Oscar in Box Office History (Week 15, 2020)

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. 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. 10-12, 2015

Weekend Box Office:

Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $7,137,814 ($180,686,540 total) {week 5}
American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $595,041 ($347,211,277 total) {week 16}
Ex Machina (2015, 88th) – $237,264 ($237,264 total) {week 1}
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015, 88th) – $178,920 ($165,788,595 total) {week 9}
Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $174,000 ($2,216,000 total) {week 8}
Still Alice (2014, 87th) – $104,000 ($18,451,000 total) {week 13}
The Imitation Game (2014, 87th) – $83,225 ($90,944,741 total) {week 20}
The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $82,000 ($259,600 total) {week 3}
Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $53,125 ($222,366,600 total) {week 23}
Selma (2014, 87th) – $21,271 ($52,065,634 total) {week 16}
Into the Woods (2014, 87th) – $18,568 ($127,997,349 total) {week 16}
The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th) – $16,549 ($194,495 total) {week 7}
Wild (2014, 87th) – $11,476 ($37,849,583 total) {week 19}
Birdman (2014, 87th) – $11,473 ($42,335,698 total) {week 26}
Timbuktu (2014, 87th) – $11,205 ($1,040,427 total) {week 11}
The Theory of Everything (2014, 87th) – $8,921 ($35,887,263 total) {week 23}
CitizenFour (2014, 87th) – $2,735 ($2,783,296 total) {week 25}
Ida (2014, 87th) – $461 ($3,823,505 total) {week 50}
Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $8,442 ($829,924 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $7,755,917 ($196,333,180 total)
American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $646,569 ($377,278,208 total)
Ex Machina (2015, 88th) – $257,810 ($257,810 total)
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015, 88th) – $194,414 ($180,145,140 total)
Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $189,068 ($2,407,896 total)
Still Alice (2014, 87th) – $113,006 ($20,048,773 total)
The Imitation Game (2014, 87th) – $90,432 ($98,820,146 total)
The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $89,101 ($282,080 total)
Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $57,725 ($241,622,545 total)
Selma (2014, 87th) – $23,113 ($56,574,283 total)
Into the Woods (2014, 87th) – $20,176 ($139,081,342 total)
The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th) – $17,982 ($211,337 total)
Wild (2014, 87th) – $12,470 ($41,127,186 total)
Birdman (2014, 87th) – $12,467 ($46,001,779 total)
Timbuktu (2014, 87th) – $12,175 ($1,130,523 total)
The Theory of Everything (2014, 87th) – $9,694 ($38,994,938 total)
CitizenFour (2014, 87th) – $2,972 ($3,024,317 total)
Ida (2014, 87th) – $501 ($4,154,603 total)
Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $9,173 ($901,792 total)

Oscar Details:

American Sniper (2014, 87th): Picture, Actor (Bradley Cooper), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing [O]
Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th): Animated Feature [O]
Birdman (2014, 87th): Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Michael Keaton), Supporting Actor (Edward Norton), Supporting Actress (Emma Stone), Origianl Screenplay [O], Cinematography [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing
Cinderella (2015, 88th): Costume Design
CitizenFour (2014, 87th): Documentary Feature [O]
Ex Machina (2015, 88th): Original Screenplay, Visual Effects [O]
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015, 88th): Original Song (“Earned It”)
The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th): Original Song (“Til It Happens to You”)
Ida (2014, 87th): Cinematography, Foreign Language Film [O]
The Imitation Game (2014, 87th): Picture, Directing, Actor (Benedict Cumberbatch), Supporting Actress (Keira Knightley), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing, Production Design
Into the Woods (2014, 87th): Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Production Design, Costume Design
The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th): Documentary Feature
Selma (2014, 87th): Picture, Original Song (“Glory”) [O]
Song of the Sea (2014, 87th): Animated Feature
Still Alice (2014, 87th): Actress (Julianne Moore) [O]
The Theory of Everything (2014, 87th): Picture, Actor (Eddie Redmayne) [O], Actress (Felicity Jones), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
Timbuktu (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film
Wild (2014, 87th): Actress (Reese Witherspoon), Supporting Actress (Laura Dern)
Wild Tales (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film

