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

War for the Planet of the Apes (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 13-15, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

3. Ted – $22,410,855 ($159,257,250 total) {week 3}
4. Brave – $11,160,522 ($196,061,319 total) {week 4}
9. Moonrise Kingdom – $3,704,507 ($32,483,002 total) {week 8}
12. Marvel’s The Avengers – $1,398,754 ($613,660,486 total) {week 11}
13. Snow White and the Huntsman – $1,022,270 ($151,630,800 total) {week 7}
14. Prometheus – $978,655 ($124,307,416 total) {week 6}
17. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $790,535 ($1,692,675 total) {week 3}
32. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $174,655 ($30,466,672 total) {week 12}
44. Mirror Mirror – $50,829 ($64,757,064 total) {week 16}
56. Monsieur Lazhar – $16,114 ($1,919,849 total) {week 14}
59. A Cat in Paris – $17,218 ($208,749 total) {week 7}
69. 5 Broken Cameras – $5,700 ($55,609 total) {week 7}
85. The Invisible War – $1,661 ($42,962 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Ted – $23,002,096 ($163,458,760 total)
4. Brave – $11,454,958 ($201,233,791 total)
9. Moonrise Kingdom – $3,802,239 ($33,339,966 total)
12. Marvel’s The Avengers – $1,435,656 ($629,850,021 total)
13. Snow White and the Huntsman – $1,049,239 ($155,631,110 total)
14. Prometheus – $1,004,474 ($127,586,883 total)
17. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $811,391 ($1,737,331 total)
32. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $179,263 ($31,270,441 total)
44. Mirror Mirror – $52,170 ($66,465,479 total)
56. Monsieur Lazhar – $16,539 ($1,970,498 total)
59. A Cat in Paris – $17,672 ($214,256 total)
69. 5 Broken Cameras – $5,850 ($57,076 total)
85. The Invisible War – $1,705 ($44,095 total)

Oscar Details:

• 5 Broken Cameras: Documentary Feature
• Beasts of the Southern Wild: Picture, Directing, Actress (Quvenzhane Wallis), Adapted Screenplay
• Brave: Animated Feature [O]
• A Cat in Paris: Animated Feature
• The Invisible War: Documentary Feature
• Marvel’s The Avengers: Visual Effects
• Mirror Mirror: Costume Design
• Monsieur Lazhar: Foreign Language Film
• Moonrise Kingdom: Original Screenplay
• The Pirates! Band of Misfits: Animated Feature
• Prometheus: Visual Effects
• Snow White and the Huntsman: Costume Design
• Ted: Original Song (“Everybody Needs a Best Friend”)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 13-15, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

2. Transformers – $37,027,901 ($224,009,583 total) {week 2}
3. Ratatouille – $18,012,196 ($142,997,082 total) {week 3}
9. Sicko – $2,604,139 ($15,830,046 total) {week 4}
13. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $1,396,749 ($304,454,423 total) {week 8}
17. La Vie en Rose – $543,470 ($6,882,728 total) {week 7}
22. Once – $326,664 ($5,082,298 total) {week 9}
23. Surf’s Up – $308,042 ($56,869,271 total) {week 6}
43. Away from Her – $26,637 ($4,548,331 total) {week 11}
45. The Lives of Others – $26,176 ($10,864,149 total) {week 23}
120. Iraq in Fragments – $207 ($202,928 total) {week 36}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Transformers – $43,970,632 ($266,011,380 total)
3. Ratatouille – $21,389,483 ($169,809,035 total)
9. Sicko – $3,092,415 ($18,798,180 total)
13. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $1,658,639 ($361,539,627 total)
17. La Vie en Rose – $645,371 ($8,173,240 total)
22. Once – $387,914 ($6,035,229 total)
23. Surf’s Up – $365,800 ($67,532,259 total)
43. Away from Her – $31,631 ($5,401,143 total)
45. The Lives of Others – $31,084 ($12,901,177 total)
120. Iraq in Fragments – $246 ($240,977 total)

Oscar Details:

• Away from Her: Actress (Julie Christie), Adapted Screenplay
• Iraq in Fragments: Documentary Feature
• The Lives of Others: Foreign Language Film
• Once: Original Song [O]
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End: Makeup, Visual Effects
• Ratatouille: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Sicko: Documentary Feature
• Surf’s Up: Animated Feature
• Transformers: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• La Vie en Rose: Actress (Marion Cotillard) [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 12-14, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

2. Road to Perdition – $22,079,481 ($22,079,481 total) {week 1}
7. Lilo & Stitch – $8,024,738 ($118,411,367 total) {week 4}
9. Minority Report – $7,216,069 ($110,137,457 total) {week 4}
12. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2,230,158 ($27,031,170 total) {week 13}
16. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $1,281,757 ($293,817,458 total) {week 9}
18. Spider-Man – $890,372 ($401,991,818 total) {week 11}
25. About a Boy – $198,030 ($40,566,655 total) {week 9}
27. Ice Age – $185,249 ($175,676,099 total) {week 18}
29. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $161,639 ($71,685,619 total) {week 8}
30. Unfaithful – $146,848 ($52,309,210 total) {week 10}
33. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $114,543 ($312,762,385 total) {week 30}
37. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $101,137 ($13,364,656 total) {week 18}
64. Elling – $17,539 ($130,539 total) {week 7}
78. Son of the Bride – $7,769 ($470,474 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Road to Perdition – $31,048,083 ($31,048,083 total)
7. Lilo & Stitch – $11,284,356 ($166,509,616 total)
9. Minority Report – $10,147,209 ($154,874,875 total)
12. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $3,136,040 ($38,011,129 total)
16. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $1,802,402 ($413,164,997 total)
18. Spider-Man – $1,252,038 ($565,279,372 total)
25. About a Boy – $278,469 ($57,044,677 total)
27. Ice Age – $260,496 ($247,035,065 total)
29. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $227,296 ($100,804,046 total)
30. Unfaithful – $206,497 ($73,557,013 total)
33. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $161,070 ($439,805,281 total)
37. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $142,218 ($18,793,329 total)
64. Elling – $24,663 ($183,563 total)
78. Son of the Bride – $10,925 ($661,579 total)

