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. 27-29, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $11,137,734 ($11,137,734 total) {week 1}
13. Mirror Mirror – $2,232,938 ($58,870,360 total) {week 5}
22. Monsieur Lazhar – $245,126 ($606,440 total) {week 3}
30. Footnote – $147,089 ($1,548,255 total) {week 8}
56. A Separation – $35,741 ($6,987,657 total) {week 18}
60. The Artist – $29,182 ($44,210,857 total) {week 23}
79. In Darkness – $13,511 ($1,024,295 total) {week 12}
83. Undefeated – $11,338 ($519,654 total) {week 11}
88. Albert Nobbs – $7,130 ($3,009,276 total) {week 14}
90. W.E. – $6,245 ($576,029 total) {week 13}
97. War Horse – $4,125 ($79,883,359 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $11,431,569 ($11,431,569 total)
13. Mirror Mirror – $2,291,847 ($60,423,473 total)
22. Monsieur Lazhar – $251,593 ($622,439 total)
30. Footnote – $150,969 ($1,589,101 total)
56. A Separation – $36,684 ($7,172,005 total)
60. The Artist – $29,952 ($45,377,224 total)
79. In Darkness – $13,867 ($1,051,318 total)
83. Undefeated – $11,637 ($533,363 total)
88. Albert Nobbs – $7,318 ($3,088,666 total)
90. W.E. – $6,410 ($591,226 total)
97. War Horse – $4,234 ($81,990,835 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
• Mirror Mirror: Costume Design
• Monsieur Lazhar: Foreign Language Film
• The Pirates! Band of Misfits: Animated 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. 27-29, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

28. The Lives of Others – $305,838 ($9,067,448 total) {week 12}
34. Norbit – $170,972 ($95,323,496 total) {week 12}
37. After the Wedding – $113,873 ($572,218 total) {week 5}
51. Pan’s Labyrinth – $44,249 ($37,457,946 total) {week 18}
55. Happy Feet – $30,095 ($197,961,083 total) {week 24}
65. The Queen – $19,510 ($56,402,097 total) {week 31}
71. The Last King of Scotland – $12,694 ($17,578,013 total) {week 31}
95. Notes on a Scandal – $4,539 ($17,498,264 total) {week 19}
96. Iraq in Fragments – $3,795 ($190,788 total) {week 25}
119. Volver – $738 ($12,897,753 total) {week 26}
125. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $425 ($328,896 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

28. The Lives of Others – $363,183 ($10,767,595 total)
34. Norbit – $203,029 ($113,196,652 total)
37. After the Wedding – $135,224 ($679,509 total)
51. Pan’s Labyrinth – $52,546 ($44,481,311 total)
55. Happy Feet – $35,738 ($235,078,786 total)
65. The Queen – $23,168 ($66,977,490 total)
71. The Last King of Scotland – $15,074 ($20,873,890 total)
95. Notes on a Scandal – $5,390 ($20,779,189 total)
96. Iraq in Fragments – $4,507 ($226,561 total)
119. Volver – $876 ($15,316,082 total)
125. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $505 ($390,564 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])
• 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. 26-28, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

7. Ice Age – $5,020,786 ($165,830,108 total) {week 7}
15. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $1,001,255 ($7,244,423 total) {week 7}
16. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $804,683 ($1,626,751 total) {week 2}
17. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $797,997 ($308,078,986 total) {week 19}
19. A Beautiful Mind – $676,095 ($169,348,761 total) {week 19}
20. Monster’s Ball – $595,201 ($29,275,075 total) {week 18}
26. The Time Machine – $261,635 ($56,072,240 total) {week 8}
37. Gosford Park – $137,055 ($40,912,994 total) {week 18}
38. Amelie – $135,783 ($32,531,149 total) {week 26}
43. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $95,424 ($317,347,879 total) {week 24}
52. In the Bedroom – $54,455 ($35,810,154 total) {week 23}
53. Iris – $51,649 ($5,475,427 total) {week 20}
56. The Royal Tenenbaums – $47,436 ($52,032,681 total) {week 20}
64. Son of the Bride – $35,016 ($255,999 total) {week 6}
70. Monsters, Inc. – $22,970 ($253,052,952 total) {week 26}
999. Mulholland Drive – $3,575 ($7,217,058 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Ice Age – $7,060,210 ($233,189,670 total)
15. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $1,407,961 ($10,187,080 total)
16. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $1,131,542 ($2,287,531 total)
17. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $1,122,140 ($433,219,504 total)
19. A Beautiful Mind – $950,722 ($238,137,586 total)
20. Monster’s Ball – $836,969 ($41,166,500 total)
26. The Time Machine – $367,910 ($78,848,572 total)
37. Gosford Park – $192,726 ($57,531,697 total)
38. Amelie – $190,938 ($45,745,179 total)
43. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $134,185 ($446,253,386 total)
52. In the Bedroom – $76,574 ($50,356,103 total)
53. Iris – $72,629 ($7,699,525 total)
56. The Royal Tenenbaums – $66,704 ($73,168,159 total)
64. Son of the Bride – $49,239 ($359,985 total)
70. Monsters, Inc. – $32,300 ($355,842,103 total)
999. Mulholland Drive – $5,027 ($10,148,600 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
• The Royal Tenenbaums: Original Screenplay
• Son of the Bride: Foreign Language Film
• The Time Machine: Makeup
• Y Tu Mama Tambien: Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 25-27, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

999. A Chef in Love – $36,628 ($40,746 total) {week 1}
999. Evita – $58,772 ($49,994,804 total) {week 18}
999. Jerry Maguire – $416,929 ($149,721,931 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

999. A Chef in Love – $65,196 ($72,526 total)
999. Evita – $104,612 ($88,988,573 total)
999. Jerry Maguire – $742,115 ($266,498,513 total)

Oscar Details:

• A Chef in Love: Foreign Language Film
• 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. 24-26, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Basic Instinct – $5,355,420 ($77,976,444 total) {week 6}
11. My Cousin Vinny – $1,772,511 ($41,070,647 total) {week 7}
13. The Player – $1,562,650 ($2,465,567 total) {week 3}
999. Hook – $291,870 ($118,324,848 total) {week 20}
999. Howards End – $357,596 ($1,202,235 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Basic Instinct – $10,543,080 ($153,510,252 total)
11. My Cousin Vinny – $3,489,498 ($80,854,744 total)
13. The Player – $3,076,350 ($4,853,899 total)
999. Hook – $574,597 ($232,943,134 total)
999. Howards End – $703,990 ($2,366,810 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. 24-26, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

6. Lethal Weapon – $2,063,385 ($50,807,204 total) {week 8}
7. Platoon – $1,977,665 ($121,527,020 total) {week 19}
13. Crocodile Dundee – $751,185 ($164,154,817 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Lethal Weapon – $4,311,472 ($106,162,367 total)
7. Platoon – $4,132,359 ($253,932,418 total)
13. Crocodile Dundee – $1,569,612 ($343,003,799 total)

Oscar Details:

• Crocodile Dundee: Original Screenplay
• 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. 23-25, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

3. Chariots of Fire – $2,085,480 ($42,230,436 total) {week 31}
6. On Golden Pond – $1,694,235 ($97,428,249 total) {week 21}
7. Victor/Victoria – $1,624,868 ($10,789,785 total) {week 6}
9. Quest for Fire – $956,555 ($17,526,889 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Chariots of Fire – $5,795,364 ($117,354,647 total)
6. On Golden Pond – $4,708,129 ($270,744,488 total)
7. Victor/Victoria – $4,515,364 ($29,983,858 total)
9. Quest for Fire – $2,658,182 ($48,705,675 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