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 Jul. 12-14, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

1. Despicable Me 2 – $43,892,895 ($228,376,775 total) {week 2}
5. The Lone Ranger – $11,506,100 ($71,467,292 total) {week 2}
14. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $686,181 ($224,360,905 total) {week 9}
17. 20 Feet from Stardom – $497,266 ($1,770,405 total) {week 5}
20. Before Midnight – $293,836 ($7,070,505 total) {week 8}
22. The Croods – $255,632 ($185,630,101 total) {week 17}
23. Iron Man 3 – $241,289 ($406,850,977 total) {week 11}
28. The Great Gatsby – $168,297 ($143,218,776 total) {week 10}
45. The Hunt – $43,045 ($43,045 total) {week 1}
52. Kon-Tiki – $21,777 ($1,445,034 total) {week 12}
70. Dirty Wars – $8,151 ($332,947 total) {week 6}
100. Searching for Sugar Man – $456 ($3,690,575 total) {week 51}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Despicable Me 2 – $48,211,999 ($251,972,899 total)
5. The Lone Ranger – $12,638,312 ($78,851,366 total)
14. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $753,702 ($247,542,106 total)
17. 20 Feet from Stardom – $546,197 ($1,953,325 total)
20. Before Midnight – $322,750 ($7,801,037 total)
22. The Croods – $280,786 ($204,809,595 total)
23. Iron Man 3 – $265,032 ($448,887,240 total)
28. The Great Gatsby – $184,858 ($158,016,288 total)
45. The Hunt – $47,281 ($47,492 total)
52. Kon-Tiki – $23,920 ($1,594,336 total)
70. Dirty Wars – $8,953 ($367,347 total)
100. Searching for Sugar Man – $501 ($4,071,889 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]
• The Hunt: Foreign Language Film
• 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. 11-13, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

1. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $34,539,115 ($34,539,115 total) {week 1}
4. WALL-E – $18,793,588 ($163,055,900 total) {week 3}
5. Wanted – $11,996,175 ($112,455,060 total) {week 3}
8. Kung Fu Panda – $4,411,412 ($202,154,311 total) {week 6}
14. Iron Man – $939,134 ($313,421,025 total) {week 11}
16. Mongol – $532,439 ($4,355,846 total) {week 6}
18. The Visitor – $267,676 ($8,533,421 total) {week 14}
32. Encounters at the End of the World – $79,436 ($361,174 total) {week 5}
56. The Counterfeiters – $18,277 ($5,440,738 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $42,957,423 ($43,149,841 total)
4. WALL-E – $23,374,198 ($203,706,326 total)
5. Wanted – $14,920,034 ($140,490,514 total)
8. Kung Fu Panda – $5,486,617 ($252,552,113 total)
14. Iron Man – $1,168,032 ($391,558,021 total)
16. Mongol – $662,212 ($5,441,774 total)
18. The Visitor – $332,917 ($10,660,834 total)
32. Encounters at the End of the World – $98,797 ($451,216 total)
56. The Counterfeiters – $22,732 ($6,797,134 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Encounters at the End of the World: Documentary Feature
• Hellboy II: The Golden Army: Makeup
• 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. 11-13, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $46,630,690 ($70,625,971 total) {week 1}
5. Finding Nemo – $8,465,110 ($291,068,455 total) {week 7}
14. Whale Rider – $1,089,334 ($5,800,911 total) {week 6}
18. Winged Migration – $390,278 ($4,731,774 total) {week 13}
21. Spellbound – $298,758 ($3,631,068 total) {week 11}
25. Capturing the Friedmans – $209,748 ($1,852,164 total) {week 7}
27. Chicago – $189,731 ($169,799,940 total) {week 29}
40. Nowhere in Africa – $94,901 ($5,582,673 total) {week 19}
42. The Barbarian Invasions – $66,760 ($4,226,862 total) {week 10}
48. A Mighty Wind – $45,285 ($17,418,375 total) {week 13}
51. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $35,424 ($339,628,782 total) {week 30}
75. City of God – $10,932 ($4,463,373 total) {week 26}
76. The Man Without a Past – $9,720 ($847,807 total) {week 15}
82. Bowling for Columbine – $7,947 ($21,529,215 total) {week 40}
86. The Weather Underground – $7,140 ($92,347 total) {week 6}
92. The Quiet American – $6,036 ($12,948,914 total) {week 34}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $69,056,727 ($105,060,524 total)
5. Finding Nemo – $12,536,224 ($432,982,428 total)
14. Whale Rider – $1,613,226 ($8,629,216 total)
18. Winged Migration – $577,974 ($7,038,808 total)
21. Spellbound – $442,439 ($5,401,439 total)
25. Capturing the Friedmans – $310,622 ($2,755,209 total)
27. Chicago – $280,978 ($252,587,970 total)
40. Nowhere in Africa – $140,542 ($8,304,573 total)
42. The Barbarian Invasions – $98,867 ($6,287,720 total)
48. A Mighty Wind – $67,064 ($25,910,916 total)
51. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $52,460 ($505,218,934 total)
75. City of God – $16,190 ($6,639,545 total)
76. The Man Without a Past – $14,395 ($1,261,166 total)
82. Bowling for Columbine – $11,769 ($32,026,046 total)
86. The Weather Underground – $10,574 ($137,372 total)
92. The Quiet American – $8,939 ($19,262,315 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]
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: Actor (Johnny Depp), Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• 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. 10-12, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. Armageddon – $23,557,064 ($99,860,537 total) {week 2}
5. Mulan – $7,024,607 ($91,853,254 total) {week 4}
8. Out of Sight – $3,813,425 ($29,981,440 total) {week 3}
10. The Truman Show – $3,576,418 ($116,218,533 total) {week 6}
15. Titanic – $405,669 ($588,931,878 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Armageddon – $44,853,855 ($190,991,262 total)
5. Mulan – $13,375,211 ($175,676,693 total)
8. Out of Sight – $7,260,956 ($57,341,901 total)
10. The Truman Show – $6,809,683 ($222,277,237 total)
15. Titanic – $772,415 ($1,126,379,306 total)

