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

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 18-20, 2014

Weekend Box Office:

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $25,587,056 ($200,501,510 total) {week 3}
12. The Grand Budapest Hotel – $3,415,528 ($44,964,929 total) {week 7}
17. The Lego Movie – $399,466 ($252,259,056 total) {week 11}
24. Frozen – $258,894 ($399,877,967 total) {week 22}
32. Finding Vivian Maier – $132,846 ($491,241 total) {week 4}
43. Gravity – $71,447 ($273,980,132 total) {week 29}
52. Philomena – $30,258 ($37,638,922 total) {week 22}
54. 12 Years a Slave – $25,972 ($56,614,633 total) {week 27}
62. The Wind Rises – $17,558 ($5,127,360 total) {week 9}
63. Ernest & Celestine – $13,870 ($241,956 total) {week 8}
70. Dallas Buyers Club – $8,634 ($27,289,116 total) {week 25}
88. August: Osage County – $3,252 ($37,726,512 total) {week 17}
99. The Great Beauty – $1,549 ($2,852,400 total) {week 23}
101. The Invisible Woman – $1,083 ($1,226,036 total) {week 17}
105. The Missing Picture – $772 ($41,123 total) {week 5}
111. 20 Feet from Stardom – $150 ($4,941,727 total) {week 45}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $28,624,932 ($224,306,463 total)
12. The Grand Budapest Hotel – $3,821,044 ($50,303,482 total)
17. The Lego Movie – $446,893 ($282,209,030 total)
24. Frozen – $289,632 ($447,354,298 total)
32. Finding Vivian Maier – $148,618 ($549,565 total)
43. Gravity – $79,930 ($306,508,985 total)
52. Philomena – $33,850 ($42,107,680 total)
54. 12 Years a Slave – $29,056 ($63,336,321 total)
62. The Wind Rises – $19,643 ($5,736,116 total)
63. Ernest & Celestine – $15,517 ($270,683 total)
70. Dallas Buyers Club – $9,659 ($30,529,072 total)
88. August: Osage County – $3,638 ($42,205,669 total)
99. The Great Beauty – $1,733 ($3,191,057 total)
101. The Invisible Woman – $1,212 ($1,371,600 total)
105. The Missing Picture – $864 ($46,005 total)
111. 20 Feet from Stardom – $168 ($5,528,444 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]
• 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
• The Wind Rises: Animated Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 17-19, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

26. Coraline – $157,066 ($74,800,029 total) {week 11}
27. Slumdog Millionaire – $142,771 ($141,017,353 total) {week 23}
35. The Class – $66,265 ($3,574,412 total) {week 18}
36. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $58,881 ($127,490,802 total) {week 17}
38. The Reader – $55,229 ($34,111,418 total) {week 19}
42. Paris 36 – $45,815 ($448,192 total) {week 3}
52. The Wrestler – $27,681 ($26,187,724 total) {week 18}
71. Defiance – $10,819 ($28,575,525 total) {week 16}
86. 12 – $5,283 ($91,060 total) {week 7}
91. Katyn – $3,550 ($98,418 total) {week 9}
93. Waltz with Bashir – $3,344 ($2,270,025 total) {week 17}
107. Rachel Getting Married – $999 ($12,796,277 total) {week 29}
117. The Betrayal – $249 ($40,170 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

26. Coraline – $191,411 ($91,156,302 total)
27. Slumdog Millionaire – $173,990 ($171,853,148 total)
35. The Class – $80,755 ($4,356,017 total)
36. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – $71,756 ($155,368,791 total)
38. The Reader – $67,306 ($41,570,448 total)
42. Paris 36 – $55,833 ($546,197 total)
52. The Wrestler – $33,734 ($31,914,106 total)
71. Defiance – $13,185 ($34,824,040 total)
86. 12 – $6,438 ($110,972 total)
91. Katyn – $4,326 ($119,939 total)
93. Waltz with Bashir – $4,075 ($2,766,404 total)
107. Rachel Getting Married – $1,217 ($15,594,396 total)
117. The Betrayal – $303 ($48,954 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
• 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. 16-18, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

10. The Passion of the Christ – $4,051,112 ($360,761,619 total) {week 8}
17. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $1,367,316 ($28,106,424 total) {week 5}
25. Mystic River – $337,030 ($89,419,875 total) {week 28}
28. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $227,321 ($376,058,551 total) {week 18}
45. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $59,511 ($11,505,906 total) {week 19}
47. The Triplets of Belleville – $59,164 ($6,648,572 total) {week 21}
48. My Architect – $54,594 ($2,240,739 total) {week 23}
50. Big Fish – $53,083 ($66,619,233 total) {week 19}
58. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $37,145 ($93,864,607 total) {week 23}
60. The Fog of War – $36,803 ($4,052,471 total) {week 18}
62. Monster – $34,580 ($34,336,951 total) {week 17}
77. In America – $15,915 ($15,465,752 total) {week 21}
79. Cold Mountain – $15,013 ($95,335,298 total) {week 17}
81. City of God – $12,672 ($7,459,175 total) {week 66}
131. The Weather Underground – $962 ($555,045 total) {week 46}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

