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 10-12, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

1. Iron Man 3 – $72,525,615 ($284,946,699 total) {week 2}
2. The Great Gatsby – $50,085,185 ($50,085,184 total) {week 1}
7. The Croods – $3,609,028 ($173,224,505 total) {week 8}
27. Silver Linings Playbook – $123,892 ($131,927,475 total) {week 26}
32. Kon-Tiki – $84,749 ($225,497 total) {week 3}
46. Life of Pi – $38,928 ($124,817,430 total) {week 25}
51. No – $33,693 ($2,247,188 total) {week 13}
67. The Gatekeepers – $13,103 ($2,376,991 total) {week 15}
90. Searching for Sugar Man – $4,638 ($3,662,322 total) {week 42}
102. Django Unchained – $1,534 ($162,804,648 total) {week 20}
103. Amour – $1,498 ($6,738,954 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Iron Man 3 – $79,662,207 ($314,387,686 total)
2. The Great Gatsby – $55,013,616 ($55,260,037 total)
7. The Croods – $3,964,160 ($191,122,240 total)
27. Silver Linings Playbook – $136,083 ($145,558,358 total)
32. Kon-Tiki – $93,088 ($248,796 total)
46. Life of Pi – $42,759 ($137,713,696 total)
51. No – $37,008 ($2,479,370 total)
67. The Gatekeepers – $14,392 ($2,622,584 total)
90. Searching for Sugar Man – $5,094 ($4,040,717 total)
102. Django Unchained – $1,685 ($179,625,792 total)
103. Amour – $1,645 ($7,435,230 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amour: Picture, Directing, Actress (Emmanuelle Riva), Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Croods: Animated Feature
• Django Unchained: Picture, Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Cinematography, Sound Editing
• The Gatekeepers: Documentary Feature
• The Great Gatsby: Production Design [O], Costume Design [O]
• Iron Man 3: Visual Effects
• Kon-Tiki: Foreign Language Film
• Life of Pi: Picture, Directing [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Pi’s Lullaby”), Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Production Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• No: Foreign Language Film
• Searching for Sugar Man: Documentary Feature [O]
• Silver Linings Playbook: Picture, Directing, Actor (Bradley Cooper), Actress (Jennifer Lawrence) [O], Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 9-11, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

1. Iron Man – $51,190,629 ($177,825,024 total) {week 2}
13. The Visitor – $729,212 ($2,475,492 total) {week 5}
25. The Counterfeiters – $148,775 ($4,661,883 total) {week 12}
51. In Bruges – $39,814 ($7,550,836 total) {week 14}
87. Juno – $6,592 ($143,448,146 total) {week 23}
89. Persepolis – $5,606 ($4,435,405 total) {week 20}
109. Beaufort – $2,275 ($98,295 total) {week 17}
118. Taxi to the Dark Side – $1,622 ($270,888 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Iron Man – $63,667,454 ($222,157,446 total)
13. The Visitor – $906,945 ($3,092,641 total)
25. The Counterfeiters – $185,036 ($5,824,107 total)
51. In Bruges – $49,518 ($9,433,287 total)
87. Juno – $8,199 ($179,210,288 total)
89. Persepolis – $6,972 ($5,541,168 total)
109. Beaufort – $2,829 ($122,800 total)
118. Taxi to the Dark Side – $2,017 ($338,421 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beaufort: Foreign Language Film
• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• In Bruges: Original Screenplay
• Iron Man: Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Juno: Picture, Director, Actress (Ellen Page), Original Screenplay [O]
• Persepolis: Animated Feature
• Taxi to the Dark Side: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Visitor: Actor (Richard Jenkins)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 9-11, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

7. A Mighty Wind – $3,004,214 ($9,483,660 total) {week 4}
11. Chicago – $1,110,568 ($166,514,604 total) {week 20}
19. The Barbarian Invasions – $461,363 ($461,363 total) {week 1}
24. Nowhere in Africa – $250,009 ($163,958 total) {week 10}
26. The Pianist – $210,685 ($32,105,454 total) {week 20}
32. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $151,733 ($338,457,054 total) {week 21}
38. The Quiet American – $115,176 ($12,653,791 total) {week 25}
40. Winged Migration – $99,188 ($329,595 total) {week 4}
43. The Man Without a Past – $64,090 ($454,686 total) {week 6}
46. Bowling for Columbine – $60,661 ($21,244,913 total) {week 31}
47. City of God – $59,021 ($4,026,717 total) {week 17}
51. About Schmidt – $52,449 ($64,902,853 total) {week 22}
55. Adaptation. – $42,358 ($22,350,662 total) {week 23}
58. The Hours – $40,969 ($41,559,094 total) {week 20}
71. Talk to Her – $24,692 ($9,238,900 total) {week 25}
73. Catch Me If You Can – $22,250 ($164,594,848 total) {week 20}
82. Spellbound – $17,589 ($55,083 total) {week 2}
83. Frida – $16,000 ($25,870,000 total) {week 29}
125. Spirited Away – $2,043 ($9,951,397 total) {week 34}
126. Gangs of New York – $1,850 ($77,730,500 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. A Mighty Wind – $4,449,027 ($14,107,534 total)
11. Chicago – $1,644,672 ($247,700,829 total)
19. The Barbarian Invasions – $683,246 ($686,306 total)
24. Nowhere in Africa – $370,246 ($243,898 total)
26. The Pianist – $312,009 ($47,758,859 total)
32. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $224,706 ($503,475,916 total)
38. The Quiet American – $170,567 ($18,823,301 total)
40. Winged Migration – $146,890 ($490,293 total)
43. The Man Without a Past – $94,913 ($676,374 total)
46. Bowling for Columbine – $89,835 ($31,603,129 total)
47. City of God – $87,406 ($5,989,992 total)
51. About Schmidt – $77,673 ($96,547,030 total)
55. Adaptation. – $62,729 ($33,248,000 total)
58. The Hours – $60,672 ($61,821,737 total)
71. Talk to Her – $36,567 ($13,743,438 total)
73. Catch Me If You Can – $32,951 ($244,845,072 total)
82. Spellbound – $26,048 ($81,939 total)
83. Frida – $23,695 ($38,483,234 total)
125. Spirited Away – $3,026 ($14,803,322 total)
126. Gangs of New York – $2,740 ($115,628,953 total)

