Oscar in Box Office History (Week 16, 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. 17-19, 2015

Weekend Box Office:

Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $4,025,469 ($186,478,482 total) {week 6}
Ex Machina (2015, 88th) – $798,661 ($1,126,277 total) {week 2}
American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $379,718 ($347,762,901 total) {week 17}
Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $118,000 ($2,380,000 total) {week 9}
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015, 88th) – $95,150 ($165,960,425 total) {week 10}
The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $81,500 ($374,400 total) {week 4}
Still Alice (2014, 87th) – $51,700 ($18,562,800 total) {week 14}
The Imitation Game (2014, 87th) – $41,364 ($91,020,367 total) {week 21}
Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $26,160 ($222,404,450 total) {week 24}
The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th) – $9,030 ($247,005 total) {week 8}
Wild (2014, 87th) – $6,734 ($37,862,911 total) {week 20}
CitizenFour (2014, 87th) – $5,025 ($2,788,984 total) {week 26}
Tangerines (2014, 87th) – $5,180 ($5,180 total) {week 1}
Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $2,942 ($834,416 total) {week 18}
Timbuktu (2014, 87th) – $2,800 ($1,048,600 total) {week 12}
Ida (2014, 87th) – $411 ($3,824,467 total) {week 51}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $4,374,056 ($202,626,678 total)
Ex Machina (2015, 88th) – $867,821 ($1,223,808 total)
American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $412,600 ($377,877,601 total)
Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $128,218 ($2,586,097 total)
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015, 88th) – $103,390 ($180,331,850 total)
The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $88,558 ($406,821 total)
Still Alice (2014, 87th) – $56,177 ($20,170,255 total)
The Imitation Game (2014, 87th) – $44,946 ($98,902,320 total)
Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $28,425 ($241,663,673 total)
The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th) – $9,812 ($268,395 total)
Wild (2014, 87th) – $7,317 ($41,141,668 total)
CitizenFour (2014, 87th) – $5,460 ($3,030,497 total)
Tangerines (2014, 87th) – $5,629 ($5,629 total)
Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $3,197 ($906,673 total)
Timbuktu (2014, 87th) – $3,042 ($1,139,404 total)
Ida (2014, 87th) – $447 ($4,155,649 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]
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
The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th): Documentary Feature
Song of the Sea (2014, 87th): Animated Feature
Still Alice (2014, 87th): Actress (Julianne Moore) [O]
Tangerines (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film
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. 16-18, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $19,633,320 ($158,251,066 total) {week 4}
Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $3,656,442 ($324,131,301 total) {week 7}
Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $1,002,814 ($745,023,267 total) {week 18}
Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $174,870 ($39,054,847 total) {week 18}
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd) – $170,756 ($170,756 total) {week 1}
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd) – $167,866 ($167,866 total) {week 1}
A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $82,365 ($1,803,459 total) {week 8}
The Blind Side (2009, 82nd) – $68,122 ($255,846,167 total) {week 22}
The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $57,764 ($6,427,418 total) {week 14}
Sherlock Holmes (2009, 82nd) – $48,018 ($208,978,879 total) {week 17}
The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $38,394 ($317,476 total) {week 7}
The Young Victoria (2009, 82nd) – $24,097 ($10,954,357 total) {week 18}
The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $22,303 ($2,156,238 total) {week 16}
Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $15,887 ($513,166 total) {week 11}
A Single Man (2009, 82nd) – $12,210 ($9,166,863 total) {week 19}
The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $10,090 ($371,257 total) {week 12}
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $9,883 ($7,661,980 total) {week 17}
An Education (2009, 82nd) – $6,553 ($12,567,051 total) {week 28}
The Messenger (2009, 82nd) – $3,466 ($1,085,975 total) {week 23}
The 2009 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2009, 82nd) – $808 ($1,015,975 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $22,793,563 ($183,723,671 total)
Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $4,244,995 ($376,304,527 total)
Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $1,164,230 ($864,944,629 total)
Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $203,018 ($45,341,242 total)
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd) – $198,241 ($198,241 total)
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd) – $194,886 ($194,886 total)
A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $95,623 ($2,093,750 total)
The Blind Side (2009, 82nd) – $79,087 ($297,027,996 total)
The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $67,062 ($7,461,996 total)
Sherlock Holmes (2009, 82nd) – $55,747 ($242,616,797 total)
The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $44,574 ($368,578 total)
The Young Victoria (2009, 82nd) – $27,976 ($12,717,606 total)
The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $25,893 ($2,503,313 total)
Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $18,444 ($595,767 total)
A Single Man (2009, 82nd) – $14,175 ($10,642,391 total)
The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $11,714 ($431,016 total)
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $11,474 ($8,895,277 total)
An Education (2009, 82nd) – $7,608 ($14,589,884 total)
The Messenger (2009, 82nd) – $4,024 ($1,260,777 total)
The 2009 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2009, 82nd) – $938 ($1,179,510 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
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd): Documentary Feature
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 in Their Eyes (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. 22-24, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $309,289 ($99,252,599 total) {week 19}
Downfall (2004, 77th) – $242,983 ($4,546,279 total) {week 10}
The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $149,461 ($102,253,733 total) {week 19}
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005, 78th) – $76,639 ($76,639 total) {week 1}
The Phantom of the Opera (2004, 77th) – $75,863 ($51,116,230 total) {week 18}
Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $73,785 ($3,175,947 total) {week 16}
Sideways (2004, 77th) – $44,099 ($71,444,367 total) {week 27}
The Chorus (2004, 77th) – $25,543 ($1,472,014 total) {week 15}
Hotel Rwanda (2004, 77th) – $23,176 ($23,519,128 total) {week 18}
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004, 77th) – $14,677 ($118,627,117 total) {week 1}
Finding Neverland (2004, 77th) – $12,703 ($51,676,606 total) {week 24}
The Sea Inside (2004, 77th) – $11,574 ($1,991,334 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $441,979 ($141,833,667 total)
Downfall (2004, 77th) – $347,227 ($6,496,711 total)
The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $213,582 ($146,122,339 total)
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005, 78th) – $109,518 ($109,518 total)
The Phantom of the Opera (2004, 77th) – $108,410 ($73,045,970 total)
Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $105,440 ($4,538,483 total)
Sideways (2004, 77th) – $63,018 ($102,095,226 total)
The Chorus (2004, 77th) – $36,501 ($2,103,533 total)
Hotel Rwanda (2004, 77th) – $33,119 ($33,609,238 total)
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004, 77th) – $20,974 ($169,520,186 total)
Finding Neverland (2004, 77th) – $18,153 ($73,846,757 total)
The Sea Inside (2004, 77th) – $16,539 ($2,845,650 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
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005, 78th): Documentary Feature
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. 21-23, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

