Oscar in Box Office History (Week 33, 2021)

Every week, we’ll take a look back in 5-year intervals at the box office past to explore how Oscar’s nominees were doing at the box office each weekend historically. The first section under each year is the positioning of all Oscar nominees during that weekend at the box office (as well as a section looking at the inflation-adjusted numbers). The third 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 shots at this stage of the game. If you have any suggestions for more data you’d like to see, please let us know.

This Year: Potential Oscar Nominees Releasing This Weekend

Free Guy (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Sound & Visual Effects.

Respect (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Jennifer Hudson).

CODA (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Directing, Actress (Emilia Jones), Original Screenplay, Film Editing.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 12-14, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $43,536,013 ($222,640,741 total) {week 2}
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $6,892,793 ($139,772,742 total) {week 4}
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $6,601,313 ($6,601,313 total) {week 1}
Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $621,329 ($621,329 total) {week 1}
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $349,148 ($4,274,625 total) {week 6}
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $188,907 ($362,989,473 total) {week 18}
The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $17,587 ($9,164,367 total) {week 20}
Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $5,651 ($210,239 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $46,102,876 ($235,767,536 total)
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $7,299,189 ($148,013,678 total)
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $6,990,523 ($6,990,523 total)
Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $657,962 ($657,962 total)
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $369,734 ($4,526,655 total)
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $200,045 ($384,391,164 total)
The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $18,624 ($9,704,694 total)
Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $5,984 ($222,635 total)

Oscar Details:

Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th): Actor (Viggo Mortensen)
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th): Actress (Meryl Streep), Costume Design
Hell or High Water (2016, 89th): Picture, Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges), Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th): Visual Effects [O]
Life, Animated (2016, 89th): Documentary Feature
The Lobster (2016, 89th): Original Screenplay
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling
Suicide Squad (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 19-21, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

The Help (2011, 84th) – $20,018,659 ($71,340,829 total) {week 2}
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $16,119,502 ($133,583,862 total) {week 3}
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $4,511,411 ($366,007,900 total) {week 6}
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $606,276 ($348,540,006 total) {week 8}
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $552,103 ($50,614,946 total) {week 14}
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $284,465 ($163,942,842 total) {week 13}
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $280,595 ($167,661,310 total) {week 15}
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $119,782 ($12,693,868 total) {week 13}
Beginners (2011, 84th) – $56,128 ($5,640,336 total) {week 12}
Rio (2011, 84th) – $38,024 ($143,558,181 total) {week 19}
A Better Life (2011, 84th) – $23,012 ($1,732,305 total) {week 9}
Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $7,408 ($2,024,498 total) {week 18}
If a Tree Falls (2011, 84th) – $800 ($61,153 total) {week 9}
In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $605 ($1,005,762 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Help (2011, 84th) – $23,123,697 ($82,406,304 total)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $18,619,753 ($154,303,679 total)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $5,211,163 ($422,778,356 total)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $700,314 ($402,601,066 total)
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $637,738 ($58,465,688 total)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $328,588 ($189,371,555 total)
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $324,117 ($193,666,784 total)
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $138,361 ($14,662,778 total)
Beginners (2011, 84th) – $64,834 ($6,515,193 total)
Rio (2011, 84th) – $43,922 ($165,825,087 total)
A Better Life (2011, 84th) – $26,581 ($2,000,998 total)
Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $8,557 ($2,338,512 total)
If a Tree Falls (2011, 84th) – $924 ($70,638 total)
In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $699 ($1,161,763 total)

Oscar Details:

Beginners (2011, 84th): Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer) [O]
A Better Life (2011, 84th): Actor (Demian Bichir)
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th): Supporting Actress (Melissa McCarthy), Original Screenplay
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th): Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects
The Help (2011, 84th): Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer [O])
If a Tree Falls (2011, 84th): Documentary Feature
In a Better World (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film [O]
Incendies (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th): Animated Feature
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction
Rio (2011, 84th): Original Song (“Real in Rio”)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th): Visual Effects
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th): Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Cinematography

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 18-20, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $5,610,845 ($12,692,059 total) {week 4}
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $5,212,351 ($401,253,092 total) {week 7}
Monster House (2006, 79th) – $1,970,819 ($67,372,407 total) {week 5}
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $1,307,434 ($118,996,040 total) {week 8}
The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $927,956 ($927,956 total) {week 1}
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $848,255 ($194,165,746 total) {week 8}
Cars (2006, 79th) – $438,906 ($239,618,177 total) {week 11}
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $258,781 ($22,409,945 total) {week 13}
Click (2006, 79th) – $200,405 ($135,468,818 total) {week 9}
Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $56,264 ($147,246 total) {week 2}
Water (2006, 79th) – $14,560 ($3,201,967 total) {week 17}
My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $1,009 ($8,081 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $7,846,617 ($17,749,505 total)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $7,289,334 ($561,141,729 total)
Monster House (2006, 79th) – $2,756,138 ($94,218,511 total)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $1,828,412 ($166,412,783 total)
The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $1,297,722 ($1,297,722 total)
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $1,186,262 ($271,535,608 total)
Cars (2006, 79th) – $613,798 ($335,099,619 total)
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $361,898 ($31,339,709 total)
Click (2006, 79th) – $280,261 ($189,449,523 total)
Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $78,684 ($205,920 total)
Water (2006, 79th) – $20,362 ($4,477,865 total)
My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $1,411 ($11,301 total)

Oscar Details:

Cars (2006, 79th): Animated Feature, Original Song (“Our Town”)
Click (2006, 79th): Makeup
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th): Actress (Meryl Streep), Costume Design
Half Nelson (2006, 79th): Actor (Ryan Gosling)
The Illusionist (2006, 79th): Cinematography
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th): Original Song (“I Need to Wake Up” [O]), Documentary Feature [O]
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th): Picture, Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin [O]), Supporting Actress (Abigail Breslin), Original Screenplay [O]
Monster House (2006, 79th): Animated Feature
My Country, My Country (2006, 79th): Documentary Feature
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th): Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects [O]
Superman Returns (2006, 79th): Visual Effects
Water (2006, 79th): Foreign Language Film

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 17-19, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

Shrek (2001, 74th) – $538,767 ($260,444,228 total) {week 14}
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $457,683 ($1,933,037 total) {week 5}
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $202,765 ($55,500,137 total) {week 14}
Memento (2001, 74th) – $153,202 ($24,854,680 total) {week 23}
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $134,606 ($6,195,830 total) {week 10}
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $132,569 ($195,315,237 total) {week 13}
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $58,210 ($78,039,227 total) {week 8}
Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $44,817 ($889,043 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Shrek (2001, 74th) – $871,927 ($421,496,312 total)
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $740,703 ($3,128,378 total)
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $328,150 ($89,820,010 total)
Memento (2001, 74th) – $247,938 ($40,224,182 total)
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $217,843 ($10,027,174 total)
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $214,546 ($316,093,210 total)
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $94,206 ($126,296,700 total)
Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $72,531 ($1,438,805 total)

Oscar Details:

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th): Original Score, Visual Effects
Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd): Foreign Language Film
Ghost World (2001, 74th): Adapted Screenplay
Memento (2001, 74th): Original Screenplay, Film Editing
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th): Picture, Actress (Nicole Kidman), Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th): Original Song (“There You’ll Be”), Sound, Sound Film Editing [O], Visual Effects
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th): Supporting Actor (Ben Kingsley)
Shrek (2001, 74th): Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 16-18, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $5,810,981 ($266,963,804 total) {week 7}
Emma (1996, 69th) – $2,525,816 ($5,288,684 total) {week 3}
The Nutty Professor (1996, 69th) – $1,554,485 ($117,970,630 total) {week 8}
Twister (1996, 69th) – $1,230,016 ($235,870,450 total) {week 15}
Trainspotting (1996, 69th) – $1,006,633 ($7,572,009 total) {week 5}
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $441,466 ($128,978,633 total) {week 11}
Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $28,471 ($191,702,825 total) {week 39}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $12,042,667 ($553,255,304 total)
Emma (1996, 69th) – $5,234,497 ($10,960,259 total)
The Nutty Professor (1996, 69th) – $3,221,512 ($244,482,120 total)
Twister (1996, 69th) – $2,549,083 ($488,817,494 total)
Trainspotting (1996, 69th) – $2,086,144 ($15,692,218 total)
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $914,893 ($267,295,086 total)
Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $59,003 ($397,284,588 total)

Oscar Details:

Emma (1996, 69th): Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Costume Design
Independence Day (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects [O]
The Nutty Professor (1996, 69th): Makeup [O]
The Rock (1996, 69th): Sound
Toy Story (1995, 68th): Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
Trainspotting (1996, 69th): Adapted Screenplay
Twister (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 16-18, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $5,544,350 ($168,449,764 total) {week 7}
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $2,453,067 ($142,630,042 total) {week 10}
Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $1,924,538 ($44,266,736 total) {week 6}
City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $1,670,535 ($107,779,661 total) {week 11}
The Commitments (1991, 64th) – $271,333 ($271,333 total) {week 1}
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $174,580 ($129,749,489 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $12,063,241 ($366,508,275 total)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $5,337,314 ($310,330,448 total)
Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $4,187,356 ($96,314,323 total)
City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $3,634,703 ($234,503,966 total)
The Commitments (1991, 64th) – $590,359 ($590,359 total)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $379,846 ($282,305,301 total)

Oscar Details:

Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th): Directing, Original Screenplay
City Slickers (1991, 64th): Supporting Actor (Jack Palance) [O]
The Commitments (1991, 64th): Film Editing
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th): Original Song (“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th): Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Anthony Hopkins) [O], Actress (Jodie Foster) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Sound
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th): Film Editing, Cinematography, Makeup [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 15-17, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

The Fly (1986, 59th) – $7,007,423 ($7,007,423 total) {week 1}
Aliens (1986, 59th) – $4,303,173 ($55,001,488 total) {week 5}
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $3,341,527 ($88,759,228 total) {week 9}
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $3,117,183 ($118,913,341 total) {week 14}
Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $254,428 ($665,620 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Fly (1986, 59th) – $17,301,346 ($17,301,346 total)
Aliens (1986, 59th) – $10,624,546 ($135,798,822 total)
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $8,250,239 ($219,146,773 total)
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $7,696,333 ($293,597,359 total)
Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $628,183 ($1,643,418 total)

Oscar Details:

Aliens (1986, 59th): Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Original Score, Film Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
The Fly (1986, 59th): Makeup [O]
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Glory of Love”)
Stand By Me (1986, 59th): Adapted Screenplay
Top Gun (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects

40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 14-16, 1981

Weekend Box Office:

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $5,157,432 ($104,088,566 total) {week 10}
Arthur (1981, 54th) – $2,931,246 ($21,743,829 total) {week 5}
Endless Love (1981, 54th) – $1,255,655 ($19,486,265 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $16,993,553 ($342,968,081 total)
Arthur (1981, 54th) – $9,658,350 ($71,645,134 total)
Endless Love (1981, 54th) – $4,137,338 ($64,206,542 total)

Oscar Details:

Arthur (1981, 54th): Actor (Dudley Moore), Supporting Actor (John Gielgud) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”) [O]
Endless Love (1981, 54th): Original Song (“Endless Love”)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th): Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Sound [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Sound Effects Film Editing) [O]