10. The Passion of the Christ – $5,962,506 ($530,976,038 total)
17. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $2,012,443 ($41,367,587 total)
25. Mystic River – $496,047 ($131,609,929 total)
28. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $334,576 ($553,490,363 total)
45. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $87,589 ($16,934,618 total)
47. The Triplets of Belleville – $87,079 ($9,785,499 total)
48. My Architect – $80,353 ($3,297,964 total)
50. Big Fish – $78,129 ($98,051,496 total)
58. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $54,671 ($138,151,773 total)
60. The Fog of War – $54,167 ($5,964,506 total)
62. Monster – $50,896 ($50,537,799 total)
77. In America – $23,424 ($22,762,798 total)
79. Cold Mountain – $22,096 ($140,316,365 total)
81. City of God – $18,651 ($10,978,560 total)
131. The Weather Underground – $1,416 ($816,926 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big Fish: Original Score
• 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. 16-18, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. Life – $20,414,775 ($20,414,775 total) {week 1}
2. The Matrix – $17,941,314 ($98,946,842 total) {week 3}
10. Shakespeare in Love – $1,750,254 ($89,856,022 total) {week 19}
11. Life Is Beautiful – $1,636,781 ($50,013,888 total) {week 26}
18. Saving Private Ryan – $558,862 ($214,275,406 total) {week 39}
23. A Bug’s Life – $315,084 ($162,343,733 total) {week 22}
26. The Prince of Egypt – $256,411 ($100,595,017 total) {week 18}
32. Patch Adams – $185,515 ($134,521,030 total) {week 17}
34. Elizabeth – $168,904 ($29,647,689 total) {week 24}
41. Central Station – $121,836 ($5,618,565 total) {week 22}
42. Gods and Monsters – $116,726 ($6,021,646 total) {week 24}
44. Affliction – $100,197 ($6,040,369 total) {week 16}
45. A Civil Action – $86,184 ($56,615,755 total) {week 17}
47. Tango – $81,662 ($1,540,720 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Life – $36,730,520 ($36,730,520 total)
2. The Matrix – $32,280,238 ($178,026,405 total)
10. Shakespeare in Love – $3,149,079 ($161,670,087 total)
11. Life Is Beautiful – $2,944,917 ($89,985,617 total)
18. Saving Private Ryan – $1,005,512 ($385,527,010 total)
23. A Bug’s Life – $566,903 ($292,090,890 total)
26. The Prince of Egypt – $461,338 ($180,991,822 total)
32. Patch Adams – $333,781 ($242,031,932 total)
34. Elizabeth – $303,894 ($53,342,496 total)
41. Central Station – $219,209 ($10,108,993 total)
42. Gods and Monsters – $210,015 ($10,834,221 total)
44. Affliction – $180,276 ($10,867,908 total)
45. A Civil Action – $155,063 ($101,863,780 total)
47. Tango – $146,927 ($2,772,083 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: Makeup
• 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

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 22-24, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

2. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $4,380,640 ($18,420,697 total) {week 7}
3. The Paper – $2,362,545 ($28,703,220 total) {week 6}
11. Schindler’s List – $1,657,150 ($85,612,768 total) {week 19}
15. Mrs. Doubtfire – $1,018,318 ($216,735,806 total) {week 22}
17. Philadelphia – $620,936 ($72,537,211 total) {week 18}
999. Jurassic Park – $138,060 ($346,210,295 total) {week 46}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $9,578,720 ($40,278,749 total)
3. The Paper – $5,165,948 ($62,762,543 total)
11. Schindler’s List – $3,623,529 ($187,201,124 total)
15. Mrs. Doubtfire – $2,226,657 ($473,915,136 total)
17. Philadelphia – $1,357,740 ($158,610,074 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $301,882 ($757,024,425 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. 21-23, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

5. Rain Man – $2,377,533 ($155,748,220 total) {week 19}
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $310,652 ($5,150,984 total) {week 7}
999. Field of Dreams – $531,346 ($531,346 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Rain Man – $5,473,716 ($358,573,988 total)
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $715,204 ($11,858,940 total)
999. Field of Dreams – $1,223,300 ($1,223,300 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen : Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Visual Effects
• Field of Dreams: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• 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. 20-22, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

3. Romancing the Stone – $5,686,311 ($27,908,776 total) {week 4}
4. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $4,643,186 ($27,443,560 total) {week 4}
5. Splash – $3,763,799 ($47,979,870 total) {week 7}
7. Footloose – $2,443,796 ($60,535,312 total) {week 10}
9. Swing Shift – $1,821,507 ($4,919,785 total) {week 2}
10. Terms of Endearment – $1,613,857 ($100,362,140 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Romancing the Stone – $15,468,120 ($75,918,516 total)
4. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $12,630,571 ($74,653,017 total)
5. Splash – $10,238,429 ($130,516,670 total)
7. Footloose – $6,647,707 ($164,670,462 total)
9. Swing Shift – $4,954,933 ($13,382,987 total)
10. Terms of Endearment – $4,390,075 ($273,008,917 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