Every week, we’ll take a look back in 5-year intervals in the box office past to explore how Oscar’s nominees were doing at the box office that 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 chance 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

Effie Gray (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Production Design, Costume Design.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 2-4, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

3. How to Train Your Dragon – $29,010,044 ($92,135,916 total) {week 2}
5. Alice in Wonderland – $8,208,060 ($309,733,753 total) {week 5}
13. Avatar – $980,239 ($742,332,678 total) {week 16}
22. Crazy Heart – $321,014 ($38,349,555 total) {week 16}
25. The Blind Side – $229,421 ($255,492,549 total) {week 20}
30. Sherlock Holmes – $165,405 ($208,711,166 total) {week 15}
34. A Prophet – $114,927 ($1,515,303 total) {week 6}
35. The Last Station – $112,420 ($6,216,606 total) {week 12}
41. The Secret of Kells – $56,508 ($186,378 total) {week 5}
46. The White Ribbon – $33,320 ($2,077,054 total) {week 14}
48. A Single Man – $27,755 ($9,098,668 total) {week 17}
50. The Young Victoria – $26,925 ($10,860,628 total) {week 16}
52. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $22,529 ($325,372 total) {week 10}
53. Ajami – $18,473 ($468,704 total) {week 9}
54. Up in the Air – $18,102 ($83,813,460 total) {week 18}
56. An Education – $16,520 ($12,543,020 total) {week 26}
62. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $11,900 ($7,604,461 total) {week 15}
66. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $10,764 ($20,999,103 total) {week 21}
78. The Messenger – $4,435 ($1,075,174 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. How to Train Your Dragon – $30,039,551 ($95,405,632 total)
5. Alice in Wonderland – $8,499,347 ($320,725,572 total)
13. Avatar – $1,015,026 ($768,676,550 total)
22. Crazy Heart – $332,406 ($39,710,502 total)
25. The Blind Side – $237,563 ($264,559,458 total)
30. Sherlock Holmes – $171,275 ($216,117,899 total)
34. A Prophet – $119,006 ($1,569,078 total)
35. The Last Station – $116,410 ($6,437,221 total)
41. The Secret of Kells – $58,513 ($192,992 total)
46. The White Ribbon – $34,502 ($2,150,764 total)
48. A Single Man – $28,740 ($9,421,561 total)
50. The Young Victoria – $27,881 ($11,246,050 total)
52. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $23,329 ($336,919 total)
53. Ajami – $19,129 ($485,337 total)
54. Up in the Air – $18,744 ($86,787,829 total)
56. An Education – $17,106 ($12,988,146 total)
62. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $12,322 ($7,874,328 total)
66. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $11,146 ($21,744,318 total)
78. The Messenger – $4,592 ($1,113,330 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ajami: Foreign Language Film
• Alice in Wonderland: Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Visual Effects
• Avatar: Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Blind Side: Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
• Crazy Heart: Actor (Jeff Bridges) [O], Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Original Song (“The Weary Kind”) [O]
• An Education: Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
• Fantastic Mr. Fox: Animated Feature, Original Score
• How to Train Your Dragon: Animated Feature, Original Score
• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Last Station : Actress (Helen Mirren), Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer)
• The Messenger : Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• The Most Dangerous Man in America : Documentary Feature
• A Prophet: Foreign Language Film
• The Secret of Kells : Animated Feature
• Sherlock Holmes: Original Score, Art Direction
• A Single Man: Actor (Colin Firth)
• Up in the Air: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick), Adapted Screenplay
• The White Ribbon : Cinematography, Foreign Language Film
• The Young Victoria : Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 8-10, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

14. Million Dollar Baby – $702,019 ($97,825,712 total) {week 17}
17. Downfall – $371,125 ($3,646,687 total) {week 8}
26. Sideways – $141,847 ($71,229,224 total) {week 25}
28. The Aviator – $130,129 ($101,912,229 total) {week 17}
29. The Phantom of the Opera – $128,372 ($50,830,913 total) {week 16}
35. Born Into Brothels – $104,603 ($2,898,164 total) {week 14}
39. Hotel Rwanda – $90,529 ($23,374,862 total) {week 16}
52. Finding Neverland – $39,612 ($51,613,985 total) {week 22}
55. The Chorus – $32,054 ($1,375,799 total) {week 13}
60. The Sea Inside – $23,188 ($1,919,730 total) {week 17}
62. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $21,248 ($118,575,406 total) {week 1}
70. The Incredibles – $14,129 ($261,437,578 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

