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

The Zookeeper’s Wife (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Jessica Chastain), Production Design, Costume Design.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 30-Apr. 1, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

3. Mirror Mirror – $18,132,085 ($18,132,085 total) {week 1}
20. The Artist – $279,599 ($43,546,372 total) {week 19}
23. Footnote – $240,182 ($605,506 total) {week 4}
24. A Separation – $220,793 ($6,445,735 total) {week 14}
27. The Iron Lady – $181,934 ($29,414,728 total) {week 14}
33. Hugo – $129,704 ($73,688,264 total) {week 19}
42. The Descendants – $87,802 ($82,436,578 total) {week 20}
48. War Horse – $60,649 ($79,781,907 total) {week 15}
51. In Darkness – $44,576 ($862,265 total) {week 8}
52. Pina – $43,161 ($3,372,446 total) {week 15}
59. Undefeated – $31,734 ($424,282 total) {week 7}
66. Albert Nobbs – $22,486 ($2,936,482 total) {week 10}
67. Chico & Rita – $20,020 ($312,464 total) {week 8}
68. W.E. – $19,148 ($490,791 total) {week 9}
77. The Muppets – $8,464 ($88,625,922 total) {week 19}
79. My Week with Marilyn – $7,252 ($14,597,405 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Mirror Mirror – $18,610,444 ($18,610,444 total)
20. The Artist – $286,975 ($44,695,208 total)
23. Footnote – $246,518 ($621,480 total)
24. A Separation – $226,618 ($6,615,786 total)
27. The Iron Lady – $186,734 ($30,190,745 total)
33. Hugo – $133,126 ($75,632,301 total)
42. The Descendants – $90,118 ($84,611,412 total)
48. War Horse – $62,249 ($81,886,706 total)
51. In Darkness – $45,752 ($885,013 total)
52. Pina – $44,300 ($3,461,418 total)
59. Undefeated – $32,571 ($435,475 total)
66. Albert Nobbs – $23,079 ($3,013,952 total)
67. Chico & Rita – $20,548 ($320,707 total)
68. W.E. – $19,653 ($503,739 total)
77. The Muppets – $8,687 ($90,964,043 total)
79. My Week with Marilyn – $7,443 ($14,982,512 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
• 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]
• Mirror Mirror: Costume Design
• 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. 30-Apr. 1, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

17. The Lives of Others – $610,325 ($6,557,434 total) {week 8}
22. Norbit – $293,733 ($94,570,382 total) {week 8}
26. Happy Feet – $201,559 ($197,560,897 total) {week 20}
28. Pan’s Labyrinth – $169,624 ($36,947,126 total) {week 14}
34. The Last King of Scotland – $98,686 ($17,332,503 total) {week 27}
37. Blood Diamond – $65,681 ($57,312,489 total) {week 17}
40. The Queen – $52,950 ($56,109,603 total) {week 27}
47. Volver – $33,481 ($12,830,604 total) {week 22}
49. Notes on a Scandal – $31,030 ($17,394,784 total) {week 15}
51. Dreamgirls – $28,110 ($103,063,211 total) {week 16}
54. Little Children – $18,102 ($5,446,373 total) {week 26}
58. The Good German – $13,179 ($1,290,623 total) {week 16}
71. Letters from Iwo Jima – $7,458 ($13,660,616 total) {week 15}
72. Venus – $7,244 ($3,331,535 total) {week 15}
92. Iraq in Fragments – $2,843 ($169,288 total) {week 21}
97. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $2,041 ($316,309 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

17. The Lives of Others – $724,761 ($7,786,953 total)
22. Norbit – $348,808 ($112,302,329 total)
26. Happy Feet – $239,351 ($234,603,565 total)
28. Pan’s Labyrinth – $201,429 ($43,874,712 total)
34. The Last King of Scotland – $117,190 ($20,582,347 total)
37. Blood Diamond – $77,996 ($68,058,581 total)
40. The Queen – $62,878 ($66,630,154 total)
47. Volver – $39,759 ($15,236,342 total)
49. Notes on a Scandal – $36,848 ($20,656,306 total)
51. Dreamgirls – $33,381 ($122,387,563 total)
54. Little Children – $21,496 ($6,467,568 total)
58. The Good German – $15,650 ($1,532,615 total)
71. Letters from Iwo Jima – $8,856 ($16,221,982 total)
72. Venus – $8,602 ($3,956,198 total)
92. Iraq in Fragments – $3,376 ($201,030 total)
97. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $2,424 ($375,617 total)

