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 Apr. 5-7, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Croods – $20,651,694 ($125,351,896 total) {week 3}
14. Silver Linings Playbook – $603,470 ($129,725,117 total) {week 21}
18. Life of Pi – $354,962 ($123,920,583 total) {week 20}
24. No – $208,644 ($1,608,624 total) {week 8}
25. The Gatekeepers – $172,427 ($2,116,260 total) {week 10}
29. Django Unchained – $137,857 ($162,549,162 total) {week 15}
38. Wreck-It Ralph – $94,697 ($189,180,082 total) {week 23}
39. Argo – $85,949 ($135,897,800 total) {week 26}
45. The Impossible – $59,114 ($18,907,069 total) {week 16}
52. Lincoln – $47,845 ($182,137,973 total) {week 22}
55. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $39,325 ($302,932,624 total) {week 17}
67. Searching for Sugar Man – $16,065 ($3,612,244 total) {week 37}
68. Amour – $15,828 ($6,685,660 total) {week 16}
69. A Royal Affair – $15,706 ($1,516,403 total) {week 22}
78. Chasing Ice – $8,099 ($1,309,997 total) {week 21}
120. 5 Broken Cameras – $432 ($103,011 total) {week 45}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Croods – $22,683,841 ($137,686,646 total)
14. Silver Linings Playbook – $662,852 ($142,490,196 total)
18. Life of Pi – $389,891 ($136,114,490 total)
24. No – $229,175 ($1,766,914 total)
25. The Gatekeepers – $189,394 ($2,324,502 total)
29. Django Unchained – $151,422 ($178,544,159 total)
38. Wreck-It Ralph – $104,015 ($207,795,588 total)
39. Argo – $94,406 ($149,270,277 total)
45. The Impossible – $64,931 ($20,767,543 total)
52. Lincoln – $52,553 ($200,060,529 total)
55. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $43,195 ($332,741,492 total)
67. Searching for Sugar Man – $17,646 ($3,967,692 total)
68. Amour – $17,385 ($7,343,536 total)
69. A Royal Affair – $17,251 ($1,665,619 total)
78. Chasing Ice – $8,896 ($1,438,902 total)
120. 5 Broken Cameras – $475 ($113,147 total)

Oscar Details:

• 5 Broken Cameras: Documentary Feature
• 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
• Chasing Ice: Original Song (“Before My Time”)
• 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)
• 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

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 4-6, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

21. Juno – $393,816 ($142,545,706 total) {week 18}
22. The Counterfeiters – $360,376 ($2,903,370 total) {week 7}
25. In Bruges – $249,027 ($6,831,761 total) {week 9}
44. There Will Be Blood – $69,687 ($40,133,435 total) {week 15}
62. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $30,169 ($5,990,075 total) {week 19}
69. Persepolis – $23,510 ($4,200,980 total) {week 15}
71. No Country for Old Men – $21,910 ($74,273,505 total) {week 22}
75. The Savages – $18,522 ($6,571,599 total) {week 19}
77. Atonement – $14,874 ($50,921,738 total) {week 18}
83. Taxi to the Dark Side – $8,470 ($231,743 total) {week 12}
106. The Kite Runner – $3,718 ($15,790,223 total) {week 17}
108. La Vie en Rose – $3,648 ($10,299,782 total) {week 28}
121. Beaufort – $1,619 ($87,339 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

21. Juno – $489,802 ($177,288,740 total)
22. The Counterfeiters – $448,211 ($3,611,016 total)
25. In Bruges – $309,723 ($8,496,884 total)
44. There Will Be Blood – $86,672 ($49,915,261 total)
62. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $37,522 ($7,450,051 total)
69. Persepolis – $29,240 ($5,224,896 total)
71. No Country for Old Men – $27,250 ($92,376,379 total)
75. The Savages – $23,036 ($8,173,312 total)
77. Atonement – $18,499 ($63,333,025 total)
83. Taxi to the Dark Side – $10,534 ($288,226 total)
106. The Kite Runner – $4,624 ($19,638,815 total)
108. La Vie en Rose – $4,537 ($12,810,175 total)
121. Beaufort – $2,014 ($108,626 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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 Apr. 4-6, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

