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

Free Fire (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Costume Design.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 20-22, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

10. Mirror Mirror – $4,408,179 ($55,499,932 total) {week 4}
24. Footnote – $187,326 ($1,353,047 total) {week 7}
29. Monsieur Lazhar – $152,098 ($305,752 total) {week 2}
43. The Iron Lady – $71,457 ($29,959,437 total) {week 17}
47. The Artist – $55,699 ($44,154,518 total) {week 22}
48. A Separation – $49,301 ($6,930,981 total) {week 17}
60. In Darkness – $26,515 ($998,697 total) {week 11}
70. Pina – $13,007 ($3,483,837 total) {week 18}
71. War Horse – $10,965 ($79,874,336 total) {week 18}
72. W.E. – $10,634 ($564,688 total) {week 12}
74. Undefeated – $10,354 ($504,951 total) {week 10}
85. Albert Nobbs – $5,649 ($2,998,236 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

10. Mirror Mirror – $4,524,475 ($56,964,126 total)
24. Footnote – $192,268 ($1,388,743 total)
29. Monsieur Lazhar – $156,111 ($313,818 total)
43. The Iron Lady – $73,342 ($30,749,824 total)
47. The Artist – $57,168 ($45,319,399 total)
48. A Separation – $50,602 ($7,113,834 total)
60. In Darkness – $27,215 ($1,025,045 total)
70. Pina – $13,350 ($3,575,747 total)
71. War Horse – $11,254 ($81,981,574 total)
72. W.E. – $10,915 ($579,586 total)
74. Undefeated – $10,627 ($518,273 total)
85. Albert Nobbs – $5,798 ($3,077,335 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]
• 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. 20-22, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

24. The Lives of Others – $311,055 ($8,632,096 total) {week 11}
28. Norbit – $201,685 ($95,102,566 total) {week 11}
36. After the Wedding – $113,181 ($412,544 total) {week 4}
47. Pan’s Labyrinth – $48,777 ($37,384,484 total) {week 17}
51. Happy Feet – $38,659 ($197,918,727 total) {week 23}
57. The Queen – $27,646 ($56,368,941 total) {week 30}
60. The Last King of Scotland – $23,770 ($17,553,713 total) {week 30}
82. Notes on a Scandal – $6,280 ($17,487,613 total) {week 18}
86. Letters from Iwo Jima – $5,253 ($13,753,931 total) {week 18}
87. Iraq in Fragments – $4,585 ($184,750 total) {week 24}
93. Volver – $3,683 ($12,895,617 total) {week 25}
103. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $2,005 ($327,054 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

24. The Lives of Others – $369,378 ($10,250,614 total)
28. Norbit – $239,501 ($112,934,297 total)
36. After the Wedding – $134,402 ($489,896 total)
47. Pan’s Labyrinth – $57,923 ($44,394,075 total)
51. Happy Feet – $45,908 ($235,028,488 total)
57. The Queen – $32,830 ($66,938,117 total)
60. The Last King of Scotland – $28,227 ($20,845,034 total)
82. Notes on a Scandal – $7,458 ($20,766,540 total)
86. Letters from Iwo Jima – $6,238 ($16,332,793 total)
87. Iraq in Fragments – $5,445 ($219,391 total)
93. Volver – $4,374 ($15,313,545 total)
103. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $2,381 ($388,377 total)

Oscar Details:

• The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film; Live Action Short Film
• After the Wedding: Foreign Language Film
• 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. 19-21, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