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

Weekend Box Office:

How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $24,863,535 ($133,404,438 total) {week 3}
Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $5,301,730 ($319,009,518 total) {week 6}
Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $844,651 ($743,688,973 total) {week 17}
Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $277,319 ($38,774,548 total) {week 17}
The Blind Side (2009, 82nd) – $136,403 ($255,740,350 total) {week 21}
A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $104,671 ($1,684,489 total) {week 7}
Sherlock Holmes (2009, 82nd) – $99,362 ($208,897,390 total) {week 16}
The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $71,086 ($6,331,254 total) {week 13}
The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $46,067 ($262,213 total) {week 6}
The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $29,623 ($2,116,924 total) {week 15}
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $26,598 ($7,638,319 total) {week 16}
The Young Victoria (2009, 82nd) – $23,070 ($10,913,190 total) {week 17}
A Single Man (2009, 82nd) – $21,064 ($9,138,153 total) {week 18}
The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $18,582 ($351,577 total) {week 11}
Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $14,384 ($489,499 total) {week 10}
An Education (2009, 82nd) – $8,758 ($12,555,564 total) {week 27}
The Messenger (2009, 82nd) – $4,973 ($1,081,412 total) {week 22}
The 2009 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2009, 82nd) – $2,698 ($1,007,234 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $28,865,650 ($154,877,649 total)
Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $6,155,114 ($370,358,325 total)
Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $980,609 ($863,395,563 total)
Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $321,957 ($45,015,825 total)
The Blind Side (2009, 82nd) – $158,359 ($296,905,147 total)
A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $121,519 ($1,955,630 total)
Sherlock Holmes (2009, 82nd) – $115,356 ($242,522,192 total)
The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $82,528 ($7,350,353 total)
The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $53,482 ($304,420 total)
The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $34,391 ($2,457,671 total)
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $30,879 ($8,867,808 total)
The Young Victoria (2009, 82nd) – $26,783 ($12,669,812 total)
A Single Man (2009, 82nd) – $24,455 ($10,609,060 total)
The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $21,573 ($408,168 total)
Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $16,699 ($568,290 total)
An Education (2009, 82nd) – $10,168 ($14,576,548 total)
The Messenger (2009, 82nd) – $5,773 ($1,255,480 total)
The 2009 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2009, 82nd) – $3,132 ($1,169,362 total)

Oscar Details:

The 2009 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2009, 82nd): Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Documentary Short Film
Ajami (2009, 82nd): Foreign Language Film
Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd): Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Visual Effects
Avatar (2009, 82nd): Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects [O]
The Blind Side (2009, 82nd): Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd): Actor (Jeff Bridges) [O], Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Original Song (“The Weary Kind”) [O]
An Education (2009, 82nd): Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd): Animated Feature, Original Score
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd): Art Direction, Costume Design
The Last Station (2009, 82nd): Actress (Helen Mirren), Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer)
The Messenger (2009, 82nd): Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd): Documentary Feature
A Prophet (2009, 82nd): Foreign Language Film
The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd): Animated Feature
Sherlock Holmes (2009, 82nd): Original Score, Art Direction
A Single Man (2009, 82nd): Actor (Colin Firth)
The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd): Cinematography, Foreign Language Film
The Young Victoria (2009, 82nd): Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup

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

Weekend Box Office:

Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $628,184 ($98,708,641 total) {week 18}
Downfall (2004, 77th) – $327,930 ($4,159,168 total) {week 9}
The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $105,301 ($102,065,459 total) {week 18}
Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $96,657 ($3,051,994 total) {week 15}
The Phantom of the Opera (2004, 77th) – $94,142 ($50,988,470 total) {week 17}
Sideways (2004, 77th) – $93,530 ($71,370,131 total) {week 26}
Hotel Rwanda (2004, 77th) – $51,181 ($23,472,901 total) {week 17}
The Chorus (2004, 77th) – $35,352 ($1,426,479 total) {week 14}
Finding Neverland (2004, 77th) – $24,451 ($51,654,487 total) {week 23}
The Sea Inside (2004, 77th) – $19,970 ($1,961,865 total) {week 18}
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004, 77th) – $19,515 ($118,604,722 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $897,686 ($141,056,342 total)
Downfall (2004, 77th) – $468,618 ($5,943,522 total)
The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $150,477 ($145,853,292 total)
Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $138,125 ($4,361,352 total)
The Phantom of the Opera (2004, 77th) – $134,531 ($72,863,399 total)
Sideways (2004, 77th) – $133,656 ($101,989,142 total)
Hotel Rwanda (2004, 77th) – $73,139 ($33,543,178 total)
The Chorus (2004, 77th) – $50,519 ($2,038,463 total)
Finding Neverland (2004, 77th) – $34,941 ($73,815,148 total)
The Sea Inside (2004, 77th) – $28,537 ($2,803,539 total)
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004, 77th) – $27,887 ($169,488,183 total)