Oscar Details:

• About a Boy: Adapted Screenplay
• Elling: Foreign Language Film
• Ice Age: Animated Feature
• Lilo & Stitch: 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]
• Minority Report: Sound Editing
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• Road to Perdition: Supporting Actor (Paul Newman), Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound, Sound Editing
• Son of the Bride: Foreign Language Film
• Spider-Man: Sound, Visual Effects
• Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron: Animated Feature
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones: Visual Effects
• Unfaithful: Actress (Diane Lane)
• Y Tu Mama Tambien: Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 11-13, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

1. Men in Black – $30,062,317 ($139,584,970 total) {week 2}
2. Contact – $20,584,908 ($20,584,908 total) {week 1}
3. Face/Off – $12,332,309 ($71,772,555 total) {week 3}
4. Hercules – $8,339,217 ($66,492,048 total) {week 5}
5. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $8,321,580 ($83,502,316 total) {week 4}
8. Con Air – $2,891,449 ($89,903,753 total) {week 6}
10. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $1,350,900 ($221,055,524 total) {week 8}
999. 4 Little Girls – $13,528 ($18,895 total) {week 1}
999. The Fifth Element – $102,955 ($61,138,490 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Men in Black – $53,509,614 ($248,455,164 total)
2. Contact – $36,640,239 ($36,640,239 total)
3. Face/Off – $21,950,973 ($127,752,021 total)
4. Hercules – $14,843,443 ($118,352,948 total)
5. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $14,812,050 ($148,630,484 total)
8. Con Air – $5,146,653 ($160,024,763 total)
10. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $2,404,543 ($393,469,201 total)
999. 4 Little Girls – $24,079 ($33,632 total)
999. The Fifth Element – $183,255 ($108,823,848 total)

Oscar Details:

• 4 Little Girls: Documentary Feature
• Con Air: Original Song (“How Do I Live”), Sound
• Contact: Sound
• Face/Off: Sound Effects
• The Fifth Element: Sound Editing
• Hercules: Original Song (“Go the Distance”)
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park: Visual Effects
• Men in Black: Original Musical or Comedy Score, Art Direction, Makeup [O]
• My Best Friend’s Wedding: Original Comedy/Musical Score

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 10-12, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

4. Batman Returns – $7,722,838 ($137,482,546 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Batman Returns – $15,203,756 ($270,658,410 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 10-12, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

2. Full Metal Jacket – $6,079,963 ($13,013,643 total) {week 3}
4. Innerspace – $4,300,503 ($14,337,552 total) {week 2}
6. The Witches of Eastwick – $3,653,639 ($47,267,541 total) {week 5}
7. Beverly Hills Cop II – $3,501,874 ($132,331,405 total) {week 8}
8. The Untouchables – $3,211,390 ($56,969,748 total) {week 6}
11. Predator – $2,877,820 ($46,854,315 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Full Metal Jacket – $12,704,168 ($27,192,190 total)
4. Innerspace – $8,985,962 ($29,958,517 total)
6. The Witches of Eastwick – $7,634,330 ($98,766,192 total)
7. Beverly Hills Cop II – $7,317,215 ($276,508,332 total)
8. The Untouchables – $6,710,245 ($119,039,090 total)
11. Predator – $6,013,245 ($97,902,750 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beverly Hills Cop II: Original Song (“Shakedown”)
• Full Metal Jacket: Adapted Screenplay
• Innerspace: Visual Effects [O]
• Predator: Visual Effects
• The Untouchables: Supporting Actor (Sean Connery) [O], Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Witches of Eastwick: Original Score, Sound

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 9-11, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $12,802,287 ($106,852,599 total) {week 5}
2. Tron – $4,761,795 ($4,761,795 total) {week 1}
3. Rocky III – $4,459,637 ($79,325,537 total) {week 7}
5. Poltergeist – $3,246,527 ($42,746,527 total) {week 6}
6. Annie – $3,146,153 ($31,172,057 total) {week 8}
8. Blade Runner – $2,505,551 ($19,002,404 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $35,576,423 ($296,933,923 total)
2. Tron – $13,232,607 ($13,232,607 total)
3. Rocky III – $12,392,937 ($220,438,652 total)
5. Poltergeist – $9,021,811 ($118,788,818 total)
6. Annie – $8,742,881 ($86,624,390 total)
8. Blade Runner – $6,962,705 ($52,806,000 total)

Oscar Details:

• Annie: Original Song Score, Art Direction
• Blade Runner: Art Direction, Visual Effects
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Poltergeist: Original Score, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Rocky III: Original Song (“Eye of the Tiger”)
• Tron: Costume Design, Sound