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

Deadpool 2 (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Original Song.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 17-19, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

1. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $70,165,559 ($83,701,981 total) {week 1}
2. Iron Man 3 – $35,770,094 ($337,661,977 total) {week 3}
3. The Great Gatsby – $23,939,228 ($90,682,832 total) {week 2}
5. The Croods – $3,024,602 ($177,024,785 total) {week 9}
24. Kon-Tiki – $157,117 ($419,738 total) {week 4}
40. Silver Linings Playbook – $47,033 ($132,028,680 total) {week 27}
46. Life of Pi – $30,142 ($124,863,505 total) {week 26}
55. No – $17,155 ($2,276,226 total) {week 14}
76. The Gatekeepers – $7,250 ($2,391,849 total) {week 16}
87. Searching for Sugar Man – $3,561 ($3,667,230 total) {week 43}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $77,069,919 ($92,350,156 total)
2. Iron Man 3 – $39,289,906 ($372,549,561 total)
3. The Great Gatsby – $26,294,872 ($100,052,276 total)
5. The Croods – $3,322,226 ($195,315,169 total)
24. Kon-Tiki – $172,577 ($463,106 total)
40. Silver Linings Playbook – $51,661 ($145,670,020 total)
46. Life of Pi – $33,108 ($137,764,531 total)
55. No – $18,843 ($2,511,408 total)
76. The Gatekeepers – $7,963 ($2,638,977 total)
87. Searching for Sugar Man – $3,911 ($4,046,132 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Croods: Animated Feature
• 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
• Star Trek: Into Darkness: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 16-18, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

2. Iron Man – $31,838,996 ($223,124,385 total) {week 3}
10. The Visitor – $672,448 ($3,388,821 total) {week 6}
27. The Counterfeiters – $124,370 ($4,848,835 total) {week 13}
56. In Bruges – $28,587 ($7,598,782 total) {week 15}
93. Persepolis – $3,954 ($4,443,403 total) {week 21}
105. Juno – $2,476 ($143,453,030 total) {week 24}
112. Taxi to the Dark Side – $1,557 ($273,502 total) {week 18}
125. Beaufort – $665 ($99,569 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Iron Man – $39,599,197 ($278,750,102 total)
10. The Visitor – $836,345 ($4,233,666 total)
27. The Counterfeiters – $154,683 ($6,057,667 total)
56. In Bruges – $35,555 ($9,493,186 total)
93. Persepolis – $4,918 ($5,551,159 total)
105. Juno – $3,079 ($179,216,390 total)
112. Taxi to the Dark Side – $1,936 ($341,687 total)
125. Beaufort – $827 ($124,392 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 16-18, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

