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. 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 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

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Son of Saul (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 17-19, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

1. Tron: Legacy – $44,026,211 ($44,026,211 total) {week 1}
4. The Fighter – $12,135,468 ($12,569,403 total) {week 2}
5. Tangled – $8,775,344 ($127,918,276 total) {week 4}
7. Black Swan – $8,383,479 ($15,791,753 total) {week 3}
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $5,022,361 ($265,723,618 total) {week 5}
10. Unstoppable – $1,843,696 ($77,386,304 total) {week 6}
14. The King’s Speech – $1,097,131 ($2,936,959 total) {week 4}
16. 127 Hours – $556,044 ($9,321,571 total) {week 7}
19. The Social Network – $282,025 ($91,840,926 total) {week 12}
33. Hereafter – $71,078 ($32,576,841 total) {week 10}
34. Inside Job – $70,055 ($3,266,357 total) {week 11}
35. The Tempest – $58,136 ($121,526 total) {week 2}
36. The Town – $57,591 ($92,074,857 total) {week 14}
38. Rabbit Hole – $53,778 ($53,778 total) {week 1}
46. Inception – $25,929 ($292,511,473 total) {week 23}
72. Winter’s Bone – $3,542 ($6,237,371 total) {week 28}
90. Dogtooth – $442 ($73,849 total) {week 26}
93. Waste Land – $865 ($99,847 total) {week 8}
101. Animal Kingdom – $389 ($1,011,756 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Tron: Legacy – $45,588,611 ($45,588,611 total)
4. The Fighter – $12,566,131 ($13,015,465 total)
5. Tangled – $9,086,763 ($132,457,835 total)
7. Black Swan – $8,680,992 ($16,352,170 total)
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $5,200,594 ($275,153,607 total)
10. Unstoppable – $1,909,125 ($80,132,586 total)
14. The King’s Speech – $1,136,066 ($3,041,186 total)
16. 127 Hours – $575,777 ($9,652,375 total)
19. The Social Network – $292,033 ($95,100,173 total)
33. Hereafter – $73,600 ($33,732,927 total)
34. Inside Job – $72,541 ($3,382,273 total)
35. The Tempest – $60,199 ($125,839 total)
36. The Town – $59,635 ($95,342,406 total)
38. Rabbit Hole – $55,686 ($55,686 total)
46. Inception – $26,849 ($302,892,108 total)
72. Winter’s Bone – $3,668 ($6,458,723 total)
90. Dogtooth – $458 ($76,470 total)
93. Waste Land – $896 ($103,390 total)
101. Animal Kingdom – $403 ($1,047,661 total)

Oscar Details:

• 127 Hours: Picture, Actor (James Franco), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“If I Rise”), Editing
• Animal Kingdom: Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver)
• Black Swan: Picture, Direcing, Actress (Natalie Portman) [O], Editing, Cinematography
• Dogtooth: Foreign Language Film
• The Fighter: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Christian Bale) [O], Supporting Actress (Amy Adams, Melissa Leo [O]), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I: Art Direction, Visual Effects
• Hereafter: Visual Effects
• Inception: Picture, Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Inside Job: Documentary Feature
• The King’s Speech: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Colin Firth) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Helena Bonham Carter), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• Rabbit Hole: Actress (Nicole Kidman)
• The Social Network: Picture, Directing, Actor (Jesse Eisenberg), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound Mixing
• Tangled: Original Song (“I See the Light”)
• The Tempest: Costume Design
• The Town: Supporting Actor (Jeremy Renner)
• Tron: Legacy: Sound Editing
• Unstoppable: Sound Editing
• Waste Land: Documentary Feature
• Winter’s Bone: Picture, Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Adapted Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 23-25, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

1. King Kong – $21,259,320 ($108,582,050 total) {week 2}
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $19,777,962 ($153,220,802 total) {week 3}
5. Memoirs of a Geisha – $6,751,729 ($9,841,364 total) {week 3}
8. Munich – $4,152,260 ($4,152,260 total) {week 1}
11. Syriana – $3,109,998 ($28,749,728 total) {week 5}
13. Brokeback Mountain – $1,910,310 ($6,847,551 total) {week 3}
15. Walk the Line – $1,596,929 ($86,250,712 total) {week 6}
18. Pride & Prejudice – $696,532 ($31,177,171 total) {week 7}
22. Good Night, and Good Luck. – $196,684 ($22,822,670 total) {week 12}
23. Capote – $175,290 ($11,140,487 total) {week 13}
25. The Squid and the Whale – $146,539 ($4,571,368 total) {week 12}
28. Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit – $73,134 ($55,682,605 total) {week 12}
33. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $47,303 ($191,861 total) {week 3}
41. Transamerica – $33,438 ($159,978 total) {week 4}
44. The New World – $30,864 ($30,864 total) {week 1}
47. North Country – $27,860 ($18,152,413 total) {week 10}
48. A History of Violence – $20,404 ($31,109,593 total) {week 14}
53. Paradise Now – $9,423 ($1,000,836 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. King Kong – $27,096,512 ($138,395,530 total)
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $25,208,416 ($195,290,788 total)
5. Memoirs of a Geisha – $8,605,558 ($12,543,517 total)
8. Munich – $5,292,350 ($5,292,350 total)
11. Syriana – $3,963,913 ($36,643,569 total)
13. Brokeback Mountain – $2,434,826 ($8,727,690 total)
15. Walk the Line – $2,035,399 ($109,932,655 total)
18. Pride & Prejudice – $887,779 ($39,737,517 total)
22. Good Night, and Good Luck. – $250,688 ($29,089,113 total)
23. Capote – $223,420 ($14,199,341 total)
25. The Squid and the Whale – $186,774 ($5,826,533 total)
28. Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit – $93,214 ($70,971,433 total)
33. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $60,291 ($244,540 total)
41. Transamerica – $42,619 ($203,903 total)
44. The New World – $39,338 ($39,338 total)
47. North Country – $35,510 ($23,136,539 total)
48. A History of Violence – $26,006 ($39,651,385 total)
53. Paradise Now – $12,010 ($1,275,637 total)

Oscar Details:

• Brokeback Mountain: Picture, Directing [O], Actor (Heath Ledger), Supporting Actor (Jake Gyllenhaal), Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Cinematography
• Capote: Picture, Directing, Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman) [O], Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Adapted Screenplay
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects
• 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
• King Kong: Art Direction, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Memoirs of a Geisha: Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Mrs. Henderson Presents: Actress (Judi Dench), Costume Design
• Munich: Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing
• The New World: Cinematography
• North Country: Actress (Charlize Theron), Supporting Actress (Frances McDormand)
• Paradise Now: Foreign Language Film
• Pride & Prejudice: Actress (Keira Knightley), Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Squid and the Whale: Original Screenplay
• Syriana: Supporting Actor (George Clooney) [O], Original Screenplay
• Transamerica: Actress (Felicity Huffman), Original Song (“Travelin’ Thru”)
• Walk the Line: Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Actress (Reese Witherspoon) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit: Animated Feature [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 22-24, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

1. Cast Away – $28,883,406 ($28,883,406 total) {week 1}
3. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $12,244,675 ($232,636,205 total) {week 6}
6. The Emperor’s New Groove – $7,698,635 ($22,339,545 total) {week 2}
10. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $2,636,887 ($5,474,943 total) {week 3}
12. 102 Dalmatians – $2,139,377 ($51,717,906 total) {week 5}
16. Chocolat – $1,107,766 ($1,357,237 total) {week 2}
20. Meet the Parents – $343,135 ($159,989,135 total) {week 12}
21. You Can Count on Me – $446,018 ($3,017,322 total) {week 7}
22. Quills – $433,511 ($2,055,744 total) {week 5}
23. Billy Elliot – $410,885 ($16,229,290 total) {week 11}
27. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $195,104 ($195,104 total) {week 1}
31. Space Cowboys – $109,192 ($89,894,702 total) {week 21}
34. Before Night Falls – $85,230 ($85,230 total) {week 1}
35. Requiem for a Dream – $70,616 ($2,752,965 total) {week 12}
37. Malena – $62,282 ($62,282 total) {week 1}
46. The Contender – $25,797 ($17,725,838 total) {week 11}
49. Wonder Boys – $19,143 ($19,247,062 total) {week 44}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Cast Away – $43,780,599 ($43,780,599 total)
3. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $18,560,110 ($352,622,968 total)
6. The Emperor’s New Groove – $11,669,360 ($33,861,611 total)
10. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $3,996,914 ($8,298,754 total)
12. 102 Dalmatians – $3,242,803 ($78,392,447 total)
16. Chocolat – $1,679,118 ($2,057,259 total)
20. Meet the Parents – $520,114 ($242,506,722 total)
21. You Can Count on Me – $676,061 ($4,573,566 total)
22. Quills – $657,103 ($3,116,035 total)
23. Billy Elliot – $622,807 ($24,599,870 total)
27. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $295,733 ($295,733 total)
31. Space Cowboys – $165,510 ($136,259,687 total)
34. Before Night Falls – $129,189 ($129,189 total)
35. Requiem for a Dream – $107,038 ($4,172,862 total)
37. Malena – $94,405 ($94,405 total)
46. The Contender – $39,102 ($26,868,292 total)
49. Wonder Boys – $29,016 ($29,174,118 total)

Oscar Details:

• 102 Dalmatians: Costume Design
• Before Night Falls: Actor (Javier Bardem)
• Billy Elliot: Directing, Supporting Actress (Julie Walters), Original Screenplay
• Cast Away: Actor (Tom Hanks), Sound
• Chocolat: Picture, Actress (Juliette Binoche), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• The Contender: Actress (Joan Allen), Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges)
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“A Love Before Time”), Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• The Emperor’s New Groove: Original Song (“My Funny Friend and Me”)
• Malena: Original Score, Cinematography
• Meet the Parents: Original Song (“A Fool in Love”)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Cinematography
• Quills: Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Art Direction, Costume Design
• Requiem for a Dream: Actress (Ellen Burstyn)
• Space Cowboys: Sound Editing
• Wonder Boys: Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Things Have Changed”), Editing
• You Can Count on Me: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 22-24, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

2. Toy Story – $9,858,698 ($113,453,646 total) {week 5}
7. Sabrina – $6,029,606 ($14,563,132 total) {week 2}
12. The American President – $2,303,111 ($44,483,237 total) {week 6}
13. Nixon – $2,206,506 ($2,206,506 total) {week 1}
17. Casino – $1,083,230 ($34,939,120 total) {week 5}
18. Sense and Sensibility – $883,863 ($2,221,175 total) {week 2}
999. Braveheart – $1,752 ($67,010,481 total) {week 31}
999. Shanghai Triad – $209,098 ($232,632 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Toy Story – $18,516,221 ($213,084,204 total)
7. Sabrina – $11,324,570 ($27,351,905 total)
12. The American President – $4,325,613 ($83,546,677 total)
13. Nixon – $4,144,173 ($4,144,173 total)
17. Casino – $2,034,480 ($65,621,290 total)
18. Sense and Sensibility – $1,660,037 ($4,171,724 total)
999. Braveheart – $3,291 ($125,856,467 total)
999. Shanghai Triad – $392,720 ($436,920 total)

Oscar Details:

• The American President: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Braveheart: Picture [O], Directing [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Casino: Actress (Sharon Stone)
• Nixon: Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Supporting Actress (Joan Allen), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score
• Sabrina: Original Song (“Moonlight”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Sense and Sensibility: Picture, Actress (Emma Thompson), Supporting Actress (Kate Winslet), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Shanghai Triad: Cinematography
• Toy Story: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 21-23, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

1. Home Alone – $15,079,919 ($118,637,943 total) {week 6}
3. The Godfather, Part III – $6,387,271 ($6,387,271 total) {week 1}
4. Edward Scissorhands – $6,013,877 ($14,922,852 total) {week 3}
5. Dances With Wolves – $5,906,935 ($46,269,616 total) {week 7}
9. Misery – $4,125,895 ($31,886,620 total) {week 4}
13. Havana – $1,637,070 ($4,765,814 total) {week 2}
16. Ghost – $1,237,697 ($202,815,382 total) {week 24}
999. Alice – $36,274 ($36,274 total) {week 1}
999. Awakenings – $417,076 ($417,076 total) {week 1}
999. The Field – $27,948 ($27,948 total) {week 1}
999. Green Card – $47,781 ($47,781 total) {week 1}
999. Hamlet – $116,975 ($116,975 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Home Alone – $29,125,990 ($229,142,315 total)
3. The Godfather, Part III – $12,336,644 ($12,336,644 total)
4. Edward Scissorhands – $11,615,455 ($28,822,624 total)
5. Dances With Wolves – $11,408,903 ($89,367,083 total)
9. Misery – $7,968,927 ($61,587,160 total)
13. Havana – $3,161,906 ($9,204,894 total)
16. Ghost – $2,390,540 ($391,726,163 total)
999. Alice – $70,061 ($70,061 total)
999. Awakenings – $805,558 ($805,558 total)
999. The Field – $53,980 ($53,980 total)
999. Green Card – $92,286 ($92,286 total)
999. Hamlet – $225,930 ($225,930 total)

Oscar Details:

• Alice: Original Screenplay
• Awakenings: Picture, Actor (Robert De Niro), Adapted Screenplay
• Dances With Wolves: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Kevin Costner), Supporting Actor (Graham Greene), Supporting Actress (Mary McDonnell), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound [O]
• Edward Scissorhands: Makeup
• The Field: Actor (Richard Harris)
• Ghost: Picture, Supporting Actress (Whoopi Goldberg) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing
• The Godfather, Part III: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Andy Garcia), Original Song, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction
• Green Card: Original Screenplay
• Hamlet: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Havana: Original Score
• Home Alone: Original Song (“Somewhere in My Memory”), Original Score
• Misery: Actress (Kathy Bates) [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 20-22, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

4. Out of Africa – $3,637,290 ($3,637,290 total) {week 1}
6. White Nights – $2,757,227 ($14,577,537 total) {week 5}
8. The Color Purple – $1,710,333 ($1,710,333 total) {week 1}
10. A Chorus Line – $1,503,564 ($1,898,827 total) {week 2}
11. Young Sherlock Holmes – $1,439,127 ($7,521,337 total) {week 3}
13. Back to the Future – $905,454 ($186,980,485 total) {week 25}
16. The Trip to Bountiful – $8,387 ($8,387 total) {week 1}
999. Brazil – $30,099 ($37,593 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Out of Africa – $8,370,890 ($8,370,890 total)
6. White Nights – $6,345,506 ($33,548,867 total)
8. The Color Purple – $3,936,175 ($3,936,175 total)
10. A Chorus Line – $3,460,315 ($4,369,977 total)
11. Young Sherlock Holmes – $3,312,019 ($17,309,669 total)
13. Back to the Future – $2,083,819 ($430,318,468 total)
16. The Trip to Bountiful – $19,302 ($19,302 total)
999. Brazil – $69,270 ($86,517 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Power of Love’), Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Brazil:
• A Chorus Line: Original Song (“Surprise, Surprise”), Film Editing, Sound
• The Color Purple: Picture, Actress (Whoopi Goldberg), Supporting Actress (Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)”)
• Out of Africa: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actor (Klaus Maria Brandauer), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Sound [O]
• The Trip to Bountiful:
• White Nights: Original Song (“Say You, Say Me” [O], “Separate Lives (Love Theme from “White Nights”)”)
• Young Sherlock Holmes: Visual Effects

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 19-21, 1980

Weekend Box Office:

999. The Formula – $842,985 ($842,985 total) {week 1}
999. Nine to Five – $3,966,832 ($3,966,832 total) {week 1}
999. Raging Bull – $649,470 ($1,513,288 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

999. The Formula – $2,560,293 ($2,560,293 total)
999. Nine to Five – $12,047,962 ($12,047,962 total)
999. Raging Bull – $1,972,554 ($4,596,120 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Formula: Cinematography
• Nine to Five: Original Song (“Nine to Five”)
• Raging Bull: Picture, Directing, Actor (Robert De Niro) [O], Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci), Supporting Actress (Cathy Moriarty), Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound