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

Annie (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Original Song.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Original Score, Original Song, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Effects, Visual Effects.

Mr. Turner (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Timothy Spall), Original Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 18-20, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

1. Avatar – $77,025,481 ($77,025,481 total) {week 1}
2. The Princess and the Frog – $12,185,949 ($44,717,721 total) {week 4}
3. The Blind Side – $10,021,280 ($164,725,525 total) {week 5}
6. Invictus – $4,203,171 ($15,877,956 total) {week 2}
8. Up in the Air – $3,210,132 ($8,216,051 total) {week 3}
13. Precious – $1,203,741 ($40,084,412 total) {week 7}
18. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $598,941 ($17,385,916 total) {week 6}
20. The Young Victoria – $260,591 ($260,591 total) {week 1}
21. Nine – $257,232 ($257,232 total) {week 1}
23. An Education – $220,925 ($7,120,034 total) {week 11}
27. A Single Man – $142,848 ($475,198 total) {week 2}
28. A Serious Man – $98,311 ($8,894,874 total) {week 12}
32. Crazy Heart – $82,664 ($107,996 total) {week 1}
39. The Lovely Bones – $45,097 ($200,687 total) {week 2}
43. Coco Before Chanel – $28,206 ($5,938,293 total) {week 13}
44. The Messenger – $26,444 ($592,390 total) {week 6}
93. Departures – $160 ($1,491,098 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Avatar – $83,495,621 ($83,495,621 total)
2. The Princess and the Frog – $13,209,569 ($48,474,010 total)
3. The Blind Side – $10,863,068 ($178,562,469 total)
6. Invictus – $4,556,237 ($17,211,704 total)
8. Up in the Air – $3,479,783 ($8,906,199 total)
13. Precious – $1,304,855 ($43,451,503 total)
18. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $649,252 ($18,846,333 total)
20. The Young Victoria – $282,481 ($282,481 total)
21. Nine – $278,839 ($278,839 total)
23. An Education – $239,483 ($7,718,117 total)
27. A Single Man – $154,847 ($515,115 total)
28. A Serious Man – $106,569 ($9,642,043 total)
32. Crazy Heart – $89,608 ($117,068 total)
39. The Lovely Bones – $48,885 ($217,545 total)
43. Coco Before Chanel – $30,575 ($6,437,110 total)
44. The Messenger – $28,665 ($642,151 total)
93. Departures – $173 ($1,616,350 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• Coco Before Chanel: Costume Design
• Crazy Heart: Actor (Jeff Bridges) [O], Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Original Song (“The Weary Kind”) [O]
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• An Education: Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
• Fantastic Mr. Fox: Animated Feature, Original Score
• Invictus: Actor (Morgan Freeman), Supporting Actress (Matt Damon)
• The Lovely Bones : Supporting Actor (Stanley Tucci)
• The Messenger : Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• 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 Serious Man: Picture, Original Screenplay
• A Single Man: Actor (Colin Firth)
• Up in the Air: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick), Adapted Screenplay
• The Young Victoria : Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 17-19, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $30,061,756 ($30,061,756 total) {week 1}
4. The Polar Express – $8,411,135 ($123,430,336 total) {week 1}
9. Closer – $3,351,014 ($18,803,296 total) {week 3}
10. The Incredibles – $3,120,541 ($236,978,426 total) {week 7}
12. Finding Neverland – $1,960,122 ($16,908,196 total) {week 6}
13. Sideways – $1,502,800 ($16,511,317 total) {week 9}
14. The Aviator – $858,021 ($858,021 total) {week 1}
15. House of Flying Daggers – $812,764 ($1,620,434 total) {week 3}
16. Ray – $550,015 ($70,247,805 total) {week 8}
17. Kinsey – $506,039 ($5,140,595 total) {week 6}
21. Shark Tale – $271,236 ($159,568,781 total) {week 12}
22. A Very Long Engagement – $239,796 ($550,659 total) {week 4}
23. The Motorcycle Diaries – $202,157 ($15,080,746 total) {week 13}
24. Million Dollar Baby – $179,953 ($235,407 total) {week 1}
28. Being Julia – $109,926 ($3,366,787 total) {week 10}
39. The Sea Inside – $55,681 ($55,681 total) {week 1}
49. Vera Drake – $32,379 ($2,047,941 total) {week 11}
63. Born Into Brothels – $9,155 ($30,570 total) {week 1}
67. I, Robot – $6,817 ($144,786,439 total) {week 23}
72. Zelary – $5,943 ($326,182 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $76,137,718 ($76,137,718 total)
4. The Polar Express – $21,302,968 ($312,613,281 total)
9. Closer – $8,487,148 ($47,623,301 total)
10. The Incredibles – $7,903,426 ($600,197,696 total)
12. Finding Neverland – $4,964,421 ($42,823,562 total)
13. Sideways – $3,806,157 ($41,818,382 total)
14. The Aviator – $2,173,119 ($2,173,119 total)
15. House of Flying Daggers – $2,058,496 ($4,104,090 total)
