,126,075 total) {week 10}
28. A Simple Plan – $379,170 ($15,234,793 total) {week 12}
29. A Bug’s Life – $359,901 ($158,538,829 total) {week 15}
31. Central Station – $339,385 ($3,448,548 total) {week 15}
34. Pleasantville – $275,606 ($39,687,220 total) {week 19}
35. A Civil Action – $261,129 ($55,594,271 total) {week 10}
37. Hilary and Jackie – $216,915 ($4,009,922 total) {week 9}
39. Gods and Monsters – $165,418 ($3,896,635 total) {week 17}
40. Little Voice – $165,060 ($4,153,275 total) {week 10}
51. Children of Heaven – $46,738 ($324,579 total) {week 6}
56. Tango – $41,109 ($210,419 total) {week 6}
57. American History X – $40,944 ($6,545,272 total) {week 17}
59. The Red Violin – $34,230 ($1,784,148 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Shakespeare in Love – $6,997,933 ($96,253,459 total)
13. Life Is Beautiful – $3,065,759 ($43,748,164 total)
14. Saving Private Ryan – $2,617,153 ($328,984,781 total)
15. Patch Adams – $1,397,560 ($209,130,911 total)
16. Elizabeth – $1,261,048 ($40,324,123 total)
19. Affliction – $1,128,046 ($5,058,411 total)
23. The Prince of Egypt – $862,387 ($155,346,057 total)
26. Mighty Joe Young – $693,382 ($78,613,485 total)
27. The Thin Red Line – $628,926 ($56,215,549 total)
28. A Simple Plan – $606,821 ($24,381,667 total)
29. A Bug’s Life – $575,983 ($253,724,543 total)
31. Central Station – $543,150 ($5,519,034 total)
34. Pleasantville – $441,078 ($63,515,177 total)
35. A Civil Action – $417,909 ($88,972,721 total)
37. Hilary and Jackie – $347,149 ($6,417,454 total)
39. Gods and Monsters – $264,734 ($6,236,150 total)
40. Little Voice – $264,161 ($6,646,875 total)
51. Children of Heaven – $74,799 ($519,454 total)
56. Tango – $65,791 ($336,753 total)
57. American History X – $65,527 ($10,475,012 total)
59. The Red Violin – $54,781 ($2,855,339 total)

Oscar Details:

• Affliction: Actor (Nick Nolte), Supporting Actor (James Coburn) [O]
• American History X: Actor (Edward Norton)
• 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)
• 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 Mar. 4-6, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

6. Schindler’s List – $3,207,985 ($50,271,183 total) {week 12}
11. Mrs. Doubtfire – $2,615,297 ($200,358,897 total) {week 15}
13. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $2,104,938 ($3,315,530 total) {week 12}
14. In the Name of the Father – $1,671,845 ($17,232,717 total) {week 10}
16. Philadelphia – $1,518,792 ($61,014,779 total) {week 11}
999. Jurassic Park – $190,920 ($344,553,605 total) {week 39}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Schindler’s List – $6,239,454 ($97,776,248 total)
11. Mrs. Doubtfire – $5,086,690 ($389,693,261 total)
13. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $4,094,054 ($6,448,627 total)
14. In the Name of the Father – $3,251,699 ($33,517,222 total)
16. Philadelphia – $2,954,014 ($118,672,285 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $371,335 ($670,148,519 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]
• 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 Mar. 3-5, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

4. Rain Man – $3,858,147 ($121,784,071 total) {week 12}
8. Dangerous Liaisons – $2,263,595 ($18,718,126 total) {week 11}
10. Beaches – $2,020,214 ($41,668,869 total) {week 11}
11. Working Girl – $1,604,923 ($52,528,964 total) {week 11}
12. Mississippi Burning – $1,239,156 ($27,590,949 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Rain Man – $7,900,941 ($249,396,599 total)
8. Dangerous Liaisons – $4,635,523 ($38,332,082 total)
10. Beaches – $4,137,113 ($85,331,966 total)
11. Working Girl – $3,286,656 ($107,571,909 total)
12. Mississippi Burning – $2,537,617 ($56,502,372 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 Mar. 2-4, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Footloose – $6,300,641 ($24,615,584 total) {week 3}
2. Against All Odds – $3,766,128 ($3,766,128 total) {week 1}
6. Terms of Endearment – $2,088,781 ($84,800,617 total) {week 15}
9. Nevery Cry Wolf – $1,002,549 ($23,734,906 total) {week 22}
10. The Right Stuff – $896,726 ($20,360,569 total) {week 20}
12. Broadway Danny Rose – $778,420 ($8,221,935 total) {week 6}
999. The Dresser – $632,453 ($2,370,630 total) {week 13}
999. Return of the Jedi – $99,124 ($252,340,283 total) {week 41}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Footloose – $15,245,301 ($59,560,922 total)
2. Against All Odds – $9,112,685 ($9,112,685 total)
6. Terms of Endearment – $5,054,104 ($205,187,207 total)
9. Nevery Cry Wolf – $2,425,811 ($57,429,996 total)
10. The Right Stuff – $2,169,757 ($49,265,305 total)
12. Broadway Danny Rose – $1,883,498 ($19,894,146 total)
999. The Dresser – $1,530,310 ($5,736,078 total)
999. Return of the Jedi – $239,845 ($610,573,363 total)

Oscar Details:

• Against All Odds: Original Song (“Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)”)
• Broadway Danny Rose: Director, Original Screenplay
• The Dresser: Picture, Directing, Actor (Tom Courtenay), Actor (Albert Finney), Adapted 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]
• 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