Oscar in Box Office History (Week 13, 2018)

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

Ready Player One (Wide)

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

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 29-31, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

The Croods – $26,705,868 ($88,887,945 total) {week 2}
Silver Linings Playbook – $900,927 ($128,712,563 total) {week 20}
Life of Pi – $427,260 ($123,321,125 total) {week 19}
No – $226,946 ($1,305,696 total) {week 7}
The Gatekeepers – $201,990 ($1,870,002 total) {week 9}
Django Unchained – $171,870 ($162,314,683 total) {week 14}
Argo – $141,426 ($135,730,135 total) {week 25}
Wreck-It Ralph – $118,696 ($188,981,906 total) {week 22}
Lincoln – $85,677 ($182,027,677 total) {week 21}
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $69,568 ($302,849,493 total) {week 16}
Les Miserables – $54,535 ($148,775,460 total) {week 14}
The Impossible – $45,511 ($18,818,962 total) {week 15}
Zero Dark Thirty – $45,165 ($95,720,716 total) {week 15}
Amour – $29,087 ($6,649,591 total) {week 15}
Searching for Sugar Man – $15,440 ($3,588,618 total) {week 36}
A Royal Affair – $10,785 ($1,494,593 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Croods – $29,333,752 ($97,634,606 total)
Silver Linings Playbook – $989,579 ($141,378,006 total)
Life of Pi – $469,303 ($135,456,045 total)
No – $249,278 ($1,434,178 total)
The Gatekeepers – $221,866 ($2,054,012 total)
Django Unchained – $188,782 ($178,286,608 total)
Argo – $155,342 ($149,086,114 total)
Wreck-It Ralph – $130,376 ($207,577,912 total)
Lincoln – $94,108 ($199,939,380 total)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $76,414 ($332,650,181 total)
Les Miserables – $59,901 ($163,415,112 total)
The Impossible – $49,989 ($20,670,766 total)
Zero Dark Thirty – $49,609 ($105,139,729 total)
Amour – $31,949 ($7,303,917 total)
Searching for Sugar Man – $16,959 ($3,941,742 total)
A Royal Affair – $11,846 ($1,641,662 total)

Oscar Details:

Amour: Picture, Directing, Actress (Emmanuelle Riva), Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
Argo: Picture [O], Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin), Adapted Screenlay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
The Croods: Animated Feature
Django Unchained: Picture, Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Cinematography, Sound Editing
The Gatekeepers: Documentary Feature
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects
The Impossible: Actress (Naomi Watts)
Les Miserables: Picture, Actor (Hugh Jackman), Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway) [O], Original Song (“Suddenly”), Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling [O], Sound Mixing [O]
Life of Pi: Picture, Directing [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Pi’s Lullaby”), Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Production Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
Lincoln: Picture, Directing, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) [O], Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones), Supporting Actress (Sally Field), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design [O], Costume Design, Sound Mixing
No: Foreign Language Film
A Royal Affair: Foreign Language Film
Searching for Sugar Man: Documentary Feature [O]
Silver Linings Playbook: Picture, Directing, Actor (Bradley Cooper), Actress (Jennifer Lawrence) [O], Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing
Wreck-It Ralph: Animated Feature
Zero Dark Thirty: Picture, Actress (Jessica Chastain), Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Sound Editing [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 28-30, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

Juno – $485,416 ($141,976,542 total) {week 17}
The Counterfeiters – $373,580 ($2,412,581 total) {week 6}
In Bruges – $335,336 ($6,456,934 total) {week 8}
There Will Be Blood – $180,946 ($39,982,631 total) {week 14}
No Country for Old Men – $71,444 ($74,223,625 total) {week 21}
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $35,833 ($5,941,276 total) {week 18}
Atonement – $35,070 ($50,890,159 total) {week 17}
Persepolis – $28,070 ($4,155,965 total) {week 14}
The Savages – $20,587 ($6,536,275 total) {week 18}
Taxi to the Dark Side – $13,103 ($216,459 total) {week 11}
La Vie en Rose – $9,883 ($10,291,523 total) {week 27}
The Kite Runner – $8,137 ($15,782,947 total) {week 16}
Beaufort – $5,320 ($82,253 total) {week 11}
2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $2,888 ($507,575 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Juno – $603,728 ($176,580,852 total)
The Counterfeiters – $464,634 ($3,000,606 total)
In Bruges – $417,068 ($8,030,699 total)
There Will Be Blood – $225,048 ($49,727,701 total)
No Country for Old Men – $88,857 ($92,314,341 total)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $44,567 ($7,389,359 total)
Atonement – $43,618 ($63,293,749 total)
Persepolis – $34,912 ($5,168,909 total)
The Savages – $25,605 ($8,129,378 total)
Taxi to the Dark Side – $16,297 ($269,217 total)
La Vie en Rose – $12,292 ($12,799,903 total)
The Kite Runner – $10,120 ($19,629,766 total)
Beaufort – $6,617 ($102,301 total)
2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $3,592 ($631,288 total)

