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 May 6-8, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

5. Rio – $8,504,001 ($115,206,069 total) {week 4}
22. Rango – $434,354 ($120,426,213 total) {week 10}
23. Jane Eyre – $427,333 ($9,433,944 total) {week 9}
45. In a Better World – $73,975 ($512,446 total) {week 6}
47. Incendies – $62,456 ($222,910 total) {week 3}
84. Biutiful – $6,708 ($5,071,445 total) {week 15}
87. Tangled – $5,343 ($199,706,314 total) {week 24}
89. Barney’s Version – $4,731 ($4,401,936 total) {week 17}
92. The Illusionist – $3,289 ($2,227,548 total) {week 19}
118. Another Year – $609 ($3,201,432 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Rio – $8,761,373 ($118,692,760 total)
22. Rango – $447,500 ($124,070,890 total)
23. Jane Eyre – $440,266 ($9,719,461 total)
45. In a Better World – $76,214 ($527,955 total)
47. Incendies – $64,346 ($229,656 total)
84. Biutiful – $6,911 ($5,224,931 total)
87. Tangled – $5,505 ($205,750,389 total)
89. Barney’s Version – $4,874 ($4,535,160 total)
92. The Illusionist – $3,389 ($2,294,964 total)
118. Another Year – $627 ($3,298,323 total)

Oscar Details:

• Another Year: Original Screenplay
• Barney’s Version: Makeup
• Biutiful: Actor (Javier Bardem), Foreign Language Film
• The Illusionist: Animated Feature
• In a Better World: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Incendies: Foreign Language Film
• Jane Eyre: Costume Design
• Rango: Animated Feature [O]
• Rio: Original Song (“Real in Rio”)
• Tangled: Original Song (“I See the Light”)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 5-7, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

5. United 93 – $5,347,860 ($20,192,305 total) {week 2}
24. Water – $174,727 ($256,790 total) {week 2}
41. Tsotsi – $54,296 ($2,753,840 total) {week 11}
54. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $23,043 ($10,965,943 total) {week 22}
55. Transamerica – $23,030 ($8,933,583 total) {week 23}
61. Sophie Scholl – $16,569 ($532,840 total) {week 12}
67. Joyeux Noel – $11,106 ($964,863 total) {week 21}
102. Darwin’s Nightmare – $1,900 ($198,792 total) {week 40}
104. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $1,791 ($291,709,845 total) {week 22}
123. Evil – $453 ($15,280 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. United 93 – $6,670,537 ($25,186,432 total)
24. Water – $217,942 ($320,301 total)
41. Tsotsi – $67,725 ($3,434,942 total)
54. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $28,742 ($13,678,130 total)
55. Transamerica – $28,726 ($11,143,110 total)
61. Sophie Scholl – $20,667 ($664,626 total)
67. Joyeux Noel – $13,853 ($1,203,501 total)
102. Darwin’s Nightmare – $2,370 ($247,959 total)
104. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $2,234 ($363,857,929 total)
123. Evil – $565 ($19,059 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects
• Darwin’s Nightmare: Documentary Feature
• 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]
• United 93: Directing, Film Editing
• Water: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 4-6, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

3. Bridget Jones’ Diary – $5,730,131 ($44,465,598 total) {week 4}
12. Memento – $1,238,595 ($8,713,669 total) {week 8}
17. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $584,302 ($124,729,749 total) {week 22}
21. Amores Perros – $362,533 ($3,493,520 total) {week 6}
22. Traffic – $361,828 ($122,019,141 total) {week 19}
23. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $329,913 ($42,600,526 total) {week 20}
27. Cast Away – $226,980 ($232,386,686 total) {week 20}
29. Chocolat – $186,467 ($69,110,451 total) {week 21}
36. Pollock – $108,329 ($8,111,420 total) {week 21}
39. The Emperor’s New Groove – $86,897 ($89,070,801 total) {week 21}
60. You Can Count on Me – $24,022 ($9,294,133 total) {week 26}
999. Gladiator – $376 ($187,705,261 total) {week 53}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Bridget Jones’ Diary – $8,271,231 ($64,184,441 total)
12. Memento – $1,787,866 ($12,577,858 total)
17. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $843,418 ($180,042,765 total)
21. Amores Perros – $523,303 ($5,042,767 total)
22. Traffic – $522,285 ($176,130,103 total)
23. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $476,217 ($61,492,279 total)
27. Cast Away – $327,637 ($335,441,559 total)
29. Chocolat – $269,158 ($99,758,372 total)
36. Pollock – $156,369 ($11,708,534 total)
39. The Emperor’s New Groove – $125,433 ($128,570,396 total)
60. You Can Count on Me – $34,675 ($13,415,736 total)
999. Gladiator – $543 ($270,945,580 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amores Perros: Foreign Language Film
• 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 May 3-5, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

4. Primal Fear – $3,606,158 ($44,875,034 total) {week 5}
7. The Birdcage – $2,503,872 ($112,845,066 total) {week 9}
8. James and the Giant Peach – $2,361,159 ($22,826,314 total) {week 4}
999. Braveheart – $21,519 ($75,583,279 total) {week 50}
999. The Other Side of Sunday – $2,621 ($2,621 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Primal Fear – $6,665,681 ($82,947,744 total)
7. The Birdcage – $4,628,198 ($208,584,658 total)
8. James and the Giant Peach – $4,364,405 ($42,192,531 total)
999. Braveheart – $39,776 ($139,709,364 total)
999. The Other Side of Sunday – $4,845 ($4,845 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]
• James and the Giant Peach: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• The Other Side of Sunday: Foreign Language Film
• Primal Fear: Supporting Actor (Edward Norton)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 3-5, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

6. The Silence of the Lambs – $2,540,581 ($112,193,973 total) {week 12}
9. Dances With Wolves – $1,838,329 ($165,361,941 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. The Silence of the Lambs – $4,930,296 ($217,725,596 total)
9. Dances With Wolves – $3,567,494 ($320,904,289 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]
• 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 May 2-4, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

4. Legend – $1,764,900 ($10,857,565 total) {week 3}
12. The Color Purple – $728,794 ($90,962,021 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Legend – $3,886,586 ($23,910,056 total)
12. The Color Purple – $1,604,918 ($200,312,591 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