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

Missing Link (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 11-13, 2014

Weekend Box Office:

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $41,274,861 ($158,883,032 total) {week 2}
8. The Grand Budapest Hotel – $4,069,245 ($39,488,800 total) {week 6}
15. The Lego Movie – $502,033 ($251,560,804 total) {week 10}
17. Frozen – $385,006 ($399,445,248 total) {week 21}
29. Gravity – $133,931 ($273,838,269 total) {week 28}
32. Finding Vivian Maier – $99,023 ($309,024 total) {week 3}
45. Philomena – $52,665 ($37,574,900 total) {week 21}
51. 12 Years a Slave – $32,935 ($56,567,844 total) {week 26}
54. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – $27,379 ($258,355,354 total) {week 18}
55. The Wind Rises – $24,870 ($5,089,161 total) {week 8}
56. Ernest & Celestine – $24,601 ($212,181 total) {week 7}
62. Dallas Buyers Club – $17,577 ($27,272,145 total) {week 24}
63. Her – $16,523 ($25,556,065 total) {week 17}
77. August: Osage County – $7,681 ($37,718,083 total) {week 16}
82. The Great Beauty – $5,578 ($2,835,886 total) {week 22}
85. Saving Mr. Banks – $4,436 ($83,299,761 total) {week 18}
90. The Invisible Woman – $1,941 ($1,222,863 total) {week 16}
102. The Missing Picture – $545 ($39,860 total) {week 4}
103. 20 Feet from Stardom – $480 ($4,941,263 total) {week 44}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $46,175,303 ($177,746,746 total)
8. The Grand Budapest Hotel – $4,552,374 ($44,177,189 total)
15. The Lego Movie – $561,638 ($281,427,876 total)
17. Frozen – $430,717 ($446,870,204 total)
29. Gravity – $149,832 ($306,350,279 total)
32. Finding Vivian Maier – $110,780 ($345,714 total)
45. Philomena – $58,918 ($42,036,057 total)
51. 12 Years a Slave – $36,845 ($63,283,977 total)
54. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – $30,630 ($289,029,123 total)
55. The Wind Rises – $27,823 ($5,693,382 total)
56. Ernest & Celestine – $27,522 ($237,373 total)
62. Dallas Buyers Club – $19,664 ($30,510,086 total)
63. Her – $18,485 ($28,590,261 total)
77. August: Osage County – $8,593 ($42,196,240 total)
82. The Great Beauty – $6,240 ($3,172,582 total)
85. Saving Mr. Banks – $4,963 ($93,189,696 total)
90. The Invisible Woman – $2,171 ($1,368,050 total)
102. The Missing Picture – $610 ($44,592 total)
103. 20 Feet from Stardom – $537 ($5,527,925 total)

Oscar Details:

• 12 Years a Slave: Picture [O], Directing, Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Supporting Actor (Michael Fassbender), Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong’o) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Production Design, Costume Design
• 20 Feet from Stardom: Documentary Feature [O]
• August: Osage County: Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actress (Julia Roberts)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier: Visual Effects
• Dallas Buyers Club: Picture, Actor (Matthew McConaughey) [O], Supporting Actor (Jared Leto) [O], Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling [O]
• Ernest & Celestine: Animated Feature
• Finding Vivian Maier: Documentary Feature
• Frozen: Animated Feature [O], Original Song (“Let It Go”) [O]
• The Grand Budapest Hotel: Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup and Hairstyling [O]
• Gravity: Picture, Directing [O], Actress (Sandra Bullock), Original Score [O], Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Production Design, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Great Beauty: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Her: Picture, Original Screenplay [O], Original Song (“The Moon Song”), Original Score, Production Design
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• The Invisible Woman: Costume Design
• The Lego Movie: Original Song (“Everything Is Awesome”)
• The Missing Picture: Foreign Language Film
• Philomena: Picture, Actress (Judi Dench), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Saving Mr. Banks: Original Score
• The Wind Rises: Animated Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 10-12, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

20. Slumdog Millionaire – $282,366 ($140,751,191 total) {week 22}
24. Coraline – $176,876 ($74,544,177 total) {week 10}
27. The Class – $114,242 ($3,447,678 total) {week 17}
29. The Reader – $105,107 ($34,006,517 total) {week 18}
36. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $83,380 ($127,394,283 total) {week 16}
38. Paris 36 – $66,435 ($376,600 total) {week 2}
43. The Wrestler – $44,432 ($26,136,413 total) {week 17}
53. Defiance – $28,762 ($28,551,977 total) {week 15}
69. 12 – $12,407 ($81,183 total) {week 6}
72. Milk – $9,697 ($31,838,002 total) {week 20}
77. Waltz with Bashir – $6,261 ($2,261,813 total) {week 16}
90. Katyn – $3,175 ($93,118 total) {week 8}
102. Rachel Getting Married – $1,169 ($12,794,218 total) {week 28}
111. The Betrayal – $438 ($37,525 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

