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. 26-28, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

4. Avatar – $13,655,274 ($706,560,068 total) {week 11}
8. The Wolfman – $4,259,865 ($57,380,125 total) {week 3}
10. Crazy Heart – $2,462,384 ($25,009,496 total) {week 11}
11. The Blind Side – $1,238,477 ($248,755,981 total) {week 15}
16. The Last Station – $970,048 ($3,340,876 total) {week 7}
17. Up in the Air – $802,081 ($82,078,918 total) {week 13}
20. Sherlock Holmes – $608,032 ($206,419,248 total) {week 10}
22. The Princess and the Frog – $440,889 ($103,255,174 total) {week 14}
23. An Education – $320,428 ($11,517,495 total) {week 21}
24. A Single Man – $298,347 ($7,956,032 total) {week 12}
28. The Young Victoria – $213,873 ($10,176,454 total) {week 11}
30. Precious – $204,887 ($47,109,625 total) {week 17}
34. A Prophet – $163,773 ($163,773 total) {week 1}
35. Invictus – $159,151 ($37,112,959 total) {week 12}
36. The White Ribbon – $157,474 ($1,490,471 total) {week 9}
37. The Lovely Bones – $150,318 ($43,592,366 total) {week 12}
41. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $86,194 ($7,426,313 total) {week 10}
43. Ajami – $68,915 ($251,171 total) {week 4}
47. The Messenger – $46,240 ($952,043 total) {week 16}
48. Nine – $42,252 ($19,628,645 total) {week 11}
49. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $39,295 ($20,817,229 total) {week 16}
56. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $28,384 ($170,912 total) {week 5}
90. The Cove – $1,050 ($853,767 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Avatar – $14,053,336 ($727,156,876 total)
8. The Wolfman – $4,384,044 ($59,052,803 total)
10. Crazy Heart – $2,534,165 ($25,738,543 total)
11. The Blind Side – $1,274,580 ($256,007,423 total)
16. The Last Station – $998,326 ($3,438,265 total)
17. Up in the Air – $825,462 ($84,471,586 total)
20. Sherlock Holmes – $625,757 ($212,436,539 total)
22. The Princess and the Frog – $453,741 ($106,265,147 total)
23. An Education – $329,769 ($11,853,239 total)
24. A Single Man – $307,044 ($8,187,957 total)
28. The Young Victoria – $220,108 ($10,473,106 total)
30. Precious – $210,860 ($48,482,909 total)
34. A Prophet – $168,547 ($168,547 total)
35. Invictus – $163,790 ($38,194,832 total)
36. The White Ribbon – $162,064 ($1,533,919 total)
37. The Lovely Bones – $154,700 ($44,863,119 total)
41. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $88,707 ($7,642,796 total)
43. Ajami – $70,924 ($258,493 total)
47. The Messenger – $47,588 ($979,796 total)
48. Nine – $43,484 ($20,200,836 total)
49. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $40,440 ($21,424,068 total)
56. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $29,211 ($175,894 total)
90. The Cove – $1,081 ($878,655 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ajami: Foreign Language Film
• Avatar: Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Blind Side: Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• Crazy Heart: Actor (Jeff Bridges) [O], Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Original Song (“The Weary Kind”) [O]
• An Education: Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
• Fantastic Mr. Fox: Animated Feature, Original Score
• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Invictus: Actor (Morgan Freeman), Supporting Actor (Matt Damon)
• The Last Station : Actress (Helen Mirren), Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer)
• The Lovely Bones : Supporting Actor (Stanley Tucci)
• The Messenger : Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• The Most Dangerous Man in America : Documentary Feature
• Nine: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz), Original Song (“Take It All”), Art Direction, Costume Design
• Precious: Picture, Director, Actress (Gabourey Sidibe), Supporting Actress (Mo’Nique) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing
• The Princess and the Frog : Animated Feature, Original Song (“Almost There”), Original Song (“Down in New Orleans”)
• A Prophet: Foreign Language Film
• Sherlock Holmes: Original Score, Art Direction
• A Single Man: Actor (Colin Firth)
• Up in the Air: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick), Adapted Screenplay
• The White Ribbon : Cinematography, Foreign Language Film
• The Wolfman: Makeup
• The Young Victoria : Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 4-6, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

5. Million Dollar Baby – $8,135,421 ($76,600,008 total) {week 12}
11. The Aviator – $2,327,231 ($97,039,461 total) {week 12}
12. Sideways – $2,095,676 ($66,186,292 total) {week 20}
15. Finding Neverland – $1,045,302 ($49,590,262 total) {week 17}
16. Hotel Rwanda – $1,003,513 ($20,728,231 total) {week 11}
22. The Phantom of the Opera – $464,468 ($49,443,427 total) {week 11}
23. The Incredibles – $437,634 ($260,134,491 total) {week 18}
25. Being Julia – $286,584 ($7,307,976 total) {week 21}
26. Born Into Brothels – $263,490 ($1,060,543 total) {week 9}
29. The Sea Inside – $214,129 ($1,245,745 total) {week 12}
31. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $205,993 ($118,006,566 total) {week 1}
36. Ray – $108,570 ($75,236,415 total) {week 19}
39. Vera Drake – $84,483 ($3,528,915 total) {week 22}
40. The Polar Express – $83,551 ($162,753,127 total) {week 1}
42. Downfall – $81,179 ($219,419 total) {week 3}
45. The Chorus – $72,152 ($924,605 total) {week 8}
59. House of Flying Daggers – $35,732 ($10,779,434 total) {week 14}
61. Kinsey – $28,984 ($9,701,877 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Million Dollar Baby – $10,305,713 ($97,034,644 total)
11. The Aviator – $2,948,068 ($122,926,743 total)
12. Sideways – $2,654,741 ($83,842,854 total)
15. Finding Neverland – $1,324,158 ($62,819,489 total)
16. Hotel Rwanda – $1,271,221 ($26,257,915 total)
22. The Phantom of the Opera – $588,374 ($62,633,483 total)
23. The Incredibles – $554,382 ($329,530,744 total)
25. Being Julia – $363,036 ($9,257,530 total)
26. Born Into Brothels – $333,781 ($1,343,465 total)
29. The Sea Inside – $271,252 ($1,578,073 total)
31. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $260,946 ($149,487,257 total)
36. Ray – $137,533 ($95,307,284 total)
39. Vera Drake – $107,021 ($4,470,326 total)
40. The Polar Express – $105,840 ($206,170,888 total)
42. Downfall – $102,835 ($277,954 total)
45. The Chorus – $91,400 ($1,171,262 total)
59. House of Flying Daggers – $45,264 ($13,655,071 total)
61. Kinsey – $36,716 ($12,290,053 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Aviator: Picture, Director, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Alan Alda), Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound Mixing
• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Born Into Brothels : Documentary Feature
• The Chorus: Original Song (“Look To Your Path”), Foreign Language Film
• Downfall : Foreign Language Film
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Hotel Rwanda: Actor (Don Cheadle), Supporting Actress (Sophie Okonedo), Original Screenplay
• House of Flying Daggers: Cinematography
• The Incredibles: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O]
• Kinsey: Supporting Actress (Laura Linney)
• Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events: Original Score, Makeup [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
• Million Dollar Baby: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• The Phantom of the Opera : Original Song (“Learn To Be Lonely”), Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Polar Express : Original Song (“Believe”), Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Ray: Picture, Director, Actor (Jamie Foxx) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing [O]
• The Sea Inside : Makeup, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Sideways: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Vera Drake: Director, Actress (Imelda Staunton), Original Screenplay

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 3-5, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