Oscar Details:

• Armageddon: Original Song (“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”), Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• 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. 9-11, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Firm – $17,937,098 ($73,748,070 total) {week 2}
2. Jurassic Park – $15,313,050 ($236,429,385 total) {week 5}
3. In the Line of Fire – $15,269,388 ($15,269,388 total) {week 1}
4. Sleepless in Seattle – $10,156,964 ($59,031,582 total) {week 3}
10. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $3,342,380 ($26,871,258 total) {week 5}
12. Cliffhanger – $1,573,740 ($74,057,087 total) {week 7}
999. Scent of a Woman – $37,345 ($62,724,644 total) {week 29}
999. Unforgiven – $94,019 ($101,101,229 total) {week 49}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Firm – $38,690,407 ($159,787,485 total)
2. Jurassic Park – $33,030,323 ($512,263,668 total)
3. In the Line of Fire – $32,936,144 ($33,083,674 total)
4. Sleepless in Seattle – $21,908,620 ($127,901,761 total)
10. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $7,209,530 ($58,221,059 total)
12. Cliffhanger – $3,394,565 ($160,457,022 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $80,553 ($135,903,395 total)
999. Unforgiven – $202,799 ($219,052,663 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cliffhanger: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• The Firm: Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter), Original Score
• In the Line of Fire: Supporting Actor (John Malkovich), Original Screenplay, Editing
• 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. 8-10, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Coming to America – $13,342,707 ($49,497,282 total) {week 2}
2. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $11,519,011 ($54,516,090 total) {week 3}
4. Big – $5,136,787 ($60,600,213 total) {week 6}
5. Bull Durham – $3,909,540 ($27,301,032 total) {week 4}
13. Willow – $1,457,365 ($46,040,044 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Coming to America – $28,990,359 ($108,026,915 total)
2. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $25,027,924 ($118,980,372 total)
4. Big – $11,160,951 ($132,258,859 total)
5. Bull Durham – $8,494,451 ($59,584,004 total)
13. Willow – $3,166,489 ($100,481,556 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. 15-17, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

2. Return of the Jedi – $8,270,850 ($178,481,053 total) {week 8}
4. Trading Places – $4,304,788 ($53,078,205 total) {week 6}
5. WarGames – $3,105,303 ($46,755,824 total) {week 7}
9. Flashdance – $2,175,177 ($62,041,867 total) {week 14}
14. Blue Thunder – $816,085 ($42,313,354 total) {week 10}
999. Zelig – $60,119 ($60,119 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Return of the Jedi – $23,447,203 ($508,246,046 total)
4. Trading Places – $12,203,732 ($151,146,508 total)
5. WarGames – $8,803,288 ($133,142,775 total)
9. Flashdance – $6,166,454 ($176,671,602 total)
14. Blue Thunder – $2,313,536 ($120,492,313 total)
999. Zelig – $170,433 ($171,196 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
• Zelig: Cinematography, Costume Design