Every week, we’ll take a look back in 5-year intervals in the box office past to explore how Oscar’s nominees were doing at the box office that 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 chance 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 7-9, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

3. How to Train Your Dragon – $6,680,374 ($201,013,867 total) {week 7}
14. Alice in Wonderland – $712,721 ($330,857,949 total) {week 10}
19. Avatar – $425,085 ($747,946,415 total) {week 21}
22. The Secret in Their Eyes – $384,191 ($1,573,019 total) {week 4}
29. Exit Through the Gift Shop – $191,989 ($932,497 total) {week 4}
45. Crazy Heart – $37,025 ($39,397,065 total) {week 21}
58. A Prophet – $18,619 ($2,000,849 total) {week 11}
59. The Secret of Kells – $16,784 ($429,741 total) {week 10}
62. The Last Station – $15,312 ($6,569,238 total) {week 17}
69. The Blind Side – $9,807 ($255,944,818 total) {week 25}
71. Ajami – $7,743 ($568,189 total) {week 14}
72. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $7,189 ($423,411 total) {week 15}
79. The Messenger – $4,222 ($1,108,684 total) {week 26}
85. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $3,017 ($7,682,710 total) {week 20}
93. The White Ribbon – $2,416 ($2,215,908 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. How to Train Your Dragon – $6,917,447 ($208,147,439 total)
14. Alice in Wonderland – $738,014 ($342,599,422 total)
19. Avatar – $440,170 ($774,489,507 total)
22. The Secret in Their Eyes – $397,825 ($1,628,842 total)
29. Exit Through the Gift Shop – $198,802 ($965,589 total)
45. Crazy Heart – $38,339 ($40,795,186 total)
58. A Prophet – $19,280 ($2,071,855 total)
59. The Secret of Kells – $17,380 ($444,992 total)
62. The Last Station – $15,855 ($6,802,367 total)
69. The Blind Side – $10,155 ($265,027,777 total)
71. Ajami – $8,018 ($588,353 total)
72. The Most Dangerous Man in America – $7,444 ($438,437 total)
79. The Messenger – $4,372 ($1,148,029 total)
85. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – $3,124 ($7,955,354 total)
93. The White Ribbon – $2,502 ($2,294,546 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ajami: Foreign Language Film
• Alice in Wonderland: Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Visual Effects
• Avatar: Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Blind Side: Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
• Crazy Heart: Actor (Jeff Bridges) [O], Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Original Song (“The Weary Kind”) [O]
• Exit Through the Gift Shop: Documentary Feature
• How to Train Your Dragon: Animated Feature, Original Score
• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Last Station : Actress (Helen Mirren), Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer)
• The Messenger : Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• The Most Dangerous Man in America : Documentary Feature
• A Prophet: Foreign Language Film
• The Secret in Their Eyes: Foreign Language Film
• The Secret of Kells : Animated Feature
• The White Ribbon : Cinematography, Foreign Language Film

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 13-15, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

5. Crash – $7,021,391 ($19,614,256 total) {week 2}
17. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room – $372,405 ($1,608,707 total) {week 4}
24. Million Dollar Baby – $188,348 ($100,156,381 total) {week 22}
32. Downfall – $86,503 ($5,246,856 total) {week 13}
49. The Aviator – $30,128 ($102,563,679 total) {week 22}
51. Born Into Brothels – $28,766 ($3,370,574 total) {week 19}
70. The Sea Inside – $11,803 ($2,086,345 total) {week 22}
101. The Chorus – $3,153 ($1,534,383 total) {week 18}
108. Sideways – $2,110 ($71,502,303 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Crash – $8,949,261 ($24,999,762 total)
17. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room – $474,657 ($2,050,411 total)
24. Million Dollar Baby – $240,063 ($127,656,417 total)
32. Downfall – $110,254 ($6,687,490 total)
49. The Aviator – $38,400 ($130,724,689 total)
51. Born Into Brothels – $36,664 ($4,296,036 total)
70. The Sea Inside – $15,044 ($2,659,195 total)
101. The Chorus – $4,019 ($1,955,680 total)
108. Sideways – $2,689 ($91,134,761 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Aviator: Picture, Director, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Alan Alda), Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound Mixing
• Born Into Brothels : Documentary Feature
• The Chorus: Original Song (“Look To Your Path”), Foreign Language Film
• Crash: Picture [O], Directing, Supporting Actor (Matt Dillon), Original Screenplay [O], Original Song (“In the Deep”), Editing [O]
• Downfall : Foreign Language Film
• Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room: Documentary Feature
• Million Dollar Baby: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• The Sea Inside : Makeup, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Sideways: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 12-14, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

1. Gladiator – $24,645,129 ($73,661,465 total) {week 2}
3. U-571 – $5,738,765 ($57,828,485 total) {week 4}
13. Erin Brockovich – $1,722,120 ($118,502,260 total) {week 9}
23. American Beauty – $307,772 ($129,357,883 total) {week 35}
31. Toy Story 2 – $154,186 ($244,793,235 total) {week 26}
33. East-West – $143,078 ($843,071 total) {week 6}
41. The Cider House Rules – $67,103 ($56,818,153 total) {week 23}
59. Bicentennial Man – $37,281 ($58,147,293 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Gladiator – $37,356,346 ($111,653,835 total)
3. U-571 – $8,698,648 ($87,654,679 total)
13. Erin Brockovich – $2,610,338 ($179,622,164 total)
23. American Beauty – $466,512 ($196,076,791 total)
31. Toy Story 2 – $233,711 ($371,050,228 total)
33. East-West – $216,873 ($1,277,902 total)
41. The Cider House Rules – $101,713 ($86,123,249 total)
59. Bicentennial Man – $56,509 ($88,137,919 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Beauty: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Bicentennial Man: Makeup
• The Cider House Rules : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction
• East-West: Foreign Language Film
• Erin Brockovich: Picture, Directing, Actress (Julia Roberts) [O], Supporting Actor (Albert Finney), Original Screenplay
• 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]
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)
• U-571: Sound, Sound Editing [O]

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 12-14, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

1. Crimson Tide – $18,612,190 ($18,612,190 total) {week 1}
7. My Family, Mi Familia – $1,621,695 ($5,045,016 total) {week 2}
10. Rob Roy – $1,199,671 ($28,759,638 total) {week 6}
999. A Little Princess – $28,612 ($28,612 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Crimson Tide – $34,956,688 ($34,956,688 total)
7. My Family, Mi Familia – $3,045,804 ($9,475,352 total)
10. Rob Roy – $2,253,175 ($54,015,228 total)
999. A Little Princess – $53,738 ($53,738 total)

Oscar Details:

• Crimson Tide: Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Editing
• A Little Princess: Cinematography, Art Direction
• My Family, Mi Familia: Makeup
• Rob Roy: Supporting Actor (Tim Roth)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 11-13, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

1. Pretty Woman – $4,594,013 ($100,562,962 total) {week 8}
4. The Hunt for Red October – $2,208,875 ($105,488,098 total) {week 11}
9. Driving Miss Daisy – $1,044,626 ($100,046,090 total) {week 22}
999. Longtime Companion – $50,525 ($50,525 total) {week 1}
999. Pathfinder – $3,950 ($3,950 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Pretty Woman – $8,873,070 ($194,231,537 total)
4. The Hunt for Red October – $4,266,314 ($203,744,151 total)
9. Driving Miss Daisy – $2,017,635 ($193,233,228 total)
999. Longtime Companion – $97,586 ($97,586 total)
999. Pathfinder – $7,629 ($7,629 total)

Oscar Details:

• Driving Miss Daisy: Picture [O], Actor (Morgan Freeman), Actress (Jessica Tandy) [O], Supporting Actor (Dan Aykroyd), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• The Hunt for Red October: Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Longtime Companion: Supporting Actor (Bruce Davison)
• Pathfinder: Foreign Language Film
• Pretty Woman: Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 10-12, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

7. Beverly Hills Cop – $1,385,694 ($212,233,719 total) {week 23}
8. Mask – $1,366,813 ($37,314,022 total) {week 10}
9. Ladyhawke – $1,161,909 ($14,416,447 total) {week 5}
11. Witness – $918,490 ($58,895,610 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Beverly Hills Cop – $3,189,048 ($488,436,474 total)
8. Mask – $3,145,595 ($85,874,806 total)
9. Ladyhawke – $2,674,027 ($33,178,133 total)
11. Witness – $2,113,821 ($135,542,855 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beverly Hills Cop: Original Screenplay
• Ladyhawke: Sound, Sound Effects Editing
• Mask: Makeup [O]
• Witness: Picture, Directing, Actor (Harrison Ford), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Art Direction