Oscar in Box Office History (Week 43, 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

Dune (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Sound, Makeup & Hairstyling, Visual Effects.

Ron’s Gone Wrong (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

The French Dispatch (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Production Design, Costume Design.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 21-23, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

Deepwater Horizon (2016, 89th) – $3,399,466 ($55,045,137 total) {week 4}
Sully (2016, 89th) – $1,490,479 ($120,854,369 total) {week 7}
Moonlight (2016, 89th) – $402,075 ($402,075 total) {week 1}
Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $385,211 ($324,271,174 total) {week 12}
A Man Called Ove (2016, 89th) – $258,275 ($797,995 total) {week 4}
Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $87,554 ($26,652,326 total) {week 11}
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $69,850 ($47,447,966 total) {week 10}
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $20,886 ($27,370,961 total) {week 11}
Fire at Sea (2016, 89th) – $11,906 ($11,906 total) {week 1}
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $11,795 ($5,875,006 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Deepwater Horizon (2016, 89th) – $3,599,897 ($58,290,573 total)
Sully (2016, 89th) – $1,578,357 ($127,979,887 total)
Moonlight (2016, 89th) – $425,781 ($425,781 total)
Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $407,923 ($343,390,052 total)
A Man Called Ove (2016, 89th) – $273,503 ($845,044 total)
Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $92,716 ($28,223,735 total)
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $73,968 ($50,245,476 total)
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $22,117 ($28,984,740 total)
Fire at Sea (2016, 89th) – $12,608 ($12,608 total)
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $12,490 ($6,221,394 total)

Oscar Details:

Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th): Actor (Viggo Mortensen)
Deepwater Horizon (2016, 89th): Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
Fire at Sea (2016, 89th): Documentary Feature
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
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th): Animated Feature, Visual Effects
A Man Called Ove (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling, Foreign Language Film
Moonlight (2016, 89th): Picture [O], Directing, Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali) [O], Supporting Actress (Naomie Harris), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography
Suicide Squad (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling [O]
Sully (2016, 89th): Sound Film Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 28-30, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

Puss in Boots (2011, 84th) – $34,077,439 ($34,077,439 total) {week 1}
Real Steel (2011, 84th) – $4,783,149 ($73,941,416 total) {week 4}
The Ides of March (2011, 84th) – $2,804,435 ($33,600,618 total) {week 4}
Moneyball (2011, 84th) – $2,387,049 ($67,408,099 total) {week 6}
Anonymous (2011, 84th) – $1,021,768 ($1,021,768 total) {week 1}
Drive (2011, 84th) – $267,464 ($33,720,938 total) {week 7}
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $111,150 ($380,707,704 total) {week 16}
Hell and Back Again (2011, 84th) – $1,574 ($19,137 total) {week 4}
The Help (2011, 84th) – $395,658 ($166,904,059 total) {week 12}
Margin Call (2011, 84th) – $729,096 ($1,490,343 total) {week 2}
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $61,167 ($55,378,524 total) {week 24}
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $174,885 ($175,888,652 total) {week 13}
Warrior (2011, 84th) – $7,736 ($13,651,662 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Puss in Boots (2011, 84th) – $39,363,095 ($39,363,095 total)
Real Steel (2011, 84th) – $5,525,050 ($85,410,261 total)
The Ides of March (2011, 84th) – $3,239,423 ($38,812,315 total)
Moneyball (2011, 84th) – $2,757,297 ($77,863,580 total)
Anonymous (2011, 84th) – $1,180,252 ($1,180,252 total)
Drive (2011, 84th) – $308,950 ($38,951,298 total)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $128,390 ($439,758,205 total)
Hell and Back Again (2011, 84th) – $1,818 ($22,105 total)
The Help (2011, 84th) – $457,027 ($192,792,078 total)
Margin Call (2011, 84th) – $842,184 ($1,721,506 total)
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $70,654 ($63,968,131 total)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $202,011 ($203,170,246 total)
Warrior (2011, 84th) – $8,936 ($15,769,133 total)

Oscar Details:

