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

Ant-Man and the Wasp (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 5-7, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

1. Despicable Me 2 – $83,517,315 ($143,074,960 total) {week 1}
2. The Lone Ranger – $29,210,849 ($48,715,010 total) {week 1}
11. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $1,310,448 ($223,065,011 total) {week 8}
15. 20 Feet from Stardom – $483,959 ($1,075,529 total) {week 4}
16. Iron Man 3 – $481,668 ($406,410,987 total) {week 10}
17. Before Midnight – $478,870 ($6,576,894 total) {week 7}
22. The Croods – $342,343 ($185,125,189 total) {week 16}
26. The Great Gatsby – $284,286 ($142,907,904 total) {week 9}
49. Kon-Tiki – $24,636 ($1,406,292 total) {week 11}
60. Dirty Wars – $12,004 ($313,126 total) {week 5}
85. Searching for Sugar Man – $841 ($3,689,695 total) {week 50}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Despicable Me 2 – $91,735,501 ($157,857,613 total)
2. The Lone Ranger – $32,085,225 ($53,748,295 total)
11. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $1,439,397 ($246,112,318 total)
15. 20 Feet from Stardom – $531,581 ($1,186,654 total)
16. Iron Man 3 – $529,065 ($448,401,790 total)
17. Before Midnight – $525,991 ($7,256,425 total)
22. The Croods – $376,030 ($204,252,515 total)
26. The Great Gatsby – $312,260 ($157,673,296 total)
49. Kon-Tiki – $27,060 ($1,551,592 total)
60. Dirty Wars – $13,185 ($345,479 total)
85. Searching for Sugar Man – $924 ($4,070,918 total)

Oscar Details:

• 20 Feet from Stardom: Documentary Feature [O]
• Before Midnight: Adapted Screenplay
• The Croods: Animated Feature
• Despicable Me 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Happy”)
• Dirty Wars: Documentary Feature
• The Great Gatsby: Production Design [O], Costume Design [O]
• Iron Man 3: Visual Effects
• Kon-Tiki: Foreign Language Film
• The Lone Ranger: Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects
• Searching for Sugar Man: Documentary Feature [O]
• Star Trek: Into Darkness: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 4-6, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

2. WALL-E – $32,509,203 ($127,196,028 total) {week 2}
3. Wanted – $20,050,070 ($90,186,395 total) {week 2}
5. Kung Fu Panda – $7,318,635 ($193,221,867 total) {week 5}
12. Iron Man – $1,459,613 ($311,708,133 total) {week 10}
14. Mongol – $765,120 ($3,472,331 total) {week 5}
16. The Visitor – $337,105 ($8,131,561 total) {week 13}
36. Encounters at the End of the World – $74,100 ($243,275 total) {week 4}
55. The Counterfeiters – $18,418 ($5,415,429 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. WALL-E – $40,432,755 ($158,906,458 total)
3. Wanted – $24,936,926 ($112,670,190 total)
5. Kung Fu Panda – $9,102,425 ($241,392,778 total)
12. Iron Man – $1,815,368 ($389,418,099 total)
14. Mongol – $951,605 ($4,337,996 total)
16. The Visitor – $419,268 ($10,158,789 total)
36. Encounters at the End of the World – $92,161 ($303,924 total)
55. The Counterfeiters – $22,907 ($6,765,515 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Encounters at the End of the World: Documentary Feature
• Iron Man: Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Kung Fu Panda: Animated Feature
• Mongol: Foreign Language Film
• The Visitor: Actor (Richard Jenkins)
• WALL-E: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Down to Earth”), Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Wanted: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 4-6, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

