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

Anomalisa (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature, Adapted Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 7-9, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

1. True Grit – $14,605,135 ($110,035,157 total) {week 3}
4. Tron: Legacy – $10,090,002 ($148,212,420 total) {week 4}
5. Black Swan – $8,113,011 ($61,218,504 total) {week 6}
6. Country Strong – $7,326,165 ($7,463,454 total) {week 3}
7. The Fighter – $7,001,504 ($57,845,946 total) {week 5}
9. The King’s Speech – $6,414,407 ($32,896,665 total) {week 7}
10. Tangled – $5,111,098 ($175,779,496 total) {week 7}
14. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $2,353,398 ($287,661,770 total) {week 8}
16. Blue Valentine – $704,339 ($1,144,584 total) {week 2}
17. The Social Network – $653,209 ($94,077,470 total) {week 15}
25. 127 Hours – $216,964 ($10,824,599 total) {week 10}
33. Rabbit Hole – $109,944 ($627,981 total) {week 4}
35. Another Year – $87,261 ($303,715 total) {week 2}
39. Inside Job – $55,949 ($3,539,370 total) {week 14}
42. The Illusionist – $46,416 ($123,476 total) {week 2}
57. Hereafter – $12,779 ($32,741,596 total) {week 13}
62. Dogtooth – $6,966 ($81,293 total) {week 29}
69. The Tempest – $4,875 ($242,129 total) {week 5}
71. Winter’s Bone – $4,759 ($6,254,382 total) {week 31}
85. Animal Kingdom – $1,594 ($1,018,718 total) {week 22}
86. Waste Land – $1,385 ($103,839 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. True Grit – $15,047,157 ($113,365,351 total)
4. Tron: Legacy – $10,395,374 ($152,698,042 total)
5. Black Swan – $8,358,550 ($63,071,271 total)
6. Country Strong – $7,547,890 ($7,689,334 total)
7. The Fighter – $7,213,403 ($59,596,643 total)
9. The King’s Speech – $6,608,538 ($33,892,277 total)
10. Tangled – $5,265,784 ($181,099,430 total)
14. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $2,424,623 ($296,367,801 total)
16. Blue Valentine – $725,656 ($1,179,225 total)
17. The Social Network – $672,978 ($96,924,707 total)
25. 127 Hours – $223,530 ($11,152,204 total)
33. Rabbit Hole – $113,271 ($646,987 total)
35. Another Year – $89,902 ($312,907 total)
39. Inside Job – $57,642 ($3,646,488 total)
42. The Illusionist – $47,821 ($127,213 total)
57. Hereafter – $13,166 ($33,732,514 total)
62. Dogtooth – $7,177 ($83,753 total)
69. The Tempest – $5,023 ($249,457 total)
71. Winter’s Bone – $4,903 ($6,443,670 total)
85. Animal Kingdom – $1,642 ($1,049,549 total)
86. Waste Land – $1,427 ($106,982 total)

Oscar Details:

• 127 Hours: Picture, Actor (James Franco), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“If I Rise”), Editing
• Animal Kingdom: Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver)
• Another Year: Original Screenplay
• Black Swan: Picture, Direcing, Actress (Natalie Portman) [O], Editing, Cinematography
• Blue Valentine: Actress (Michelle Williams)
• Country Strong: Original Song (“Coming Home”)
• 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
• The Illusionist: Animated Feature
• 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
• 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
• Waste Land: Documentary Feature
• Winter’s Bone: Picture, Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Adapted Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 6-8, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $15,643,135 ($247,777,824 total) {week 5}
3. King Kong – $12,622,285 ($192,678,805 total) {week 4}
6. Munich – $7,566,075 ($25,350,740 total) {week 3}
7. Memoirs of a Geisha – $6,111,193 ($39,861,859 total) {week 5}
8. Brokeback Mountain – $5,726,662 ($22,436,190 total) {week 5}
15. Match Point – $2,709,289 ($3,618,079 total) {week 2}
17. Walk the Line – $2,111,049 ($95,367,226 total) {week 8}
18. Syriana – $2,065,292 ($42,079,173 total) {week 7}
21. Pride & Prejudice – $717,748 ($35,264,040 total) {week 9}
24. Capote – $330,539 ($12,579,765 total) {week 15}
25. Good Night, and Good Luck. – $315,779 ($24,108,987 total) {week 14}
26. The Squid and the Whale – $275,575 ($5,612,075 total) {week 14}
31. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $114,669 ($621,324 total) {week 5}
37. Transamerica – $61,146 ($373,416 total) {week 6}
41. A History of Violence – $46,613 ($31,287,133 total) {week 16}
44. North Country – $27,104 ($18,324,242 total) {week 12}
51. Paradise Now – $14,807 ($1,062,716 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $19,512,124 ($309,060,278 total)
3. King Kong – $15,744,133 ($240,333,716 total)
6. Munich – $9,437,379 ($31,620,694 total)
7. Memoirs of a Geisha – $7,622,664 ($49,720,823 total)
8. Brokeback Mountain – $7,143,027 ($27,985,293 total)
15. Match Point – $3,379,373 ($4,512,932 total)
17. Walk the Line – $2,633,171 ($118,954,235 total)
18. Syriana – $2,576,097 ($52,486,541 total)
21. Pride & Prejudice – $895,267 ($43,985,833 total)
24. Capote – $412,291 ($15,691,096 total)
25. Good Night, and Good Luck. – $393,880 ($30,071,820 total)
26. The Squid and the Whale – $343,732 ($7,000,100 total)
31. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $143,030 ($774,995 total)
37. Transamerica – $76,269 ($465,772 total)
41. A History of Violence – $58,142 ($39,025,325 total)
44. North Country – $33,808 ($22,856,345 total)
51. Paradise Now – $18,469 ($1,325,556 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]
• Match Point: Original Screenplay
• 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
• 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

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 5-7, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

1. Cast Away – $22,220,725 ($141,702,072 total) {week 3}
3. Traffic – $15,517,549 ($16,042,000 total) {week 2}
6. The Emperor’s New Groove – $7,462,207 ($62,400,374 total) {week 4}
10. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $3,408,397 ($18,496,108 total) {week 5}
11. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $2,503,210 ($257,830,325 total) {week 8}
14. 102 Dalmatians – $1,630,491 ($61,175,547 total) {week 7}
15. Chocolat – $1,538,146 ($6,441,900 total) {week 4}
16. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $1,392,926 ($3,805,138 total) {week 3}
20. Quills – $615,595 ($4,284,664 total) {week 7}
21. Meet the Parents – $605,430 ($162,155,675 total) {week 14}
22. You Can Count on Me – $471,489 ($4,590,198 total) {week 9}
23. Billy Elliot – $449,895 ($17,731,130 total) {week 13}
29. Malena – $194,326 ($758,408 total) {week 3}
34. Space Cowboys – $120,896 ($90,357,252 total) {week 23}
38. Shadow of the Vampire – $94,390 ($294,631 total) {week 2}
41. Before Night Falls – $76,106 ($350,767 total) {week 3}
42. Requiem for a Dream – $70,361 ($2,965,175 total) {week 14}
51. The Contender – $22,766 ($17,844,236 total) {week 13}
52. Wonder Boys – $21,376 ($19,315,014 total) {week 46}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Cast Away – $32,074,792 ($204,541,683 total)
3. Traffic – $22,399,006 ($23,156,032 total)
6. The Emperor’s New Groove – $10,771,419 ($90,072,625 total)
10. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $4,919,895 ($26,698,446 total)
11. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $3,613,291 ($372,168,508 total)
14. 102 Dalmatians – $2,353,553 ($88,304,632 total)
15. Chocolat – $2,220,257 ($9,298,644 total)
16. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $2,010,637 ($5,492,576 total)
20. Quills – $888,589 ($6,184,754 total)
21. Meet the Parents – $873,916 ($234,065,700 total)
22. You Can Count on Me – $680,577 ($6,625,781 total)
23. Billy Elliot – $649,407 ($25,594,228 total)
29. Malena – $280,502 ($1,094,734 total)
34. Space Cowboys – $174,509 ($130,427,341 total)
38. Shadow of the Vampire – $136,248 ($425,289 total)
41. Before Night Falls – $109,856 ($506,319 total)
42. Requiem for a Dream – $101,563 ($4,280,120 total)
51. The Contender – $32,862 ($25,757,493 total)
52. Wonder Boys – $30,855 ($27,880,506 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)
• Shadow of the Vampire: Supporting Actor (Willem Dafoe), Makeup
• Space Cowboys: Sound Editing
• Traffic: Picture, Directing [O], Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing [O]
• 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 Jan. 5-7, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

1. 12 Monkeys – $13,842,990 ($14,206,379 total) {week 2}
4. Toy Story – $7,061,114 ($160,800,738 total) {week 7}
8. Sabrina – $4,595,308 ($37,807,829 total) {week 4}
10. The American President – $2,252,807 ($54,154,554 total) {week 8}
13. Nixon – $2,016,601 ($10,300,341 total) {week 3}
14. Sense and Sensibility – $1,902,279 ($6,709,060 total) {week 4}
17. Casino – $786,385 ($38,687,615 total) {week 7}
999. Braveheart – $4,761 ($67,028,744 total) {week 33}
999. Dead Man Walking – $117,772 ($284,918 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. 12 Monkeys – $25,587,608 ($26,259,302 total)
4. Toy Story – $13,051,878 ($297,226,703 total)
8. Sabrina – $8,494,042 ($69,884,607 total)
10. The American President – $4,164,125 ($100,100,160 total)
13. Nixon – $3,727,518 ($19,039,318 total)
14. Sense and Sensibility – $3,516,203 ($12,401,136 total)
17. Casino – $1,453,567 ($71,510,818 total)
999. Braveheart – $8,800 ($123,897,022 total)
999. Dead Man Walking – $217,692 ($526,647 total)

Oscar Details:

• 12 Monkeys: Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Costume Design
• 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)
• Dead Man Walking: Directing, Actor (Sean Penn), Actress (Susan Sarandon) [O], Original Song (“Dead Man Walkin’”)
• 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
• Toy Story: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 4-6, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

1. Home Alone – $12,626,851 ($168,697,638 total) {week 8}
3. The Godfather, Part III – $8,290,621 ($44,738,505 total) {week 3}
4. Dances With Wolves – $7,329,451 ($71,148,162 total) {week 9}
5. Edward Scissorhands – $5,100,408 ($33,785,573 total) {week 5}
7. Misery – $3,914,163 ($44,941,885 total) {week 6}
12. Ghost – $1,520,073 ($208,160,082 total) {week 26}
999. Alice – $99,583 ($422,339 total) {week 3}
999. Awakenings – $342,490 ($1,583,528 total) {week 3}
999. Green Card – $92,523 ($356,508 total) {week 3}
999. Hamlet – $124,955 ($580,927 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Home Alone – $24,503,889 ($327,377,602 total)
3. The Godfather, Part III – $16,088,925 ($86,820,329 total)
4. Dances With Wolves – $14,223,661 ($138,071,374 total)
5. Edward Scissorhands – $9,897,941 ($65,564,877 total)
7. Misery – $7,595,894 ($87,215,012 total)
12. Ghost – $2,949,880 ($403,959,114 total)
999. Alice – $193,253 ($819,598 total)
999. Awakenings – $664,642 ($3,073,022 total)
999. Green Card – $179,552 ($691,846 total)
999. Hamlet – $242,490 ($1,127,357 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
• 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
• Home Alone: Original Song (“Somewhere in My Memory”), Original Score
• Misery: Actress (Kathy Bates) [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 3-5, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

2. Out of Africa – $6,360,296 ($261,685,197 total) {week 3}
6. White Nights – $3,834,834 ($29,867,917 total) {week 7}
7. The Color Purple – $3,438,463 ($13,917,322 total) {week 3}
9. A Chorus Line – $1,877,225 ($9,685,207 total) {week 4}
10. Young Sherlock Holmes – $1,877,060 ($15,188,296 total) {week 5}
13. Back to the Future – $1,487,514 ($192,957,781 total) {week 27}
14. Twice in a Lifetime – $1,036,429 ($7,091,424 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Out of Africa – $14,006,366 ($576,271,714 total)
6. White Nights – $8,444,904 ($65,773,823 total)
7. The Color Purple – $7,572,033 ($30,648,119 total)
9. A Chorus Line – $4,133,943 ($21,328,340 total)
10. Young Sherlock Holmes – $4,133,580 ($33,447,002 total)
13. Back to the Future – $3,275,738 ($424,923,200 total)
14. Twice in a Lifetime – $2,282,379 ($15,616,424 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Power of Love’), Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• 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]
• Twice in a Lifetime: Supporting Actress (Amy Madigan)
• White Nights: Original Song (“Say You, Say Me” [O], “Separate Lives (Love Theme from “White Nights”)”)
• Young Sherlock Holmes: Visual Effects