20. Slumdog Millionaire – $344,110 ($171,528,785 total)
24. Coraline – $215,553 ($90,844,504 total)
27. The Class – $139,223 ($4,201,570 total)
29. The Reader – $128,090 ($41,442,609 total)
36. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $101,612 ($155,251,166 total)
38. Paris 36 – $80,962 ($458,950 total)
43. The Wrestler – $54,148 ($31,851,575 total)
53. Defiance – $35,051 ($34,795,343 total)
69. 12 – $15,120 ($98,935 total)
72. Milk – $11,817 ($38,799,912 total)
77. Waltz with Bashir – $7,630 ($2,756,396 total)
90. Katyn – $3,869 ($113,480 total)
102. Rachel Getting Married – $1,425 ($15,591,887 total)
111. The Betrayal – $534 ($45,730 total)

Oscar Details:

• 12: Foreign Language Film
• The Betrayal: Documentary Feature
• The Class: Foreign Language Film
• Coraline: Animated Feature
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Picture, Director, Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actress (Taraji P. Henson), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects [O]
• Defiance: Original Score
• Katyn: Foreign Language Film
• Milk: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Josh Brolin), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
• Paris 36: Original Song (“Loin de Paname”)
• Rachel Getting Married: Actress (Anne Hathaway)
• The Reader: Picture, Director, Actress (Kate Winslet) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography
• Slumdog Millionaire: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Jai Ho”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing
• Waltz with Bashir: Foreign Language Film
• The Wrestler: Actor (Mickey Rourke), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 9-11, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Passion of the Christ – $15,216,723 ($353,006,351 total) {week 7}
14. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $2,447,862 ($25,863,153 total) {week 4}
21. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $289,233 ($375,667,233 total) {week 17}
39. The Triplets of Belleville – $102,190 ($6,550,634 total) {week 20}
41. My Architect – $77,747 ($2,150,171 total) {week 22}
44. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $69,923 ($11,402,158 total) {week 18}
47. Mystic River – $60,745 ($89,052,994 total) {week 27}
48. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $56,339 ($93,802,409 total) {week 22}
50. The Fog of War – $51,459 ($3,998,564 total) {week 17}
54. Monster – $47,013 ($34,282,333 total) {week 16}
68. In America – $21,978 ($15,436,796 total) {week 20}
70. City of God – $19,210 ($7,436,670 total) {week 65}
72. Cold Mountain – $17,984 ($95,313,718 total) {week 16}
105. The Weather Underground – $2,709 ($552,638 total) {week 45}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Passion of the Christ – $22,396,272 ($519,561,682 total)
14. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $3,602,811 ($38,065,897 total)
21. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $425,699 ($552,914,414 total)
39. The Triplets of Belleville – $150,405 ($9,641,352 total)
41. My Architect – $114,430 ($3,164,664 total)
44. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $102,914 ($16,781,920 total)
47. Mystic River – $89,406 ($131,069,946 total)
48. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $82,921 ($138,060,228 total)
50. The Fog of War – $75,738 ($5,885,165 total)
54. Monster – $69,195 ($50,457,411 total)
68. In America – $32,348 ($22,720,180 total)
70. City of God – $28,274 ($10,945,437 total)
72. Cold Mountain – $26,469 ($140,284,603 total)
105. The Weather Underground – $3,987 ($813,383 total)

Oscar Details:

• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Cold Mountain: Actor (Jude Law), Supporting Actress (Renee Zellweger) [O], Original Song (“Scarlet Tide”), Original Song (“You Will Be My Ain True Love”), Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Actress (Kate Winslet), Original Screenplay [O]
• The Fog of War: Documentary Feature [O]
• Girl with a Pearl Earring: Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• In America: Actress (Samantha Morton), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Original Screenplay
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Into the West”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound Mixing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: Picture, Director, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Monster: Actress (Charlize Theron) [O]
• My Architect: Documentary Feature
• Mystic River: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) [O], Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), Adapted Screenplay
• The Passion of the Christ : Original Score, Cinematography, Makeup
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 9-11, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Matrix – $22,563,331 ($73,310,417 total) {week 2}
11. Shakespeare in Love – $2,156,955 ($87,485,574 total) {week 18}
13. Life Is Beautiful – $1,910,801 ($47,739,741 total) {week 25}
20. Saving Private Ryan – $455,512 ($213,563,877 total) {week 38}
22. A Bug’s Life – $400,809 ($161,946,399 total) {week 21}
23. The Prince of Egypt – $389,370 ($100,240,570 total) {week 17}
26. Patch Adams – $270,285 ($134,263,635 total) {week 16}
35. Elizabeth – $204,814 ($29,407,605 total) {week 23}
38. Gods and Monsters – $163,029 ($5,837,074 total) {week 23}
39. A Civil Action – $154,009 ($56,479,578 total) {week 16}
40. Affliction – $153,637 ($5,878,672 total) {week 15}
43. Central Station – $126,513 ($5,445,294 total) {week 21}
45. Tango – $111,694 ($1,437,256 total) {week 12}
52. The Thin Red Line – $64,274 ($36,257,435 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Matrix – $40,596,229 ($131,901,026 total)
11. Shakespeare in Love – $3,880,821 ($157,405,147 total)
13. Life Is Beautiful – $3,437,937 ($85,893,943 total)
20. Saving Private Ryan – $819,563 ($384,246,818 total)
22. A Bug’s Life – $721,141 ($291,376,001 total)
23. The Prince of Egypt – $700,559 ($180,354,096 total)
26. Patch Adams – $486,300 ($241,568,824 total)
35. Elizabeth – $368,504 ($52,910,533 total)
38. Gods and Monsters – $293,324 ($10,502,137 total)
39. A Civil Action – $277,095 ($101,618,768 total)
40. Affliction – $276,426 ($10,576,981 total)
43. Central Station – $227,624 ($9,797,242 total)
45. Tango – $200,961 ($2,585,929 total)
52. The Thin Red Line – $115,643 ($65,234,834 total)

