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

Clouds of Sils Maria (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Juliette Binoche), Supporting Actress (Kristen Stewart).

Ex Machina (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 9-11, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

3. How to Train Your Dragon – $24,863,535 ($133,404,438 total) {week 3}
7. Alice in Wonderland – $5,301,730 ($319,009,518 total) {week 6}
12. Avatar – $844,651 ($743,688,973 total) {week 17}
22. Crazy Heart – $277,319 ($38,774,548 total) {week 17}
30. The Blind Side – $136,403 ($255,740,350 total) {week 21}
34. A Prophet – $104,671 ($1,684,489 total) {week 7}
36. Sherlock Holmes – $99,362 ($208,897,390 total) {week 16}
40. The Last Station – $71,086 ($6,331,254 total) {week 13}
46. The Secret of Kells – $46,067 ($262,213 total) {week 6}
52. The White Ribbon – $29,623 ($2,116,924 total) {week 15}
55. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $26,598 ($7,638,319 total) {week 16}
57. The Young Victoria – $23,070 ($10,913,190 total) {week 17}
58. A Single Man – $21,064 ($9,138,153 total) {week 18}
61. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $18,582 ($351,577 total) {week 11}
65. Ajami – $14,384 ($489,499 total) {week 10}
73. An Education – $8,758 ($12,555,564 total) {week 27}
84. The Messenger – $4,973 ($1,081,412 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. How to Train Your Dragon – $25,745,891 ($138,138,689 total)
7. Alice in Wonderland – $5,489,878 ($330,330,515 total)
12. Avatar – $874,626 ($770,080,977 total)
22. Crazy Heart – $287,160 ($40,150,578 total)
30. The Blind Side – $141,244 ($264,816,053 total)
34. A Prophet – $108,386 ($1,744,268 total)
36. Sherlock Holmes – $102,888 ($216,310,732 total)
40. The Last Station – $73,609 ($6,555,937 total)
46. The Secret of Kells – $47,702 ($271,518 total)
52. The White Ribbon – $30,674 ($2,192,049 total)
55. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $27,542 ($7,909,387 total)
57. The Young Victoria – $23,889 ($11,300,477 total)
58. A Single Man – $21,812 ($9,462,447 total)
61. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $19,241 ($364,054 total)
65. Ajami – $14,894 ($506,870 total)
73. An Education – $9,069 ($13,001,135 total)
84. The Messenger – $5,149 ($1,119,789 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
• 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)
• The White Ribbon : Cinematography, Foreign Language Film
• The Young Victoria : Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 15-17, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

17. Million Dollar Baby – $628,184 ($98,708,641 total) {week 18}
19. Downfall – $327,930 ($4,159,168 total) {week 9}
33. The Aviator – $105,301 ($102,065,459 total) {week 18}
35. Born Into Brothels – $96,657 ($3,051,994 total) {week 15}
36. The Phantom of the Opera – $94,142 ($50,988,470 total) {week 17}
37. Sideways – $93,530 ($71,370,131 total) {week 26}
47. Hotel Rwanda – $51,181 ($23,472,901 total) {week 17}
54. The Chorus – $35,352 ($1,426,479 total) {week 14}
66. Finding Neverland – $24,451 ($51,654,487 total) {week 23}
68. The Sea Inside – $19,970 ($1,961,865 total) {week 18}
72. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $19,515 ($118,604,722 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

17. Million Dollar Baby – $800,665 ($125,811,170 total)
19. Downfall – $417,970 ($5,301,155 total)
33. The Aviator – $134,214 ($130,089,672 total)
35. Born Into Brothels – $123,196 ($3,889,983 total)
36. The Phantom of the Opera – $119,991 ($64,988,424 total)
37. Sideways – $119,211 ($90,966,298 total)
47. Hotel Rwanda – $65,234 ($29,917,878 total)
54. The Chorus – $45,059 ($1,818,149 total)
66. Finding Neverland – $31,165 ($65,837,310 total)
68. The Sea Inside – $25,453 ($2,500,536 total)
72. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $24,873 ($151,170,137 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
• 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. 14-16, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