8. Chicago – $5,103,406 ($151,971,565 total) {week 15}
12. The Pianist – $2,087,334 ($26,561,941 total) {week 15}
18. Spirited Away – $1,033,954 ($8,879,467 total) {week 29}
21. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $479,627 ($336,500,653 total) {week 16}
23. The Quiet American – $377,331 ($11,221,464 total) {week 20}
24. The Hours – $352,609 ($40,737,727 total) {week 15}
26. Nowhere in Africa – $327,753 ($1,046,146 total) {week 5}
28. About Schmidt – $249,785 ($64,094,443 total) {week 17}
32. Catch Me If You Can – $216,794 ($164,106,339 total) {week 15}
33. Bowling for Columbine – $206,787 ($20,255,273 total) {week 26}
34. Talk to Her – $194,151 ($8,659,544 total) {week 20}
36. Adaptation. – $137,289 ($22,078,169 total) {week 18}
37. City of God – $135,888 ($3,261,714 total) {week 12}
40. Frida – $115,605 ($25,561,720 total) {week 24}
46. Gangs of New York – $75,177 ($77,605,296 total) {week 16}
61. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $41,073 ($39,835,385 total) {week 16}
63. Far From Heaven – $35,647 ($15,854,988 total) {week 22}
74. The Man Without a Past – $23,281 ($23,281 total) {week 1}
108. The Crime of Father Amaro – $5,204 ($5,709,616 total) {week 21}
133. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $1,696 ($241,437,427 total) {week 51}
141. Promises – $360 ($247,948 total) {week 56}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. Chicago – $7,557,780 ($225,059,051 total)
12. The Pianist – $3,091,193 ($39,336,340 total)
18. Spirited Away – $1,531,212 ($13,149,857 total)
21. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $710,293 ($498,333,471 total)
23. The Quiet American – $558,800 ($16,618,188 total)
24. The Hours – $522,189 ($60,329,669 total)
26. Nowhere in Africa – $485,379 ($1,549,268 total)
28. About Schmidt – $369,914 ($94,919,300 total)
32. Catch Me If You Can – $321,056 ($243,029,786 total)
33. Bowling for Columbine – $306,237 ($29,996,615 total)
34. Talk to Her – $287,524 ($12,824,167 total)
36. Adaptation. – $203,315 ($32,696,194 total)
37. City of God – $201,240 ($4,830,366 total)
40. Frida – $171,203 ($37,855,085 total)
46. Gangs of New York – $111,332 ($114,927,909 total)
61. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $60,826 ($58,993,365 total)
63. Far From Heaven – $52,791 ($23,480,107 total)
74. The Man Without a Past – $34,478 ($34,478 total)
108. The Crime of Father Amaro – $7,707 ($8,455,534 total)
133. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2,512 ($357,551,612 total)
141. Promises – $533 ($367,193 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]
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• 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]
• The Man Without a Past: Foreign Language Film
• 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
• Promises: Documentary Feature
• 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 Apr. 3-5, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. Titanic – $11,533,480 ($530,406,538 total) {week 16}
5. Primary Colors – $4,702,920 ($28,944,755 total) {week 3}
8. As Good As It Gets – $3,330,431 ($136,381,511 total) {week 15}
9. Good Will Hunting – $3,169,473 ($126,001,553 total) {week 18}
15. L.A. Confidential – $1,063,576 ($61,178,262 total) {week 15}
999. Amistad – $27,655 ($44,175,394 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Titanic – $21,960,336 ($1,009,921,191 total)
5. Primary Colors – $8,954,600 ($55,112,295 total)
8. As Good As It Gets – $6,341,311 ($259,677,376 total)
9. Good Will Hunting – $6,034,839 ($239,913,405 total)
15. L.A. Confidential – $2,025,103 ($116,486,542 total)
999. Amistad – $52,657 ($84,112,211 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
• 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 Apr. 2-4, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

7. The Crying Game – $2,780,043 ($51,185,296 total) {week 19}
8. Unforgiven – $2,538,358 ($86,008,597 total) {week 35}
11. Scent of a Woman – $1,635,410 ($54,822,079 total) {week 15}
15. Aladdin – $1,060,013 ($196,962,510 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. The Crying Game – $5,996,566 ($110,406,931 total)
8. Unforgiven – $5,475,250 ($185,520,959 total)
11. Scent of a Woman – $3,527,587 ($118,251,489 total)
15. Aladdin – $2,286,453 ($424,849,086 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
• 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 Apr. 1-3, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Beetlejuice – $8,030,897 ($8,030,897 total) {week 1}
7. Good Morning, Vietnam – $2,804,945 ($105,387,336 total) {week 15}
12. Moonstruck – $1,328,853 ($57,246,512 total) {week 16}
14. Stand and Deliver – $1,120,596 ($3,414,097 total) {week 4}
999. The Last Emperor – $560,501 ($24,058,739 total) {week 20}
999. The Milagro Beanfield War – $801,467 ($1,034,374 total) {week 3}
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $517,608 ($5,282,345 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Beetlejuice – $17,449,127 ($17,449,127 total)
7. Good Morning, Vietnam – $6,094,443 ($228,980,270 total)
12. Moonstruck – $2,887,265 ($124,382,324 total)
14. Stand and Deliver – $2,434,774 ($7,417,977 total)
999. The Last Emperor – $1,217,828 ($52,273,611 total)
999. The Milagro Beanfield War – $1,741,387 ($2,247,435 total)
999. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – $1,124,632 ($11,477,212 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beetlejuice: Makeup [O]
• 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. 8-10, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Tootsie – $3,430,963 ($151,790,700 total) {week 17}
6. Gandhi – $2,178,715 ($38,633,920 total) {week 18}
8. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,461,292 ($341,923,413 total) {week 44}
13. The Verdict – $744,669 ($51,771,248 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Tootsie – $9,726,508 ($430,314,588 total)
6. Gandhi – $6,176,484 ($109,524,097 total)
8. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $4,142,647 ($969,325,739 total)
13. The Verdict – $2,111,078 ($146,767,379 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
• The Verdict: Picture, Director, Actor (Paul Newman), Supporting Actor (James Mason), Adapted Screenplay