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

Alien: Covenant (Wide)

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

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 18-20, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

1. Marvel’s The Avengers – $55,644,102 ($457,665,517 total) {week 3}
10. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $1,578,632 ($25,490,136 total) {week 4}
18. Mirror Mirror – $403,814 ($61,551,236 total) {week 8}
30. Monsieur Lazhar – $91,710 ($1,287,356 total) {week 6}
45. Footnote – $31,840 ($1,851,573 total) {week 11}
49. The Artist – $26,842 ($44,549,451 total) {week 26}
74. A Separation – $7,846 ($7,063,236 total) {week 21}
84. Undefeated – $4,098 ($548,470 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Marvel’s The Avengers – $57,112,100 ($469,739,607 total)
10. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $1,620,279 ($26,162,614 total)
18. Mirror Mirror – $414,467 ($63,175,075 total)
30. Monsieur Lazhar – $94,129 ($1,321,319 total)
45. Footnote – $32,680 ($1,900,421 total)
49. The Artist – $27,550 ($45,724,751 total)
74. A Separation – $8,053 ($7,249,578 total)
84. Undefeated – $4,206 ($562,940 total)

Oscar Details:

• Marvel’s The Avengers – $57,112,100 ($469,739,607 total)
• The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $1,620,279 ($26,162,614 total)
• Mirror Mirror – $414,467 ($63,175,075 total)
• Monsieur Lazhar – $94,129 ($1,321,319 total)
• Footnote – $32,680 ($1,900,421 total)
• The Artist – $27,550 ($45,724,751 total)
• A Separation – $8,053 ($7,249,578 total)
• Undefeated – $4,206 ($562,940 total)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 18-20, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

14. Away from Her – $691,649 ($1,332,833 total) {week 3}
26. The Lives of Others – $172,924 ($9,951,853 total) {week 15}
36. After the Wedding – $94,179 ($1,028,927 total) {week 8}
45. Once – $61,901 ($71,464 total) {week 1}
63. Pan’s Labyrinth – $20,229 ($37,579,971 total) {week 21}
103. The Last King of Scotland – $1,798 ($17,605,861 total) {week 34}
113. Notes on a Scandal – $1,214 ($17,508,670 total) {week 22}
114. Iraq in Fragments – $1,099 ($197,234 total) {week 28}
118. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $688 ($334,687 total) {week 14}
121. Volver – $471 ($12,899,702 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

14. Away from Her – $821,333 ($1,582,739 total)
26. The Lives of Others – $205,347 ($11,817,825 total)
36. After the Wedding – $111,838 ($1,221,851 total)
45. Once – $73,507 ($84,864 total)
63. Pan’s Labyrinth – $24,022 ($44,626,216 total)
103. The Last King of Scotland – $2,135 ($20,906,960 total)
113. Notes on a Scandal – $1,442 ($20,791,546 total)
114. Iraq in Fragments – $1,305 ($234,215 total)
118. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $817 ($397,441 total)
121. Volver – $559 ($15,318,396 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
• 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
• Once: Original Song [O]
• Pan’s Labyrinth: Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Makeup [O], Foreign Language Film
• Volver: Actress (Penelope Cruz)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 17-19, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

1. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $80,027,814 ($110,169,285 total) {week 1}
2. Spider-Man – $45,036,912 ($285,573,668 total) {week 3}
3. Unfaithful – $10,013,104 ($29,535,202 total) {week 2}
4. About a Boy – $8,557,630 ($8,557,630 total) {week 1}
10. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $1,135,207 ($5,669,706 total) {week 5}
11. Ice Age – $1,057,726 ($72,369,005 total) {week 10}
14. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $597,585 ($10,235,525 total) {week 10}
18. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $411,515 ($310,078,970 total) {week 22}
27. A Beautiful Mind – $171,405 ($170,498,541 total) {week 22}
29. Monster’s Ball – $114,605 ($30,998,671 total) {week 21}
38. Amelie – $73,800 ($32,921,581 total) {week 29}
39. The Time Machine – $72,523 ($56,684,819 total) {week 11}
40. Gosford Park – $67,905 ($41,192,760 total) {week 21}
46. Monsters, Inc. – $44,509 ($253,178,588 total) {week 29}
50. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $38,455 ($317,557,891 total) {week 27}
51. The Royal Tenenbaums – $36,349 ($52,200,456 total) {week 23}
64. Son of the Bride – $19,965 ($359,603 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $112,534,809 ($154,919,631 total)
2. Spider-Man – $63,330,735 ($401,572,611 total)
3. Unfaithful – $14,080,389 ($41,532,289 total)
4. About a Boy – $12,033,707 ($12,033,707 total)
10. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $1,596,324 ($7,972,719 total)
11. Ice Age – $1,487,370 ($101,765,021 total)
14. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $840,322 ($14,393,156 total)
18. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $578,671 ($436,031,873 total)
27. A Beautiful Mind – $241,029 ($239,754,403 total)
29. Monster’s Ball – $161,157 ($43,590,214 total)
38. Amelie – $103,777 ($46,294,203 total)
39. The Time Machine – $101,982 ($79,709,978 total)
40. Gosford Park – $95,488 ($57,925,103 total)
46. Monsters, Inc. – $62,588 ($356,018,772 total)
50. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $54,075 ($446,548,704 total)
51. The Royal Tenenbaums – $51,114 ($73,404,084 total)
64. Son of the Bride – $28,075 ($505,672 total)

Oscar Details:

• About a Boy: Adapted Screenplay
• 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
• 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
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• The Royal Tenenbaums: Original Screenplay
• Son of the Bride: Foreign Language Film
• Spider-Man: Sound, Visual Effects
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones: Visual Effects
• The Time Machine: Makeup
• Unfaithful: Actress (Diane Lane)
• Y Tu Mama Tambien: Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 16-18, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Fifth Element – $11,410,863 ($34,213,330 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Fifth Element – $20,310,839 ($60,898,237 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Fifth Element: Sound Editing

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 15-17, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

2. Basic Instinct – $3,044,895 ($93,721,689 total) {week 9}
5. The Player – $1,539,745 ($9,752,053 total) {week 6}
7. My Cousin Vinny – $1,052,375 ($45,960,317 total) {week 10}
999. Hook – $103,458 ($118,876,789 total) {week 23}
999. Howards End – $299,864 ($2,578,490 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Basic Instinct – $5,994,408 ($184,507,518 total)
5. The Player – $3,031,257 ($19,198,620 total)
7. My Cousin Vinny – $2,071,784 ($90,480,913 total)
999. Hook – $203,675 ($234,029,727 total)
999. Howards End – $590,335 ($5,076,208 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 15-17, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

5. Lethal Weapon – $1,373,387 ($57,115,467 total) {week 11}
7. Platoon – $1,185,238 ($127,551,060 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Lethal Weapon – $2,869,711 ($119,343,572 total)
7. Platoon – $2,476,571 ($266,519,734 total)

Oscar Details:

• Lethal Weapon: Sound
• Platoon: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe), Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 14-16, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

6. Chariots of Fire – $1,378,032 ($49,113,957 total) {week 34}
7. Victor/Victoria – $1,185,550 ($16,016,573 total) {week 9}
9. On Golden Pond – $718,469 ($103,559,412 total) {week 24}
12. Quest for Fire – $379,301 ($20,050,296 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Chariots of Fire – $3,829,429 ($136,483,343 total)
7. Victor/Victoria – $3,294,539 ($44,508,640 total)
9. On Golden Pond – $1,996,562 ($287,782,448 total)
12. Quest for Fire – $1,054,044 ($55,717,999 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