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

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 8-10, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

11. Rango – $2,301,507 ($117,532,400 total) {week 6}
15. Jane Eyre – $1,157,935 ($5,146,695 total) {week 5}
27. Tangled – $220,670 ($199,441,791 total) {week 20}
29. True Grit – $209,559 ($170,760,874 total) {week 16}
45. Black Swan – $51,033 ($106,882,290 total) {week 19}
46. In a Better World – $44,858 ($92,190 total) {week 2}
47. Barney’s Version – $43,148 ($4,274,639 total) {week 13}
50. Biutiful – $37,914 ($4,969,164 total) {week 11}
55. Tron: Legacy – $28,516 ($172,051,787 total) {week 17}
63. The Illusionist – $21,885 ($2,166,980 total) {week 15}
73. Another Year – $9,208 ($3,180,463 total) {week 15}
74. Blue Valentine – $8,735 ($9,690,534 total) {week 15}
85. 127 Hours – $5,320 ($18,329,466 total) {week 23}
89. Inside Job – $3,944 ($4,293,312 total) {week 27}
119. Winter’s Bone – $260 ($6,531,281 total) {week 44}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

11. Rango – $2,371,162 ($121,089,497 total)
15. Jane Eyre – $1,192,980 ($5,302,459 total)
27. Tangled – $227,349 ($205,477,860 total)
29. True Grit – $215,901 ($175,928,921 total)
45. Black Swan – $52,578 ($110,117,063 total)
46. In a Better World – $46,216 ($94,980 total)
47. Barney’s Version – $44,454 ($4,404,010 total)
50. Biutiful – $39,061 ($5,119,555 total)
55. Tron: Legacy – $29,379 ($177,258,903 total)
63. The Illusionist – $22,547 ($2,232,563 total)
73. Another Year – $9,487 ($3,276,719 total)
74. Blue Valentine – $8,999 ($9,983,816 total)
85. 127 Hours – $5,481 ($18,884,204 total)
89. Inside Job – $4,063 ($4,423,248 total)
119. Winter’s Bone – $268 ($6,728,949 total)

Oscar Details:

• 127 Hours: Picture, Actor (James Franco), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“If I Rise”), Editing
• Another Year: Original Screenplay
• Barney’s Version: Makeup
• Biutiful: Actor (Javier Bardem), Foreign Language Film
• Black Swan: Picture, Direcing, Actress (Natalie Portman) [O], Editing, Cinematography
• Blue Valentine: Actress (Michelle Williams)
• The Illusionist: Animated Feature
• In a Better World: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Inside Job: Documentary Feature
• Jane Eyre: Costume Design
• Rango: Animated Feature [O]
• Tangled: Original Song (“I See the Light”)
• Tron: Legacy: Sound Editing
• True Grit: Picture, Directing, Actor (Jeff Bridges), Supporting Actress (Hailee Steinfeld), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Winter’s Bone: Picture, Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Adapted Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 7-9, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

21. Tsotsi – $252,380 ($2,002,279 total) {week 7}
25. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $184,534 ($291,478,741 total) {week 18}
39. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $77,200 ($10,757,195 total) {week 18}
46. Joyeux Noel – $55,440 ($778,202 total) {week 17}
47. Brokeback Mountain – $49,193 ($82,970,165 total) {week 18}
48. Syriana – $47,287 ($50,767,634 total) {week 20}
54. Capote – $35,074 ($28,397,013 total) {week 28}
57. Transamerica – $31,102 ($8,780,273 total) {week 19}
59. Walk the Line – $30,099 ($119,454,784 total) {week 21}
60. Sophie Scholl – $26,476 ($372,135 total) {week 8}
75. Days of Glory – $7,094 ($301,434 total) {week 18}
123. Evil – $591 ($12,595 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

21. Tsotsi – $314,801 ($2,497,499 total)
25. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $230,174 ($363,569,666 total)
39. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $96,294 ($13,417,753 total)
46. Joyeux Noel – $69,152 ($970,673 total)
47. Brokeback Mountain – $61,360 ($103,491,030 total)
48. Syriana – $58,982 ($63,323,904 total)
54. Capote – $43,749 ($35,420,396 total)
57. Transamerica – $38,794 ($10,951,883 total)
59. Walk the Line – $37,543 ($148,999,326 total)
60. Sophie Scholl – $33,024 ($464,174 total)
75. Days of Glory – $8,849 ($375,987 total)
123. Evil – $737 ($15,710 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
• Days of Glory: Foreign Language Film
• Evil: Foreign Language Film
• Joyeux Noel: Foreign Language Film
• Mrs. Henderson Presents: Actress (Judi Dench), Costume Design
• Sophie Scholl: Foreign Language Film
• Syriana: Supporting Actor (George Clooney) [O], Original Screenplay
• Transamerica: Actress (Felicity Huffman), Original Song (“Travelin’ Thru”)
• Tsotsi: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Walk the Line: Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Actress (Reese Witherspoon) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 6-8, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

9. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $2,820,308 ($117,525,155 total) {week 18}
13. Traffic – $2,134,341 ($116,755,319 total) {week 15}
14. Chocolat – $1,217,327 ($66,082,420 total) {week 17}
17. Memento – $850,273 ($2,521,558 total) {week 4}
18. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $796,631 ($39,923,302 total) {week 16}
22. Pollock – $450,924 ($6,755,336 total) {week 17}
23. Cast Away – $345,870 ($230,654,808 total) {week 16}
26. The Emperor’s New Groove – $226,614 ($88,077,287 total) {week 17}
37. Gladiator – $88,336 ($187,601,773 total) {week 49}
40. You Can Count on Me – $80,952 ($9,084,640 total) {week 22}
43. Billy Elliot – $67,200 ($21,764,665 total) {week 26}
47. Amores Perros – $54,661 ($146,842 total) {week 2}
51. 102 Dalmatians – $47,127 ($66,903,659 total) {week 20}
54. Before Night Falls – $42,080 ($4,136,677 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $4,071,010 ($169,643,201 total)
13. Traffic – $3,080,842 ($168,531,971 total)
14. Chocolat – $1,757,166 ($95,387,521 total)
17. Memento – $1,227,338 ($3,639,775 total)
18. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $1,149,907 ($57,627,805 total)
22. Pollock – $650,892 ($9,751,077 total)
23. Cast Away – $499,251 ($332,941,657 total)
26. The Emperor’s New Groove – $327,109 ($127,136,296 total)
37. Gladiator – $127,510 ($270,796,199 total)
40. You Can Count on Me – $116,851 ($13,113,341 total)
43. Billy Elliot – $97,001 ($31,416,486 total)
47. Amores Perros – $78,901 ($211,961 total)
51. 102 Dalmatians – $68,026 ($96,572,949 total)
54. Before Night Falls – $60,741 ($5,971,140 total)

Oscar Details:

• 102 Dalmatians: Costume Design
• Amores Perros: Foreign Language Film
• 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
• 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]
• The Emperor’s New Groove: Original Song (“My Funny Friend and Me”)
• 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]
• Memento: Original Screenplay, Film Editing
• O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Cinematography
• Pollock: Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden) [O]
• Traffic: Picture, Directing [O], Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing [O]
• You Can Count on Me: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 5-7, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

1. Primal Fear – $9,871,222 ($11,892,480 total) {week 1}
3. The Birdcage – $9,219,443 ($87,604,273 total) {week 5}
7. Fargo – $2,536,491 ($12,160,219 total) {week 5}
8. Up Close and Personal – $2,023,927 ($42,979,202 total) {week 6}
13. Dead Man Walking – $1,098,509 ($34,163,268 total) {week 15}
999. Braveheart – $437,436 ($74,804,880 total) {week 46}
999. Toy Story – $51,861 ($184,791,362 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Primal Fear – $18,246,128 ($21,982,254 total)
3. The Birdcage – $17,041,369 ($161,929,165 total)
7. Fargo – $4,688,491 ($22,477,147 total)
8. Up Close and Personal – $3,741,060 ($79,443,457 total)
13. Dead Man Walking – $2,030,502 ($63,147,941 total)
999. Braveheart – $808,564 ($138,270,559 total)
999. Toy Story – $95,861 ($341,571,364 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Birdcage: Art Direction
• Braveheart: Picture [O], Directing [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Dead Man Walking: Directing, Actor (Sean Penn), Actress (Susan Sarandon) [O], Original Song (“Dead Man Walkin’”)
• Fargo: Picture, Director, Actress (Frances McDormand) [O], Supporting Actor (William H Macy), Original Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography
• Primal Fear: Supporting Actor (Edward Norton)
• Toy Story: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Up Close and Personal: Original Song (“Because You Loved Me”)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 5-7, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Silence of the Lambs – $4,760,714 ($94,425,327 total) {week 8}
4. Dances With Wolves – $4,014,945 ($150,966,372 total) {week 22}
9. Home Alone – $1,954,348 ($260,077,797 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Silence of the Lambs – $9,238,725 ($183,243,449 total)
4. Dances With Wolves – $7,791,473 ($292,967,995 total)
9. Home Alone – $3,792,642 ($504,711,544 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• Home Alone: Original Song (“Somewhere in My Memory”), Original Score
• The Silence of the Lambs: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Anthony Hopkins) [O], Actress (Jodie Foster) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Sound

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 4-6, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

5. The Color Purple – $2,158,733 ($84,158,913 total) {week 16}
7. Out of Africa – $1,884,432 ($77,266,673 total) {week 16}
9. Hannah and Her Sisters – $1,579,090 ($24,977,602 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. The Color Purple – $4,753,868 ($185,331,083 total)
7. Out of Africa – $4,149,814 ($170,153,293 total)
9. Hannah and Her Sisters – $3,477,403 ($55,004,584 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Color Purple: Picture, Actress (Whoopi Goldberg), Supporting Actress (Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)”)
• Hannah and Her Sisters: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) [O], Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Art Direction
• 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]