Oscar Details:

• About Schmidt: Actor (Jack Nicholson), Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates)
• Adaptation.: Actor (Nicoals Cage), Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper) [O], Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Adapted Screenplay
• The Barbarian Invasions: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• Catch Me If You Can: Supporting Actor (Christopher Walken), Original Score
• Chicago: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Renee Zellweger), Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly), Supporting Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones [O], Queen Latifah), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“I Move On”), Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Frida: Actress, Original Score [O], Original Song (“Burn It Blue”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• Gangs of New York: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Hands That Built America”), Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
• The Hours: Picture, Director, Actress (Nicole Kidman) [O], Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Picture, Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Man Without a Past: Foreign Language Film
• A Mighty Wind: Original Song (“A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow”)
• Nowhere in Africa: Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Pianist: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Adrien Brody) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
• The Quiet American: Actor (Michael Caine)
• Spellbound: Documentary Feature
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 8-10, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

4. Titanic – $3,178,573 ($569,820,413 total) {week 21}
999. Amistad – $1,333 ($44,228,741 total) {week 22}
999. As Good As It Gets – $560,315 ($145,568,128 total) {week 20}
999. Primary Colors – $313,045 ($37,613,382 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Titanic – $6,052,166 ($1,089,827,101 total)
999. Amistad – $2,538 ($84,591,004 total)
999. As Good As It Gets – $1,066,868 ($278,410,684 total)
999. Primary Colors – $596,054 ($71,938,601 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amistad: Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• As Good As It Gets: Picture, Actor (Jack Nicholson) [O], Actress (Helen Hunt) [O], Supporting Actor (Greg Kinnear), Original Screenplay, Original Musical or Comedy Score, Editing
• Primary Colors: Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates), Adapted Screenplay
• Titanic: Picture [O], Director [O], Actress (Kate Winslet), Supporting Actress (Gloria Stuart), Original Dramatic Score [O], Original Song (“My Heart Will Go On”) [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 7-9, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

2. Dave – $7,306,755 ($7,306,755 total) {week 1}
13. Scent of a Woman – $581,100 ($60,318,819 total) {week 20}
14. A Few Good Men – $562,558 ($138,751,615 total) {week 22}
999. Unforgiven – $611,932 ($94,386,570 total) {week 40}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Dave – $15,760,706 ($15,831,303 total)
13. Scent of a Woman – $1,253,436 ($130,690,775 total)
14. A Few Good Men – $1,213,440 ($300,628,499 total)
999. Unforgiven – $1,319,940 ($204,504,235 total)

Oscar Details:

• Dave: Original Screenplay
• A Few Good Men: Picture, Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson), Editing, Sound
• Scent of a Woman: Picture, Director, Actor (Al Pacino) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Unforgiven: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 6-8, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

2. Beetlejuice – $3,357,625 ($51,222,372 total) {week 6}
8. The Last Emperor – $1,256,177 ($37,419,329 total) {week 25}
10. Moonstruck – $1,177,630 ($70,791,647 total) {week 21}
12. The Milagro Beanfield War – $923,875 ($7,936,624 total) {week 8}
13. Sunset – $814,080 ($3,372,091 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Beetlejuice – $7,295,278 ($111,791,892 total)
8. The Last Emperor – $2,729,358 ($81,667,003 total)
10. Moonstruck – $2,558,695 ($154,501,478 total)
12. The Milagro Beanfield War – $2,007,349 ($17,321,537 total)
13. Sunset – $1,768,792 ($7,359,527 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beetlejuice: Makeup [O]
• The Last Emperor: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
• The Milagro Beanfield War: Original Score [O]
• Moonstruck: Picture, Director, Actress (Cher) [O], Supporting Actor (Vincent Gardenia), Supporting Actress (Olympia Dukakis) [O], Original Screenplay
• Sunset: Costume Design

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 13-15, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Blue Thunder – $8,258,149 ($8,258,149 total) {week 1}
3. Flashdance – $3,452,991 ($25,276,725 total) {week 5}
7. Tootsie – $1,559,536 ($165,339,970 total) {week 22}
9. Gandhi – $837,843 ($49,729,399 total) {week 23}
12. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $555,112 ($348,544,883 total) {week 49}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Blue Thunder – $23,411,197 ($23,516,062 total)
3. Flashdance – $9,788,955 ($71,978,484 total)
7. Tootsie – $4,421,161 ($470,825,248 total)
9. Gandhi – $2,375,218 ($141,610,384 total)
12. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,573,698 ($992,523,048 total)

Oscar Details:

• Blue Thunder: Editing
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Flashdance: Original Song (“Flashdance…What a Feeling”) [O], Original Song (“Maniac”), Editing, Cinematography
• Gandhi: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Ben Kingsley) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• Tootsie: Picture, Director, Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Teri Garr), Supporting Actress (Jessica Lange) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“It Might Be You”), Editing, Cinematography, Sound