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

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 13-15, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

7. Mirror Mirror – $6,847,924 ($49,316,185 total) {week 3}
27. Footnote – $195,124 ($1,099,525 total) {week 6}
33. Monsieur Lazhar – $112,190 ($112,190 total) {week 1}
36. The Artist – $100,098 ($44,048,633 total) {week 21}
37. The Iron Lady – $97,462 ($29,837,308 total) {week 16}
42. A Separation – $78,322 ($6,838,804 total) {week 16}
53. In Darkness – $32,645 ($959,194 total) {week 10}
62. The Descendants – $20,703 ($82,570,653 total) {week 22}
64. Pina – $20,296 ($3,456,736 total) {week 17}
67. Undefeated – $17,466 ($487,751 total) {week 9}
68. W.E. – $14,885 ($546,216 total) {week 11}
73. War Horse – $10,749 ($79,859,441 total) {week 17}
76. Albert Nobbs – $7,970 ($2,980,187 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Mirror Mirror – $7,028,585 ($50,617,240 total)
27. Footnote – $200,272 ($1,128,533 total)
33. Monsieur Lazhar – $115,150 ($115,150 total)
36. The Artist – $102,739 ($45,210,720 total)
37. The Iron Lady – $100,033 ($30,624,473 total)
42. A Separation – $80,388 ($7,019,225 total)
53. In Darkness – $33,506 ($984,499 total)
62. The Descendants – $21,249 ($84,749,024 total)
64. Pina – $20,831 ($3,547,931 total)
67. Undefeated – $17,927 ($500,619 total)
68. W.E. – $15,278 ($560,626 total)
73. War Horse – $11,033 ($81,966,286 total)
76. Albert Nobbs – $8,180 ($3,058,810 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]
• The Descendants: Picture, Directing, Actor (George Clooney), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing
• Footnote: Foreign Language Film
• In Darkness: Foreign Language Film
• The Iron Lady: Actress (Meryl Streep) [O], Makeup [O]
• Mirror Mirror: Costume Design
• Monsieur Lazhar: Foreign Language Film
• 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 Apr. 13-15, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

22. The Lives of Others – $484,508 ($8,142,845 total) {week 10}
34. After the Wedding – $115,477 ($256,328 total) {week 3}
40. Pan’s Labyrinth – $84,575 ($37,299,186 total) {week 16}
42. Dreamgirls – $82,720 ($103,338,338 total) {week 18}
44. Norbit – $75,283 ($94,890,319 total) {week 10}
49. Happy Feet – $55,605 ($197,865,227 total) {week 22}
54. The Queen – $49,041 ($56,316,202 total) {week 29}
58. The Last King of Scotland – $38,634 ($17,514,905 total) {week 29}
65. Notes on a Scandal – $19,289 ($17,470,271 total) {week 17}
70. Letters from Iwo Jima – $15,713 ($17,514,905 total) {week 17}
80. Volver – $6,338 ($12,887,091 total) {week 24}
94. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $2,635 ($323,857 total) {week 9}
95. Iraq in Fragments – $2,591 ($177,396 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

22. The Lives of Others – $575,353 ($9,669,628 total)
34. After the Wedding – $137,129 ($304,390 total)
40. Pan’s Labyrinth – $100,433 ($44,292,783 total)
42. Dreamgirls – $98,230 ($122,714,276 total)
44. Norbit – $89,399 ($112,682,254 total)
49. Happy Feet – $66,031 ($234,964,957 total)
54. The Queen – $58,236 ($66,875,490 total)
58. The Last King of Scotland – $45,878 ($20,798,950 total)
65. Notes on a Scandal – $22,906 ($20,745,947 total)
70. Letters from Iwo Jima – $18,659 ($20,798,950 total)
80. Volver – $7,526 ($15,303,421 total)
94. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $3,129 ($384,580 total)
95. Iraq in Fragments – $3,077 ($210,658 total)

Oscar Details:

• The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film; Live Action Short Film
• After the Wedding: Foreign Language Film
• Dreamgirls: Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy), Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson) [O], Original Song (“Listen”, “Love You I Do”, “Patience”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound [O]
• 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]
• 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
• Volver: Actress (Penelope Cruz)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 12-14, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