Oscar Details:

2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film
Atonement: Picture, Supporting Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
Beaufort: Foreign Language Film
The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
In Bruges: Original Screenplay
Juno: Picture, Director, Actress (Ellen Page), Original Screenplay [O]
The Kite Runner: Original Score
No Country for Old Men: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
Persepolis: Animated Feature
The Savages: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay
Taxi to the Dark Side: Documentary Feature [O]
There Will Be Blood: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound Editing
La Vie en Rose: Actress (Marion Cotillard) [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 28-30, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

Chicago – $7,210,721 ($144,652,474 total) {week 14}
The Pianist – $2,456,117 ($23,595,709 total) {week 14}
Spirited Away – $1,765,491 ($7,386,075 total) {week 28}
The Hours – $744,712 ($40,118,369 total) {week 14}
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $623,597 ($335,800,124 total) {week 15}
The Quiet American – $512,716 ($10,654,096 total) {week 19}
About Schmidt – $449,835 ($63,676,882 total) {week 16}
Catch Me If You Can – $307,102 ($163,788,757 total) {week 14}
Nowhere in Africa – $284,104 ($609,996 total) {week 4}
Talk to Her – $273,351 ($8,380,192 total) {week 19}
Bowling for Columbine – $271,108 ($19,941,096 total) {week 25}
Adaptation. – $234,005 ($21,878,965 total) {week 17}
Gangs of New York – $204,731 ($77,454,139 total) {week 15}
Frida – $158,551 ($25,382,634 total) {week 23}
The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $112,266 ($39,766,233 total) {week 15}
Far From Heaven – $109,667 ($15,776,481 total) {week 21}
The Crime of Father Amaro – $7,955 ($5,701,331 total) {week 20}
My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $5,587 ($241,433,282 total) {week 50}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Chicago – $10,678,564 ($214,219,999 total)
The Pianist – $3,637,334 ($34,943,562 total)
Spirited Away – $2,614,566 ($10,938,250 total)
The Hours – $1,102,865 ($59,412,444 total)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $923,503 ($497,296,038 total)
The Quiet American – $759,296 ($15,777,956 total)
About Schmidt – $666,174 ($94,300,921 total)
Catch Me If You Can – $454,796 ($242,559,469 total)
Nowhere in Africa – $420,738 ($903,361 total)
Talk to Her – $404,813 ($12,410,467 total)
Bowling for Columbine – $401,492 ($29,531,341 total)
Adaptation. – $346,545 ($32,401,187 total)
Gangs of New York – $303,192 ($114,704,057 total)
Frida – $234,803 ($37,589,871 total)
The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $166,258 ($58,890,955 total)
Far From Heaven – $162,409 ($23,363,843 total)
The Crime of Father Amaro – $11,781 ($8,443,265 total)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $8,274 ($357,545,474 total)

Oscar Details:

About Schmidt: Actor (Jack Nicholson), Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates)
Adaptation.: Actor (Nicoals Cage), Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper) [O], Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Adapted Screenplay
Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
Catch Me If You Can: Supporting Actor (Christopher Walken), Original Score
Chicago: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Renee Zellweger), Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly), Supporting Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones [O], Queen Latifah), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“I Move On”), Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
The Crime of Father Amaro: Foreign Language Film
Far From Heaven: Actress (Julianne Moore), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography
Frida: Actress, Original Score [O], Original Song (“Burn It Blue”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
Gangs of New York: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Hands That Built America”), Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
The Hours: Picture, Director, Actress (Nicole Kidman) [O], Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Picture, Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
Nowhere in Africa: Foreign Language Film [O]
The Pianist: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Adrien Brody) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
The Quiet American: Actor (Michael Caine)
Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
The Wild Thornberrys Movie: Original Song (“Father and Daughter”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 27-29, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