Anonymous (2011, 84th): Costume Design
Drive (2011, 84th): Sound Film Editing
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th): Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects
Hell and Back Again (2011, 84th): Documentary Feature
The Help (2011, 84th): Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer [O])
The Ides of March (2011, 84th): Adapted Screenplay
Margin Call (2011, 84th): Original Screenplay
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction
Moneyball (2011, 84th): Picture, Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Sound Mixing
Puss in Boots (2011, 84th): Animated Feature
Real Steel (2011, 84th): Visual Effects
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th): Visual Effects
Warrior (2011, 84th): Supporting Actor (Nick Nolte)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 27-29, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

The Departed (2006, 79th) – $9,848,258 ($91,098,431 total) {week 4}
The Prestige (2006, 79th) – $9,573,215 ($28,780,742 total) {week 2}
Flags of Our Fathers (2006, 79th) – $6,346,856 ($19,923,069 total) {week 2}
Marie Antoinette (2006, 79th) – $2,845,815 ($9,752,091 total) {week 2}
The Queen (2006, 79th) – $1,909,139 ($6,289,941 total) {week 5}
The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $505,971 ($38,218,510 total) {week 11}
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $404,453 ($57,803,486 total) {week 14}
Babel (2006, 79th) – $389,351 ($389,351 total) {week 1}
The Last King of Scotland (2006, 79th) – $337,618 ($2,419,935 total) {week 5}
Little Children (2006, 79th) – $199,947 ($803,508 total) {week 4}
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $108,375 ($421,392,843 total) {week 17}
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $52,473 ($124,541,866 total) {week 18}
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $40,505 ($200,069,408 total) {week 18}
Deliver Us From Evil (2006, 79th) – $32,942 ($70,818 total) {week 3}
Jesus Camp (2006, 79th) – $31,887 ($654,802 total) {week 7}
Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $20,515 ($2,639,124 total) {week 12}
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $5,905 ($23,808,111 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Departed (2006, 79th) – $13,772,526 ($127,398,722 total)
The Prestige (2006, 79th) – $13,387,885 ($40,249,099 total)
Flags of Our Fathers (2006, 79th) – $8,875,909 ($27,861,880 total)
Marie Antoinette (2006, 79th) – $3,979,796 ($13,638,039 total)
The Queen (2006, 79th) – $2,669,880 ($8,796,314 total)
The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $707,587 ($53,447,565 total)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $565,617 ($80,836,631 total)
Babel (2006, 79th) – $544,497 ($544,497 total)
The Last King of Scotland (2006, 79th) – $472,150 ($3,384,214 total)
Little Children (2006, 79th) – $279,621 ($1,123,684 total)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $151,560 ($589,306,632 total)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $73,382 ($174,168,472 total)
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $56,645 ($279,791,722 total)
Deliver Us From Evil (2006, 79th) – $46,069 ($99,037 total)
Jesus Camp (2006, 79th) – $44,593 ($915,723 total)
Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $28,690 ($3,690,744 total)
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $8,258 ($33,295,007 total)

Oscar Details:

Babel (2006, 79th): Picture, Supporting Actress (Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi), Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing
Deliver Us From Evil (2006, 79th): Documentary Feature
The Departed (2006, 79th): Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Mark Wahlberg), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th): Actress (Meryl Streep), Costume Design
Flags of Our Fathers (2006, 79th): Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing
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]
Jesus Camp (2006, 79th): Documentary Feature
The Last King of Scotland (2006, 79th): Actor (Forest Whitaker [O])
Little Children (2006, 79th): Actress (Kate Winslet), Supporting Actor (Jackie Earle Haley), Adapted Screenplay
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th): Picture, Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin [O]), Supporting Actress (Abigail Breslin), Original Screenplay [O]
Marie Antoinette (2006, 79th): Costume Design [O]
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th): Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects [O]
The Prestige (2006, 79th): Cinematography, Art Direction
The Queen (2006, 79th): Picture, Director, Actress (Helen Mirren [O]), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Costume Design
Superman Returns (2006, 79th): Visual Effects

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 26-28, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

Training Day (2001, 74th) – $5,137,712 ($65,029,281 total) {week 4}
Mulholland Drive (2001, 74th) – $685,448 ($2,926,493 total) {week 3}
Shrek (2001, 74th) – $261,875 ($266,982,666 total) {week 24}
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $66,734 ($5,902,567 total) {week 15}
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $63,749 ($198,356,396 total) {week 23}
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $7,464 ($56,705,791 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Training Day (2001, 74th) – $8,314,742 ($105,241,734 total)
Mulholland Drive (2001, 74th) – $1,109,312 ($4,736,162 total)
Shrek (2001, 74th) – $423,812 ($432,077,954 total)
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $108,001 ($9,552,564 total)
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $103,170 ($321,014,945 total)
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $12,080 ($91,771,209 total)