8. Wonder Boys – $4,053,226 ($11,372,006 total) {week 2}
9. American Beauty – $4,030,713 ($93,015,479 total) {week 25}
10. The Cider House Rules – $4,018,764 ($37,220,816 total) {week 13}
19. The Sixth Sense – $1,193,004 ($285,519,660 total) {week 31}
20. The Green Mile – $1,086,469 ($132,666,530 total) {week 13}
22. The Hurricane – $500,650 ($49,013,271 total) {week 10}
23. Boys Don’t Cry – $436,326 ($5,407,452 total) {week 22}
24. Stuart Little – $428,152 ($136,858,306 total) {week 12}
26. Toy Story 2 – $262,753 ($241,003,665 total) {week 16}
27. Topsy-Turvy – $250,892 ($4,927,809 total) {week 12}
29. Angela’s Ashes – $225,236 ($12,315,064 total) {week 11}
30. The Insider – $215,397 ($27,947,014 total) {week 18}
31. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $210,407 ($80,252,397 total) {week 11}
33. All About My Mother – $180,782 ($6,232,702 total) {week 18}
36. Anna and the King – $135,922 ($38,983,197 total) {week 12}
38. Sweet and Lowdown – $133,179 ($3,312,936 total) {week 14}
41. Magnolia – $125,563 ($21,759,902 total) {week 12}
42. Snow Falling on Cedars – $109,040 ($14,249,313 total) {week 11}
43. Being John Malkovich – $106,745 ($22,136,532 total) {week 19}
45. The End of the Affair – $836,494 ($10,542,141 total) {week 14}
49. Sleepy Hollow – $76,664 ($98,576,664 total) {week 16}
56. Titus – $60,440 ($1,306,602 total) {week 11}
58. The Straight Story – $53,118 ($2,764,363 total) {week 21}
59. Girl, Interrupted – $48,950 ($28,502,283 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. Wonder Boys – $6,106,159 ($17,131,853 total)
9. American Beauty – $6,072,243 ($140,127,215 total)
10. The Cider House Rules – $6,054,242 ($56,072,918 total)
19. The Sixth Sense – $1,797,253 ($430,133,514 total)
20. The Green Mile – $1,636,758 ($199,861,266 total)
22. The Hurricane – $754,226 ($73,838,174 total)
23. Boys Don’t Cry – $657,322 ($8,146,291 total)
24. Stuart Little – $645,008 ($206,176,149 total)
26. Toy Story 2 – $395,836 ($363,070,456 total)
27. Topsy-Turvy – $377,967 ($7,423,712 total)
29. Angela’s Ashes – $339,317 ($18,552,564 total)
30. The Insider – $324,494 ($42,101,995 total)
31. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $316,977 ($120,899,715 total)
33. All About My Mother – $272,347 ($9,389,525 total)
36. Anna and the King – $204,766 ($58,727,933 total)
38. Sweet and Lowdown – $200,633 ($4,990,917 total)
41. Magnolia – $189,160 ($32,781,151 total)
42. Snow Falling on Cedars – $164,268 ($21,466,498 total)
43. Being John Malkovich – $160,811 ($33,348,542 total)
45. The End of the Affair – $1,260,173 ($15,881,667 total)
49. Sleepy Hollow – $115,494 ($148,505,104 total)
56. Titus – $91,052 ($1,968,387 total)
58. The Straight Story – $80,022 ($4,164,495 total)
59. Girl, Interrupted – $73,743 ($42,938,504 total)

Oscar Details:

• All About My Mother: Foreign Language Film [O]
• American Beauty: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Angela’s Ashes: Original Score
• Anna and the King: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Being John Malkovich: Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay
• Boys Don’t Cry: Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actress (Chloe Sevigny)
• The Cider House Rules : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction
• The End of the Affair : Actress (Julianne Moore), Cinematography
• Girl, Interrupted: Supporting Actress (Angelina Jolie)
• The Green Mile : Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
• The Hurricane : Actor (Denzel Washington)
• The Insider : Picture, Director, Actor (Russell Crowe), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• Magnolia: Supporting Actor (Tom Cruise), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Save Me”)
• The Sixth Sense : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Sleepy Hollow: Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• Snow Falling on Cedars: Cinematography
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Stuart Little: Visual Effects
• Sweet and Lowdown: Actor (Sean Penn), Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton)
• The Talented Mr. Ripley : Supporting Actor (Jude Law), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Titus: Costume Design
• Topsy-Turvy: Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O]
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)
• Wonder Boys: Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Things Have Changed”), Editing

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 3-5, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