14. Million Dollar Baby – $894,773 ($124,685,814 total)
17. Downfall – $473,025 ($4,647,961 total)
26. Sideways – $180,794 ($90,786,702 total)
28. The Aviator – $165,859 ($129,894,370 total)
29. The Phantom of the Opera – $163,619 ($64,787,607 total)
35. Born Into Brothels – $133,324 ($3,693,916 total)
39. Hotel Rwanda – $115,386 ($29,792,921 total)
52. Finding Neverland – $50,488 ($65,785,688 total)
55. The Chorus – $40,855 ($1,753,553 total)
60. The Sea Inside – $29,555 ($2,446,832 total)
62. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $27,082 ($151,132,772 total)
70. The Incredibles – $18,008 ($333,220,751 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Aviator: Picture, Director, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Alan Alda), Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound Mixing
• Born Into Brothels : Documentary Feature
• The Chorus: Original Song (“Look To Your Path”), Foreign Language Film
• Downfall : Foreign Language Film
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Hotel Rwanda: Actor (Don Cheadle), Supporting Actress (Sophie Okonedo), Original Screenplay
• The Incredibles: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O]
• Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events: Original Score, Makeup [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
• Million Dollar Baby: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• The Phantom of the Opera : Original Song (“Learn To Be Lonely”), Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Sea Inside : Makeup, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Sideways: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 7-9, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

2. Erin Brockovich – $9,808,065 ($89,632,165 total) {week 4}
10. American Beauty – $3,348,307 ($121,638,562 total) {week 30}
14. The Cider House Rules – $1,108,712 ($54,782,511 total) {week 18}
18. Boys Don’t Cry – $674,451 ($10,369,824 total) {week 27}
20. The Sixth Sense – $512,765 ($292,516,192 total) {week 36}
24. Toy Story 2 – $226,398 ($242,947,795 total) {week 21}
26. Stuart Little – $216,702 ($139,504,573 total) {week 17}
31. All About My Mother – $148,156 ($7,373,088 total) {week 23}
32. The Green Mile – $143,490 ($135,780,460 total) {week 18}
33. The Hurricane – $138,590 ($50,536,546 total) {week 15}
34. Sleepy Hollow – $135,980 ($100,787,183 total) {week 21}
35. Wonder Boys – $102,011 ($18,543,764 total) {week 7}
36. The Insider – $93,201 ($28,883,171 total) {week 23}
38. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $85,386 ($81,178,694 total) {week 16}
40. Topsy-Turvy – $80,825 ($5,916,213 total) {week 17}
45. East-West – $56,147 ($56,147 total) {week 1}
48. Being John Malkovich – $49,405 ($22,701,293 total) {week 24}
52. Titus – $45,824 ($1,655,208 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Erin Brockovich – $14,866,770 ($135,861,742 total)
10. American Beauty – $5,075,263 ($184,376,076 total)
14. The Cider House Rules – $1,680,552 ($83,037,684 total)
18. Boys Don’t Cry – $1,022,313 ($15,718,268 total)
20. The Sixth Sense – $777,234 ($443,387,252 total)
24. Toy Story 2 – $343,167 ($368,252,966 total)
26. Stuart Little – $328,470 ($211,456,839 total)
31. All About My Mother – $224,570 ($11,175,905 total)
32. The Green Mile – $217,498 ($205,811,940 total)
33. The Hurricane – $210,071 ($76,601,778 total)
34. Sleepy Hollow – $206,114 ($152,770,183 total)
35. Wonder Boys – $154,625 ($28,108,080 total)
36. The Insider – $141,271 ($43,780,242 total)
38. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $129,426 ($123,048,224 total)
40. Topsy-Turvy – $122,512 ($8,967,618 total)
45. East-West – $85,106 ($85,106 total)
48. Being John Malkovich – $74,887 ($34,409,938 total)
52. Titus – $69,459 ($2,508,915 total)

Oscar Details:

