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

Solo: A Star Wars Story (Wide)

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

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 24-26, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

3. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $37,291,016 ($146,117,582 total) {week 2}
5. Iron Man 3 – $19,324,592 ($367,407,116 total) {week 4}
6. The Great Gatsby – $13,543,283 ($114,270,174 total) {week 3}
9. The Croods – $1,219,930 ($179,243,218 total) {week 10}
18. Before Midnight – $246,914 ($246,914 total) {week 1}
22. Kon-Tiki – $163,639 ($664,136 total) {week 5}
54. Silver Linings Playbook – $17,734 ($132,071,150 total) {week 28}
56. No – $13,867 ($2,306,134 total) {week 15}
61. Life of Pi – $10,156 ($124,885,435 total) {week 27}
82. The Gatekeepers – $3,712 ($2,400,830 total) {week 17}
83. Searching for Sugar Man – $3,621 ($3,672,707 total) {week 44}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $40,960,489 ($161,214,602 total)
5. Iron Man 3 – $21,226,151 ($405,367,999 total)
6. The Great Gatsby – $14,875,955 ($126,076,686 total)
9. The Croods – $1,339,972 ($197,762,812 total)
18. Before Midnight – $271,211 ($272,425 total)
22. Kon-Tiki – $179,741 ($732,755 total)
54. Silver Linings Playbook – $19,479 ($145,716,878 total)
56. No – $15,232 ($2,544,406 total)
61. Life of Pi – $11,155 ($137,788,727 total)
82. The Gatekeepers – $4,077 ($2,648,886 total)
83. Searching for Sugar Man – $3,977 ($4,052,175 total)

Oscar Details:

• Before Midnight: Adapted Screenplay
• 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 23-25, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

3. Iron Man – $20,447,253 ($252,614,669 total) {week 4}
10. The Visitor – $724,183 ($4,375,408 total) {week 7}
25. The Counterfeiters – $102,199 ($5,012,534 total) {week 14}
56. In Bruges – $25,082 ($7,638,950 total) {week 16}
82. Juno – $5,044 ($143,459,962 total) {week 25}
119. Taxi to the Dark Side – $103 ($274,256 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Iron Man – $25,430,915 ($315,592,421 total)
10. The Visitor – $900,690 ($5,466,213 total)
25. The Counterfeiters – $127,108 ($6,262,177 total)
56. In Bruges – $31,195 ($9,543,368 total)
82. Juno – $6,273 ($179,225,050 total)
119. Taxi to the Dark Side – $128 ($342,629 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• Taxi to the Dark Side: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Visitor: Actor (Richard Jenkins)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 23-25, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

12. A Mighty Wind – $1,356,178 ($14,079,482 total) {week 6}
13. The Barbarian Invasions – $604,600 ($2,067,600 total) {week 3}
16. Chicago – $455,990 ($168,138,993 total) {week 22}
18. Nowhere in Africa – $298,482 ($3,887,498 total) {week 12}
20. Winged Migration – $244,656 ($814,947 total) {week 6}
26. Spellbound – $173,512 ($377,839 total) {week 4}
32. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $116,483 ($338,794,804 total) {week 23}
35. The Pianist – $78,241 ($32,426,410 total) {week 22}
40. The Man Without a Past – $54,195 ($588,681 total) {week 8}
43. City of God – $49,599 ($4,173,414 total) {week 19}
55. The Quiet American – $38,591 ($128,020,761 total) {week 27}
58. Bowling for Columbine – $39,156 ($21,363,913 total) {week 33}
65. About Schmidt – $24,660 ($65,010,106 total) {week 24}
98. Talk to Her – $5,584 ($9,273,503 total) {week 27}
117. Spirited Away – $1,606 ($9,957,083 total) {week 36}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

12. A Mighty Wind – $2,008,403 ($20,944,105 total)
13. The Barbarian Invasions – $895,369 ($3,075,684 total)
16. Chicago – $675,289 ($250,117,208 total)
18. Nowhere in Africa – $442,031 ($5,782,895 total)
20. Winged Migration – $362,318 ($1,212,284 total)
26. Spellbound – $256,959 ($562,059 total)
32. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $172,503 ($503,978,340 total)
35. The Pianist – $115,869 ($48,236,301 total)
40. The Man Without a Past – $80,259 ($875,700 total)
43. City of God – $73,453 ($6,208,213 total)
55. The Quiet American – $57,151 ($190,438,843 total)
58. Bowling for Columbine – $57,987 ($31,780,149 total)
65. About Schmidt – $36,520 ($96,706,576 total)
98. Talk to Her – $8,270 ($13,794,912 total)
117. Spirited Away – $2,378 ($14,811,780 total)

Oscar Details:

• About Schmidt: Actor (Jack Nicholson), Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates)
• The Barbarian Invasions: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• 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
• 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 22-24, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Horse Whisperer – $14,516,024 ($33,097,956 total) {week 2}
4. Bulworth – $10,515,839 ($10,744,176 total) {week 2}
5. Quest for Camelot – $6,309,793 ($13,771,480 total) {week 2}
7. Titanic – $2,970,044 ($576,357,353 total) {week 23}
13. As Good As It Gets – $368,652 ($146,566,220 total) {week 22}
999. Primary Colors – $198,915 ($38,231,557 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Horse Whisperer – $27,639,253 ($63,302,487 total)
4. Bulworth – $20,022,696 ($20,549,096 total)
5. Quest for Camelot – $12,014,169 ($26,339,057 total)
7. Titanic – $5,655,116 ($1,102,329,522 total)
13. As Good As It Gets – $701,932 ($280,319,615 total)
999. Primary Colors – $378,744 ($73,120,910 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 21-23, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

3. Dave – $7,876,242 ($29,210,262 total) {week 3}
999. A Few Good Men – $452,670 ($140,015,213 total) {week 24}
999. Scent of a Woman – $334,495 ($61,659,174 total) {week 22}
999. Unforgiven – $405,561 ($95,629,641 total) {week 42}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Dave – $16,989,092 ($63,288,901 total)
999. A Few Good Men – $976,411 ($303,366,295 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $721,507 ($133,594,877 total)
999. Unforgiven – $874,797 ($207,197,556 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 20-22, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Willow – $8,300,169 ($8,300,169 total) {week 1}
4. Beetlejuice – $2,722,643 ($58,821,309 total) {week 8}
6. Moonstruck – $1,176,006 ($73,972,593 total) {week 23}
10. The Last Emperor – $930,729 ($40,295,591 total) {week 27}
11. The Milagro Beanfield War – $820,182 ($10,219,461 total) {week 10}
12. Good Morning, Vietnam – $817,600 ($118,282,478 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Willow – $18,034,187 ($18,114,967 total)
4. Beetlejuice – $5,915,621 ($128,376,434 total)
6. Moonstruck – $2,555,166 ($161,443,834 total)
10. The Last Emperor – $2,022,241 ($87,944,392 total)
11. The Milagro Beanfield War – $1,782,050 ($22,303,787 total)
12. Good Morning, Vietnam – $1,776,440 ($258,149,350 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
• Willow: Sound Effects, Visual Effects

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 27-29, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Return of the Jedi – $23,019,618 ($33,660,398 total) {week 1}
2. Blue Thunder – $6,239,999 ($25,942,709 total) {week 3}
3. Flashdance – $4,667,930 ($36,586,389 total) {week 7}
6. Tootsie – $2,439,315 ($169,884,870 total) {week 24}
9. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $1,437,965 ($351,234,240 total) {week 51}
13. Gandhi – $827,377 ($51,669,867 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Return of the Jedi – $65,258,790 ($95,851,990 total)
2. Blue Thunder – $17,689,902 ($73,874,952 total)
3. Flashdance – $13,233,211 ($104,184,098 total)
6. Tootsie – $6,915,264 ($483,767,392 total)
9. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $4,076,517 ($1,000,181,312 total)
13. Gandhi – $2,345,548 ($147,136,097 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
• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• 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