U-571 (2000, 73rd) – $19,553,310 ($19,553,310 total) {week 1}
Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $5,500,790 ($107,386,500 total) {week 6}
American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $1,357,651 ($126,956,565 total) {week 32}
Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $365,361 ($243,907,768 total) {week 23}
The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $354,399 ($56,281,556 total) {week 20}
The Green Mile (1999, 72nd) – $216,485 ($136,421,496 total) {week 20}
Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd) – $186,325 ($57,740,291 total) {week 19}
The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $161,627 ($293,243,954 total) {week 38}
Boys Don’t Cry (1999, 72nd) – $161,303 ($11,288,912 total) {week 29}
Stuart Little (1999, 72nd) – $152,693 ($139,928,434 total) {week 19}
East-West (1999, 72nd) – $90,352 ($283,766 total) {week 3}
Girl, Interrupted (1999, 72nd) – $84,571 ($28,764,686 total) {week 18}
All About My Mother (1999, 72nd) – $68,700 ($7,650,682 total) {week 25}
Sleepy Hollow (1999, 72nd) – $54,474 ($100,996,441 total) {week 23}
Topsy-Turvy (1999, 72nd) – $49,408 ($6,109,771 total) {week 19}
Wonder Boys (2000, 73rd) – $39,541 ($18,659,932 total) {week 9}
Titus (1999, 72nd) – $35,573 ($1,767,779 total) {week 18}
Being John Malkovich (1999, 72nd) – $34,993 ($22,804,123 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

