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

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 16-18, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

2. How to Train Your Dragon – $19,633,320 ($158,251,066 total) {week 4}
8. Alice in Wonderland – $3,656,442 ($324,131,301 total) {week 7}
12. Avatar – $1,002,814 ($745,023,267 total) {week 18}
28. Crazy Heart – $174,870 ($39,054,847 total) {week 18}
29. Exit Through the Gift Shop – $170,756 ($170,756 total) {week 1}
30. The Secret in Their Eyes – $167,866 ($167,866 total) {week 1}
36. A Prophet – $82,365 ($1,803,459 total) {week 8}
39. The Blind Side – $68,122 ($255,846,167 total) {week 22}
43. The Last Station – $57,764 ($6,427,418 total) {week 14}
45. Sherlock Holmes – $48,018 ($208,978,879 total) {week 17}
46. The Secret of Kells – $38,394 ($317,476 total) {week 7}
55. The Young Victoria – $24,097 ($10,954,357 total) {week 18}
56. The White Ribbon – $22,303 ($2,156,238 total) {week 16}
64. Ajami – $15,887 ($513,166 total) {week 11}
71. A Single Man – $12,210 ($9,166,863 total) {week 19}
73. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $10,090 ($371,257 total) {week 12}
74. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $9,883 ($7,661,980 total) {week 17}
84. An Education – $6,553 ($12,567,051 total) {week 28}
93. The Messenger – $3,466 ($1,085,975 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. How to Train Your Dragon – $20,330,066 ($163,867,073 total)
8. Alice in Wonderland – $3,786,202 ($335,634,059 total)
12. Avatar – $1,038,402 ($771,462,622 total)
28. Crazy Heart – $181,076 ($40,440,824 total)
29. Exit Through the Gift Shop – $176,816 ($176,816 total)
30. The Secret in Their Eyes – $173,823 ($173,823 total)
36. A Prophet – $85,288 ($1,867,460 total)
39. The Blind Side – $70,540 ($264,925,625 total)
43. The Last Station – $59,814 ($6,655,514 total)
45. Sherlock Holmes – $49,722 ($216,395,113 total)
46. The Secret of Kells – $39,757 ($328,743 total)
55. The Young Victoria – $24,952 ($11,343,105 total)
56. The White Ribbon – $23,094 ($2,232,758 total)
64. Ajami – $16,451 ($531,377 total)
71. A Single Man – $12,643 ($9,492,176 total)
73. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $10,448 ($384,432 total)
74. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $10,234 ($7,933,888 total)
84. An Education – $6,786 ($13,013,030 total)
93. The Messenger – $3,589 ($1,124,514 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
• Exit Through the Gift Shop: Documentary Feature
• 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 in Their Eyes: 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. 22-24, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

21. Million Dollar Baby – $309,289 ($99,252,599 total) {week 19}
24. Downfall – $242,983 ($4,546,279 total) {week 10}
29. The Aviator – $149,461 ($102,253,733 total) {week 19}
40. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room – $76,639 ($76,639 total) {week 1}
41. The Phantom of the Opera – $75,863 ($51,116,230 total) {week 18}
42. Born Into Brothels – $73,785 ($3,175,947 total) {week 16}
49. Sideways – $44,099 ($71,444,367 total) {week 27}
59. The Chorus – $25,543 ($1,472,014 total) {week 15}
62. Hotel Rwanda – $23,176 ($23,519,128 total) {week 18}
70. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $14,677 ($118,627,117 total) {week 1}
73. Finding Neverland – $12,703 ($51,676,606 total) {week 24}
78. The Sea Inside – $11,574 ($1,991,334 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

21. Million Dollar Baby – $394,211 ($126,504,483 total)
24. Downfall – $309,699 ($5,794,555 total)
29. The Aviator – $190,499 ($130,329,641 total)
40. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room – $97,682 ($97,682 total)
41. The Phantom of the Opera – $96,693 ($65,151,264 total)
42. Born Into Brothels – $94,044 ($4,047,970 total)
49. Sideways – $56,207 ($91,060,917 total)
59. The Chorus – $32,556 ($1,876,186 total)
62. Hotel Rwanda – $29,539 ($29,976,798 total)
70. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – $18,707 ($151,198,681 total)
73. Finding Neverland – $16,191 ($65,865,502 total)
78. The Sea Inside – $14,752 ($2,538,097 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
• Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room: Documentary Feature
• 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. 21-23, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

1. U-571 – $19,553,310 ($19,553,310 total) {week 1}
6. Erin Brockovich – $5,500,790 ($107,386,500 total) {week 6}
16. American Beauty – $1,357,651 ($126,956,565 total) {week 32}
21. Toy Story 2 – $365,361 ($243,907,768 total) {week 23}
22. The Cider House Rules – $354,399 ($56,281,556 total) {week 20}
25. The Green Mile – $216,485 ($136,421,496 total) {week 20}
29. Bicentennial Man – $186,325 ($57,740,291 total) {week 19}
30. The Sixth Sense – $161,627 ($293,243,954 total) {week 38}
31. Boys Don’t Cry – $161,303 ($11,288,912 total) {week 29}
32. Stuart Little – $152,693 ($139,928,434 total) {week 19}
42. East-West – $90,352 ($283,766 total) {week 3}
44. Girl, Interrupted – $84,571 ($28,764,686 total) {week 18}
48. All About My Mother – $68,700 ($7,650,682 total) {week 25}
52. Sleepy Hollow – $54,474 ($100,996,441 total) {week 23}
55. Topsy-Turvy – $49,408 ($6,109,771 total) {week 19}
57. Wonder Boys – $39,541 ($18,659,932 total) {week 9}
59. Titus – $35,573 ($1,767,779 total) {week 18}
60. Being John Malkovich – $34,993 ($22,804,123 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. U-571 – $29,638,320 ($29,638,320 total)
6. Erin Brockovich – $8,337,932 ($162,773,229 total)
16. American Beauty – $2,057,887 ($192,436,945 total)
21. Toy Story 2 – $553,803 ($369,708,064 total)
22. The Cider House Rules – $537,187 ($85,309,891 total)
25. The Green Mile – $328,141 ($206,783,603 total)
29. Bicentennial Man – $282,426 ($87,520,998 total)
30. The Sixth Sense – $244,989 ($444,490,372 total)
31. Boys Don’t Cry – $244,498 ($17,111,394 total)
32. Stuart Little – $231,447 ($212,099,315 total)
42. East-West – $136,953 ($430,124 total)
44. Girl, Interrupted – $128,190 ($43,600,646 total)
48. All About My Mother – $104,133 ($11,596,674 total)
52. Sleepy Hollow – $82,570 ($153,087,370 total)
55. Topsy-Turvy – $74,891 ($9,261,007 total)
57. Wonder Boys – $59,935 ($28,284,164 total)
59. Titus – $53,920 ($2,679,546 total)
60. Being John Malkovich – $53,041 ($34,565,804 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
• Bicentennial Man: Makeup
• 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
• Girl, Interrupted: Supporting Actress (Angelina Jolie)
• The Green Mile : Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
• 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
• Titus: Costume Design
• Topsy-Turvy: Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O]
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)
• U-571: Sound, Sound Editing [O]
• Wonder Boys: Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Things Have Changed”), Editing

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 21-23, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

4. Rob Roy – $5,021,901 ($18,825,192 total) {week 3}
7. Don Juan DeMarco – $2,614,487 ($13,669,644 total) {week 3}
12. Forrest Gump – $1,233,350 ($327,389,216 total) {week 42}
999. Burnt By the Sun – $60,074 ($60,074 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Rob Roy – $9,431,938 ($35,356,740 total)
7. Don Juan DeMarco – $4,910,427 ($25,673,791 total)
12. Forrest Gump – $2,316,430 ($614,889,631 total)
999. Burnt By the Sun – $112,829 ($112,829 total)

Oscar Details:

• Burnt By the Sun : Foreign Language Film
• 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]
• Rob Roy: Supporting Actor (Tim Roth)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 20-22, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

2. Pretty Woman – $8,323,687 ($71,725,472 total) {week 5}
3. The Hunt for Red October – $3,551,837 ($95,074,508 total) {week 8}
8. Driving Miss Daisy – $2,075,163 ($93,591,323 total) {week 19}
999. Cinema Paradiso – $281,550 ($2,753,811 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Pretty Woman – $16,076,719 ($138,533,595 total)
3. The Hunt for Red October – $6,860,167 ($183,630,906 total)
8. Driving Miss Daisy – $4,008,057 ($180,766,220 total)
999. Cinema Paradiso – $543,798 ($5,318,826 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. 19-21, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

3. Ladyhawke – $3,120,903 ($7,648,649 total) {week 2}
4. Mask – $2,779,527 ($29,823,069 total) {week 7}
8. Beverly Hills Cop – $1,975,685 ($205,953,481 total) {week 20}
11. Witness – $1,370,496 ($54,508,584 total) {week 11}
14. Amadeus – $991,391 ($44,389,359 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Ladyhawke – $7,182,473 ($17,602,665 total)
4. Mask – $6,396,827 ($68,635,063 total)
8. Beverly Hills Cop – $4,546,858 ($473,983,082 total)
11. Witness – $3,154,071 ($125,446,516 total)
14. Amadeus – $2,281,596 ($102,158,046 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