Oscar Details:

Ghost World (2001, 74th): Adapted Screenplay
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th): Picture, Actress (Nicole Kidman), Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
Mulholland Drive (2001, 74th): Director
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th): Original Song (“There You’ll Be”), Sound, Sound Film Editing [O], Visual Effects
Shrek (2001, 74th): Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay
Training Day (2001, 74th): Actor (Denzel Washington [O]), Supporting Actor (Ethan Hawke)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 25-27, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

Sleepers (1996, 69th) – $9,605,059 ($26,351,436 total) {week 2}
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996, 69th) – $439,078 ($26,792,125 total) {week 3}
First Wives Club (1996, 69th) – $4,380,111 ($88,693,006 total) {week 6}
Michael Collins (1996, 69th) – $2,409,761 ($2,941,151 total) {week 3}
That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th) – $2,050,606 ($20,554,737 total) {week 4}
Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $1,217,504 ($30,880,790 total) {week 17}
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $66,101 ($133,881,431 total) {week 21}
When We Were Kings (1996, 69th) – $12,479 ($12,479 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Sleepers (1996, 69th) – $19,905,507 ($54,610,668 total)
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996, 69th) – $909,944 ($55,523,951 total)
First Wives Club (1996, 69th) – $9,077,334 ($183,807,225 total)
Michael Collins (1996, 69th) – $4,993,984 ($6,095,236 total)
That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th) – $4,249,672 ($42,597,600 total)
Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $2,523,153 ($63,997,293 total)
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $136,988 ($277,455,635 total)
When We Were Kings (1996, 69th) – $25,861 ($25,861 total)

Oscar Details:

First Wives Club (1996, 69th): Original Comedy or Musical Score
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996, 69th): Sound Effects [O]
Independence Day (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects [O]
Michael Collins (1996, 69th): Original Score, Cinematography
The Rock (1996, 69th): Sound
Sleepers (1996, 69th): Original Dramatic Score
That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th): Original Song (“That Thing You Do”)
When We Were Kings (1996, 69th): Documentary Feature

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 25-27, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

The Fisher King (1991, 64th) – $2,507,041 ($30,907,426 total) {week 6}
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $650,170 ($199,698,204 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Fisher King (1991, 64th) – $5,454,750 ($67,247,511 total)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $1,414,622 ($434,497,755 total)

Oscar Details:

The Fisher King (1991, 64th): Actor (Robin Williams), Supporting Actress (Mercedes Ruehl) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction
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 Oct. 24-26, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th) – $6,745,249 ($51,846,699 total) {week 5}
The Color of Money (1986, 59th) – $5,256,823 ($13,742,233 total) {week 2}
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986, 59th) – $4,169,418 ($17,534,696 total) {week 3}
Children of a Lesser God (1986, 59th) – $1,810,811 ($9,546,141 total) {week 4}
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $1,576,139 ($158,722,140 total) {week 24}
Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $1,356,734 ($37,118,886 total) {week 12}
Blue Velvet (1986, 59th) – $357,699 ($4,528,216 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th) – $16,654,038 ($128,009,640 total)
The Color of Money (1986, 59th) – $12,979,110 ($33,929,610 total)
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986, 59th) – $10,294,304 ($43,293,212 total)
Children of a Lesser God (1986, 59th) – $4,470,897 ($23,569,448 total)
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $3,891,491 ($391,885,391 total)
Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $3,349,780 ($91,646,630 total)
Blue Velvet (1986, 59th) – $883,160 ($11,180,178 total)

Oscar Details:

Blue Velvet (1986, 59th): Director
Children of a Lesser God (1986, 59th): Picture, Actor (William Hurt), Actress (Marlee Matlin [O]), Supporting Actress (Piper Laurie), Adapted Screenplay
The Color of Money (1986, 59th): Actor (Paul Newman [O]), Supporting Actress (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction
Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th): Original Screenplay
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986, 59th): Actress (Kathleen Turner), Cinematography, Costume Design
Stand By Me (1986, 59th): Adapted Screenplay
Top Gun (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects