Oscar in Box Office History (Week 30, 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

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 22-24, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $59,253,211 ($59,253,211 total) {week 1}
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $597,845 ($1,145,109 total) {week 3}
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $406,091 ($361,635,988 total) {week 15}
The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $96,750 ($8,975,926 total) {week 17}
Zootopia (2016, 89th) – $34,284 ($341,231,062 total) {week 21}
Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $24,595 ($131,369 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $62,746,753 ($62,746,753 total)
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $633,094 ($1,212,624 total)
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $430,034 ($382,957,879 total)
The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $102,454 ($9,505,142 total)
Zootopia (2016, 89th) – $36,305 ($361,349,888 total)
Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $26,045 ($139,114 total)

Oscar Details:

Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th): Actor (Viggo Mortensen)
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
Zootopia (2016, 89th): Animated Feature [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 29-31, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $21,977,093 ($318,511,602 total) {week 3}
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $6,086,311 ($338,007,725 total) {week 5}
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $1,156,947 ($46,851,966 total) {week 11}
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $859,095 ($165,457,080 total) {week 12}
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $662,153 ($161,681,667 total) {week 10}
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $332,997 ($11,685,371 total) {week 10}
Beginners (2011, 84th) – $231,217 ($5,032,405 total) {week 9}
Rio (2011, 84th) – $184,065 ($143,021,068 total) {week 16}
A Better Life (2011, 84th) – $76,724 ($1,585,558 total) {week 6}
Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $20,217 ($1,959,458 total) {week 15}
In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $11,578 ($963,914 total) {week 18}
If a Tree Falls (2011, 84th) – $1,349 ($53,010 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $25,385,898 ($367,915,041 total)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $7,030,342 ($390,435,153 total)
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $1,336,398 ($54,119,043 total)
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $992,347 ($191,120,662 total)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $764,858 ($186,759,656 total)
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $384,647 ($13,497,856 total)
Beginners (2011, 84th) – $267,080 ($5,812,967 total)
Rio (2011, 84th) – $212,615 ($165,204,664 total)
A Better Life (2011, 84th) – $88,624 ($1,831,489 total)
Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $23,353 ($2,263,384 total)
In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $13,374 ($1,113,424 total)
If a Tree Falls (2011, 84th) – $1,558 ($61,232 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
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”)
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 Jul. 28-30, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $20,606,578 ($358,485,761 total) {week 4}
Monster House (2006, 79th) – $11,663,308 ($44,035,290 total) {week 2}
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $4,673,346 ($106,561,887 total) {week 5}
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $3,788,228 ($185,794,683 total) {week 5}
Cars (2006, 79th) – $2,620,756 ($234,802,642 total) {week 8}
Click (2006, 79th) – $1,922,308 ($132,430,248 total) {week 6}
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $742,168 ($20,149,280 total) {week 10}
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $370,998 ($499,012 total) {week 1}
Poseidon (2006, 79th) – $77,663 ($60,572,835 total) {week 12}
Water (2006, 79th) – $28,565 ($3,113,922 total) {week 14}
Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $1,227 ($674,107 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $28,817,749 ($501,332,759 total)
Monster House (2006, 79th) – $16,310,825 ($61,582,177 total)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $6,535,550 ($149,023,952 total)
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $5,297,736 ($259,828,900 total)
Cars (2006, 79th) – $3,665,057 ($328,365,221 total)
Click (2006, 79th) – $2,688,296 ($185,200,164 total)
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $1,037,902 ($28,178,230 total)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $518,831 ($697,855 total)
Poseidon (2006, 79th) – $108,610 ($84,709,491 total)
Water (2006, 79th) – $39,947 ($4,354,737 total)
Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $1,716 ($942,721 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
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
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th): Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects [O]
Poseidon (2006, 79th): Visual Effects
Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film
Superman Returns (2006, 79th): Visual Effects
Water (2006, 79th): Foreign Language Film

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 27-29, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