9. A Mighty Wind – $1,692,463 ($12,097,256 total) {week 5}
12. Chicago – $572,963 ($167,440,667 total) {week 21}
14. The Barbarian Invasions – $358,940 ($1,214,381 total) {week 2}
21. Nowhere in Africa – $244,645 ($3,491,494 total) {week 11}
26. Winged Migration – $139,896 ($503,660 total) {week 5}
33. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $101,515 ($338,622,570 total) {week 22}
34. The Pianist – $97,837 ($32,296,785 total) {week 21}
39. Spellbound – $82,444 ($157,393 total) {week 3}
50. The Quiet American – $50,401 ($12,744,265 total) {week 26}
51. City of God – $39,804 ($4,098,630 total) {week 18}
53. The Man Without a Past – $38,849 ($525,229 total) {week 7}
56. About Schmidt – $35,870 ($64,962,450 total) {week 23}
64. Bowling for Columbine – $29,513 ($21,305,285 total) {week 32}
74. Adaptation. – $19,406 ($22,498,520 total) {week 24}
80. The Hours – $14,549 ($41,597,830 total) {week 21}
87. Talk to Her – $10,251 ($9,266,817 total) {week 26}
92. Catch Me If You Can – $8,800 ($164,606,800 total) {week 21}
109. Frida – $4,450 ($25,876,500 total) {week 30}
122. Spirited Away – $3,014 ($9,955,093 total) {week 35}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. A Mighty Wind – $2,506,417 ($17,995,421 total)
12. Chicago – $848,517 ($249,078,405 total)
14. The Barbarian Invasions – $531,565 ($1,806,467 total)
21. Nowhere in Africa – $362,302 ($5,193,814 total)
26. Winged Migration – $207,176 ($749,226 total)
33. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $150,336 ($503,722,131 total)
34. The Pianist – $144,890 ($48,043,476 total)
39. Spellbound – $122,094 ($234,132 total)
50. The Quiet American – $74,640 ($18,957,887 total)
51. City of God – $58,947 ($6,096,967 total)
53. The Man Without a Past – $57,533 ($781,311 total)
56. About Schmidt – $53,121 ($96,635,684 total)
64. Bowling for Columbine – $43,707 ($31,692,936 total)
74. Adaptation. – $28,739 ($33,467,948 total)
80. The Hours – $21,546 ($61,879,359 total)
87. Talk to Her – $15,181 ($13,784,967 total)
92. Catch Me If You Can – $13,032 ($244,862,852 total)
109. Frida – $6,590 ($38,492,903 total)
122. Spirited Away – $4,464 ($14,808,820 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]
• 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 15-17, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Horse Whisperer – $13,685,488 ($13,685,488 total) {week 1}
3. Quest for Camelot – $6,041,602 ($6,041,602 total) {week 1}
6. Titanic – $2,112,302 ($572,713,894 total) {week 22}
999. As Good As It Gets – $338,995 ($146,085,411 total) {week 21}
999. Bulworth – $141,816 ($141,816 total) {week 1}
999. Primary Colors – $237,695 ($37,939,277 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Horse Whisperer – $26,057,869 ($26,174,590 total)
3. Quest for Camelot – $11,503,519 ($11,555,047 total)
6. Titanic – $4,021,931 ($1,095,361,115 total)
999. As Good As It Gets – $645,464 ($279,400,029 total)
999. Bulworth – $270,025 ($271,234 total)
999. Primary Colors – $452,583 ($72,561,901 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Bulworth: Original Screenplay
• The Horse Whisperer: Original Song (“A Soft Place to Fall”)
• Primary Colors: Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates), Adapted Screenplay
• Quest for Camelot: Original Song (“The Prayer”)
• 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 14-16, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. Dave – $8,506,834 ($18,430,562 total) {week 2}
13. Scent of a Woman – $531,225 ($61,102,894 total) {week 21}
14. A Few Good Men – $502,193 ($139,414,478 total) {week 23}
999. Unforgiven – $507,261 ($95,072,102 total) {week 41}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Dave – $18,349,282 ($39,932,884 total)
13. Scent of a Woman – $1,145,855 ($132,389,604 total)
14. A Few Good Men – $1,083,233 ($302,064,702 total)
999. Unforgiven – $1,094,164 ($205,989,554 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 13-15, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

3. Beetlejuice – $3,056,692 ($55,184,189 total) {week 7}
8. Moonstruck – $1,097,858 ($72,324,513 total) {week 22}
9. The Last Emperor – $1,055,977 ($38,914,923 total) {week 26}
10. The Milagro Beanfield War – $785,625 ($9,054,107 total) {week 9}
11. Good Morning, Vietnam – $737,282 ($115,908,857 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Beetlejuice – $6,641,426 ($120,438,485 total)
8. Moonstruck – $2,385,370 ($157,846,930 total)
9. The Last Emperor – $2,294,373 ($84,931,109 total)
10. The Milagro Beanfield War – $1,706,966 ($19,760,423 total)
11. Good Morning, Vietnam – $1,601,929 ($252,968,965 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beetlejuice: Makeup [O]
• Good Morning, Vietnam: Actor (Robin Williams)
• 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

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 20-22, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

2. Blue Thunder – $6,153,893 ($17,478,900 total) {week 2}
4. Flashdance – $3,524,875 ($30,357,538 total) {week 6}
9. Tootsie – $1,221,666 ($166,914,703 total) {week 23}
10. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $798,984 ($349,527,852 total) {week 50}
11. Gandhi – $582,746 ($50,498,856 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Blue Thunder – $17,445,798 ($49,773,249 total)
4. Flashdance – $9,992,741 ($86,446,703 total)
9. Tootsie – $3,463,326 ($475,309,488 total)
10. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $2,265,056 ($995,322,169 total)
11. Gandhi – $1,652,039 ($143,801,504 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