6. Ice Age – $5,903,510 ($159,626,661 total) {week 6}
13. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $1,000,261 ($5,838,402 total) {week 6}
15. A Beautiful Mind – $854,170 ($168,418,991 total) {week 18}
16. Monster’s Ball – $793,121 ($28,131,294 total) {week 17}
17. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $771,711 ($306,999,514 total) {week 18}
20. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $597,362 ($597,362 total) {week 1}
28. Amelie – $208,176 ($32,325,660 total) {week 25}
33. Gosford Park – $159,395 ($40,713,590 total) {week 17}
35. The Time Machine – $153,152 ($55,761,738 total) {week 7}
38. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $127,159 ($317,220,661 total) {week 23}
40. Iris – $117,011 ($5,372,026 total) {week 19}
49. In the Bedroom – $55,219 ($35,733,119 total) {week 22}
50. The Royal Tenenbaums – $53,867 ($51,961,335 total) {week 19}
61. Monsters, Inc. – $37,181 ($253,022,487 total) {week 25}
62. Son of the Bride – $35,379 ($204,127 total) {week 5}
64. Vanilla Sky – $31,391 ($100,593,564 total) {week 1}
70. No Man’s Land – $11,186 ($1,012,153 total) {week 18}
999. Mulholland Drive – $4,305 ($7,212,548 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Ice Age – $8,301,493 ($224,466,406 total)
13. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $1,406,563 ($8,209,939 total)
15. A Beautiful Mind – $1,201,131 ($236,830,147 total)
16. Monster’s Ball – $1,115,284 ($39,558,119 total)
17. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $1,085,177 ($431,701,554 total)
20. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $840,008 ($840,008 total)
28. Amelie – $292,736 ($45,456,221 total)
33. Gosford Park – $224,141 ($57,251,296 total)
35. The Time Machine – $215,362 ($78,411,945 total)
38. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $178,811 ($446,074,492 total)
40. Iris – $164,540 ($7,554,123 total)
49. In the Bedroom – $77,649 ($50,247,777 total)
50. The Royal Tenenbaums – $75,748 ($73,067,833 total)
61. Monsters, Inc. – $52,284 ($355,799,263 total)
62. Son of the Bride – $49,750 ($287,043 total)
64. Vanilla Sky – $44,142 ($141,454,289 total)
70. No Man’s Land – $15,730 ($1,423,286 total)
999. Mulholland Drive – $6,054 ($10,142,258 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
• 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
• 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)
• 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
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• 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. 18-20, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

15. Jerry Maguire – $614,347 ($149,089,725 total) {week 19}
999. Evita – $105,494 ($49,888,364 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

15. Jerry Maguire – $1,093,511 ($265,373,214 total)
999. Evita – $187,775 ($88,799,114 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr 17-19, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Basic Instinct – $6,653,950 ($70,005,019 total) {week 5}
11. My Cousin Vinny – $2,241,086 ($38,298,788 total) {week 6}
999. Hook – $418,080 ($117,806,250 total) {week 19}
999. Howards End – $270,635 ($703,798 total) {week 6}
999. The Player – $277,096 ($750,124 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Basic Instinct – $13,099,463 ($137,817,110 total)
11. My Cousin Vinny – $4,411,969 ($75,397,855 total)
999. Hook – $823,064 ($231,922,184 total)
999. Howards End – $532,792 ($1,385,549 total)
999. The Player – $545,512 ($1,476,750 total)

Oscar Details:

• Basic Instinct: Original Score, Editing
• 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. 17-19, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

6. Lethal Weapon – $2,755,915 ($47,714,486 total) {week 7}
7. Platoon – $2,582,868 ($118,440,507 total) {week 18}
10. Crocodile Dundee – $1,069,852 ($161,612,075 total) {week 29}
12. Hoosiers – $785,187 ($24,948,109 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Lethal Weapon – $5,758,523 ($99,700,090 total)
7. Platoon – $5,396,939 ($247,483,105 total)
10. Crocodile Dundee – $2,235,471 ($337,690,704 total)
12. Hoosiers – $1,640,659 ($52,129,425 total)

Oscar Details:

• Crocodile Dundee: Original Screenplay
• Hoosiers: Supporting Actor (Dennis Hopper), Original Score
• Lethal Weapon: Sound
• 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. 16-18, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

3. Chariots of Fire – $2,811,351 ($39,145,193 total) {week 30}
4. Victor/Victoria – $1,954,806 ($8,460,818 total) {week 5}
5. On Golden Pond – $1,927,433 ($93,814,317 total) {week 20}
8. Quest for Fire – $1,146,686 ($16,143,368 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Chariots of Fire – $7,812,496 ($108,781,030 total)
4. Victor/Victoria – $5,432,233 ($23,511,865 total)
5. On Golden Pond – $5,356,166 ($260,701,690 total)
8. Quest for Fire – $3,186,539 ($44,860,992 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