• All About My Mother: Foreign Language Film [O]
• American Beauty: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Being John Malkovich: Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay
• Boys Don’t Cry: Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actress (Chloe Sevigny)
• The Cider House Rules : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction
• East-West: Foreign Language Film
• Erin Brockovich: Picture, Directing, Actress (Julia Roberts) [O], Supporting Actor (Albert Finney), Original Screenplay
• The Green Mile : Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
• The Hurricane : Actor (Denzel Washington)
• The Insider : Picture, Director, Actor (Russell Crowe), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• The Sixth Sense : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Sleepy Hollow: Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• Stuart Little: Visual Effects
• The Talented Mr. Ripley : Supporting Actor (Jude Law), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Titus: Costume Design
• Topsy-Turvy: Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O]
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)
• Wonder Boys: Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Things Have Changed”), Editing

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 7-9, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

4. Don Juan DeMarco – $4,556,274 ($4,556,274 total) {week 1}
9. Rob Roy – $2,023,272 ($2,023,272 total) {week 1}
11. Forrest Gump – $1,704,996 ($323,602,990 total) {week 40}
12. Pulp Fiction – $1,330,454 ($100,327,435 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Don Juan DeMarco – $8,557,416 ($8,557,416 total)
9. Rob Roy – $3,800,030 ($3,800,030 total)
11. Forrest Gump – $3,202,257 ($607,778,489 total)
12. Pulp Fiction – $2,498,807 ($188,431,068 total)

Oscar Details:

• Don Juan DeMarco: Original Song (“Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman”)
• Forrest Gump: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Supporting Actor (Gary Sinise), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• Pulp Fiction: Picture, Director, Actor (John Travolta), Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Supporting Actress (Uma Thurman), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• Rob Roy: Supporting Actor (Tim Roth)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 6-8, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

2. Pretty Woman – $11,270,218 ($44,297,551 total) {week 3}
5. The Hunt for Red October – $5,023,444 ($83,548,125 total) {week 6}
7. Driving Miss Daisy – $3,210,821 ($86,911,643 total) {week 17}
13. My Left Foot – $802,449 ($11,454,800 total) {week 22}
999. Cinema Paradiso – $264,183 ($1,989,321 total) {week 10}
999. Glory – $439,945 ($24,960,912 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Pretty Woman – $21,767,773 ($85,558,154 total)
5. The Hunt for Red October – $9,702,491 ($161,368,364 total)
7. Driving Miss Daisy – $6,201,515 ($167,864,805 total)
13. My Left Foot – $1,549,884 ($22,124,283 total)
999. Cinema Paradiso – $510,254 ($3,842,258 total)
999. Glory – $849,728 ($48,210,556 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cinema Paradiso: Foreign Language Film
• Driving Miss Daisy: Picture [O], Actor (Morgan Freeman), Actress (Jessica Tandy) [O], Supporting Actor (Dan Aykroyd), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• Glory: Supporting Actor (Denzel Washington) [O], Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound [O]
• The Hunt for Red October: Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• My Left Foot: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) [O], Supporting Actress (Brenda Fricker) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Pretty Woman: Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 5-7, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

2. Mask – $4,472,392 ($20,058,589 total) {week 5}
5. Beverly Hills Cop – $3,036,501 ($199,771,279 total) {week 18}
8. Witness – $2,415,924 ($49,767,479 total) {week 9}
10. Amadeus – $1,976,987 ($40,457,677 total) {week 29}
15. The Killing Fields – $870,489 ($30,593,032 total) {week 23}
18. The Purple Rose of Cairo – $766,322 ($3,872,387 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Mask – $10,292,801 ($46,163,006 total)
5. Beverly Hills Cop – $6,988,229 ($459,755,310 total)
8. Witness – $5,560,028 ($114,535,297 total)
10. Amadeus – $4,549,855 ($93,109,640 total)
15. The Killing Fields – $2,003,351 ($70,407,062 total)
18. The Purple Rose of Cairo – $1,763,620 ($8,911,944 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amadeus: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (F. Murray Abraham [O], Tom Hulce), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound [O]
• Beverly Hills Cop: Original Screenplay
• The Killing Fields : Picture, Director, Actor (Sam Waterston), Supporting Actor (Haing S. Ngor) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O]
• Mask: Makeup [O]
• The Purple Rose of Cairo: Original Screenplay
• Witness: Picture, Directing, Actor (Harrison Ford), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Art Direction