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 16-18, 2014

Weekend Box Office:

8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $3,664,058 ($250,532,304 total) {week 7}
12. The Grand Budapest Hotel – $1,041,698 ($55,478,504 total) {week 11}
16. The Lego Movie – $524,598 ($254,342,250 total) {week 15}
32. Ida – $127,067 ($346,512 total) {week 3}
44. Finding Vivian Maier – $63,005 ($1,240,146 total) {week 8}
48. Frozen – $43,107 ($400,523,079 total) {week 26}
71. The Wind Rises – $4,830 ($5,201,879 total) {week 13}
78. Philomena – $3,716 ($37,707,719 total) {week 26}
105. The Missing Picture – $332 ($49,768 total) {week 9}
106. 20 Feet from Stardom – $220 ($4,945,359 total) {week 49}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $4,099,081 ($280,277,265 total)
12. The Grand Budapest Hotel – $1,165,376 ($62,065,303 total)
16. The Lego Movie – $586,882 ($284,539,555 total)
32. Ida – $142,153 ($387,652 total)
44. Finding Vivian Maier – $70,485 ($1,387,385 total)
48. Frozen – $48,225 ($448,076,003 total)
71. The Wind Rises – $5,403 ($5,819,483 total)
78. Philomena – $4,157 ($42,184,645 total)
105. The Missing Picture – $371 ($55,677 total)
106. 20 Feet from Stardom – $246 ($5,532,507 total)

Oscar Details:

• 20 Feet from Stardom: Documentary Feature [O]
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier: Visual Effects
• Finding Vivian Maier: Documentary Feature
• Frozen: Animated Feature [O], Original Song (“Let It Go”) [O]
• The Grand Budapest Hotel: Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup and Hairstyling [O]
• Ida: Cinematography, Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Lego Movie: Original Song (“Everything Is Awesome”)
• The Missing Picture: Foreign Language Film
• Philomena: Picture, Actress (Judi Dench), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• The Wind Rises: Animated Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 15-17, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

2. Star Trek – $43,034,547 ($147,645,384 total) {week 2}
47. Coraline – $33,277 ($75,113,789 total) {week 15}
50. Paris 36 – $28,618 ($744,626 total) {week 7}
58. Il Divo – $20,340 ($106,875 total) {week 4}
67. Slumdog Millionaire – $10,537 ($141,307,689 total) {week 27}
68. Revanche – $10,533 ($70,760 total) {week 3}
69. The Class – $8,610 ($3,746,977 total) {week 22}
84. 12 – $4,627 ($116,066 total) {week 11}
86. Katyn – $4,120 ($114,763 total) {week 13}
95. The Garden – $2,070 ($20,702 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Star Trek – $52,444,768 ($179,930,508 total)
47. Coraline – $40,554 ($91,538,671 total)
50. Paris 36 – $34,876 ($907,451 total)
58. Il Divo – $24,788 ($130,245 total)
67. Slumdog Millionaire – $12,841 ($172,206,970 total)
68. Revanche – $12,836 ($86,233 total)
69. The Class – $10,493 ($4,566,316 total)
84. 12 – $5,639 ($141,446 total)
86. Katyn – $5,021 ($139,858 total)
95. The Garden – $2,523 ($25,229 total)

Oscar Details:

• 12: Foreign Language Film
• The Class: Foreign Language Film
• Coraline: Animated Feature
• Il Divo: Makeup
• The Garden: Documentary Feature
• Katyn: Foreign Language Film
• Paris 36: Original Song (“Loin de Paname”)
• Revanche: Foreign Language Film
• Slumdog Millionaire: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Jai Ho”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing
• Star Trek: Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 14-16, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. Troy – $46,865,412 ($46,865,412 total) {week 1}
12. Super Size Me – $759,182 ($1,525,154 total) {week 2}
19. The Passion of the Christ – $500,606 ($368,894,610 total) {week 12}
20. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $413,483 ($32,399,781 total) {week 9}
40. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $92,571 ($376,853,002 total) {week 22}
64. My Architect – $35,915 ($2,504,808 total) {week 27}
66. Mystic River – $32,993 ($90,102,772 total) {week 32}
71. The Twilight Samurai – $28,858 ($101,937 total) {week 4}
78. The Triplets of Belleville – $21,974 ($6,898,025 total) {week 25}
99. Monster – $8,296 ($34,445,894 total) {week 21}
109. City of God – $6,072 ($7,522,317 total) {week 70}
110. In America – $6,061 ($15,524,576 total) {week 25}
117. The Fog of War – $5,104 ($4,193,943 total) {week 22}
159. The Weather Underground – $323 ($558,699 total) {week 50}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Troy – $68,977,434 ($68,977,434 total)
12. Super Size Me – $1,117,379 ($2,244,752 total)
19. The Passion of the Christ – $736,802 ($542,946,334 total)
20. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $608,572 ($47,686,634 total)
40. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $136,248 ($554,659,652 total)
64. My Architect – $52,860 ($3,686,626 total)
66. Mystic River – $48,560 ($132,615,030 total)
71. The Twilight Samurai – $42,474 ($150,033 total)
78. The Triplets of Belleville – $32,342 ($10,152,649 total)
99. Monster – $12,210 ($50,698,144 total)
109. City of God – $8,937 ($11,071,494 total)
110. In America – $8,921 ($22,849,376 total)
117. The Fog of War – $7,512 ($6,172,728 total)
159. The Weather Underground – $475 ($822,304 total)

Oscar Details:

• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Actress (Kate Winslet), Original Screenplay [O]
• The Fog of War: Documentary Feature [O]
• In America: Actress (Samantha Morton), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Original Screenplay
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Into the West”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound Mixing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Monster: Actress (Charlize Theron) [O]
• My Architect: Documentary Feature
• Mystic River: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) [O], Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), Adapted Screenplay
• The Passion of the Christ : Original Score, Cinematography, Makeup
• Super Size Me : Documentary Feature
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
• Troy: Costume Design
• The Twilight Samurai: Foreign Language Film
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 14-16, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Mummy – $24,856,320 ($80,580,605 total) {week 2}
3. The Matrix – $4,548,484 ($145,138,521 total) {week 7}
6. Life – $2,864,520 ($55,320,650 total) {week 5}
9. Election – $2,266,891 ($7,015,155 total) {week 4}
13. Shakespeare in Love – $710,352 ($94,956,844 total) {week 23}
14. Life Is Beautiful – $626,655 ($55,104,440 total) {week 30}
35. Saving Private Ryan – $143,582 ($215,947,236 total) {week 43}
43. The Prince of Egypt – $72,569 ($101,257,900 total) {week 22}
54. Patch Adams – $41,428 ($134,921,873 total) {week 21}
55. Gods and Monsters – $40,903 ($6,347,503 total) {week 28}
999. A Bug’s Life – $16,932 ($162,792,677 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Mummy – $44,721,804 ($144,981,640 total)
3. The Matrix – $8,183,690 ($261,135,056 total)
6. Life – $5,153,880 ($99,533,610 total)
9. Election – $4,078,619 ($12,621,755 total)
13. Shakespeare in Love – $1,278,074 ($170,847,550 total)
14. Life Is Beautiful – $1,127,486 ($99,144,603 total)
35. Saving Private Ryan – $258,335 ($388,534,988 total)
43. The Prince of Egypt – $130,567 ($182,184,489 total)
54. Patch Adams – $74,538 ($242,753,134 total)
55. Gods and Monsters – $73,593 ($11,420,507 total)
999. A Bug’s Life – $30,464 ($292,898,635 total)

Oscar Details:

• A Bug’s Life: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Election: Adapted Screenplay
• Gods and Monsters: Actor (Ian McKellen), Supporting Actress (Lynn Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Life: Makeup
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Matrix : Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Mummy : Sound
• Patch Adams: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• The Prince of Egypt: Original Song (“When You Believe”) [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Saving Private Ryan: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• Shakespeare in Love: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 20-22, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Maverick – $17,248,545 ($17,248,545 total) {week 1}
5. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $1,912,615 ($37,155,329 total) {week 11}
12. Schindler’s List – $516,055 ($91,967,458 total) {week 23}
14. Philadelphia – $440,747 ($75,388,646 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Maverick – $37,715,718 ($37,715,718 total)
5. Four Weddings and a Funeral – $4,182,129 ($81,243,949 total)
12. Schindler’s List – $1,128,407 ($201,096,308 total)
14. Philadelphia – $963,739 ($164,845,030 total)

Oscar Details:

• Four Weddings and a Funeral: Picture, Original Screenplay
• Maverick: Costume Design
• Philadelphia: Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Philadelphia”), Original Song (“Streets of Philadelphia”) [O]
• Schindler’s List: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Liam Neeson), Supporting Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup, Sound

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 19-21, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

3. Field of Dreams – $5,081,160 ($23,319,961 total) {week 5}
7. Rain Man – $1,066,269 ($163,734,621 total) {week 23}
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $189,775 ($6,701,207 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Field of Dreams – $11,698,187 ($53,688,777 total)
7. Rain Man – $2,454,836 ($376,960,815 total)
999. The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen – $436,913 ($15,427,968 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen : Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Visual Effects
• Field of Dreams: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Rain Man: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Dustin Hoffman) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 18-20, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Natural – $5,423,233 ($12,656,951 total) {week 2}
3. Romancing the Stone – $3,531,769 ($48,994,662 total) {week 8}
8. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $1,440,242 ($39,574,834 total) {week 8}
9. Footloose – $1,279,264 ($69,599,398 total) {week 14}
11. Splash – $1,047,496 ($58,341,525 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Natural – $14,752,485 ($34,429,920 total)
3. Romancing the Stone – $9,607,253 ($133,277,146 total)
8. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes – $3,917,801 ($107,652,971 total)
9. Footloose – $3,479,903 ($189,326,934 total)
11. Splash – $2,849,439 ($158,702,839 total)

Oscar Details:

• Footloose: Original Song (“Footloose”, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy”)
• Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes: Supporting Actor (Ralph Richardson), Adapted Screenplay, Makeup
• The Natural : Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction
• Romancing the Stone: Editing
• Splash: Original Screenplay