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

Bleed for This (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Miles Teller), Supporting Actor (Aaron Eckhart), Film Editing.

The Edge of Seventeen (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Hailee Steinfeld), Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Wide)

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

Manchester by the Sea (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Casey Affleck), Actress (Michelle Williams), Supporting Actor (Kyle Chandler), Original Screenplay, Film Editing.

Nocturnal Animals (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actress (Amy Adams), Actor (Jake Gyllenhaal), Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor Johnson), Supporting Actress (Isla Fisher, Laura Linney), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 25-27, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Muppets – $29,239,026 ($41,516,691 total) {week 1}
5. Hugo – $11,364,505 ($15,402,042 total) {week 1}
8. Puss in Boots – $7,511,036 ($135,430,092 total) {week 5}
9. The Descendants – $7,345,720 ($10,886,952 total) {week 2}
12. My Week with Marilyn – $1,750,507 ($2,062,150 total) {week 1}
17. Real Steel – $330,377 ($83,181,049 total) {week 8}
19. The Help – $311,076 ($168,753,480 total) {week 16}
20. Margin Call – $293,825 ($4,367,821 total) {week 6}
22. Moneyball – $285,687 ($73,155,248 total) {week 10}
24. The Ides of March – $254,648 ($39,543,246 total) {week 8}
29. The Artist – $204,878 ($204,878 total) {week 1}
38. Drive – $93,344 ($34,500,254 total) {week 11}
40. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – $77,065 ($176,585,297 total) {week 17}
42. Anonymous – $69,211 ($4,301,018 total) {week 5}
43. Midnight in Paris – $58,955 ($55,684,541 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Muppets – $30,123,940 ($42,773,186 total)
5. Hugo – $11,708,450 ($15,868,182 total)
8. Puss in Boots – $7,738,356 ($139,528,859 total)
9. The Descendants – $7,568,037 ($11,216,444 total)
12. My Week with Marilyn – $1,803,486 ($2,124,561 total)
17. Real Steel – $340,376 ($85,698,508 total)
19. The Help – $320,491 ($173,860,773 total)
20. Margin Call – $302,718 ($4,500,012 total)
22. Moneyball – $294,333 ($75,369,278 total)
24. The Ides of March – $262,355 ($40,740,015 total)
29. The Artist – $211,079 ($211,079 total)
38. Drive – $96,169 ($35,544,398 total)
40. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – $79,397 ($181,929,619 total)
42. Anonymous – $71,306 ($4,431,188 total)
43. Midnight in Paris – $60,739 ($57,369,823 total)

Oscar Details:

• Anonymous: Costume Design
• The Artist: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Jean Dujardin) [O], Supporting Actress (Bérénice Bejo), Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• The Descendants: Picture, Directing, Actor (George Clooney), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing
• Drive: Sound Editing
• The Help: Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer [O])
• Hugo: Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Ides of March: Adapted Screenplay
• Margin Call: Original Screenplay
• Midnight in Paris: Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction
• Moneyball: Picture, Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Sound Mixing
• The Muppets: Original Song (“Man or Muppet”)
• My Week with Marilyn: Actress (Michelle Williams), Supporting Actor (Kenneth Branagh)
• Puss in Boots: Animated Feature
• Real Steel: Visual Effects
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 24-26, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

1. Happy Feet – $37,038,046 ($99,256,766 total) {week 2}
5. Borat – $10,304,802 ($109,136,807 total) {week 4}
12. The Queen – $2,587,471 ($2,097,016 total) {week 9}
13. Babel – $1,968,883 ($15,194,482 total) {week 5}
15. The Departed – $1,709,135 ($116,748,722 total) {week 8}
19. The Prestige – $861,024 ($51,099,913 total) {week 6}
20. Volver – $512,127 ($1,331,883 total) {week 4}
21. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $312,122 ($423,032,628 total) {week 21}
22. Flags of Our Fathers – $309,265 ($33,306,143 total) {week 6}
32. Marie Antoinette – $154,724 ($15,845,821 total) {week 6}
33. The Illusionist – $143,742 ($39,401,642 total) {week 15}
34. Little Children – $141,586 ($1,679,924 total) {week 8}
37. Little Miss Sunshine – $123,940 ($58,938,608 total) {week 18}
46. The Last King of Scotland – $7,092 ($3,368,128 total) {week 9}
61. Jesus Camp – $11,888 ($805,593 total) {week 11}
66. The Devil Wears Prada – $9,254 ($124,721,367 total) {week 22}
74. Deliver Us From Evil – $6,363 ($196,585 total) {week 7}
91. Half Nelson – $2,434 ($2,684,452 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Happy Feet – $46,198,601 ($123,805,768 total)
5. Borat – $12,853,471 ($136,129,422 total)
12. The Queen – $3,227,426 ($2,615,667 total)
13. Babel – $2,455,843 ($18,952,507 total)
15. The Departed – $2,131,852 ($145,623,978 total)
19. The Prestige – $1,073,980 ($63,738,365 total)
20. Volver – $638,790 ($1,661,295 total)
21. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $389,319 ($527,660,545 total)
22. Flags of Our Fathers – $385,755 ($41,543,693 total)
32. Marie Antoinette – $192,992 ($19,764,940 total)
33. The Illusionist – $179,293 ($49,146,781 total)
34. Little Children – $176,604 ($2,095,417 total)
37. Little Miss Sunshine – $154,594 ($73,515,790 total)
46. The Last King of Scotland – $8,846 ($4,201,161 total)
61. Jesus Camp – $14,828 ($1,004,839 total)
66. The Devil Wears Prada – $11,543 ($155,568,484 total)
74. Deliver Us From Evil – $7,937 ($245,206 total)
91. Half Nelson – $3,036 ($3,348,393 total)

Oscar Details:

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

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 23-25, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $57,487,755 ($186,978,513 total) {week 2}
2. Monsters, Inc. – $2,405,501 ($192,229,825 total) {week 4}
11. Amelie – $1,811,595 ($7,799,075 total) {week 4}
15. The Man Who Wasn’t There – $954,389 ($4,593,619 total) {week 4}
19. Training Day – $43,014 ($74,950,886 total) {week 8}
28. Mulholland Drive – $176,695 ($4,980,763 total) {week 7}
37. In the Bedroom – $93,972 ($93,972 total) {week 1}
39. Shrek – $88,295 ($267,590,891 total) {week 28}
40. Moulin Rouge! – $71,614 ($56,837,983 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $82,981,441 ($269,896,546 total)
2. Monsters, Inc. – $3,472,251 ($277,476,620 total)
11. Amelie – $2,614,970 ($11,257,675 total)
15. The Man Who Wasn’t There – $1,377,625 ($6,630,719 total)
19. Training Day – $62,089 ($108,188,823 total)
28. Mulholland Drive – $255,053 ($7,189,547 total)
37. In the Bedroom – $135,645 ($135,645 total)
39. Shrek – $127,451 ($386,257,523 total)
40. Moulin Rouge! – $103,372 ($82,043,520 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amelie: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Foreign Language Film
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• In the Bedroom: Picture, Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Actress (Sissy Spacek), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei), Adapted Screenplay
• The Man Who Wasn’t There: Cinematography
• Monsters, Inc.: Animated Feature, Original Song (If I Didn’t Have You [O]), Original Score, Sound Editing
• Moulin Rouge!: Picture, Actress (Nicole Kidman), Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• Mulholland Drive: Director
• Shrek: Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Training Day: Actor (Denzel Washington [O]), Supporting Actor (Ethan Hawke)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 22-24, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

1. Star Trek: First Contact – $30,716,131 ($30,716,131 total) {week 1}
5. The Mirror Has Two Faces – $8,012,555 ($24,095,577 total) {week 2}
7. Romeo + Juliet – $3,195,515 ($35,816,436 total) {week 4}
8. The English Patient – $2,713,093 ($3,205,999 total) {week 2}
9. Sleepers – $1,369,471 ($49,138,306 total) {week 6}
10. First Wives Club – $723,675 ($100,557,663 total) {week 10}
999. The Ghost and the Darkness – $470,211 ($36,946,439 total) {week 7}
999. Independence Day – $404,893 ($30,540,802 total) {week 21}
999. The Rock – $11,382 ($134,057,136 total) {week 25}
999. Shine – $162,179 ($162,179 total) {week 1}
999. Shine – $162,179 ($162,179 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Star Trek: First Contact – $56,776,197 ($56,776,197 total)
5. The Mirror Has Two Faces – $14,810,537 ($44,538,657 total)
7. Romeo + Juliet – $5,906,642 ($66,203,684 total)
8. The English Patient – $5,014,925 ($5,926,021 total)
9. Sleepers – $2,531,353 ($90,828,045 total)
10. First Wives Club – $1,337,653 ($185,872,422 total)
999. The Ghost and the Darkness – $869,146 ($68,292,400 total)
999. Independence Day – $748,411 ($56,452,116 total)
999. The Rock – $21,039 ($247,793,394 total)
999. Shine – $299,774 ($299,774 total)
999. Shine – $299,774 ($299,774 total)

Oscar Details:

• The English Patient: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Actress (Kristin Scott Thomas), Supporting Actress (Juliette Binoche [O]), Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
• First Wives Club: Original Comedy or Musical Score
• The Ghost and the Darkness: Sound Effects [O]
• Independence Day: Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• The Mirror Has Two Faces: Supporting Actress (Lauren Bacall), Original Song (“I’ve Finally Found Someone”)
• The Rock: Sound
• Romeo + Juliet: Art Direction
• Shine: Picture, Director, Actor (Geoffrey Rush) [O], Supporting Actor (Armin Mueller-Stahl), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing
• Shine: Picture, Directing, Actor (Geoffrey Rush) [O], Supporting Actor (Armin Mueller-Stahl), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Film Editing
• Sleepers: Original Dramatic Score
• Star Trek: First Contact: Makeup

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 22-24, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Addams Family – $24,203,754 ($24,203,754 total) {week 1}
2. Cape Fear – $10,033,295 ($24,251,112 total) {week 2}
3. Beauty and the Beast – $9,624,149 ($9,917,522 total) {week 2}
999. For the Boys – $71,348 ($71,348 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Addams Family – $46,970,230 ($46,970,230 total)
2. Cape Fear – $19,470,789 ($47,062,134 total)
3. Beauty and the Beast – $18,676,793 ($19,246,118 total)
999. For the Boys – $138,459 ($138,459 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Addams Family: Costume Design
• Beauty and the Beast: Picture, Original Song (“Be Our Guest”, “Beauty and the Beast” [O], “Belle”), Original Score [O], Sound
• Cape Fear: Actor (Robert De Niro), Supporting Actress (Juliette Lewis)
• For the Boys: Actress (Bette Midler)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 21-23, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Crocodile Dundee – $5,537,875 ($83,119,455 total) {week 9}
2. An American Tail – $5,234,446 ($5,234,446 total) {week 1}
5. The Color of Money – $2,504,759 ($34,749,052 total) {week 6}
6. Peggy Sue Got Married – $2,339,621 ($31,620,623 total) {week 7}
9. Stand By Me – $1,154,357 ($43,577,043 total) {week 16}
10. Children of a Lesser God – $1,129,214 ($17,336,662 total) {week 8}
11. Top Gun – $1,017,171 ($165,069,787 total) {week 28}
999. Blue Velvet – $159,568 ($620,346 total) {week 10}
999. Hoosiers – $201,889 ($492,954 total) {week 2}
999. The Mission – $227,373 ($728,653 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Crocodile Dundee – $12,195,267 ($183,042,034 total)
2. An American Tail – $11,527,068 ($11,527,068 total)
5. The Color of Money – $5,515,871 ($76,522,845 total)
6. Peggy Sue Got Married – $5,152,211 ($69,633,555 total)
9. Stand By Me – $2,542,075 ($95,963,461 total)
10. Children of a Lesser God – $2,486,706 ($38,178,040 total)
11. Top Gun – $2,239,970 ($363,509,477 total)
999. Blue Velvet – $351,394 ($1,366,099 total)
999. Hoosiers – $444,591 ($1,085,562 total)
999. The Mission – $500,711 ($1,604,608 total)

Oscar Details:

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

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 20-22, 1981

Weekend Box Office:

999. Ragtime – $151,351 ($151,351 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

999. Ragtime – $444,798 ($444,798 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ragtime: Supporting Actor (Howard E Rollins Jr), Supporting Actress (Elizabeth McGovern), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Original Song (“One More Hour”), Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design