Oscar in Box Office History (Week 40, 2015)

Every week, we’ll take a look back in 5-year intervals in the box office past to explore how Oscar’s nominees were doing at the box office that weekend historically. All data is collected from Box Office Mojo. 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 chance 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

The Martian (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Matt Damon), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Freeheld (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Julianne Moore), Supporting Actress (Ellen Page).

He Named Me Malala (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

The Walk (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Production Design, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 1-3, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

The Social Network – $22,445,653 ($22,445,653 total) {week 1}
The Town – $9,749,332 ($64,056,752 total) {week 3}
Inception – $904,208 ($288,405,376 total) {week 12}
Salt – $288,116 ($117,562,733 total) {week 11}
Toy Story 3 – $229,502 ($411,412,427 total) {week 16}
Winter’s Bone – $44,851 ($6,122,291 total) {week 17}
The Kids Are All Right – $43,714 ($20,731,802 total) {week 13}
I Am Love – $17,808 ($4,918,238 total) {week 16}
Animal Kingdom – $14,117 ($899,455 total) {week 8}
Exit Through the Gift Shop – $6,841 ($3,270,175 total) {week 25}
Restrepo – $6,017 ($1,295,369 total) {week 15}
Gasland – $3,231 ($26,508 total) {week 3}
The Secret in Their Eyes – $2,497 ($6,387,372 total) {week 25}
Dogtooth – $110 ($56,761 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Social Network – $23,242,203 ($23,242,203 total)
The Town – $10,095,316 ($66,329,995 total)
Inception – $936,296 ($298,640,294 total)
Salt – $298,341 ($121,734,795 total)
Toy Story 3 – $237,647 ($426,012,615 total)
Winter’s Bone – $46,443 ($6,339,559 total)
The Kids Are All Right – $45,265 ($21,467,531 total)
I Am Love – $18,440 ($5,092,776 total)
Animal Kingdom – $14,618 ($931,375 total)
Exit Through the Gift Shop – $7,084 ($3,386,227 total)
Restrepo – $6,231 ($1,341,339 total)
Gasland – $3,346 ($27,449 total)
The Secret in Their Eyes – $2,586 ($6,614,047 total)
Dogtooth – $114 ($58,775 total)

Oscar Details:

Animal Kingdom: Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver)
Dogtooth: Foreign Language Film
Exit Through the Gift Shop: Documentary Feature
Gasland: Documentary Feature
I Am Love: Costume Design
Inception: Picture, Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
The Kids Are All Right: Picture, Actress (Annette Bening), Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Original Screenplay
Restrepo: Documentary Feature
Salt: Sound Mixing
The Secret in Their Eyes: Foreign Language Film
The Social Network: Picture, Directing, Actor (Jesse Eisenberg), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound Mixing
The Town: Supporting Actor (Jeremy Renner)
Toy Story 3: Picture, Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“We Belong Together”) [O], Sound Editing
Winter’s Bone: Picture, Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Adapted Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 7-9, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit – $16,025,987 ($16,047,174 total) {week 1}
Corpse Bride – $6,511,336 ($42,116,028 total) {week 4}
A History of Violence – $5,067,000 ($16,638,684 total) {week 3}
The Constant Gardener – $852,279 ($31,252,269 total) {week 6}
March of the Penguins – $473,074 ($75,392,512 total) {week 16}
Good Night, and Good Luck. – $421,446 ($421,446 total) {week 1}
Capote – $395,724 ($887,531 total) {week 2}
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – $362,524 ($204,921,809 total) {week 13}
War of the Worlds – $222,138 ($233,575,986 total) {week 15}
The Squid and the Whale – $129,844 ($154,474 total) {week 1}
Junebug – $95,231 ($2,416,555 total) {week 10}
Batman Begins – $70,479 ($205,197,285 total) {week 17}
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – $20,159 ($380,237,988 total) {week 21}
Hustle & Flow – $3,226 ($22,190,559 total) {week 12}
Cinderella Man – $680 ($61,609,400 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit – $20,426,258 ($20,453,262 total)
Corpse Bride – $8,299,160 ($53,679,867 total)
A History of Violence – $6,458,251 ($21,207,184 total)
The Constant Gardener – $1,086,290 ($39,833,235 total)
March of the Penguins – $602,966 ($96,093,108 total)
Good Night, and Good Luck. – $537,163 ($537,163 total)
Capote – $504,378 ($1,131,221 total)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – $462,063 ($261,187,392 total)
War of the Worlds – $283,131 ($297,709,174 total)
The Squid and the Whale – $165,495 ($196,888 total)
Junebug – $121,379 ($3,080,071 total)
Batman Begins – $89,830 ($261,538,505 total)
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – $25,694 ($484,640,306 total)
Hustle & Flow – $4,112 ($28,283,443 total)
Cinderella Man – $867 ($78,525,554 total)

Oscar Details:

Batman Begins: Cinematography
Capote: Picture, Directing, Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman) [O], Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Adapted Screenplay
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Costume Design
Cinderella Man: Supporting Actor (Paul Giamatti), Editing, Makeup
The Constant Gardener: Supporting Actress (Rachel Weisz) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Origianl Score, Editing
Corpse Bride: Animated Feature
Good Night, and Good Luck.: Picture, Directing, Actor (David Strathairn), Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction
A History of Violence: Supporting Actor (William Hurt), Adapted Screenplay
Hustle & Flow: Actor (Terrence Howard), Original Song (“It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”) [O]
Junebug: Supporting Actress (Amy Adams)
March of the Penguins: Documentary Feature [O]
The Squid and the Whale: Original Screenplay
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith: Makeup
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit: Animated Feature [O]
War of the Worlds: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 6-8, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

Meet the Parents – $28,623,300 ($28,623,300 total) {week 1}
Almost Famous – $3,718,598 ($23,262,437 total) {week 4}
Space Cowboys – $882,774 ($88,235,299 total) {week 10}
Dancer in the Dark – $565,593 ($891,547 total) {week 3}
The Cell – $529,362 ($60,015,736 total) {week 8}
The Perfect Storm – $264,305 ($181,000,824 total) {week 15}
Gladiator – $184,742 ($186,398,654 total) {week 23}
The Patriot – $138,592 ($113,243,572 total) {week 15}
Hollow Man – $92,001 ($72,848,374 total) {week 10}
Requiem for a Dream – $64,770 ($64,770 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Meet the Parents – $43,386,338 ($43,386,338 total)
Almost Famous – $5,636,539 ($35,260,503 total)
Space Cowboys – $1,338,082 ($133,744,414 total)
Dancer in the Dark – $857,309 ($1,351,380 total)
The Cell – $802,391 ($90,970,049 total)
The Perfect Storm – $400,626 ($274,355,609 total)
Gladiator – $280,026 ($282,537,477 total)
The Patriot – $210,074 ($171,651,203 total)
Hollow Man – $139,452 ($110,421,376 total)
Requiem for a Dream – $98,176 ($98,176 total)

Oscar Details:

Almost Famous: Supporting Actress (Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
The Cell: Makeup
Dancer in the Dark: Original Song (“I’ve Seen It All”)
Gladiator: Picture [O], Directing, Actor (Russell Crowe) [O], Supporting Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Sound [O], Visual Effects [O]
Hollow Man: Visual Effects
Meet the Parents: Original Song (“A Fool in Love”)
The Patriot: Original Score, Cinematography, Sound
The Perfect Storm: Sound, Visual Effects
Requiem for a Dream: Actress (Ellen Burstyn)
Space Cowboys: Sound Editing

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 6-8, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

Seven – $10,421,517 ($45,500,506 total) {week 3}
Pocahontas – $1,010,984 ($138,231,528 total) {week 17}
The Usual Suspects – $944,077 ($19,161,982 total) {week 8}
Apollo 13 – $339,980 ($167,820,720 total) {week 15}
Batman Forever – $127,044 ($183,380,860 total) {week 17}
Braveheart – $248,071 ($66,438,214 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Seven – $19,573,286 ($85,457,272 total)
Pocahontas – $1,898,791 ($259,621,054 total)
The Usual Suspects – $1,773,129 ($35,989,286 total)
Apollo 13 – $638,537 ($315,194,318 total)
Batman Forever – $238,609 ($344,418,765 total)
Braveheart – $465,917 ($124,781,657 total)

Oscar Details:

Apollo 13: Picture, Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Kathleen Quinlan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing [O], Art Direction, Sound [O], Visual Effects
Batman Forever: Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects Editing
Braveheart: Picture [O], Directing [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
Pocahontas: Original Song (“Colors of the Wind”) [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score [O]
Seven: Editing
The Usual Suspects: Supporting Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Original Screenplay [O]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 5-7, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

Ghost – $5,275,106 ($162,107,561 total) {week 13}
Good Fellas – $5,165,085 ($22,179,421 total) {week 3}
Postcards from the Edge – $3,281,654 ($27,840,937 total) {week 4}
Flatliners – $1,406,221 ($55,621,697 total) {week 9}
Pretty Woman – $1,157,912 ($175,119,663 total) {week 29}
Henry & June – $1,032,942 ($1,032,942 total) {week 1}
Avalon – $226,613 ($226,613 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Ghost – $10,188,562 ($313,101,365 total)
Good Fellas – $9,976,063 ($42,838,267 total)
Postcards from the Edge – $6,338,325 ($53,773,157 total)
Flatliners – $2,716,034 ($107,430,086 total)
Pretty Woman – $2,236,440 ($338,233,486 total)
Henry & June – $1,995,068 ($1,995,068 total)
Avalon – $437,690 ($437,690 total)

Oscar Details:

Avalon: Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
Flatliners: Sound Effects Editing
Ghost: Picture, Supporting Actress (Whoopi Goldberg) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing
Good Fellas: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci), Supporting Actres (Lorraine Bracco), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
Henry & June: Cinematography
Postcards from the Edge: Actress (Meryl Streep), Original Song (“I’m Checkin’ Out”)
Pretty Woman: Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 4-6, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

Jagged Edge – $4,094,091 ($4,094,091 total) {week 1}
Agnes of God – $3,572,553 ($10,202,226 total) {week 4}
Back to the Future – $3,383,658 ($159,526,773 total) {week 14}
The Kiss of the Spider Woman – $649,802 ($6,220,502 total) {week 11}
The Journey of Natty Gann – $639,395 ($1,292,518 total) {week 2}
Cocoon – $616,695 ($75,901,168 total) {week 16}
Colonel Redl (Foreign) – $2,357 ($2,357 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Jagged Edge – $9,422,176 ($9,422,176 total)
Agnes of God – $8,221,904 ($23,479,489 total)
Back to the Future – $7,787,179 ($367,136,263 total)
The Kiss of the Spider Woman – $1,495,460 ($14,315,916 total)
The Journey of Natty Gann – $1,471,509 ($2,974,612 total)
Cocoon – $1,419,267 ($174,679,589 total)
Colonel Redl (Foreign) – $5,424 ($5,424 total)

Oscar Details:

Agnes of God: Actress (Anne Bancroft), Supporting Actress (Meg Tilly), Original Score
Back to the Future: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Power of Love’), Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
Cocoon: Supporting Actor (Don Ameche) [O], Visual Effects [O]
Colonel Redl (Foreign):
Jagged Edge: Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup
The Journey of Natty Gann: Costume Design
The Kiss of the Spider Woman: Picture, Directing, Actor (William Hurt) [O], Adapted Screenplay