Oscar Details:

• The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film; Live Action Short Film
• Blood Diamond: Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound 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
• 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. 29-31, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

2. Ice Age – $18,135,449 ($116,862,514 total) {week 3}
8. A Beautiful Mind – $3,884,455 ($160,844,681 total) {week 15}
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $2,382,794 ($301,308,405 total) {week 15}
13. The Time Machine – $2,283,410 ($52,648,064 total) {week 4}
15. Monster’s Ball – $2,060,118 ($22,931,442 total) {week 14}
19. Gosford Park – $898,944 ($39,343,053 total) {week 14}
22. In the Bedroom – $449,290 ($35,099,830 total) {week 19}
23. Amelie – $438,751 ($31,106,754 total) {week 22}
25. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $366,248 ($1,614,920 total) {week 3}
27. Iris – $347,279 ($4,479,021 total) {week 16}
28. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $251,516 ($316,440,684 total) {week 20}
31. Vanilla Sky – $196,119 ($100,112,194 total) {week 1}
32. I Am Sam – $195,673 ($39,871,928 total) {week 14}
41. Black Hawk Down – $128,953 ($108,500,629 total) {week 14}
42. The Royal Tenenbaums – $114,460 ($51,636,905 total) {week 16}
43. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $90,464 ($80,706,338 total) {week 15}
45. No Man’s Land – $68,648 ($864,811 total) {week 15}
50. Monsters, Inc. – $34,154 ($252,813,234 total) {week 22}
55. Son of the Bride – $29,042 ($78,947 total) {week 2}
999. Mulholland Drive – $19,445 ($7,163,028 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Ice Age – $25,502,000 ($164,331,625 total)
8. A Beautiful Mind – $5,462,306 ($226,179,181 total)
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $3,350,676 ($423,698,738 total)
13. The Time Machine – $3,210,922 ($74,033,508 total)
15. Monster’s Ball – $2,896,930 ($32,246,107 total)
19. Gosford Park – $1,264,092 ($55,324,052 total)
22. In the Bedroom – $631,790 ($49,357,248 total)
23. Amelie – $616,970 ($43,742,200 total)
25. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $515,017 ($2,270,894 total)
27. Iris – $488,342 ($6,298,382 total)
28. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $353,681 ($444,977,692 total)
31. Vanilla Sky – $275,782 ($140,777,388 total)
32. I Am Sam – $275,155 ($56,067,754 total)
41. Black Hawk Down – $181,333 ($152,573,174 total)
42. The Royal Tenenbaums – $160,953 ($72,611,620 total)
43. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $127,210 ($113,488,947 total)
45. No Man’s Land – $96,533 ($1,216,094 total)
50. Monsters, Inc. – $48,027 ($355,505,012 total)
55. Son of the Bride – $40,839 ($111,015 total)
999. Mulholland Drive – $27,343 ($10,072,623 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
• 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
• Vanilla Sky: Original Song (“Vanilla Sky”)
• Y Tu Mama Tambien: Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 28-30, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

8. The English Patient – $3,019,179 ($67,599,231 total) {week 20}
11. Sling Blade – $2,172,206 ($15,879,157 total) {week 17}
12. Donnie Brasco – $1,760,300 ($39,102,861 total) {week 5}
13. Jerry Maguire – $1,647,901 ($145,443,291 total) {week 16}
17. Shine – $797,310 ($33,691,753 total) {week 19}
19. Kolya – $445,598 ($2,232,982 total) {week 11}
23. Secrets & Lies – $369,474 ($12,323,315 total) {week 9}
999. Evita – $261,511 ($49,145,752 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. The English Patient – $5,374,007 ($120,323,686 total)
11. Sling Blade – $3,866,432 ($28,264,208 total)
12. Donnie Brasco – $3,133,257 ($69,601,389 total)
13. Jerry Maguire – $2,933,192 ($258,882,721 total)
17. Shine – $1,419,177 ($59,969,852 total)
19. Kolya – $793,145 ($3,974,611 total)
23. Secrets & Lies – $657,648 ($21,934,964 total)
999. Evita – $465,478 ($87,477,297 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
• Kolya: Foreign Language Film
• 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. 27-29, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