Shrek (2001, 74th) – $1,792,718 ($255,526,280 total) {week 11}
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $943,536 ($76,719,018 total) {week 5}
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $826,872 ($193,662,453 total) {week 10}
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $363,755 ($54,029,521 total) {week 11}
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $334,311 ($5,136,077 total) {week 7}
Memento (2001, 74th) – $252,001 ($23,844,220 total) {week 20}
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $133,003 ($310,158 total) {week 2}
Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $72,128 ($607,766 total) {week 8}
Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th) – $60,231 ($71,409,079 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Shrek (2001, 74th) – $2,901,289 ($413,537,231 total)
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $1,526,995 ($124,160,107 total)
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $1,338,189 ($313,418,387 total)
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $588,692 ($87,440,002 total)
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $541,040 ($8,312,096 total)
Memento (2001, 74th) – $407,832 ($38,588,879 total)
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $215,249 ($501,952 total)
Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $116,730 ($983,593 total)
Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th) – $97,476 ($115,566,637 total)

Oscar Details:

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th): Original Score, Visual Effects
Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th): Actress (Renee Zellweger)
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 Jul. 26-28, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $13,799,097 ($223,114,893 total) {week 4}
The Nutty Professor (1996, 69th) – $5,333,650 ($102,737,215 total) {week 5}
Eraser (1996, 69th) – $2,191,472 ($90,940,535 total) {week 6}
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996, 69th) – $1,942,049 ($88,717,017 total) {week 6}
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $1,292,642 ($124,721,237 total) {week 8}
Trainspotting (1996, 69th) – $781,615 ($1,224,004 total) {week 2}
Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $56,963 ($191,492,543 total) {week 36}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $28,597,224 ($462,382,900 total)
The Nutty Professor (1996, 69th) – $11,053,447 ($212,912,418 total)
Eraser (1996, 69th) – $4,541,603 ($188,465,000 total)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996, 69th) – $4,024,699 ($183,856,985 total)
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $2,678,869 ($258,472,066 total)
Trainspotting (1996, 69th) – $1,619,818 ($2,536,624 total)
Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $118,050 ($396,848,800 total)

Oscar Details:

Eraser (1996, 69th): Sound Effects Film Editing
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996, 69th): Original Musical or Comedy Score
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

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 26-28, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $11,051,400 ($133,612,304 total) {week 4}
Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $4,740,995 ($30,885,888 total) {week 3}
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $4,555,972 ($127,926,047 total) {week 7}
City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $3,833,502 ($97,741,024 total) {week 8}
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $295,908 ($128,510,017 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $24,045,326 ($290,709,906 total)
Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $10,315,324 ($67,200,649 total)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $9,912,756 ($278,337,907 total)
City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $8,340,826 ($212,662,180 total)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $643,828 ($279,608,493 total)

Oscar Details:

Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th): Directing, Original Screenplay
City Slickers (1991, 64th): Supporting Actor (Jack Palance) [O]
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 Jul. 25-27, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

Aliens (1986, 59th) – $8,640,292 ($25,074,095 total) {week 2}
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $4,965,149 ($69,414,898 total) {week 6}
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $3,817,026 ($101,801,942 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Aliens (1986, 59th) – $21,332,904 ($61,908,008 total)
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $12,258,966 ($171,385,570 total)
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $9,424,247 ($251,349,269 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 Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Glory of Love”)
Top Gun (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects

40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 24-26, 1981

Weekend Box Office:

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $6,046,274 ($78,743,581 total) {week 7}
Arthur (1981, 54th) – $3,041,995 ($7,711,222 total) {week 2}
For Your Eyes Only (1981, 54th) – $1,800,000 ($32,695,997 total) {week 5}
The Great Muppet Caper (1981, 54th) – $1,593,954 ($20,235,000 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $19,922,255 ($259,457,267 total)
Arthur (1981, 54th) – $10,023,264 ($25,408,199 total)
For Your Eyes Only (1981, 54th) – $5,930,935 ($107,732,134 total)
The Great Muppet Caper (1981, 54th) – $5,252,021 ($66,673,597 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]
For Your Eyes Only (1981, 54th): Original Song (“For Your Eyes Only”)
The Great Muppet Caper (1981, 54th): Original Song (“The First Time It Happens”)
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]