Oscar Details:

• Affliction: Actor (Nick Nolte), Supporting Actor (James Coburn) [O]
• A Bug’s Life: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Central Station: Actress (Fernanda Montenegro), Foreign Language Film
• A Civil Action: Supporting Actor (Robert Duvall), Cinematography
• Elizabeth: Picture, Actress (Cate Blanchett), Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup
• Gods and Monsters: Actor (Ian McKellen), Supporting Actress (Lynn Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Matrix : Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Patch Adams: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• The Prince of Egypt: Original Song (“When You Believe”) [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Saving Private Ryan: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• Shakespeare in Love: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• Tango: Foreign Language Film
• The Thin Red Line: Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 15-17, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $4,162,489 ($12,713,124 total) {week 6}
3. The Paper – $3,335,355 ($25,279,375 total) {week 5}
10. Schindler’s List – $2,289,815 ($83,075,968 total) {week 18}
12. Mrs. Doubtfire – $1,315,603 ($215,041,116 total) {week 21}
15. Philadelphia – $791,057 ($71,550,607 total) {week 17}
999. Jurassic Park – $135,340 ($346,028,790 total) {week 45}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $9,101,710 ($27,798,553 total)
3. The Paper – $7,293,097 ($55,275,954 total)
10. Schindler’s List – $5,006,916 ($181,654,150 total)
12. Mrs. Doubtfire – $2,876,701 ($470,209,522 total)
15. Philadelphia – $1,729,728 ($156,452,763 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $295,935 ($756,627,546 total)

Oscar Details:

• Four Weddings and a Funeral: Picture, Original Screenplay
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Mrs. Doubtfire: Makeup [O]
• The Paper : Original Song (“Make Up Your Mind”)
• Philadelphia: Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Philadelphia”), Original Song (“Streets of Philadelphia”) [O]
• Schindler’s List: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Liam Neeson), Supporting Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup, Sound

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 14-16, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

5. Rain Man – $3,070,695 ($152,378,999 total) {week 18}
13. Dangerous Liaisons – $838,315 ($30,363,327 total) {week 17}
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $452,916 ($4,661,743 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Rain Man – $7,069,560 ($350,817,141 total)
13. Dangerous Liaisons – $1,930,025 ($69,904,486 total)
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $1,042,734 ($10,732,577 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen : Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Visual Effects
• Dangerous Liaisons: Picture, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Michelle Pfeiffer), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O]
• Rain Man: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Dustin Hoffman) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 13-15, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

3. Romancing the Stone – $5,553,403 ($19,647,318 total) {week 3}
4. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $4,526,660 ($20,836,631 total) {week 3}
5. Splash – $3,659,551 ($42,196,550 total) {week 6}
7. Terms of Endearment – $2,301,607 ($97,511,176 total) {week 21}
9. Swing Shift – $2,270,136 ($2,270,136 total) {week 1}
10. Footloose – $2,237,610 ($56,747,753 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Romancing the Stone – $15,106,578 ($53,445,383 total)
4. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $12,313,593 ($56,680,597 total)
5. Splash – $9,954,850 ($114,784,663 total)
7. Terms of Endearment – $6,260,919 ($265,253,616 total)
9. Swing Shift – $6,175,310 ($6,175,310 total)
10. Footloose – $6,086,832 ($154,367,400 total)

Oscar Details:

• Footloose: Original Song (“Footloose”, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy”)
• Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes: Supporting Actor (Ralph Richardson), Adapted Screenplay, Makeup
• Romancing the Stone: Editing
• Splash: Original Screenplay
• Swing Shift: Supporting Actress (Christine Lahti)
• Terms of Endearment: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actress (Shirley MacLaine) [O], Actress (Debra Winger), Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction, Sound