4. Erin Brockovich – $7,030,315 ($99,321,020 total) {week 5}
14. American Beauty – $1,966,874 ($124,714,413 total) {week 31}
19. The Cider House Rules – $547,058 ($55,688,841 total) {week 19}
20. Boys Don’t Cry – $344,404 ($10,968,569 total) {week 28}
21. Toy Story 2 – $331,858 ($243,343,550 total) {week 22}
23. The Green Mile – $279,531 ($136,107,855 total) {week 19}
24. The Sixth Sense – $272,251 ($292,933,724 total) {week 37}
31. Stuart Little – $157,697 ($139,716,014 total) {week 18}
34. All About My Mother – $99,947 ($7,532,474 total) {week 24}
37. East-West – $80,289 ($160,899 total) {week 2}
38. Sleepy Hollow – $80,023 ($100,911,959 total) {week 22}
42. The Hurricane – $74,520 ($50,668,906 total) {week 16}
43. Topsy-Turvy – $69,655 ($6,021,834 total) {week 18}
54. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $35,717 ($81,254,871 total) {week 17}
59. Titus – $31,797 ($1,709,304 total) {week 17}
62. Being John Malkovich – $29,509 ($22,752,683 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Erin Brockovich – $10,656,340 ($150,547,817 total)
14. American Beauty – $2,981,328 ($189,038,359 total)
19. The Cider House Rules – $829,214 ($84,411,471 total)
20. Boys Don’t Cry – $522,037 ($16,625,827 total)
21. Toy Story 2 – $503,020 ($368,852,839 total)
23. The Green Mile – $423,705 ($206,308,196 total)
24. The Sixth Sense – $412,670 ($444,020,135 total)
31. Stuart Little – $239,032 ($211,777,335 total)
34. All About My Mother – $151,497 ($11,417,498 total)
37. East-West – $121,700 ($243,886 total)
38. Sleepy Hollow – $121,296 ($152,959,314 total)
42. The Hurricane – $112,955 ($76,802,405 total)
43. Topsy-Turvy – $105,581 ($9,127,715 total)
54. The Talented Mr. Ripley – $54,139 ($123,163,691 total)
59. Titus – $48,197 ($2,590,912 total)
62. Being John Malkovich – $44,729 ($34,487,833 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 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”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 14-16, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

2. Rob Roy – $7,190,047 ($11,193,191 total) {week 2}
6. Don Juan DeMarco – $3,704,804 ($9,785,985 total) {week 2}
11. Forrest Gump – $1,301,882 ($325,572,841 total) {week 41}
14. Pulp Fiction – $978,690 ($101,843,291 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Rob Roy – $13,504,065 ($21,022,614 total)
6. Don Juan DeMarco – $6,958,218 ($18,379,655 total)
11. Forrest Gump – $2,445,144 ($611,478,186 total)
14. Pulp Fiction – $1,838,137 ($191,278,089 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. 13-15, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

2. Pretty Woman – $10,117,891 ($59,293,180 total) {week 4}
3. The Hunt for Red October – $4,261,262 ($89,834,734 total) {week 7}
8. Driving Miss Daisy – $2,243,724 ($90,455,663 total) {week 18}
999. Cinema Paradiso – $279,095 ($2,374,624 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Pretty Woman – $19,542,120 ($114,521,343 total)
3. The Hunt for Red October – $8,230,381 ($173,510,586 total)
8. Driving Miss Daisy – $4,333,623 ($174,709,874 total)
999. Cinema Paradiso – $539,056 ($4,586,449 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]
• The Hunt for Red October: Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Pretty Woman: Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 12-14, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

2. Mask – $3,718,551 ($25,814,068 total) {week 6}
4. Ladyhawke – $3,450,536 ($3,450,536 total) {week 1}
7. Beverly Hills Cop – $2,395,749 ($203,286,068 total) {week 19}
9. Witness – $1,835,932 ($52,570,366 total) {week 10}
11. Amadeus – $1,446,212 ($42,850,556 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Mask – $8,557,905 ($59,408,714 total)
4. Ladyhawke – $7,941,093 ($7,941,093 total)
7. Beverly Hills Cop – $5,513,597 ($467,844,275 total)
9. Witness – $4,225,229 ($120,985,885 total)
11. Amadeus – $3,328,325 ($98,616,632 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
• Ladyhawke: Sound, Sound Effects Editing
• Mask: Makeup [O]
• Witness: Picture, Directing, Actor (Harrison Ford), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Art Direction