16. Ray – $1,393,029 ($177,917,338 total)
17. Kinsey – $1,281,650 ($13,019,638 total)
21. Shark Tale – $686,962 ($404,141,492 total)
22. A Very Long Engagement – $607,334 ($1,394,660 total)
23. The Motorcycle Diaries – $512,005 ($38,195,160 total)
24. Million Dollar Baby – $455,769 ($596,218 total)
28. Being Julia – $278,411 ($8,527,096 total)
39. The Sea Inside – $141,024 ($141,024 total)
49. Vera Drake – $82,007 ($5,186,841 total)
63. Born Into Brothels – $23,187 ($77,425 total)
67. I, Robot – $17,265 ($366,702,103 total)
72. Zelary – $15,052 ($826,125 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
• Closer: Supporting Actor (Clive Owen), Supporting Actress (Natalie Portman)
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• House of Flying Daggers: Cinematography
• I, Robot: Visual Effects
• 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 Motorcycle Diaries : Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Al Otro Lado del Rio”) [O]
• 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]
• Shark Tale: Animated Feature
• Sideways: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Vera Drake: Director, Actress (Imelda Staunton), Original Screenplay
• A Very Long Engagement: Cinematography, Art Direction
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 17-19, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. Stuart Little – $15,018,223 ($15,018,223 total) {week 1}
2. The Green Mile – $12,765,678 ($36,667,800 total) {week 2}
3. Toy Story 2 – $12,129,833 ($156,354,721 total) {week 5}
5. Bicentennial Man – $8,234,926 ($8,234,926 total) {week 1}
6. Anna and the King – $5,223,416 ($5,223,416 total) {week 1}
9. Sleepy Hollow – $3,022,605 ($85,924,145 total) {week 5}
11. Being John Malkovich – $751,248 ($16,488,703 total) {week 8}
14. American Beauty – $527,468 ($69,298,106 total) {week 14}
15. The Sixth Sense – $491,668 ($275,176,668 total) {week 20}
16. The Insider – $364,797 ($25,535,953 total) {week 7}
17. The Cider House Rules – $331,858 ($490,840 total) {week 2}
23. Magnolia – $193,604 ($193,604 total) {week 1}
24. The Straight Story – $183,363 ($3,811,480 total) {week 10}
27. Fight Club – $137,078 ($36,191,045 total) {week 10}
32. All About My Mother – $107,894 ($1,092,443 total) {week 7}
35. The End of the Affair – $96,315 ($560,241 total) {week 3}
36. Music of the Heart – $93,305 ($14,614,091 total) {week 8}
39. Boys Don’t Cry – $80,869 ($2,370,938 total) {week 11}
43. Sweet and Lowdown – $65,997 ($353,736 total) {week 3}
45. Tumbleweeds – $62,115 ($269,580 total) {week 2}
60. Topsy-Turvy – $31,387 ($32,718 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Stuart Little – $24,035,069 ($24,035,069 total)
2. The Green Mile – $20,430,111 ($58,682,916 total)
3. Toy Story 2 – $19,412,508 ($250,229,111 total)
5. Bicentennial Man – $13,179,124 ($13,179,124 total)
6. Anna and the King – $8,359,522 ($8,359,522 total)
9. Sleepy Hollow – $4,837,358 ($137,512,460 total)
11. Being John Malkovich – $1,202,293 ($26,388,416 total)
14. American Beauty – $844,156 ($110,904,252 total)
15. The Sixth Sense – $786,862 ($440,391,006 total)
16. The Insider – $583,819 ($40,867,578 total)
17. The Cider House Rules – $531,103 ($785,537 total)
23. Magnolia – $309,843 ($309,843 total)
24. The Straight Story – $293,453 ($6,099,869 total)
27. Fight Club – $219,379 ($57,919,920 total)
32. All About My Mother – $172,673 ($1,748,339 total)
35. The End of the Affair – $154,142 ($896,606 total)
36. Music of the Heart – $149,325 ($23,388,299 total)
39. Boys Don’t Cry – $129,422 ($3,794,434 total)
43. Sweet and Lowdown – $105,621 ($566,117 total)
45. Tumbleweeds – $99,408 ($431,434 total)
60. Topsy-Turvy – $50,232 ($52,362 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
• Anna and the King: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Being John Malkovich: Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay
• Bicentennial Man: Makeup
• 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
• Fight Club: Sound Effects
• The Green Mile : Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
• The Insider : Picture, Director, Actor (Russell Crowe), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• Magnolia: Supporting Actor (Tom Cruise), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Save Me”)
• Music of the Heart: Actress, Original Song (“Music of My Heart”)
• 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
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Stuart Little: Visual Effects
• Sweet and Lowdown: Actor (Sean Penn), Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton)
• Topsy-Turvy: Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O]
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)
• Tumbleweeds: Actress (Janet McTeer)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 23-25, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

