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

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Production Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 4-6, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

1. Marvel’s The Avengers – $207,438,708 ($207,438,708 total) {week 1}
4. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $5,502,482 ($18,665,941 total) {week 2}
15. Mirror Mirror – $746,247 ($60,174,498 total) {week 6}
22. Monsieur Lazhar – $222,460 ($914,200 total) {week 4}
32. Footnote – $87,416 ($1,687,280 total) {week 9}
62. A Separation – $22,200 ($7,027,067 total) {week 19}
67. The Artist – $15,370 ($44,242,865 total) {week 24}
80. Pina – $7,525 ($3,520,458 total) {week 20}
85. Undefeated – $6,625 ($531,094 total) {week 12}
97. In Darkness – $3,710 ($1,034,582 total) {week 13}
102. W.E. – $2,664 ($582,075 total) {week 14}
103. Albert Nobbs – $2,608 ($3,013,812 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Marvel’s The Avengers – $212,911,337 ($212,911,337 total)
4. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $5,647,648 ($19,158,384 total)
15. Mirror Mirror – $765,934 ($61,762,016 total)
22. Monsieur Lazhar – $228,329 ($938,318 total)
32. Footnote – $89,722 ($1,731,794 total)
62. A Separation – $22,786 ($7,212,454 total)
67. The Artist – $15,775 ($45,410,076 total)
80. Pina – $7,724 ($3,613,334 total)
85. Undefeated – $6,800 ($545,105 total)
97. In Darkness – $3,808 ($1,061,876 total)
102. W.E. – $2,734 ($597,431 total)
103. Albert Nobbs – $2,677 ($3,093,322 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
• Marvel’s The Avengers: Visual Effects
• Mirror Mirror: Costume Design
• Monsieur Lazhar: Foreign Language Film
• Pina: Documentary Feature
• The Pirates! Band of Misfits: Animated Feature
• A Separation: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Undefeated: Documentary Feature [O]
• W.E.: Costume Design

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 4-6, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

23. The Lives of Others – $222,413 ($9,417,886 total) {week 13}
32. Away from Her – $114,628 ($114,628 total) {week 1}
33. After the Wedding – $111,995 ($734,081 total) {week 6}
54. Pan’s Labyrinth – $26,730 ($37,508,710 total) {week 19}
59. Happy Feet – $21,412 ($197,992,827 total) {week 25}
68. The Queen – $13,176 ($56,425,113 total) {week 32}
74. The Last King of Scotland – $9,966 ($17,594,783 total) {week 32}
89. Notes on a Scandal – $3,850 ($17,504,148 total) {week 20}
112. Iraq in Fragments – $1,073 ($194,042 total) {week 26}
116. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $905 ($330,634 total) {week 12}
127. Volver – $363 ($12,897,993 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

23. The Lives of Others – $264,115 ($11,183,740 total)
32. Away from Her – $136,121 ($136,121 total)
33. After the Wedding – $132,994 ($871,721 total)
54. Pan’s Labyrinth – $31,742 ($44,541,593 total)
59. Happy Feet – $25,427 ($235,116,482 total)
68. The Queen – $15,647 ($67,004,822 total)
74. The Last King of Scotland – $11,835 ($20,893,805 total)
89. Notes on a Scandal – $4,572 ($20,786,176 total)
112. Iraq in Fragments – $1,274 ($230,425 total)
116. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $1,075 ($392,628 total)
127. Volver – $431 ($15,316,367 total)

Oscar Details:

• The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film; Live Action Short Film
• After the Wedding: Foreign Language Film
• Away from Her: Actress (Julie Christie), Adapted Screenplay
• 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
• 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 May 3-5, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

