February 18, 2008–Fox Searchlight's best picture nominee “Juno” has become the biggest specialty hit in six years, grossing about $125 million through Monday.
The last platform release to take in more at the box office was 2002's “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” which grossed $241.4 million domestically.
“Juno” also has the distinction of being the only film this year to remain on the top-10 box office chart every weekend since its debut.
The quirky comedy, like the four other best pic nominees, benefited from the box office bump enjoyed Oscar contenders.
Over President's Day weekend, “Juno” grossed an estimated $5.5 million from 1,410 runs for a per-screen average of $2,949, according to Rentrak. Picture placed No. 7 overall.
The highest-grossing best pic nominee after “Juno” is the Coen brothers' “No Country for Old Men,” which stood at $61.3 million through Monday, grossing $2.2 million from 925 runs over the long holiday weekend for a per-screen average of $2,418. “No Country” is a co-production of Miramax and Paramount Vantage.
“Atonement” and “Michael Clayton” were tied with a cume of $47.7 million each through Monday. Focus Features' “Atonement” grossed an estimated $1.7 million for the weekend from 784 runs for a per-screen average of 2,186.
Warner's “Michael Clayton” grossed $1.2 million from 540 runs for a per location average of $2,167.
Among the five nominees, “There Will Be Blood” is the newest film in release, having unspooled on Christmas Day. It's also a Vantage-Miramax co-production. For the holiday weekend, “Blood” grossed an estimated $3.7 million from 1,410 runs for a per-screen average of $2,644 and cume of $31.6 million.