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

Life (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Wilson (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Woody Harrelson).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 23-25, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

19. The Artist – $474,532 ($43,037,870 total) {week 18}
21. A Separation – $331,715 ($6,078,039 total) {week 13}
23. The Iron Lady – $254,368 ($29,100,080 total) {week 13}
24. Hugo – $250,545 ($73,437,947 total) {week 18}
32. Footnote – $155,601 ($319,686 total) {week 3}
33. The Descendants – $145,849 ($82,278,717 total) {week 19}
42. War Horse – $93,429 ($79,667,041 total) {week 14}
47. Pina – $64,268 ($3,285,783 total) {week 14}
48. In Darkness – $60,017 ($793,751 total) {week 7}
57. Albert Nobbs – $30,307 ($2,895,068 total) {week 9}
60. Undefeated – $27,450 ($379,010 total) {week 6}
63. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – $20,079 ($31,836,745 total) {week 14}
64. W.E. – $18,673 ($462,018 total) {week 8}
65. Chico & Rita – $18,335 ($283,007 total) {week 7}
68. My Week with Marilyn – $13,269 ($14,581,677 total) {week 18}
69. The Muppets – $12,381 ($88,605,092 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

19. The Artist – $487,051 ($44,173,291 total)
21. A Separation – $340,466 ($6,238,389 total)
23. The Iron Lady – $261,079 ($29,867,796 total)
24. Hugo – $257,155 ($75,375,380 total)
32. Footnote – $159,706 ($328,120 total)
33. The Descendants – $149,697 ($84,449,387 total)
42. War Horse – $95,894 ($81,768,810 total)
47. Pina – $65,964 ($3,372,468 total)
48. In Darkness – $61,600 ($814,692 total)
57. Albert Nobbs – $31,107 ($2,971,445 total)
60. Undefeated – $28,174 ($389,009 total)
63. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – $20,609 ($32,676,659 total)
64. W.E. – $19,166 ($474,207 total)
65. Chico & Rita – $18,819 ($290,473 total)
68. My Week with Marilyn – $13,619 ($14,966,369 total)
69. The Muppets – $12,708 ($90,942,664 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• 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]
• 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. 23-25, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

17. Norbit – $965,543 ($94,053,460 total) {week 7}
19. The Lives of Others – $742,648 ($5,672,720 total) {week 7}
23. Happy Feet – $395,313 ($197,207,309 total) {week 19}
26. Pan’s Labyrinth – $251,003 ($36,673,437 total) {week 13}
30. The Last King of Scotland – $152,661 ($17,170,865 total) {week 26}
33. Blood Diamond – $132,669 ($57,194,978 total) {week 16}
36. The Queen – $117,419 ($56,002,774 total) {week 26}
44. Dreamgirls – $60,710 ($103,011,182 total) {week 15}
45. Volver – $60,358 ($12,769,690 total) {week 21}
49. Notes on a Scandal – $48,105 ($17,333,306 total) {week 14}
56. Little Children – $27,500 ($5,414,998 total) {week 25}
57. Venus – $23,002 ($3,311,430 total) {week 14}
62. Letters from Iwo Jima – $19,282 ($13,646,221 total) {week 14}
66. The Good German – $16,524 ($1,271,130 total) {week 15}
89. Babel – $3,785 ($34,300,771 total) {week 22}
104. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $1,825 ($312,636 total) {week 6}
107. Iraq in Fragments – $1,727 ($165,577 total) {week 20}
115. Borat – $1,260 ($128,505,958 total) {week 21}
118. The Curse of the Golden Flower – $739 ($6,565,495 total) {week 14}
125. Little Miss Sunshine – $245 ($59,889,948 total) {week 35}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

17. Norbit – $1,146,582 ($111,688,484 total)
19. The Lives of Others – $881,895 ($6,736,355 total)
23. Happy Feet – $469,434 ($234,183,679 total)
26. Pan’s Labyrinth – $298,066 ($43,549,706 total)
30. The Last King of Scotland – $181,285 ($20,390,402 total)
33. Blood Diamond – $157,544 ($67,919,036 total)
36. The Queen – $139,435 ($66,503,294 total)
44. Dreamgirls – $72,093 ($122,325,779 total)
45. Volver – $71,675 ($15,164,007 total)
49. Notes on a Scandal – $57,125 ($20,583,301 total)
56. Little Children – $32,656 ($6,430,310 total)
57. Venus – $27,315 ($3,932,323 total)
62. Letters from Iwo Jima – $22,897 ($16,204,887 total)
66. The Good German – $19,622 ($1,509,467 total)
89. Babel – $4,495 ($40,732,166 total)
104. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $2,167 ($371,255 total)
107. Iraq in Fragments – $2,051 ($196,623 total)
115. Borat – $1,496 ($152,600,825 total)
118. The Curse of the Golden Flower – $878 ($7,796,525 total)
125. Little Miss Sunshine – $291 ($71,119,313 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
• 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 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. 22-24, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

