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

Beauty and the Beast (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Original Song, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

T2: Trainspotting (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Adapted Screenplay.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 16-18, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

15. The Artist – $1,042,955 ($42,108,374 total) {week 17}
20. Hugo – $487,073 ($72,993,753 total) {week 17}
21. A Separation – $470,880 ($5,562,570 total) {week 12}
23. The Iron Lady – $426,486 ($28,615,758 total) {week 12}
24. The Descendants – $291,231 ($81,996,042 total) {week 18}
38. War Horse – $129,478 ($79,504,534 total) {week 13}
39. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – $102,372 ($24,104,113 total) {week 15}
43. Pina – $85,701 ($3,173,981 total) {week 13}
45. The Adventures of Tintin – $80,274 ($77,564,037 total) {week 13}
47. In Darkness – $73,447 ($702,319 total) {week 6}
48. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – $71,967 ($102,515,793 total) {week 13}
49. Footnote – $67,087 ($138,824 total) {week 2}
52. Undefeated – $52,829 ($330,888 total) {week 5}
55. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – $41,568 ($31,798,903 total) {week 13}
58. Chico & Rita – $37,130 ($247,455 total) {week 6}
62. Albert Nobbs – $31,945 ($2,846,328 total) {week 8}
64. W.E. – $26,704 ($428,967 total) {week 7}
65. My Week with Marilyn – $26,506 ($14,554,944 total) {week 17}
67. The Muppets – $21,928 ($88,586,976 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

15. The Artist – $1,070,470 ($43,219,273 total)
20. Hugo – $499,923 ($74,919,468 total)
21. A Separation – $483,303 ($5,709,321 total)
23. The Iron Lady – $437,738 ($29,370,696 total)
24. The Descendants – $298,914 ($84,159,254 total)
38. War Horse – $132,894 ($81,602,015 total)
39. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – $105,073 ($24,740,026 total)
43. Pina – $87,962 ($3,257,717 total)
45. The Adventures of Tintin – $82,392 ($79,610,324 total)
47. In Darkness – $75,385 ($720,848 total)
48. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – $73,866 ($105,220,355 total)
49. Footnote – $68,857 ($142,486 total)
52. Undefeated – $54,223 ($339,617 total)
55. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – $42,665 ($32,637,819 total)
58. Chico & Rita – $38,110 ($253,983 total)
62. Albert Nobbs – $32,788 ($2,921,420 total)
64. W.E. – $27,409 ($440,284 total)
65. My Week with Marilyn – $27,205 ($14,938,931 total)
67. The Muppets – $22,507 ($90,924,070 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Adventures of Tintin: Original Score
• Albert Nobbs: Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Janet McTeer), Makeup
• 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]
• Chico & Rita: Animated Feature
• The Descendants: Picture, Directing, Actor (George Clooney), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing
• Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close: Picture, Supporting Actor (Max von Sydow)
• Footnote: Foreign Language Film
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Actress (Rooney Mara), Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• 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]
• In Darkness: Foreign Language Film
• The Iron Lady: Actress (Meryl Streep) [O], Makeup [O]
• The Muppets: Original Song (“Man or Muppet”)
• My Week with Marilyn: Actress (Michelle Williams), Supporting Actor (Kenneth Branagh)
• Pina: Documentary Feature
• A Separation: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Actor (Gary Oldman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Undefeated: Documentary Feature [O]
• W.E.: Costume Design
• War Horse: Picture, Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 16-18, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

9. Norbit – $2,766,593 ($92,438,806 total) {week 6}
15. The Lives of Others – $802,380 ($4,591,077 total) {week 6}
19. Happy Feet – $616,334 ($196,561,994 total) {week 18}
22. Pan’s Labyrinth – $455,277 ($36,207,983 total) {week 12}
23. The Last King of Scotland – $359,725 ($16,862,173 total) {week 25}
26. The Queen – $319,076 ($55,731,585 total) {week 25}
27. The Pursuit of Happyness – $252,460 ($163,566,459 total) {week 14}
33. Blood Diamond – $192,882 ($56,962,625 total) {week 15}
35. Dreamgirls – $175,776 ($102,882,170 total) {week 14}
39. Notes on a Scandal – $101,614 ($17,238,407 total) {week 13}
47. Volver – $77,150 ($12,673,030 total) {week 20}
54. Venus – $47,705 ($3,261,449 total) {week 13}
58. Little Children – $36,164 ($5,369,440 total) {week 24}
60. Letters from Iwo Jima – $34,635 ($13,602,578 total) {week 13}
63. The Departed – $29,189 ($132,373,442 total) {week 24}
66. Babel – $21,148 ($34,287,296 total) {week 21}
67. The Good German – $20,911 ($1,241,763 total) {week 14}
88. Iraq in Fragments – $5,991 ($158,639 total) {week 19}
95. The Curse of the Golden Flower – $4,218 ($6,560,634 total) {week 13}
96. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $3,918 ($305,444 total) {week 5}
101. Little Miss Sunshine – $2,184 ($59,887,868 total) {week 34}
103. Borat – $1,780 ($128,503,736 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Norbit – $3,285,329 ($109,771,082 total)
15. The Lives of Others – $952,826 ($5,451,904 total)
19. Happy Feet – $731,897 ($233,417,368 total)
22. Pan’s Labyrinth – $540,641 ($42,996,980 total)
23. The Last King of Scotland – $427,173 ($20,023,830 total)
26. The Queen – $378,903 ($66,181,257 total)
27. The Pursuit of Happyness – $299,796 ($194,235,170 total)
33. Blood Diamond – $229,047 ($67,643,117 total)
35. Dreamgirls – $208,734 ($122,172,577 total)
39. Notes on a Scandal – $120,667 ($20,470,608 total)
47. Volver – $91,616 ($15,049,223 total)
54. Venus – $56,650 ($3,872,971 total)
58. Little Children – $42,945 ($6,376,210 total)
60. Letters from Iwo Jima – $41,129 ($16,153,061 total)
63. The Departed – $34,662 ($157,193,462 total)
66. Babel – $25,113 ($40,716,164 total)
67. The Good German – $24,832 ($1,474,594 total)
88. Iraq in Fragments – $7,114 ($188,384 total)
95. The Curse of the Golden Flower – $5,009 ($7,790,753 total)
96. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $4,653 ($362,715 total)
101. Little Miss Sunshine – $2,594 ($71,116,843 total)
103. Borat – $2,114 ($152,598,187 total)

Oscar Details:

• The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film; Live Action Short Film
• Babel: Picture, Supporting Actress (Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi), Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing
• Blood Diamond: Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Borat: Adapted Screenplay
• The Curse of the Golden Flower: Costume Design
• The Departed: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Mark Wahlberg), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing
• Dreamgirls: Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy), Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson) [O], Original Song (“Listen”, “Love You I Do”, “Patience”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound [O]
• The Good German: Original Score
• Happy Feet: Animated Feature [O]
• Iraq in Fragments: Documentary Feature
• The Last King of Scotland: Actor (Forest Whitaker [O])
• Letters from Iwo Jima: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Sound Editing [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]
• The Lives of Others: Foreign Language Film
• Norbit: Makeup
• Notes on a Scandal: Actress (Judi Dench), Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Pan’s Labyrinth: Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Makeup [O], Foreign Language Film
• The Pursuit of Happyness: Actor (Will Smith)
• The Queen: Picture, Director, Actress (Helen Mirren [O]), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Costume Design
• Venus: Actor (Peter O’Toole)
• Volver: Actress (Penelope Cruz)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 15-17, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

1. Ice Age – $46,312,454 ($46,312,454 total) {week 1}
4. The Time Machine – $10,795,951 ($39,936,148 total) {week 2}
4. The Time Machine – $10,795,951 ($39,936,148 total) {week 2}
9. A Beautiful Mind – $3,380,260 ($149,205,356 total) {week 13}
11. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $2,118,375 ($294,343,844 total) {week 13}
14. Gosford Park – $1,450,159 ($35,531,979 total) {week 12}
15. Monster’s Ball – $1,333,960 ($17,528,865 total) {week 12}
17. In the Bedroom – $1,020,397 ($32,378,009 total) {week 17}
21. I Am Sam – $736,635 ($38,631,695 total) {week 12}
25. Black Hawk Down – $550,487 ($107,805,045 total) {week 12}
26. Amelie – $528,994 ($29,601,521 total) {week 20}
28. Iris – $430,310 ($3,088,292 total) {week 14}
29. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $408,091 ($408,091 total) {week 1}
33. The Royal Tenenbaums – $257,806 ($51,144,918 total) {week 14}
40. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $153,771 ($315,600,468 total) {week 18}
43. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $110,109 ($80,368,707 total) {week 13}
46. Vanilla Sky – $81,270 ($99,711,474 total) {week 1}
47. Monsters, Inc. – $68,695 ($252,706,618 total) {week 20}
52. Mulholland Drive – $35,095 ($7,077,663 total) {week 23}
55. Moulin Rouge! – $29,332 ($57,313,848 total) {week 41}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Ice Age – $65,124,397 ($65,124,397 total)
4. The Time Machine – $15,181,225 ($56,158,060 total)
4. The Time Machine – $15,181,225 ($56,158,060 total)
9. A Beautiful Mind – $4,753,309 ($209,812,007 total)
11. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $2,978,851 ($413,905,199 total)
14. Gosford Park – $2,039,208 ($49,964,934 total)
15. Monster’s Ball – $1,875,810 ($24,649,024 total)
17. In the Bedroom – $1,434,878 ($45,529,834 total)
21. I Am Sam – $1,035,853 ($54,323,743 total)
25. Black Hawk Down – $774,093 ($151,595,046 total)
26. Amelie – $743,869 ($41,625,547 total)
28. Iris – $605,100 ($4,342,745 total)
29. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $573,856 ($573,856 total)
33. The Royal Tenenbaums – $362,526 ($71,919,790 total)
40. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $216,232 ($443,796,183 total)
43. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $154,835 ($113,014,171 total)
46. Vanilla Sky – $114,282 ($140,213,897 total)
47. Monsters, Inc. – $96,599 ($355,355,089 total)
52. Mulholland Drive – $49,350 ($9,952,583 total)
55. Moulin Rouge! – $41,247 ($80,594,516 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amelie: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Foreign Language Film
• A Beautiful Mind: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Russell Crowe), Supporting Actress (Jennifer Connelly) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Makeup
• Black Hawk Down: Directing, Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound [O]
• Gosford Park: Picture, Director, Supporting Actress (Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith), Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• I Am Sam: Actor (Sean Penn)
• Ice Age: Animated Feature
• In the Bedroom: Picture, Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Actress (Sissy Spacek), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei), Adapted Screenplay
• Iris: Actress (Judi Dench), Supporting Actor (Jim Broadbent) [O], Supporting Actress (Kate Winslet)
• Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius: Animated Feature
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Ian McKellen), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Original Song (“May It Be”), Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• Monster’s Ball: Actress (Halle Berry) [O], Original Screenplay
• 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
• The Royal Tenenbaums: Original Screenplay
• The Time Machine: Makeup
• The Time Machine: Makeup
• Vanilla Sky: Original Song (“Vanilla Sky”)
• Y Tu Mama Tambien: Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 14-16, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

4. Donnie Brasco – $5,418,077 ($31,274,218 total) {week 3}
7. Sling Blade – $3,027,349 ($8,373,597 total) {week 15}
12. The English Patient – $1,901,016 ($60,317,565 total) {week 18}
13. Jerry Maguire – $1,878,030 ($140,629,285 total) {week 14}
15. Marvin’s Room – $1,505,142 ($10,899,695 total) {week 5}
17. Shine – $1,391,473 ($30,823,125 total) {week 17}
23. Secrets & Lies – $418,600 ($10,999,121 total) {week 7}
999. Evita – $260,149 ($48,583,001 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Donnie Brasco – $9,643,941 ($55,666,745 total)
7. Sling Blade – $5,388,549 ($14,904,638 total)
12. The English Patient – $3,383,726 ($107,362,637 total)
13. Jerry Maguire – $3,342,812 ($250,314,000 total)
15. Marvin’s Room – $2,679,087 ($19,400,982 total)
17. Shine – $2,476,761 ($54,863,819 total)
23. Secrets & Lies – $745,090 ($19,577,956 total)
999. Evita – $463,054 ($86,475,625 total)

Oscar Details:

• Donnie Brasco: Adapted Screenplay
• 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]
• Evita: Original Song (“You Must Love Me”) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound
• Jerry Maguire: Picture, Actor (Tom Cruise), Supporting Actor (Cuba Gooding Jr.) [O], Original Screenplay, Film Editing
• Marvin’s Room: Actress (Diane Keaton)
• Secrets & Lies: Picture, Director, Actress (Brenda Blethyn), Supporting Actress (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), Original Screenplay
• Shine: Picture, Director, Actor (Geoffrey Rush) [O], Supporting Actor (Armin Mueller-Stahl), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing
• Sling Blade: Actor (Billy Bob Thornton), Adapted Screenplay [O]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 13-15, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

2. My Cousin Vinny – $7,416,751 ($7,416,751 total) {week 1}
5. Fried Green Tomatoes – $3,344,045 ($57,148,824 total) {week 12}
12. Beauty and the Beast – $1,561,547 ($120,498,901 total) {week 18}
14. The Mambo Kings – $1,318,507 ($2,192,258 total) {week 3}
999. Hook – $321,630 ($115,474,374 total) {week 14}
999. Howards End – $52,568 ($52,568 total) {week 1}
999. Raise the Red Lantern – $22,554 ($22,554 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. My Cousin Vinny – $14,601,170 ($14,601,170 total)
5. Fried Green Tomatoes – $6,583,337 ($112,507,444 total)
12. Beauty and the Beast – $3,074,178 ($237,223,138 total)
14. The Mambo Kings – $2,595,711 ($4,315,843 total)
999. Hook – $633,185 ($227,331,478 total)
999. Howards End – $103,489 ($103,489 total)
999. Raise the Red Lantern – $44,401 ($44,401 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beauty and the Beast: Picture, Original Song (“Be Our Guest”, “Beauty and the Beast” [O], “Belle”), Original Score [O], Sound
• Fried Green Tomatoes: Supporting Actress (Jessica Tandy), Adapted Screenplay
• Hook: Original Song (“When You’re Alone”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Visual Effects
• Howards End: Picture, Director, Actress (Emma Thompson) [O], Supporting Actress (Vanessa Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• The Mambo Kings: Original Song (“Beautiful Maria of My Soul”)
• My Cousin Vinny: Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei) [O]
• Raise the Red Lantern: Foreign Language Film

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 13-15, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Lethal Weapon – $7,104,415 ($16,929,490 total) {week 2}
3. Platoon – $4,664,176 ($91,641,557 total) {week 13}
9. Mannequin – $2,534,246 ($24,307,012 total) {week 5}
10. Hoosiers – $2,443,955 ($14,884,771 total) {week 9}
12. Crocodile Dundee – $1,266,366 ($155,490,613 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Lethal Weapon – $14,844,775 ($35,374,407 total)
3. Platoon – $9,745,861 ($191,486,322 total)
9. Mannequin – $5,295,343 ($50,789,843 total)
10. Hoosiers – $5,106,678 ($31,101,938 total)
12. Crocodile Dundee – $2,646,090 ($324,899,823 total)

Oscar Details:

• Crocodile Dundee: Original Screenplay
• Hoosiers: Supporting Actor (Dennis Hopper), Original Score
• Lethal Weapon: Sound
• Mannequin: Original Song (“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”)
• Platoon: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe), Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 12-14, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

2. On Golden Pond – $4,800,000 ($63,720,000 total) {week 15}
3. Missing – $2,300,000 ($5,000,000 total) {week 5}
4. Chariots of Fire – $2,019,964 ($20,301,485 total) {week 21}
6. Raiders of the Lost Ark – $1,243,988 ($196,614,672 total) {week 12}
11. Absence of Malice – $652,467 ($39,263,085 total) {week 16}
12. Arthur – $617,815 ($87,797,452 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. On Golden Pond – $13,338,776 ($177,072,245 total)
3. Missing – $6,391,497 ($13,894,558 total)
4. Chariots of Fire – $5,613,301 ($56,416,031 total)
6. Raiders of the Lost Ark – $3,456,933 ($546,374,786 total)
11. Absence of Malice – $1,813,148 ($109,108,641 total)
12. Arthur – $1,716,853 ($243,981,355 total)

Oscar Details:

• Absence of Malice: Actor (Paul Newman), Supporting Actress (Melinda Dillon), Original Screenplay
• Arthur: Actor (Dudley Moore), Supporting Actor (John Gielgud) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”) [O]
• Chariots of Fire: Picture [O], Director, Supporting Actor (Ian Holm), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing, Costume Design [O]
• Missing: Picture, Actor (Jack Lemmon), Actress (Sissy Spacek), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• On Golden Pond: Picture, Director, Actor (Henry Fonda) [O], Actress (Katharine Hepburn) [O], Supporting Actress (Jane Fonda), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• Raiders of the Lost Ark: Picture, Director, Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]