U-571 (2000, 73rd) – $33,229,744 ($33,229,744 total)
Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $9,348,281 ($182,497,280 total)
American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $2,307,251 ($215,755,498 total)
Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $620,910 ($414,507,450 total)
The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $602,281 ($95,647,320 total)
The Green Mile (1999, 72nd) – $367,904 ($231,840,613 total)
Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd) – $316,649 ($98,126,357 total)
The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $274,676 ($498,351,506 total)
Boys Don’t Cry (1999, 72nd) – $274,125 ($19,184,867 total)
Stuart Little (1999, 72nd) – $259,493 ($237,800,456 total)
East-West (1999, 72nd) – $153,548 ($482,244 total)
Girl, Interrupted (1999, 72nd) – $143,724 ($48,883,956 total)
All About My Mother (1999, 72nd) – $116,752 ($13,001,901 total)
Sleepy Hollow (1999, 72nd) – $92,575 ($171,637,736 total)
Topsy-Turvy (1999, 72nd) – $83,966 ($10,383,210 total)
Wonder Boys (2000, 73rd) – $67,198 ($31,711,499 total)
Titus (1999, 72nd) – $60,454 ($3,004,240 total)
Being John Malkovich (1999, 72nd) – $59,469 ($38,754,317 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
Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd): Makeup
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
Girl, Interrupted (1999, 72nd): Supporting Actress (Angelina Jolie)
The Green Mile (1999, 72nd): Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
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
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”)
U-571 (2000, 73rd): Sound, Sound Film Editing [O]
Wonder Boys (2000, 73rd): Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Things Have Changed”), Film Editing

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

Weekend Box Office:

Rob Roy (1995, 68th) – $5,021,901 ($18,825,192 total) {week 3}
Don Juan DeMarco (1995, 68th) – $2,614,487 ($13,669,644 total) {week 3}
Forrest Gump (1994, 67th) – $1,233,350 ($327,389,216 total) {week 42}
Burnt By the Sun (1994, 67th) – $60,074 ($60,074 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Rob Roy (1995, 68th) – $10,574,854 ($39,641,094 total)
Don Juan DeMarco (1995, 68th) – $5,505,448 ($28,784,814 total)
Forrest Gump (1994, 67th) – $2,597,123 ($689,398,901 total)
Burnt By the Sun (1994, 67th) – $126,501 ($126,501 total)

Oscar Details:

Burnt By the Sun (1994, 67th): Foreign Language Film
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]
Rob Roy (1995, 68th): Supporting Actor (Tim Roth)

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

Weekend Box Office:

Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $8,323,687 ($71,725,472 total) {week 5}
The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $3,551,837 ($95,074,508 total) {week 8}
Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd) – $2,075,163 ($93,591,323 total) {week 19}
Cinema Paradiso (1989, 62nd) – $281,550 ($2,753,811 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $18,024,816 ($155,320,407 total)
The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $7,691,448 ($205,882,386 total)
Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd) – $4,493,734 ($202,670,572 total)
Cinema Paradiso (1989, 62nd) – $609,692 ($5,963,335 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. 19-21, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $3,120,903 ($7,648,649 total) {week 2}
Mask (1985, 58th) – $2,779,527 ($29,823,069 total) {week 7}
Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $1,975,685 ($205,953,481 total) {week 20}
Witness (1985, 58th) – $1,370,496 ($54,508,584 total) {week 11}
Amadeus (1984, 57th) – $991,391 ($44,389,359 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

XXXX – $XXXX ($XXXX total)

Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $8,052,809 ($19,735,669 total)

Mask (1985, 58th) – $7,171,963 ($76,951,919 total)

Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $5,097,824 ($531,417,996 total)

Witness (1985, 58th) – $3,536,266 ($140,647,501 total)

Amadeus (1984, 57th) – $2,558,068 ($114,537,050 total)

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. 18-20, 1980

Weekend Box Office:

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $1,800,000 ($84,740,206 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $6,129,368 ($288,557,727 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