1. Spider-Man – $114,844,116 ($114,844,116 total) {week 1}
8. Ice Age – $2,369,504 ($169,030,520 total) {week 8}
14. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $759,613 ($8,397,488 total) {week 8}
16. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $666,304 ($2,567,045 total) {week 3}
22. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $452,061 ($308,791,984 total) {week 20}
24. Monster’s Ball – $393,099 ($30,079,249 total) {week 19}
26. A Beautiful Mind – $303,705 ($169,852,636 total) {week 20}
28. The Time Machine – $216,395 ($56,378,623 total) {week 9}
39. Amelie – $92,802 ($32,680,816 total) {week 27}
49. Gosford Park – $61,092 ($41,023,207 total) {week 19}
50. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $60,800 ($317,433,952 total) {week 25}
53. The Royal Tenenbaums – $33,793 ($52,095,055 total) {week 21}
56. In the Bedroom – $31,954 ($35,873,974 total) {week 24}
59. Son of the Bride – $28,993 ($298,882 total) {week 7}
61. Iris – $23,364 ($5,532,721 total) {week 21}
69. Monsters, Inc. – $15,426 ($253,075,916 total) {week 27}
75. Mulholland Drive – $1,677 ($7,219,735 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Spider-Man – $161,493,361 ($161,493,361 total)
8. Ice Age – $3,331,988 ($237,690,077 total)
14. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $1,068,165 ($11,808,516 total)
16. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $936,954 ($3,609,769 total)
22. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $635,686 ($434,222,119 total)
24. Monster’s Ball – $552,774 ($42,297,326 total)
26. A Beautiful Mind – $427,069 ($238,846,134 total)
28. The Time Machine – $304,294 ($79,279,406 total)
39. Amelie – $130,498 ($45,955,640 total)
49. Gosford Park – $85,907 ($57,686,678 total)
50. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $85,497 ($446,374,421 total)
53. The Royal Tenenbaums – $47,520 ($73,255,869 total)
56. In the Bedroom – $44,934 ($50,445,846 total)
59. Son of the Bride – $40,770 ($420,287 total)
61. Iris – $32,854 ($7,780,091 total)
69. Monsters, Inc. – $21,692 ($355,874,395 total)
75. Mulholland Drive – $2,358 ($10,152,364 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
• Spider-Man: Sound, Visual Effects
• The Time Machine: Makeup
• Y Tu Mama Tambien: Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 2-4, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

999. Evita – $21,602 ($50,038,461 total) {week 19}
999. Jerry Maguire – $562,809 ($150,429,185 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

999. Evita – $38,451 ($89,066,280 total)
999. Jerry Maguire – $1,001,775 ($267,757,395 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 May 1-3, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Basic Instinct – $4,042,740 ($83,605,244 total) {week 7}
6. The Player – $1,716,586 ($4,664,815 total) {week 4}
14. My Cousin Vinny – $1,156,248 ($42,702,885 total) {week 8}
999. Hook – $183,093 ($118,579,323 total) {week 21}
999. Howards End – $291,530 ($1,634,019 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Basic Instinct – $7,958,840 ($164,591,529 total)
6. The Player – $3,379,399 ($9,183,503 total)
14. My Cousin Vinny – $2,276,276 ($84,068,089 total)
999. Hook – $360,451 ($233,444,113 total)
999. Howards End – $573,928 ($3,216,852 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 May 1-3, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

6. Lethal Weapon – $1,665,998 ($53,201,782 total) {week 9}
7. Platoon – $1,577,689 ($123,871,390 total) {week 20}
999. My Life As a Dog – $11,667 ($11,667 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Lethal Weapon – $3,481,126 ($111,165,872 total)
7. Platoon – $3,296,603 ($258,831,012 total)
999. My Life As a Dog – $24,378 ($24,378 total)

Oscar Details:

• Lethal Weapon: Sound
• My Life As a Dog: Director, Adapted Screenplay
• 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. 30-May 2, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

5. Chariots of Fire – $1,668,771 ($44,674,859 total) {week 32}
6. On Golden Pond – $1,554,184 ($100,254,343 total) {week 22}
7. Victor/Victoria – $1,380,000 ($12,705,568 total) {week 7}
11. Quest for Fire – $636,244 ($18,569,158 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Chariots of Fire – $4,637,367 ($124,147,482 total)
6. On Golden Pond – $4,318,940 ($278,597,953 total)
7. Victor/Victoria – $3,834,898 ($35,307,650 total)
11. Quest for Fire – $1,768,066 ($51,602,048 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