6. Little Women – $2,411,247 ($2,530,196 total) {week 1}
10. Nell – $3,159,400 ($3,295,648 total) {week 2}
13. The Lion King – $2,028,169 ($295,132,896 total) {week 28}
16. Junior – $1,205,145 ($28,729,130 total) {week 5}
17. Pulp Fiction – $1,081,070 ($60,731,181 total) {week 11}
19. Interview with the Vampire – $955,416 ($98,448,048 total) {week 7}
999. Legends of the Fall – $101,670 ($101,670 total) {week 1}
999. Nobody’s Fool – $92,838 ($92,838 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Little Women – $4,689,818 ($4,921,171 total)
10. Nell – $6,144,957 ($6,409,957 total)
13. The Lion King – $3,944,740 ($574,026,422 total)
16. Junior – $2,343,978 ($55,877,471 total)
17. Pulp Fiction – $2,102,655 ($118,120,694 total)
19. Interview with the Vampire – $1,858,261 ($191,479,098 total)
999. Legends of the Fall – $197,746 ($197,746 total)
999. Nobody’s Fool – $180,568 ($180,568 total)

Oscar Details:

• Interview with the Vampire: Original Score, Art Direction
• Junior: Original Song (“Look What Love Has Done”)
• Legends of the Fall: Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound
• The Lion King : Original Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” [O], “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”), Original Score [O]
• Little Women: Actress (Winona Ryder), Original Score, Costume Design
• Nell: Actress (Jodie Foster)
• 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

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 22-24, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Back to the Future Part II – $3,216,060 ($81,027,830 total) {week 5}
6. The Little Mermaid – $3,319,664 ($34,089,416 total) {week 6}
7. Steel Magnolias – $2,591,550 ($34,652,166 total) {week 6}
8. Blaze – $1,653,908 ($4,611,967 total) {week 2}
13. Harlem Nights – $1,354,976 ($51,654,653 total) {week 6}
17. Driving Miss Daisy – $440,037 ($639,581 total) {week 2}
999. Born on the Fourth of July – $172,021 ($172,021 total) {week 1}
999. Camille Claudel – $89,273 ($93,359 total) {week 1}
999. Enemies, A Love Story – $102,536 ($226,179 total) {week 2}
999. Glory – $67,902 ($177,193 total) {week 2}
999. Music Box – $19,381 ($19,381 total) {week 1}
999. Parenthood – $96,690 ($95,322,793 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Back to the Future Part II – $6,586,037 ($165,933,566 total)
6. The Little Mermaid – $6,798,204 ($69,810,315 total)
7. Steel Magnolias – $5,307,129 ($70,962,748 total)
8. Blaze – $3,386,970 ($9,444,658 total)
13. Harlem Nights – $2,774,800 ($105,781,443 total)
17. Driving Miss Daisy – $901,134 ($1,309,772 total)
999. Born on the Fourth of July – $352,275 ($352,275 total)
999. Camille Claudel – $182,819 ($191,186 total)
999. Enemies, A Love Story – $209,979 ($463,183 total)
999. Glory – $139,054 ($362,866 total)
999. Music Box – $39,690 ($39,690 total)
999. Parenthood – $198,007 ($195,207,634 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future Part II: Visual Effects
• Blaze: Cinematography
• Born on the Fourth of July: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Cruise), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound
• Camille Claudel:
• 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]
• Enemies, A Love Story: Supporting Actress (Anjelica Huston, Lena Olin), Adapted Screenplay
• Glory: Supporting Actor (Denzel Washington) [O], Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound [O]
• Harlem Nights: Costume Design
• The Little Mermaid: Original Song (“Kiss the Girl”, “Under the Sea” [O]), Original Score [O]
• Music Box: Actress (Jessica Lange)
• Parenthood: Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest), Original Song (“I Love To See You Smile”)
• Steel Magnolias: Supporting Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 21-23, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $15,697,159 ($57,490,987 total) {week 3}
2. Dune – $4,769,713 ($13,062,174 total) {week 2}
4. 2010 – $4,198,890 ($19,506,563 total) {week 3}
6. Starman – $3,477,196 ($7,517,385 total) {week 2}
8. The Cotton Club – $3,159,832 ($7,373,481 total) {week 2}
16. Ghostbusters – $290,196 ($220,099,314 total) {week 29}
999. A Passage to India – $186,442 ($316,153 total) {week 2}
999. The River – $30,027 ($30,027 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $37,981,519 ($139,107,656 total)
2. Dune – $11,541,002 ($31,605,796 total)
4. 2010 – $10,159,814 ($47,198,916 total)
6. Starman – $8,413,572 ($18,189,387 total)
8. The Cotton Club – $7,645,665 ($17,841,191 total)
16. Ghostbusters – $702,171 ($532,561,733 total)
999. A Passage to India – $451,123 ($764,977 total)
999. The River – $72,655 ($72,655 total)

Oscar Details:

• 2010: Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound, Visual Effects
• Beverly Hills Cop: Original Screenplay
• The Cotton Club : Editing, Art Direction
• Dune: Sound
• Ghostbusters: Original Song (“Ghostbusters”), Visual Effects
• 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 River : Actress (Sissy Spacek), Original Score, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects [O]
• Starman: Actor (Jeff Bridges)