Titanic – $15,213,500 ($515,262,530 total) {week 15}
Primary Colors – $7,005,780 ($22,244,315 total) {week 2}
As Good As It Gets – $4,302,498 ($131,786,180 total) {week 14}
Good Will Hunting – $4,117,121 ($121,566,085 total) {week 17}
L.A. Confidential – $1,477,015 ($59,657,107 total) {week 14}
Amistad – $73,319 ($44,107,804 total) {week 16}
Character – $37,268 ($37,268 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Titanic – $28,967,283 ($981,086,224 total)
Primary Colors – $13,339,364 ($42,354,314 total)
As Good As It Gets – $8,192,176 ($250,927,631 total)
Good Will Hunting – $7,839,209 ($231,468,047 total)
L.A. Confidential – $2,812,312 ($113,590,185 total)
Amistad – $139,603 ($83,983,516 total)
Character – $70,960 ($70,960 total)

Oscar Details:

Amistad: Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
As Good As It Gets: Picture, Actor (Jack Nicholson) [O], Actress (Helen Hunt) [O], Supporting Actor (Greg Kinnear), Original Screenplay, Original Musical or Comedy Score, Editing
Character: Foreign Language Film [O]
Good Will Hunting: Picture, Director, Actor (Matt Damon), Supporting Actor (Robin Williams) [O], Supporting Actress (Minnie Driver), Original Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Original Song (“Miss Misery”), Editing
L.A. Confidential: Picture, Director, Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound
Primary Colors: Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates), Adapted Screenplay
Titanic: Picture [O], Director [O], Actress (Kate Winslet), Supporting Actress (Gloria Stuart), Original Dramatic Score [O], Original Song (“My Heart Will Go On”) [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 26-28, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

The Crying Game – $3,399,248 ($47,341,054 total) {week 18}
Aladdin – $1,325,527 ($195,390,843 total) {week 20}
Scent of a Woman – $1,317,525 ($52,597,079 total) {week 14}
Howards End – $837,562 ($22,859,224 total) {week 22}
Unforgiven – $855,188 ($82,817,000 total) {week 34}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Crying Game – $7,332,194 ($102,114,882 total)
Aladdin – $2,859,168 ($421,458,992 total)
Scent of a Woman – $2,841,908 ($113,452,153 total)
Howards End – $1,806,625 ($49,307,457 total)
Unforgiven – $1,844,645 ($178,636,669 total)

Oscar Details:

Aladdin: Original Song (“A Whole New World” [O], “Friend Like Me”), Original Score [O], Sound, Sound Effects
The Crying Game: Picture, Director, Actor (Stephen Rea), Supporting Actor (Jaye Davidson), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
Howards End: Picture, Director, Actress (Emma Thompson) [O], Supporting Actress (Vanessa Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
Scent of a Woman: Picture, Director, Actor (Al Pacino) [O], Adapted Screenplay
Unforgiven: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 25-27, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

Good Morning, Vietnam – $3,322,396 ($101,185,926 total) {week 14}
Moonstruck – $1,747,446 ($55,157,338 total) {week 15}
The Last Emperor – $842,611 ($23,349,260 total) {week 19}
The Milagro Beanfield War – $89,240 ($168,732 total) {week 2}
Stand and Deliver – $485,650 ($1,813,093 total) {week 3}
The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $555,150 ($4,489,013 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Good Morning, Vietnam – $7,218,734 ($219,851,659 total)
Moonstruck – $3,796,762 ($119,843,073 total)
The Last Emperor – $1,830,783 ($50,732,090 total)
The Milagro Beanfield War – $193,896 ($366,612 total)
Stand and Deliver – $1,055,196 ($3,939,397 total)
The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $1,206,202 ($9,753,500 total)

Oscar Details:

Good Morning, Vietnam: Actor (Robin Williams)
The Last Emperor: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
The Milagro Beanfield War: Original Score [O]
Moonstruck: Picture, Director, Actress (Cher) [O], Supporting Actor (Vincent Gardenia), Supporting Actress (Olympia Dukakis) [O], Original Screenplay
Stand and Deliver: Actor (Edward James Olmos)
The Unbearable Lightness of Being: Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 1-3, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

Tootsie – $2,937,159 ($147,185,684 total) {week 16}
Gandhi – $1,484,322 ($35,745,885 total) {week 17}
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,049,900 ($339,839,909 total) {week 43}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Tootsie – $8,326,613 ($417,259,733 total)
Gandhi – $4,207,935 ($101,336,747 total)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $2,976,383 ($963,419,171 total)

Oscar Details:

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
Gandhi: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Ben Kingsley) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
Tootsie: Picture, Director, Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Teri Garr), Supporting Actress (Jessica Lange) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“It Might Be You”), Editing, Cinematography, Sound