4. Finding Nemo – $11,059,141 ($274,936,974 total) {week 6}
13. Whale Rider – $1,242,123 ($4,140,861 total) {week 5}
19. Winged Migration – $439,461 ($4,122,580 total) {week 12}
21. Spellbound – $334,626 ($3,142,829 total) {week 10}
25. Capturing the Friedmans – $257,718 ($1,509,453 total) {week 6}
30. Nowhere in Africa – $133,222 ($5,407,957 total) {week 18}
38. A Mighty Wind – $75,276 ($17,336,014 total) {week 12}
40. Chicago – $62,180 ($169,580,881 total) {week 28}
46. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $50,890 ($339,554,276 total) {week 29}
47. The Barbarian Invasions – $50,019 ($4,111,692 total) {week 9}
60. The Man Without a Past – $20,370 ($826,835 total) {week 14}
68. Bowling for Columbine – $14,898 ($21,512,004 total) {week 39}
69. City of God – $14,150 ($4,440,831 total) {week 25}
86. The Quiet American – $8,080 ($12,940,345 total) {week 33}
94. The Weather Underground – $5,633 ($80,405 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Finding Nemo – $16,377,799 ($408,985,847 total)
13. Whale Rider – $1,839,496 ($6,159,788 total)
19. Winged Migration – $650,810 ($6,132,594 total)
21. Spellbound – $495,557 ($4,675,154 total)
25. Capturing the Friedmans – $381,662 ($2,245,405 total)
30. Nowhere in Africa – $197,292 ($8,044,672 total)
38. A Mighty Wind – $111,478 ($25,788,399 total)
40. Chicago – $92,084 ($252,262,107 total)
46. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $75,364 ($505,108,102 total)
47. The Barbarian Invasions – $74,075 ($6,116,398 total)
60. The Man Without a Past – $30,167 ($1,229,968 total)
68. Bowling for Columbine – $22,063 ($32,000,444 total)
69. City of God – $20,955 ($6,606,012 total)
86. The Quiet American – $11,966 ($19,249,568 total)
94. The Weather Underground – $8,342 ($119,607 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Barbarian Invasions: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• Capturing the Friedmans: Documentary Feature
• 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
• Finding Nemo: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Editing
• 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 Quiet American: Actor (Michael Caine)
• Spellbound: Documentary Feature
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature
• Whale Rider: Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes)
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 3-5, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. Armageddon – $36,089,972 ($54,202,675 total) {week 1}
3. Mulan – $11,476,524 ($76,990,629 total) {week 3}
4. Out of Sight – $6,578,475 ($23,152,880 total) {week 2}
6. The Truman Show – $6,008,506 ($109,791,466 total) {week 5}
10. The Horse Whisperer – $1,341,274 ($68,946,418 total) {week 8}
15. Titanic – $623,930 ($588,205,118 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Armageddon – $68,717,154 ($103,666,950 total)
3. Mulan – $21,851,889 ($147,250,734 total)
4. Out of Sight – $12,525,753 ($44,281,734 total)
6. The Truman Show – $11,440,503 ($209,984,957 total)
10. The Horse Whisperer – $2,553,854 ($131,865,537 total)
15. Titanic – $1,187,995 ($1,124,989,320 total)

Oscar Details:

• Armageddon: Original Song (“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”), Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• The Horse Whisperer: Original Song (“A Soft Place to Fall”)
• Mulan: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Out of Sight: Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• 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]
• The Truman Show: Director, Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Original Screenplay

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 2-4, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Firm – $25,400,000 ($25,400,000 total) {week 1}
2. Jurassic Park – $18,969,605 ($205,732,720 total) {week 4}
3. Sleepless in Seattle – $16,102,858 ($43,250,097 total) {week 2}
8. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $5,747,021 ($21,688,636 total) {week 4}
9. Cliffhanger – $2,920,110 ($70,463,381 total) {week 6}
13. Dave – $1,148,766 ($60,184,364 total) {week 9}
999. Scent of a Woman – $42,030 ($62,675,294 total) {week 28}
999. Unforgiven – $184,732 ($100,902,316 total) {week 48}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Firm – $54,787,923 ($55,033,333 total)
2. Jurassic Park – $40,917,530 ($445,754,227 total)
3. Sleepless in Seattle – $34,733,942 ($93,708,544 total)
8. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $12,396,352 ($46,992,045 total)
9. Cliffhanger – $6,298,691 ($152,670,659 total)
13. Dave – $2,477,894 ($130,399,455 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $90,659 ($135,796,470 total)
999. Unforgiven – $398,468 ($218,621,685 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cliffhanger: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• Dave: Original Screenplay
• The Firm: Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter), Original Score
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Scent of a Woman: Picture, Director, Actor (Al Pacino) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Sleepless in Seattle: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“A Wink and a Smile”)
• Unforgiven: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound
• What’s Love Got to Do With It: Actor (Laurence Fishburne), Actress (Angela Bassett)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 1-3, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Coming to America – $21,404,420 ($21,404,420 total) {week 1}
2. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $14,517,442 ($37,228,575 total) {week 2}
3. Big – $6,579,177 ($53,018,246 total) {week 5}
4. Bull Durham – $5,315,668 ($21,847,681 total) {week 3}
9. Willow – $2,525,974 ($43,623,457 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Coming to America – $46,506,441 ($46,714,756 total)
2. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $31,542,763 ($81,250,686 total)
3. Big – $14,294,903 ($115,711,354 total)
4. Bull Durham – $11,549,614 ($47,682,165 total)
9. Willow – $5,488,308 ($95,207,399 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• Bull Durham: Original Screenplay
• Coming to America: Costume Design, Makeup
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Animation Direction, Richard Williams)
• Willow: Sound Effects, Visual Effects

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul 8-10, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. Return of the Jedi – $7,337,926 ($165,172,584 total) {week 7}
2. Trading Places – $4,759,835 ($46,265,956 total) {week 5}
6. WarGames – $3,329,329 ($41,712,327 total) {week 6}
9. Flashdance – $2,279,134 ($58,254,882 total) {week 13}
12. Blue Thunder – $865,372 ($40,957,276 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Return of the Jedi – $20,802,438 ($470,348,596 total)
2. Trading Places – $13,493,754 ($131,747,818 total)
6. WarGames – $9,438,383 ($118,780,817 total)
9. Flashdance – $6,461,164 ($165,887,712 total)
12. Blue Thunder – $2,453,261 ($116,630,719 total)

Oscar Details:

• Blue Thunder: Editing
• Flashdance: Original Song (“Flashdance…What a Feeling”) [O], Original Song (“Maniac”), Editing, Cinematography
• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• Trading Places: Original Song Score
• WarGames: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound