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. 29-May 1, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

2. Rio – $14,787,836 ($104,014,851 total) {week 3}
21. Jane Eyre – $511,827 ($8,739,767 total) {week 8}
28. Rango – $253,026 ($119,931,720 total) {week 9}
43. In a Better World – $71,255 ($395,910 total) {week 5}
45. Incendies – $64,622 ($133,639 total) {week 2}
66. Tangled – $16,475 ($199,695,811 total) {week 23}
76. Biutiful – $7,983 ($5,056,098 total) {week 14}
79. Barney’s Version – $7,146 ($4,383,626 total) {week 16}
89. The Illusionist – $4,662 ($2,218,443 total) {week 18}
102. Black Swan – $1,570 ($106,952,327 total) {week 22}
103. Inside Job – $1,458 ($4,311,834 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Rio – $15,235,387 ($107,162,841 total)
21. Jane Eyre – $527,317 ($9,004,274 total)
28. Rango – $260,684 ($123,561,432 total)
43. In a Better World – $73,412 ($407,892 total)
45. Incendies – $66,578 ($137,684 total)
66. Tangled – $16,974 ($205,739,568 total)
76. Biutiful – $8,225 ($5,209,120 total)
79. Barney’s Version – $7,362 ($4,516,296 total)
89. The Illusionist – $4,803 ($2,285,584 total)
102. Black Swan – $1,618 ($110,189,220 total)
103. Inside Job – $1,502 ($4,442,331 total)

Oscar Details:

• Barney’s Version: Makeup
• Biutiful: Actor (Javier Bardem), Foreign Language Film
• Black Swan: Picture, Direcing, Actress (Natalie Portman) [O], Editing, Cinematography
• The Illusionist: Animated Feature
• In a Better World: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Incendies: Foreign Language Film
• Inside Job: Documentary Feature
• Jane Eyre: Costume Design
• Rango: Animated Feature [O]
• Rio: Original Song (“Real in Rio”)
• Tangled: Original Song (“I See the Light”)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 28-30, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

2. United 93 – $11,478,360 ($11,478,360 total) {week 1}
35. Tsotsi – $100,244 ($2,657,413 total) {week 10}
42. Water – $56,280 ($56,280 total) {week 1}
55. Transamerica – $24,615 ($8,900,250 total) {week 22}
56. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $23,534 ($10,927,578 total) {week 21}
58. Joyeux Noel – $21,729 ($947,319 total) {week 20}
60. Sophie Scholl – $20,768 ($504,310 total) {week 11}
92. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $6,724 ($291,706,092 total) {week 21}
102. Walk the Line – $3,432 ($119,518,352 total) {week 24}
134. Darwin’s Nightmare – $550 ($196,092 total) {week 39}
139. Evil – $300 ($14,602 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. United 93 – $14,317,283 ($14,317,283 total)
35. Tsotsi – $125,037 ($3,314,666 total)
42. Water – $70,200 ($70,200 total)
55. Transamerica – $30,703 ($11,101,533 total)
56. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $29,355 ($13,630,277 total)
58. Joyeux Noel – $27,103 ($1,181,618 total)
60. Sophie Scholl – $25,905 ($629,040 total)
92. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $8,387 ($363,853,248 total)
102. Walk the Line – $4,281 ($149,078,616 total)
134. Darwin’s Nightmare – $686 ($244,591 total)
139. Evil – $374 ($18,213 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects
• Darwin’s Nightmare: Documentary Feature
• Evil: Foreign Language Film
• Joyeux Noel: Foreign Language Film
• Mrs. Henderson Presents: Actress (Judi Dench), Costume Design
• Sophie Scholl: Foreign Language Film
• Transamerica: Actress (Felicity Huffman), Original Song (“Travelin’ Thru”)
• Tsotsi: Foreign Language Film [O]
• United 93: Directing, Film Editing
• Walk the Line: Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Actress (Reese Witherspoon) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• Water: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 27-29, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

2. Bridget Jones’ Diary – $7,528,349 ($36,263,550 total) {week 3}
13. Memento – $1,272,481 ($7,064,242 total) {week 7}
17. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $775,304 ($123,907,354 total) {week 21}
20. Traffic – $534,020 ($121,477,376 total) {week 18}
21. Amores Perros – $513,947 ($2,995,605 total) {week 5}
25. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $369,564 ($42,149,368 total) {week 19}
26. Chocolat – $334,372 ($68,800,770 total) {week 20}
27. Cast Away – $308,176 ($232,073,556 total) {week 19}
30. Pollock – $147,240 ($7,928,534 total) {week 20}
35. The Emperor’s New Groove – $122,946 ($88,942,667 total) {week 20}
59. You Can Count on Me – $29,204 ($9,256,450 total) {week 25}
999. Gladiator – $3,843 ($187,703,467 total) {week 52}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Bridget Jones’ Diary – $10,866,892 ($52,345,089 total)
13. Memento – $1,836,779 ($10,196,971 total)
17. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $1,119,123 ($178,855,668 total)
20. Traffic – $770,838 ($175,348,085 total)
21. Amores Perros – $741,863 ($4,324,045 total)
25. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $533,452 ($60,841,049 total)
26. Chocolat – $482,654 ($99,311,359 total)
27. Cast Away – $444,841 ($334,989,568 total)
30. Pollock – $212,535 ($11,444,545 total)
35. The Emperor’s New Groove – $177,468 ($128,385,440 total)
59. You Can Count on Me – $42,155 ($13,361,342 total)
999. Gladiator – $5,547 ($270,942,990 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amores Perros: Foreign Language Film
• Bridget Jones’ Diary: Actress (Renee Zellweger)
• 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. 26-28, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

4. Primal Fear – $4,704,262 ($39,804,588 total) {week 4}
6. James and the Giant Peach – $3,580,612 ($19,673,111 total) {week 3}
7. The Birdcage – $3,365,322 ($109,303,042 total) {week 8}
14. Fargo – $955,119 ($18,395,787 total) {week 8}
999. Braveheart – $42,111 ($75,545,647 total) {week 49}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Primal Fear – $8,695,435 ($73,575,449 total)
6. James and the Giant Peach – $6,618,462 ($36,364,099 total)
7. The Birdcage – $6,220,516 ($202,037,523 total)
14. Fargo – $1,765,458 ($34,003,072 total)
999. Braveheart – $77,839 ($139,639,805 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]
• Fargo: Picture, Director, Actress (Frances McDormand) [O], Supporting Actor (William H Macy), Original Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography
• James and the Giant Peach: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Primal Fear: Supporting Actor (Edward Norton)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 26-28, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

6. The Silence of the Lambs – $2,590,546 ($108,662,853 total) {week 11}
8. Dances With Wolves – $2,065,096 ($162,753,745 total) {week 25}
12. Home Alone – $1,122,205 ($266,197,786 total) {week 24}
999. Journey of Hope (Foreign) – $12,489 ($12,489 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. The Silence of the Lambs – $5,027,259 ($210,873,043 total)
8. Dances With Wolves – $4,007,562 ($315,842,778 total)
12. Home Alone – $2,177,771 ($516,588,103 total)
999. Journey of Hope (Foreign) – $24,236 ($24,236 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
• Journey of Hope (Foreign):
• 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. 25-27, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Legend – $2,591,751 ($8,249,015 total) {week 2}
10. The Color Purple – $1,011,530 ($89,783,434 total) {week 19}
12. Hannah and Her Sisters – $835,025 ($29,059,221 total) {week 12}
999. Three Men and a Cradle (Foreign) – $25,380 ($25,380 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Legend – $5,707,441 ($18,165,621 total)
10. The Color Purple – $2,227,547 ($197,717,158 total)
12. Hannah and Her Sisters – $1,838,856 ($63,992,948 total)
999. Three Men and a Cradle (Foreign) – $55,891 ($55,891 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
• Legend: Makeup
• Three Men and a Cradle (Foreign):