2. Basic Instinct – $13,204,200 ($34,719,110 total) {week 2}
4. My Cousin Vinny – $5,315,543 ($25,160,152 total) {week 3}
7. Fried Green Tomatoes – $2,814,240 ($65,370,114 total) {week 14}
9. Beauty and the Beast – $1,782,762 ($125,315,925 total) {week 20}
999. Bugsy – $398,720 ($47,736,997 total) {week 16}
999. Hook – $342,000 ($116,247,538 total) {week 16}
999. Howards End – $48,813 ($231,239 total) {week 3}
999. JFK – $385,043 ($68,347,460 total) {week 15}
999. The Prince of Tides – $721,173 ($71,240,929 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Basic Instinct – $25,994,774 ($68,350,633 total)
4. My Cousin Vinny – $10,464,575 ($49,532,155 total)
7. Fried Green Tomatoes – $5,540,323 ($128,692,489 total)
9. Beauty and the Beast – $3,509,678 ($246,706,291 total)
999. Bugsy – $784,950 ($93,978,618 total)
999. Hook – $673,287 ($228,853,587 total)
999. Howards End – $96,097 ($455,234 total)
999. JFK – $758,024 ($134,553,915 total)
999. The Prince of Tides – $1,419,755 ($140,250,214 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Bugsy: Picture, Directing, Actor (Warren Beatty), Supporting Actor (Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O]
• 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
• JFK: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones), Adapted Screnplay, Original Score, Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Sound
• My Cousin Vinny: Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei) [O]
• The Prince of Tides: Picture, Actor (Nick Nolte), Supporting Actress (Kate Nelligan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 27-29, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

2. Lethal Weapon – $5,048,404 ($335,894,790 total) {week 4}
3. Platoon – $3,944,114 ($102,889,459 total) {week 15}
7. Hoosiers – $1,743,278 ($20,316,170 total) {week 13}
8. Mannequin – $1,674,269 ($29,590,508 total) {week 7}
11. Crocodile Dundee – $1,151,751 ($158,938,371 total) {week 27}
999. Children of a Lesser God – $373,583 ($27,303,409 total) {week 17}
999. The Mission – $270,227 ($16,411,499 total) {week 12}
999. A Room with a View – $243,290 ($13,953,047 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Lethal Weapon – $10,548,711 ($701,856,889 total)
3. Platoon – $8,241,282 ($214,988,972 total)
7. Hoosiers – $3,642,604 ($42,450,923 total)
8. Mannequin – $3,498,409 ($61,829,783 total)
11. Crocodile Dundee – $2,406,600 ($332,103,962 total)
999. Children of a Lesser God – $780,607 ($57,050,857 total)
999. The Mission – $564,643 ($34,292,058 total)
999. A Room with a View – $508,358 ($29,155,088 total)

Oscar Details:

• Children of a Lesser God: Picture, Actor (William Hurt), Actress (Marlee Matlin [O]), Supporting Actress (Piper Laurie), Adapted Screenplay
• Crocodile Dundee: Original Screenplay
• Hoosiers: Supporting Actor (Dennis Hopper), Original Score
• Lethal Weapon: Sound
• Mannequin: Original Song (“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”)
• The Mission: Picture, Director, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
• 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]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 26-28, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

2. On Golden Pond – $5,480 ($77,580,000 total) {week 17}
6. Quest for Fire – $1,970,013 ($9,182,795 total) {week 7}
7. Chariots of Fire – $1,815,532 ($24,698,742 total) {week 25}
9. Absence of Malice – $514,406 ($40,716,963 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. On Golden Pond – $15,228 ($215,587,959 total)
6. Quest for Fire – $5,474,492 ($25,518,175 total)
7. Chariots of Fire – $5,045,203 ($68,635,620 total)
9. Absence of Malice – $1,429,489 ($113,148,839 total)

Oscar Details:

• Absence of Malice: Actor (Paul Newman), Supporting Actress (Melinda Dillon), Original Screenplay
• Chariots of Fire: Picture [O], Director, Supporting Actor (Ian Holm), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing, Costume Design [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]