2. Ice Age – $30,056,721 ($87,292,481 total) {week 2}
7. The Time Machine – $5,324,159 ($48,158,947 total) {week 3}
7. The Time Machine – $5,324,159 ($48,158,947 total) {week 3}
9. A Beautiful Mind – $4,081,270 ($154,704,651 total) {week 14}
11. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $2,363,869 ($297,530,963 total) {week 14}
14. Gosford Park – $1,598,355 ($37,756,788 total) {week 13}
15. Monster’s Ball – $1,557,337 ($19,678,781 total) {week 13}
16. In the Bedroom – $1,290,356 ($34,212,351 total) {week 18}
20. Iris – $570,090 ($3,895,942 total) {week 15}
23. Amelie – $509,106 ($30,353,807 total) {week 21}
24. I Am Sam – $480,805 ($39,433,027 total) {week 13}
26. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $425,916 ($1,028,484 total) {week 2}
29. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $346,252 ($316,000,087 total) {week 19}
32. Black Hawk Down – $238,773 ($108,264,894 total) {week 13}
37. The Royal Tenenbaums – $168,582 ($51,435,258 total) {week 15}
40. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $125,796 ($80,529,438 total) {week 14}
46. Vanilla Sky – $78,582 ($99,846,298 total) {week 1}
53. Son of the Bride – $34,231 ($34,231 total) {week 1}
55. Monsters, Inc. – $32,177 ($252,753,607 total) {week 21}
56. Mulholland Drive – $31,855 ($7,126,633 total) {week 24}
63. No Man’s Land – $22,418 ($781,458 total) {week 14}
64. Moulin Rouge! – $21,797 ($57,346,683 total) {week 42}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Ice Age – $42,265,647 ($122,750,356 total)
7. The Time Machine – $7,486,812 ($67,720,929 total)
7. The Time Machine – $7,486,812 ($67,720,929 total)
9. A Beautiful Mind – $5,739,066 ($217,545,094 total)
11. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $3,324,064 ($418,386,914 total)
14. Gosford Park – $2,247,601 ($53,093,452 total)
15. Monster’s Ball – $2,189,921 ($27,672,227 total)
16. In the Bedroom – $1,814,494 ($48,109,278 total)
20. Iris – $801,658 ($5,478,459 total)
23. Amelie – $715,903 ($42,683,408 total)
24. I Am Sam – $676,106 ($55,450,573 total)
26. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $598,921 ($1,446,250 total)
29. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $486,898 ($444,358,126 total)
32. Black Hawk Down – $335,762 ($152,241,684 total)
37. The Royal Tenenbaums – $237,059 ($72,328,065 total)
40. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $176,894 ($113,240,191 total)
46. Vanilla Sky – $110,502 ($140,403,486 total)
53. Son of the Bride – $48,136 ($48,136 total)
55. Monsters, Inc. – $45,247 ($355,421,165 total)
56. Mulholland Drive – $44,794 ($10,021,444 total)
63. No Man’s Land – $31,524 ($1,098,883 total)
64. Moulin Rouge! – $30,651 ($80,640,688 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
• No Man’s Land: Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Royal Tenenbaums: Original Screenplay
• Son of the Bride: Foreign Language Film
• 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. 21-23, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

