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

The Jungle Book (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Production Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 22-24, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

1. Rio – $26,323,321 ($80,806,562 total) {week 2}
19. Jane Eyre – $737,177 ($7,857,176 total) {week 7}
21. Rango – $386,224 ($119,522,471 total) {week 8}
43. In a Better World – $72,836 ($292,001 total) {week 4}
46. Incendies – $50,679 ($50,679 total) {week 1}
48. True Grit – $48,942 ($171,031,347 total) {week 18}
55. Tangled – $31,368 ($199,665,782 total) {week 22}
65. Barney’s Version – $17,116 ($4,368,074 total) {week 15}
67. Biutiful – $13,833 ($5,039,756 total) {week 13}
75. The Illusionist – $6,052 ($2,206,462 total) {week 17}
85. Black Swan – $5,561 ($106,948,143 total) {week 21}
91. Another Year – $3,833 ($3,199,007 total) {week 17}
99. Inside Job – $2,466 ($4,309,596 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Rio – $27,119,991 ($83,252,158 total)
19. Jane Eyre – $759,488 ($8,094,972 total)
21. Rango – $397,913 ($123,139,797 total)
43. In a Better World – $75,040 ($300,838 total)
46. Incendies – $52,213 ($52,213 total)
48. True Grit – $50,423 ($176,207,579 total)
55. Tangled – $32,317 ($205,708,630 total)
65. Barney’s Version – $17,634 ($4,500,273 total)
67. Biutiful – $14,252 ($5,192,283 total)
75. The Illusionist – $6,235 ($2,273,240 total)
85. Black Swan – $5,729 ($110,184,909 total)
91. Another Year – $3,949 ($3,295,824 total)
99. Inside Job – $2,541 ($4,440,025 total)

Oscar Details:

• Another Year: Original Screenplay
• Barney’s Version: Makeup
• Biutiful: Actor (Javier Bardem), Foreign Language Film
• Black Swan: Picture, Direcing, Actress (Natalie Portman) [O], Editing, Cinematography
• The Illusionist: Animated Feature
• In a Better World: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Incendies: Foreign Language Film
• Inside Job: Documentary Feature
• Jane Eyre: Costume Design
• Rango: Animated Feature [O]
• Rio: Original Song (“Real in Rio”)
• Tangled: Original Song (“I See the Light”)
• True Grit: Picture, Directing, Actor (Jeff Bridges), Supporting Actress (Hailee Steinfeld), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 21-23, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

27. Tsotsi – $144,531 ($2,503,137 total) {week 9}
50. Joyeux Noel – $34,170 ($913,127 total) {week 19}
52. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $33,655 ($291,685,219 total) {week 20}
54. Sophie Scholl – $28,031 ($465,775 total) {week 10}
56. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $26,508 ($10,893,249 total) {week 20}
67. Transamerica – $17,847 ($8,865,622 total) {week 21}
75. Walk the Line – $11,466 ($119,506,852 total) {week 23}
81. Capote – $7,418 ($28,747,570 total) {week 30}
98. Days of Glory – $3,312 ($317,594 total) {week 20}
118. Evil – $906 ($14,025 total) {week 7}
127. Darwin’s Nightmare – $629 ($195,048 total) {week 38}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

27. Tsotsi – $180,278 ($3,122,233 total)
50. Joyeux Noel – $42,621 ($1,138,969 total)
52. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $41,979 ($363,827,212 total)
54. Sophie Scholl – $34,964 ($580,974 total)
56. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $33,064 ($13,587,457 total)
67. Transamerica – $22,261 ($11,058,341 total)
75. Walk the Line – $14,302 ($149,064,272 total)
81. Capote – $9,253 ($35,857,656 total)
98. Days of Glory – $4,131 ($396,144 total)
118. Evil – $1,130 ($17,494 total)
127. Darwin’s Nightmare – $785 ($243,289 total)

Oscar Details:

• Capote: Picture, Directing, Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman) [O], Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Adapted Screenplay
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects
• Darwin’s Nightmare: Documentary Feature
• Days of Glory: Foreign Language Film
• Evil: Foreign Language Film
• Joyeux Noel: Foreign Language Film
• Mrs. Henderson Presents: Actress (Judi Dench), Costume Design
• Sophie Scholl: Foreign Language Film
• Transamerica: Actress (Felicity Huffman), Original Song (“Travelin’ Thru”)
• Tsotsi: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Walk the Line: Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Actress (Reese Witherspoon) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 20-22, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

