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 Jan. 14-16, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

3. True Grit – $11,004,755 ($126,216,650 total) {week 4}
4. The King’s Speech – $9,186,203 ($44,710,062 total) {week 8}
5. Black Swan – $8,342,648 ($73,211,006 total) {week 7}
7. Tron: Legacy – $5,679,858 ($156,918,454 total) {week 5}
9. The Fighter – $5,101,140 ($65,745,804 total) {week 6}
11. Tangled – $3,983,009 ($181,011,048 total) {week 8}
12. Country Strong – $3,682,375 ($13,287,509 total) {week 4}
16. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $1,399,204 ($289,803,472 total) {week 9}
17. Blue Valentine – $1,386,776 ($2,845,159 total) {week 3}
22. The Social Network – $360,057 ($94,702,149 total) {week 16}
24. Rabbit Hole – $276,301 ($958,116 total) {week 5}
28. 127 Hours – $162,933 ($11,091,004 total) {week 11}
34. Another Year – $111,806 ($450,095 total) {week 3}
39. Barney’s Version – $65,241 ($94,785 total) {week 1}
44. The Illusionist – $32,988 ($178,410 total) {week 3}
46. Inside Job – $34,820 ($3,613,238 total) {week 15}
67. Winter’s Bone – $6,162 ($6,263,188 total) {week 32}
68. The Tempest – $5,749 ($249,797 total) {week 6}
999. Dogtooth – $214 ($90,707 total) {week 30}
999. Waste Land – $8,848 ($114,260 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. True Grit – $11,337,812 ($130,036,574 total)
4. The King’s Speech – $9,464,222 ($46,063,204 total)
5. Black Swan – $8,595,137 ($75,426,724 total)
7. Tron: Legacy – $5,851,758 ($161,667,562 total)
9. The Fighter – $5,255,525 ($67,735,589 total)
11. Tangled – $4,103,554 ($186,489,314 total)
12. Country Strong – $3,793,821 ($13,689,653 total)
16. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $1,441,551 ($298,574,321 total)
17. Blue Valentine – $1,428,747 ($2,931,267 total)
22. The Social Network – $370,954 ($97,568,292 total)
24. Rabbit Hole – $284,663 ($987,113 total)
28. 127 Hours – $167,864 ($11,426,671 total)
34. Another Year – $115,190 ($463,717 total)
39. Barney’s Version – $67,216 ($97,654 total)
44. The Illusionist – $33,986 ($183,810 total)
46. Inside Job – $35,874 ($3,722,592 total)
67. Winter’s Bone – $6,348 ($6,452,742 total)
68. The Tempest – $5,923 ($257,357 total)
999. Dogtooth – $220 ($93,452 total)
999. Waste Land – $9,116 ($117,718 total)

Oscar Details:

• 127 Hours: Picture, Actor (James Franco), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“If I Rise”), Editing
• Another Year: Original Screenplay
• Barney’s Version: Makeup
• Black Swan: Picture, Direcing, Actress (Natalie Portman) [O], Editing, Cinematography
• Blue Valentine: Actress (Michelle Williams)
• Country Strong: Original Song (“Coming Home”)
• Dogtooth: Foreign Language Film
• The Fighter: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Christian Bale) [O], Supporting Actress (Amy Adams, Melissa Leo [O]), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I: Art Direction, Visual Effects
• The Illusionist: Animated Feature
• Inside Job: Documentary Feature
• The King’s Speech: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Colin Firth) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Helena Bonham Carter), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• Rabbit Hole: Actress (Nicole Kidman)
• The Social Network: Picture, Directing, Actor (Jesse Eisenberg), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound Mixing
• Tangled: Original Song (“I See the Light”)
• The Tempest: Costume Design
• Tron: Legacy: Sound Editing
• True Grit: Picture, Directing, Actor (Jeff Bridges), Supporting Actress (Hailee Steinfeld), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Waste Land: Documentary Feature
• Winter’s Bone: Picture, Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Adapted Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 13-15, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $10,059,756 ($261,270,848 total) {week 6}
7. King Kong – $7,528,060 ($202,994,060 total) {week 5}
9. Brokeback Mountain – $5,805,082 ($30,838,091 total) {week 6}
11. Munich – $5,033,425 ($32,931,270 total) {week 4}
12. Memoirs of a Geisha – $4,307,893 ($46,512,023 total) {week 6}
17. Match Point – $2,001,434 ($6,439,031 total) {week 3}
18. Walk the Line – $1,768,437 ($97,946,762 total) {week 9}
22. Syriana – $1,211,690 ($44,038,987 total) {week 8}
23. Pride & Prejudice – $609,542 ($36,175,465 total) {week 10}
25. Capote – $417,231 ($13,161,012 total) {week 16}
26. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $387,111 ($1,064,885 total) {week 6}
28. Good Night, and Good Luck. – $287,740 ($24,517,247 total) {week 15}
29. The Squid and the Whale – $269,778 ($6,005,551 total) {week 15}
39. Transamerica – $90,974 ($491,588 total) {week 7}
42. A History of Violence – $42,323 ($31,350,408 total) {week 17}
52. Paradise Now – $14,754 ($1,086,248 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $12,547,818 ($325,890,508 total)
7. King Kong – $9,389,962 ($253,200,224 total)
9. Brokeback Mountain – $7,240,843 ($38,465,222 total)
11. Munich – $6,278,333 ($41,076,103 total)
12. Memoirs of a Geisha – $5,373,357 ($58,015,760 total)
17. Match Point – $2,496,445 ($8,031,585 total)
18. Walk the Line – $2,205,821 ($122,171,763 total)
22. Syriana – $1,511,375 ($54,931,072 total)
23. Pride & Prejudice – $760,299 ($45,122,679 total)
25. Capote – $520,424 ($16,416,102 total)
26. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $482,854 ($1,328,261 total)
28. Good Night, and Good Luck. – $358,906 ($30,581,055 total)
29. The Squid and the Whale – $336,502 ($7,490,893 total)
39. Transamerica – $113,474 ($613,172 total)
42. A History of Violence – $52,791 ($39,104,249 total)
52. Paradise Now – $18,403 ($1,354,908 total)

Oscar Details:

• Brokeback Mountain: Picture, Directing [O], Actor (Heath Ledger), Supporting Actor (Jake Gyllenhaal), Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Cinematography
• Capote: Picture, Directing, Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman) [O], Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Adapted Screenplay
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects
• Good Night, and Good Luck.: Picture, Directing, Actor (David Strathairn), Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction
• A History of Violence: Supporting Actor (William Hurt), Adapted Screenplay
• King Kong: Art Direction, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Match Point: Original Screenplay
• Memoirs of a Geisha: Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Mrs. Henderson Presents: Actress (Judi Dench), Costume Design
• Munich: Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing
• Paradise Now: Foreign Language Film
• Pride & Prejudice: Actress (Keira Knightley), Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Squid and the Whale: Original Screenplay
• Syriana: Supporting Actor (George Clooney) [O], Original Screenplay
• Transamerica: Actress (Felicity Huffman), Original Song (“Travelin’ Thru”)
• Walk the Line: Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Actress (Reese Witherspoon) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 12-14, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

2. Cast Away – $19,777,426 ($167,758,651 total) {week 4}
2. Traffic – $11,438,980 ($33,341,734 total) {week 3}
6. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $8,647,295 ($28,641,864 total) {week 6}
10. The Emperor’s New Groove – $7,840,544 ($71,484,885 total) {week 5}
13. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $3,058,452 ($7,348,420 total) {week 4}
15. Chocolat – $1,936,761 ($9,096,869 total) {week 5}
19. 102 Dalmatians – $1,164,895 ($62,608,326 total) {week 8}
22. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $538,065 ($258,833,760 total) {week 9}
24. Meet the Parents – $460,650 ($162,845,040 total) {week 15}
26. Quills – $472,207 ($5,002,987 total) {week 8}
27. Billy Elliot – $448,395 ($18,370,425 total) {week 14}
28. You Can Count on Me – $424,795 ($5,345,112 total) {week 10}
32. Malena – $206,643 ($1,048,362 total) {week 4}
35. Before Night Falls – $155,766 ($552,299 total) {week 4}
39. Shadow of the Vampire – $111,391 ($445,814 total) {week 3}
44. Requiem for a Dream – $70,180 ($3,075,031 total) {week 15}
54. Wonder Boys – $21,868 ($19,347,156 total) {week 47}
63. The Contender – $5,660 ($17,858,819 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Cast Away – $28,547,981 ($242,153,388 total)
2. Traffic – $16,511,743 ($48,127,556 total)
6. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $12,482,049 ($41,343,468 total)
10. The Emperor’s New Groove – $11,317,534 ($103,185,779 total)
13. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $4,414,762 ($10,607,172 total)
15. Chocolat – $2,795,643 ($13,130,993 total)
19. 102 Dalmatians – $1,681,483 ($90,372,796 total)
22. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $776,677 ($373,616,929 total)
24. Meet the Parents – $664,931 ($235,060,773 total)
26. Quills – $681,613 ($7,221,626 total)
27. Billy Elliot – $647,242 ($26,517,027 total)
28. You Can Count on Me – $613,176 ($7,715,471 total)
32. Malena – $298,282 ($1,513,272 total)
35. Before Night Falls – $224,842 ($797,223 total)
39. Shadow of the Vampire – $160,789 ($643,516 total)
44. Requiem for a Dream – $101,302 ($4,438,693 total)
54. Wonder Boys – $31,566 ($27,926,902 total)
63. The Contender – $8,170 ($25,778,543 total)

Oscar Details:

• 102 Dalmatians: Costume Design
• Before Night Falls: Actor (Javier Bardem)
• Billy Elliot: Directing, Supporting Actress (Julie Walters), Original Screenplay
• Cast Away: Actor (Tom Hanks), Sound
• Chocolat: Picture, Actress (Juliette Binoche), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• The Contender: Actress (Joan Allen), Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges)
• 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]
• Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• The Emperor’s New Groove: Original Song (“My Funny Friend and Me”)
• Malena: Original Score, Cinematography
• Meet the Parents: Original Song (“A Fool in Love”)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Cinematography
• Quills: Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Art Direction, Costume Design
• Requiem for a Dream: Actress (Ellen Burstyn)
• Shadow of the Vampire: Supporting Actor (Willem Dafoe), Makeup
• Traffic: Picture, Directing [O], Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing [O]
• Wonder Boys: Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Things Have Changed”), Editing
• You Can Count on Me: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 12-14, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

1. 12 Monkeys – $9,974,510 ($29,136,764 total) {week 3}
5. Toy Story – $5,873,864 ($168,257,728 total) {week 8}
12. Sabrina – $3,318,113 ($42,506,215 total) {week 5}
14. Sense and Sensibility – $1,837,671 ($9,345,101 total) {week 5}
15. Seven – $1,577,822 ($88,724,177 total) {week 17}
16. The American President – $1,473,957 ($56,257,872 total) {week 9}
18. Leaving Las Vegas – $1,385,962 ($4,843,272 total) {week 12}
21. Nixon – $1,177,791 ($12,152,675 total) {week 4}
999. Braveheart – $3,842 ($67,035,810 total) {week 34}
999. Dead Man Walking – $378,640 ($735,391 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. 12 Monkeys – $18,437,047 ($53,856,869 total)
5. Toy Story – $10,857,346 ($311,010,325 total)
12. Sabrina – $6,133,254 ($78,569,180 total)
14. Sense and Sensibility – $3,396,781 ($17,273,637 total)
15. Seven – $2,916,472 ($163,999,214 total)
16. The American President – $2,724,486 ($103,987,967 total)
18. Leaving Las Vegas – $2,561,835 ($8,952,383 total)
21. Nixon – $2,177,048 ($22,463,202 total)
999. Braveheart – $7,102 ($123,910,083 total)
999. Dead Man Walking – $699,884 ($1,359,309 total)

Oscar Details:

• 12 Monkeys: Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Costume Design
• The American President: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Braveheart: Picture [O], Directing [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Dead Man Walking: Directing, Actor (Sean Penn), Actress (Susan Sarandon) [O], Original Song (“Dead Man Walkin’”)
• Leaving Las Vegas: Directing, Actor (Nicolas Cage) [O], Actress (Elisabeth Shue), Adapted Screenplay
• Nixon: Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Supporting Actress (Joan Allen), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score
• Sabrina: Original Song (“Moonlight”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Sense and Sensibility: Picture, Actress (Emma Thompson), Supporting Actress (Kate Winslet), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Seven: Editing
• Toy Story: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 11-13, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

1. Home Alone – $9,813,012 ($181,405,541 total) {week 9}
2. Awakenings – $8,306,532 ($10,087,133 total) {week 4}
5. Dances With Wolves – $5,586,412 ($79,426,084 total) {week 10}
6. The Godfather, Part III – $4,315,158 ($51,784,117 total) {week 4}
8. Edward Scissorhands – $3,655,258 ($38,707,036 total) {week 6}
11. Misery – $2,068,992 ($48,164,210 total) {week 7}
14. Green Card – $1,537,294 ($1,958,578 total) {week 4}
15. Ghost – $1,016,724 ($209,695,386 total) {week 27}
999. Alice – $86,543 ($586,870 total) {week 4}
999. Hamlet – $113,339 ($774,790 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Home Alone – $19,043,304 ($352,038,781 total)
2. Awakenings – $16,119,802 ($19,575,268 total)
5. Dances With Wolves – $10,841,089 ($154,135,655 total)
6. The Godfather, Part III – $8,374,071 ($100,493,168 total)
8. Edward Scissorhands – $7,093,458 ($75,115,554 total)
11. Misery – $4,015,122 ($93,468,313 total)
14. Green Card – $2,983,300 ($3,800,851 total)
15. Ghost – $1,973,072 ($406,938,552 total)
999. Alice – $167,947 ($1,138,890 total)
999. Hamlet – $219,948 ($1,503,571 total)

Oscar Details:

• Alice: Original Screenplay
• Awakenings: Picture, Actor (Robert De Niro), Adapted Screenplay
• 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]
• Edward Scissorhands: Makeup
• Ghost: Picture, Supporting Actress (Whoopi Goldberg) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing
• The Godfather, Part III: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Andy Garcia), Original Song, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction
• Green Card: Original Screenplay
• Hamlet: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Home Alone: Original Song (“Somewhere in My Memory”), Original Score
• Misery: Actress (Kathy Bates) [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jan. 10-12, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Out of Africa – $5,137,370 ($34,249,287 total) {week 4}
5. The Color Purple – $3,126,757 ($18,810,736 total) {week 4}
6. White Nights – $2,792,363 ($33,744,993 total) {week 8}
10. A Chorus Line – $1,291,542 ($11,519,607 total) {week 5}
11. Back to the Future – $1,250,795 ($194,658,001 total) {week 28}
12. Young Sherlock Holmes – $1,212,472 ($16,975,615 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Out of Africa – $11,313,292 ($75,422,284 total)
5. The Color Purple – $6,885,608 ($41,424,181 total)
6. White Nights – $6,149,220 ($74,311,750 total)
10. A Chorus Line – $2,844,177 ($25,367,976 total)
11. Back to the Future – $2,754,446 ($428,667,350 total)
12. Young Sherlock Holmes – $2,670,053 ($37,382,958 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Power of Love’), Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• A Chorus Line: Original Song (“Surprise, Surprise”), Film Editing, Sound
• The Color Purple: Picture, Actress (Whoopi Goldberg), Supporting Actress (Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)”)
• Out of Africa: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actor (Klaus Maria Brandauer), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Sound [O]
• White Nights: Original Song (“Say You, Say Me” [O], “Separate Lives (Love Theme from “White Nights”)”)
• Young Sherlock Holmes: Visual Effects