6. Donnie Brasco – $3,316,087 ($36,259,575 total) {week 4}
7. Sling Blade – $3,017,085 ($12,524,591 total) {week 16}
10. The English Patient – $2,015,118 ($63,154,818 total) {week 19}
11. Jerry Maguire – $1,820,775 ($143,039,108 total) {week 15}
14. Shine – $1,060,338 ($32,410,622 total) {week 18}
21. Marvin’s Room – $722,800 ($12,115,143 total) {week 6}
23. Secrets & Lies – $568,984 ($11,768,875 total) {week 8}
999. Evita – $146,652 ($48,830,373 total) {week 13}
999. Fargo – $24,927 ($24,260,557 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Donnie Brasco – $5,902,490 ($64,540,464 total)
7. Sling Blade – $5,370,280 ($22,293,226 total)
10. The English Patient – $3,586,822 ($112,412,824 total)
11. Jerry Maguire – $3,240,900 ($254,603,380 total)
14. Shine – $1,887,355 ($57,689,495 total)
21. Marvin’s Room – $1,286,553 ($21,564,427 total)
23. Secrets & Lies – $1,012,767 ($20,948,085 total)
999. Evita – $261,034 ($86,915,936 total)
999. Fargo – $44,369 ($43,182,734 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
• Fargo: Picture, Director, Actress (Frances McDormand) [O], Supporting Actor (William H Macy), Original Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography
• 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. 20-22, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Basic Instinct – $15,129,385 ($15,129,385 total) {week 1}
3. My Cousin Vinny – $7,209,788 ($17,420,706 total) {week 2}
5. Fried Green Tomatoes – $2,897,230 ($61,366,419 total) {week 13}
7. Beauty and the Beast – $1,700,245 ($122,922,207 total) {week 19}
999. American Dream – $9,291 ($11,523 total) {week 1}
999. American Dream (Doc) – $9,291 ($11,523 total) {week 1}
999. Hook – $304,410 ($115,910,054 total) {week 15}
999. Howards End – $49,288 ($146,246 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Basic Instinct – $29,784,837 ($29,784,837 total)
3. My Cousin Vinny – $14,193,727 ($34,295,703 total)
5. Fried Green Tomatoes – $5,703,703 ($120,810,516 total)
7. Beauty and the Beast – $3,347,229 ($241,993,839 total)
999. American Dream – $18,291 ($22,685 total)
999. American Dream (Doc) – $18,291 ($22,685 total)
999. Hook – $599,284 ($228,189,191 total)
999. Howards End – $97,032 ($287,911 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Dream: Documentary Feature [O]
• American Dream (Doc):
• Basic Instinct: Original Score, Editing
• 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
• My Cousin Vinny: Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei) [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 20-22, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Lethal Weapon – $6,289,750 ($26,035,796 total) {week 3}
3. Platoon – $3,828,038 ($97,263,950 total) {week 14}
6. Mannequin – $2,166,174 ($27,253,045 total) {week 6}
8. Hoosiers – $2,062,348 ($17,784,994 total) {week 11}
12. Crocodile Dundee – $1,239,185 ($157,309,340 total) {week 26}
999. A Room with a View – $158,470 ($13,629,798 total) {week 4}
999. Street Smart – $325,835 ($325,835 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Lethal Weapon – $13,142,521 ($54,402,162 total)
3. Platoon – $7,998,739 ($203,234,392 total)
6. Mannequin – $4,526,251 ($56,945,621 total)
8. Hoosiers – $4,309,305 ($37,161,995 total)
12. Crocodile Dundee – $2,589,294 ($328,700,079 total)
999. A Room with a View – $331,125 ($28,479,655 total)
999. Street Smart – $680,837 ($680,837 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]
• A Room with a View: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Denholm Elliott), Supporting Actress (Maggie Smith), Adapted Screenplay [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O]
• Street Smart: Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman)

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 19-21, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

3. On Golden Pond – $4,116,609 ($70,098,956 total) {week 16}
5. Quest for Fire – $2,171,303 ($2,171,303 total) {week 6}
6. Missing – $1,890,514 ($7,431,579 total) {week 6}
7. Chariots of Fire – $1,826,591 ($22,883,210 total) {week 23}
9. Arthur – $559,968 ($88,595,661 total) {week 18}
10. Absence of Malice – $541,247 ($40,007,093 total) {week 17}
999. Victor/Victoria – $139,634 ($139,634 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. On Golden Pond – $11,439,692 ($194,798,799 total)
5. Quest for Fire – $6,033,859 ($6,033,859 total)
6. Missing – $5,253,571 ($20,651,701 total)
7. Chariots of Fire – $5,075,935 ($63,590,417 total)
9. Arthur – $1,556,102 ($246,199,507 total)
10. Absence of Malice – $1,504,078 ($111,176,173 total)
999. Victor/Victoria – $388,031 ($388,031 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
• Quest for Fire: Makeup [O]
• Victor/Victoria: Actress (Julie Andrews), Supporting Actor (Robert Preston), Supporting Actress (Lesley Ann Warren), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song Score [O], Art Direction, Costume Design