Oscar Details:

The Aviator (2004, 77th): Picture, Director, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Alan Alda), Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Original Screenplay, Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound Mixing
Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th): Documentary Feature
The Chorus (2004, 77th): Original Song (“Look To Your Path”), Foreign Language Film
Downfall (2004, 77th): Foreign Language Film
Finding Neverland (2004, 77th): Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
Hotel Rwanda (2004, 77th): Actor (Don Cheadle), Supporting Actress (Sophie Okonedo), Original Screenplay
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004, 77th): Original Score, Makeup [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing
The Phantom of the Opera (2004, 77th): Original Song (“Learn To Be Lonely”), Cinematography, Art Direction
The Sea Inside (2004, 77th): Makeup, Foreign Language Film [O]
Sideways (2004, 77th): Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 14-16, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $7,030,315 ($99,321,020 total) {week 5}
American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $1,966,874 ($124,714,413 total) {week 31}
The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $547,058 ($55,688,841 total) {week 19}
Boys Don’t Cry (1999, 72nd) – $344,404 ($10,968,569 total) {week 28}
Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $331,858 ($243,343,550 total) {week 22}
The Green Mile (1999, 72nd) – $279,531 ($136,107,855 total) {week 19}
The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $272,251 ($292,933,724 total) {week 37}
Stuart Little (1999, 72nd) – $157,697 ($139,716,014 total) {week 18}
All About My Mother (1999, 72nd) – $99,947 ($7,532,474 total) {week 24}
East-West (1999, 72nd) – $80,289 ($160,899 total) {week 2}
Sleepy Hollow (1999, 72nd) – $80,023 ($100,911,959 total) {week 22}
The Hurricane (1999, 72nd) – $74,520 ($50,668,906 total) {week 16}
Topsy-Turvy (1999, 72nd) – $69,655 ($6,021,834 total) {week 18}
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999, 72nd) – $35,717 ($81,254,871 total) {week 17}
Titus (1999, 72nd) – $31,797 ($1,709,304 total) {week 17}
Being John Malkovich (1999, 72nd) – $29,509 ($22,752,683 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $11,947,623 ($168,790,453 total)
American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $3,342,591 ($211,945,088 total)
The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $929,694 ($94,640,034 total)
Boys Don’t Cry (1999, 72nd) – $585,295 ($18,640,462 total)
Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $563,974 ($413,548,593 total)
The Green Mile (1999, 72nd) – $475,047 ($231,307,598 total)
The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $462,675 ($497,824,288 total)
Stuart Little (1999, 72nd) – $267,997 ($237,439,460 total)
All About My Mother (1999, 72nd) – $169,854 ($12,801,013 total)
East-West (1999, 72nd) – $136,447 ($273,439 total)
Sleepy Hollow (1999, 72nd) – $135,995 ($171,494,164 total)
The Hurricane (1999, 72nd) – $126,643 ($86,108,939 total)
Topsy-Turvy (1999, 72nd) – $118,375 ($10,233,766 total)
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999, 72nd) – $60,699 ($138,088,055 total)
Titus (1999, 72nd) – $54,037 ($2,904,865 total)
Being John Malkovich (1999, 72nd) – $50,149 ($38,666,897 total)

Oscar Details:

All About My Mother (1999, 72nd): Foreign Language Film [O]
American Beauty (1999, 72nd): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography
Being John Malkovich (1999, 72nd): Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay
Boys Don’t Cry (1999, 72nd): Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actress (Chloe Sevigny)
The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd): Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing, Art Direction
East-West (1999, 72nd): Foreign Language Film
Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd): Picture, Directing, Actress (Julia Roberts) [O], Supporting Actor (Albert Finney), Original Screenplay
The Green Mile (1999, 72nd): Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
The Hurricane (1999, 72nd): Actor (Denzel Washington)
The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd): Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Film Editing
Sleepy Hollow (1999, 72nd): Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
Stuart Little (1999, 72nd): Visual Effects
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999, 72nd): Supporting Actor (Jude Law), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
Titus (1999, 72nd): Costume Design
Topsy-Turvy (1999, 72nd): Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O]
Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd): Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)

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

Weekend Box Office:

Rob Roy (1995, 68th) – $7,190,047 ($11,193,191 total) {week 2}
Don Juan DeMarco (1995, 68th) – $3,704,804 ($9,785,985 total) {week 2}
Forrest Gump (1994, 67th) – $1,301,882 ($325,572,841 total) {week 41}
Pulp Fiction (1994, 67th) – $978,690 ($101,843,291 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Rob Roy (1995, 68th) – $15,140,421 ($23,570,030 total)
Don Juan DeMarco (1995, 68th) – $7,801,380 ($20,606,810 total)
Forrest Gump (1994, 67th) – $2,741,434 ($685,574,074 total)
Pulp Fiction (1994, 67th) – $2,060,874 ($214,456,217 total)

Oscar Details:

Don Juan DeMarco (1995, 68th): Original Song (“Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman”)
Forrest Gump (1994, 67th): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Supporting Actor (Gary Sinise), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
Pulp Fiction (1994, 67th): Picture, Director, Actor (John Travolta), Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Supporting Actress (Uma Thurman), Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing
Rob Roy (1995, 68th): Supporting Actor (Tim Roth)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 13-15, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $10,117,891 ($59,293,180 total) {week 4}
The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $4,261,262 ($89,834,734 total) {week 7}
Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd) – $2,243,724 ($90,455,663 total) {week 18}
Cinema Paradiso (1989, 62nd) – $279,095 ($2,374,624 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $21,910,137 ($128,398,470 total)
The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $9,227,697 ($194,535,736 total)
Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd) – $4,858,750 ($195,880,348 total)
Cinema Paradiso (1989, 62nd) – $604,376 ($5,142,212 total)

Oscar Details:

Cinema Paradiso (1989, 62nd): Foreign Language Film
Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd): Picture [O], Actor (Morgan Freeman), Actress (Jessica Tandy) [O], Supporting Actor (Dan Aykroyd), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd): Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing [O]
Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd): Actress (Julia Roberts)

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

Weekend Box Office:

Mask (1985, 58th) – $3,718,551 ($25,814,068 total) {week 6}
Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $3,450,536 ($3,450,536 total) {week 1}
Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $2,395,749 ($203,286,068 total) {week 19}
Witness (1985, 58th) – $1,835,932 ($52,570,366 total) {week 10}
Amadeus (1984, 57th) – $1,446,212 ($42,850,556 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Mask (1985, 58th) – $9,594,909 ($66,607,567 total)
Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $8,903,355 ($8,903,355 total)
Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $6,181,707 ($524,535,319 total)
Witness (1985, 58th) – $4,737,222 ($135,646,353 total)
Amadeus (1984, 57th) – $3,731,634 ($110,566,505 total)

Oscar Details:

Amadeus (1984, 57th): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (F. Murray Abraham [O], Tom Hulce), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound [O]
Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th): Original Screenplay
Ladyhawke (1985, 58th): Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing
Mask (1985, 58th): Makeup [O]
Witness (1985, 58th): Picture, Directing, Actor (Harrison Ford), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Art Direction

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 11-13, 1980

Weekend Box Office:

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $1,600,000 ($81,600,000 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $5,448,327 ($277,864,684 total)

Oscar Details:

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Dustin Hoffman) [O], Supporting Actor (Justin Henry), Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep) [O], Supporting Actress (Jane Alexander), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Cinematography