5. Roommates – $4,038,033 ($4,038,033 total) {week 1}
6. Pulp Fiction – $2,134,095 ($85,755,253 total) {week 21}
7. Forrest Gump – $2,033,967 ($309,482,849 total) {week 35}
9. Legends of the Fall – $1,848,460 ($59,720,475 total) {week 11}
11. Nobody’s Fool – $1,482,047 ($35,328,960 total) {week 1}
12. The Shawshank Redemption – $1,458,720 ($20,623,789 total) {week 24}
13. The Madness of King George – $1,312,528 ($8,094,947 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Roommates – $7,537,662 ($7,537,662 total)
6. Pulp Fiction – $3,983,644 ($160,076,472 total)
7. Forrest Gump – $3,796,738 ($577,701,318 total)
9. Legends of the Fall – $3,450,459 ($111,478,220 total)
11. Nobody’s Fool – $2,766,488 ($65,947,392 total)
12. The Shawshank Redemption – $2,722,944 ($38,497,739 total)
13. The Madness of King George – $2,450,052 ($15,110,568 total)

Oscar Details:

• Forrest Gump: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Supporting Actor (Gary Sinise), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• Legends of the Fall: Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound
• The Madness of King George : Actor (Nigel Hawthorne), Supporting Actress (Helen Mirren), Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction [O]
• Nobody’s Fool: Actor (Paul Newman), Adapted Screenplay
• Pulp Fiction: Picture, Director, Actor (John Travolta), Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Supporting Actress (Uma Thurman), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• Roommates: Makeup
• The Shawshank Redemption : Picture, Actor (Morgan Freeman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 2-4, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Hunt for Red October – $17,161,835 ($17,161,835 total) {week 1}
2. Driving Miss Daisy – $5,089,040 ($60,302,144 total) {week 12}
5. Born on the Fourth of July – $2,107,980 ($59,673,354 total) {week 11}
8. Glory – $1,334,095 ($20,214,597 total) {week 12}
10. Steel Magnolias – $1,178,865 ($74,425,795 total) {week 16}
12. My Left Foot – $1,027,424 ($5,768,933 total) {week 17}
999. Back to the Future Part II – $669,635 ($115,719,461 total) {week 15}
999. Cinema Paradiso – $133,844 ($568,662 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Hunt for Red October – $32,944,232 ($32,944,232 total)
2. Driving Miss Daisy – $9,769,032 ($115,757,307 total)
5. Born on the Fourth of July – $4,046,524 ($114,550,268 total)
8. Glory – $2,560,958 ($38,804,380 total)
10. Steel Magnolias – $2,262,975 ($142,869,375 total)
12. My Left Foot – $1,972,265 ($11,074,169 total)
999. Back to the Future Part II – $1,285,446 ($222,137,594 total)
999. Cinema Paradiso – $256,930 ($1,091,616 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future Part II: Visual Effects
• Born on the Fourth of July: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Cruise), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound
• Cinema Paradiso: Foreign Language Film
• Driving Miss Daisy: Picture [O], Actor (Morgan Freeman), Actress (Jessica Tandy) [O], Supporting Actor (Dan Aykroyd), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• Glory: Supporting Actor (Denzel Washington) [O], Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound [O]
• The Hunt for Red October: Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• My Left Foot: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) [O], Supporting Actress (Brenda Fricker) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Steel Magnolias: Supporting Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 1-3, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $5,114,137 ($174,566,062 total) {week 13}
2. Witness – $4,791,953 ($25,598,419 total) {week 4}
6. The Killing Fields – $1,780,982 ($20,996,482 total) {week 18}
8. A Passage to India – $1,393,859 ($20,593,285 total) {week 12}
11. Amadeus – $1,000,472 ($30,133,694 total) {week 24}
999. The Purple Rose of Cairo – $114,095 ($114,095 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $11,697,688 ($399,289,133 total)
2. Witness – $10,960,749 ($58,551,877 total)
6. The Killing Fields – $4,073,683 ($48,025,756 total)
8. A Passage to India – $3,188,207 ($47,103,514 total)
11. Amadeus – $2,288,404 ($68,925,520 total)
999. The Purple Rose of Cairo – $260,972 ($260,972 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amadeus: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (F. Murray Abraham [O], Tom Hulce), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound [O]
• Beverly Hills Cop: Original Screenplay
• The Killing Fields : Picture, Director, Actor (Sam Waterston), Supporting Actor (Haing S. Ngor) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O]
• A Passage to India: Picture, Director, Actress (Judy Davis), Supporting Actress (Peggy Ashcroft) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
• The Purple Rose of Cairo: Original Screenplay
• Witness: Picture, Directing, Actor (Harrison Ford), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Art Direction