1. Bridget Jones’ Diary – $10,184,136 ($25,316,371 total) {week 2}
14. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $1,416,939 ($122,744,616 total) {week 20}
16. Memento – $1,208,870 ($5,408,475 total) {week 6}
17. Traffic – $1,029,892 ($120,617,379 total) {week 17}
20. Amores Perros – $760,239 ($2,220,881 total) {week 4}
21. Chocolat – $697,178 ($68,226,856 total) {week 19}
22. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $538,557 ($41,609,686 total) {week 18}
23. Cast Away – $404,386 ($231,653,007 total) {week 18}
26. Pollock – $255,833 ($7,673,774 total) {week 19}
30. The Emperor’s New Groove – $211,136 ($88,759,231 total) {week 19}
52. Billy Elliot – $38,395 ($21,920,990 total) {week 28}
56. You Can Count on Me – $30,533 ($9,213,268 total) {week 24}
999. Gladiator – $11,075 ($187,694,880 total) {week 51}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Bridget Jones’ Diary – $14,700,422 ($36,543,242 total)
14. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $2,045,299 ($177,177,299 total)
16. Memento – $1,744,959 ($7,806,933 total)
17. Traffic – $1,486,611 ($174,106,711 total)
20. Amores Perros – $1,097,377 ($3,205,759 total)
21. Chocolat – $1,006,351 ($98,482,935 total)
22. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $777,387 ($60,062,038 total)
23. Cast Away – $583,716 ($334,382,521 total)
26. Pollock – $369,285 ($11,076,808 total)
30. The Emperor’s New Groove – $304,767 ($128,120,657 total)
52. Billy Elliot – $55,422 ($31,642,136 total)
56. You Can Count on Me – $44,073 ($13,299,011 total)
999. Gladiator – $15,986 ($270,930,595 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amores Perros: Foreign Language Film
• Billy Elliot: Directing, Supporting Actress (Julie Walters), Original Screenplay
• Bridget Jones’ Diary: Actress (Renee Zellweger)
• Cast Away: Actor (Tom Hanks), Sound
• Chocolat: Picture, Actress (Juliette Binoche), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“A Love Before Time”), Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Emperor’s New Groove: Original Song (“My Funny Friend and Me”)
• Gladiator: Picture [O], Directing, Actor (Russell Crowe) [O], Supporting Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Sound [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Memento: Original Screenplay, Film Editing
• O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Cinematography
• Pollock: Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden) [O]
• Traffic: Picture, Directing [O], Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing [O]
• You Can Count on Me: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 19-21, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

1. Primal Fear – $6,585,472 ($33,094,598 total) {week 3}
3. James and the Giant Peach – $5,267,802 ($14,848,806 total) {week 2}
4. The Birdcage – $4,737,737 ($104,500,000 total) {week 7}
12. Fargo – $1,464,714 ($16,962,127 total) {week 7}
999. Braveheart – $112,868 ($75,457,649 total) {week 48}
999. Toy Story – $10,156 ($184,868,369 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Primal Fear – $12,172,694 ($61,172,594 total)
3. James and the Giant Peach – $9,737,091 ($27,446,775 total)
4. The Birdcage – $8,757,310 ($193,159,502 total)
12. Fargo – $2,707,401 ($31,353,072 total)
999. Braveheart – $208,627 ($139,477,148 total)
999. Toy Story – $18,773 ($341,713,705 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Birdcage: Art Direction
• Braveheart: Picture [O], Directing [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Fargo: Picture, Director, Actress (Frances McDormand) [O], Supporting Actor (William H Macy), Original Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography
• James and the Giant Peach: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Primal Fear: Supporting Actor (Edward Norton)
• Toy Story: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 19-21, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Silence of the Lambs – $3,476,287 ($104,928,786 total) {week 10}
5. Dances With Wolves – $2,940,860 ($159,710,493 total) {week 24}
9. Home Alone – $1,648,188 ($264,650,281 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Silence of the Lambs – $6,746,144 ($203,626,646 total)
5. Dances With Wolves – $5,707,085 ($309,936,990 total)
9. Home Alone – $3,198,503 ($513,584,987 total)

Oscar Details:

• Dances With Wolves: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Kevin Costner), Supporting Actor (Graham Greene), Supporting Actress (Mary McDonnell), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound [O]
• Home Alone: Original Song (“Somewhere in My Memory”), Original Score
• The Silence of the Lambs: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Anthony Hopkins) [O], Actress (Jodie Foster) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Sound

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 18-20, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Legend – $4,261,154 ($4,261,154 total) {week 1}
8. The Color Purple – $1,200,069 ($88,219,316 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Legend – $9,383,727 ($9,383,727 total)
8. The Color Purple – $2,642,740 ($194,272,726 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Color Purple: Picture, Actress (Whoopi Goldberg), Supporting Actress (Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)”)
• Legend: Makeup