4. Ice Age – $8,577,478 ($151,625,634 total) {week 5}
13. A Beautiful Mind – $1,457,335 ($167,135,186 total) {week 17}
15. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $1,219,369 ($305,819,565 total) {week 17}
16. Monster’s Ball – $1,040,241 ($26,722,813 total) {week 16}
17. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $1,016,570 ($4,465,073 total) {week 5}
23. The Time Machine – $420,255 ($55,485,362 total) {week 6}
30. Amelie – $233,952 ($32,012,485 total) {week 24}
31. Gosford Park – $219,811 ($40,471,000 total) {week 16}
35. Iris – $160,357 ($5,182,589 total) {week 18}
36. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $155,086 ($317,048,532 total) {week 22}
44. I Am Sam – $92,309 ($40,270,895 total) {week 16}
45. In the Bedroom – $91,546 ($35,647,544 total) {week 21}
46. Vanilla Sky – $77,572 ($100,538,919 total) {week 1}
50. Monsters, Inc. – $66,766 ($252,971,449 total) {week 24}
51. The Royal Tenenbaums – $63,836 ($51,882,432 total) {week 18}
56. Black Hawk Down – $32,714 ($108,638,745 total) {week 16}
59. Son of the Bride – $31,365 ($154,303 total) {week 4}
63. No Man’s Land – $25,219 ($991,345 total) {week 17}
999. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $40,705 ($80,920,948 total) {week 17}
999. Mulholland Drive – $6,435 ($7,203,833 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Ice Age – $12,061,617 ($213,215,392 total)
13. A Beautiful Mind – $2,049,299 ($235,024,866 total)
15. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $1,714,672 ($430,042,314 total)
16. Monster’s Ball – $1,462,783 ($37,577,518 total)
17. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $1,429,497 ($6,278,769 total)
23. The Time Machine – $590,961 ($78,023,306 total)
30. Amelie – $328,982 ($45,015,835 total)
31. Gosford Park – $309,097 ($56,910,167 total)
35. Iris – $225,493 ($7,287,737 total)
36. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $218,081 ($445,832,445 total)
44. I Am Sam – $129,805 ($56,628,780 total)
45. In the Bedroom – $128,732 ($50,127,441 total)
46. Vanilla Sky – $109,081 ($141,377,447 total)
50. Monsters, Inc. – $93,886 ($355,727,494 total)
51. The Royal Tenenbaums – $89,766 ($72,956,879 total)
56. Black Hawk Down – $46,002 ($152,767,392 total)
59. Son of the Bride – $44,105 ($216,980 total)
63. No Man’s Land – $35,463 ($1,394,026 total)
999. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $57,239 ($113,790,731 total)
999. Mulholland Drive – $9,049 ($10,130,003 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 Apr. 11-13, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

14. The English Patient – $1,270,359 ($73,040,322 total) {week 22}
15. Sling Blade – $1,090,765 ($19,846,376 total) {week 19}
17. Jerry Maguire – $702,018 ($148,244,457 total) {week 18}
999. Evita – $182,259 ($49,716,042 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

14. The English Patient – $2,261,184 ($130,008,591 total)
15. Sling Blade – $1,941,514 ($35,325,685 total)
17. Jerry Maguire – $1,249,561 ($263,868,674 total)
999. Evita – $324,413 ($88,492,388 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Sling Blade: Actor (Billy Bob Thornton), Adapted Screenplay [O]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 10-12, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

2. Basic Instinct – $7,847,500 ($60,093,444 total) {week 4}
10. My Cousin Vinny – $3,010,887 ($34,944,232 total) {week 5}
14. Fried Green Tomatoes – $1,173,265 ($69,702,314 total) {week 16}
999. Hook – $428,248 ($117,272,082 total) {week 18}
999. Howards End – $43,556 ($380,417 total) {week 5}
999. The Player – $302,216 ($302,216 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Basic Instinct – $15,449,175 ($118,304,443 total)
10. My Cousin Vinny – $5,927,457 ($68,793,825 total)
14. Fried Green Tomatoes – $2,309,777 ($137,221,182 total)
999. Hook – $843,081 ($230,870,581 total)
999. Howards End – $85,748 ($748,917 total)
999. The Player – $594,965 ($594,965 total)

Oscar Details:

• Basic Instinct: Original Score, Editing
• 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
• My Cousin Vinny: Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei) [O]
• The Player: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 10-12, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

5. Lethal Weapon – $3,001,709 ($43,554,814 total) {week 6}
6. Platoon – $2,937,411 ($114,398,785 total) {week 17}
11. Hoosiers – $877,979 ($23,796,366 total) {week 17}
12. Mannequin – $843,758 ($32,635,918 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Lethal Weapon – $6,272,113 ($91,008,397 total)
6. Platoon – $6,137,762 ($239,037,870 total)
11. Hoosiers – $1,834,549 ($49,722,841 total)
12. Mannequin – $1,763,044 ($68,193,210 total)

Oscar Details:

• Hoosiers: Supporting Actor (Dennis Hopper), Original Score
• Lethal Weapon: Sound
• Mannequin: Original Song (“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”)
• Platoon: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe), Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 9-11, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

3. Chariots of Fire – $3,434,399 ($34,848,533 total) {week 29}
4. On Golden Pond – $2,702,573 ($89,082,969 total) {week 19}
6. Victor/Victoria – $2,382,802 ($5,572,435 total) {week 4}
8. Quest for Fire – $1,671,891 ($14,352,043 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Chariots of Fire – $9,543,891 ($96,840,991 total)
4. On Golden Pond – $7,510,211 ($247,553,693 total)
6. Victor/Victoria – $6,621,596 ($15,485,304 total)
8. Quest for Fire – $4,646,037 ($39,883,058 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• Victor/Victoria: Actress (Julie Andrews), Supporting Actor (Robert Preston), Supporting Actress (Lesley Ann Warren), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song Score [O], Art Direction, Costume Design