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

Dunkirk (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Original Score, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 20-22, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

4. Ted – $10,011,610 ($180,431,425 total) {week 4}
5. Brave – $6,024,987 ($208,774,173 total) {week 5}
9. Moonrise Kingdom – $1,831,471 ($36,087,959 total) {week 9}
14. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $763,443 ($2,855,142 total) {week 4}
15. Marvel’s The Avengers – $620,411 ($615,058,425 total) {week 12}
16. Snow White and the Huntsman – $427,405 ($152,589,315 total) {week 8}
19. Prometheus – $310,395 ($125,113,489 total) {week 7}
30. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $114,019 ($30,724,022 total) {week 13}
45. Mirror Mirror – $28,945 ($64,829,637 total) {week 17}
56. A Cat in Paris – $13,514 ($231,280 total) {week 8}
66. Monsieur Lazhar – $8,569 ($1,935,452 total) {week 15}
72. The Invisible War – $4,950 ($47,912 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Ted – $10,275,735 ($185,191,551 total)
5. Brave – $6,183,938 ($214,282,034 total)
9. Moonrise Kingdom – $1,879,789 ($37,040,028 total)
14. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $783,584 ($2,930,466 total)
15. Marvel’s The Avengers – $636,779 ($631,284,841 total)
16. Snow White and the Huntsman – $438,681 ($156,614,913 total)
19. Prometheus – $318,584 ($128,414,222 total)
30. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $117,027 ($31,534,580 total)
45. Mirror Mirror – $29,709 ($66,539,967 total)
56. A Cat in Paris – $13,871 ($237,382 total)
66. Monsieur Lazhar – $8,795 ($1,986,513 total)
72. The Invisible War – $5,081 ($49,176 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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. 20-22, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

4. Transformers – $20,514,497 ($262,978,000 total) {week 3}
5. Ratatouille – $10,899,179 ($165,519,955 total) {week 4}
11. Sicko – $1,945,723 ($19,185,853 total) {week 5}
14. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $730,059 ($306,034,458 total) {week 9}
16. La Vie en Rose – $410,954 ($7,598,240 total) {week 8}
24. Once – $288,087 ($5,541,181 total) {week 10}
28. Surf’s Up – $190,516 ($57,329,096 total) {week 7}
34. The Lives of Others – $153,721 ($11,032,457 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Transformers – $24,360,965 ($312,286,375 total)
5. Ratatouille – $12,942,775 ($196,554,947 total)
11. Sicko – $2,310,546 ($22,783,200 total)
14. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $866,945 ($363,415,919 total)
16. La Vie en Rose – $488,008 ($9,022,910 total)
24. Once – $342,103 ($6,580,152 total)
28. Surf’s Up – $226,238 ($68,078,302 total)
34. The Lives of Others – $182,544 ($13,101,043 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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. 19-21, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

1. Road to Perdition – $15,412,515 ($47,304,790 total) {week 2}
9. Lilo & Stitch – $4,973,660 ($128,431,916 total) {week 5}
11. Minority Report – $4,457,544 ($118,061,976 total) {week 5}
14. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2,497,454 ($30,862,103 total) {week 14}
16. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $1,020,638 ($295,621,611 total) {week 10}
22. Spider-Man – $403,186 ($402,770,278 total) {week 12}
31. Ice Age – $132,304 ($175,939,090 total) {week 19}
33. Unfaithful – $113,524 ($52,514,896 total) {week 11}
34. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $106,238 ($312,965,191 total) {week 31}
35. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $102,065 ($13,521,028 total) {week 19}
39. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $80,754 ($71,882,246 total) {week 9}
73. Elling – $9,845 ($150,869 total) {week 8}
86. Son of the Bride – $6,914 ($481,459 total) {week 18}
111. Promises – $1,369 ($179,496 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Road to Perdition – $21,673,020 ($66,519,817 total)
9. Lilo & Stitch – $6,993,942 ($180,600,474 total)
11. Minority Report – $6,268,181 ($166,018,304 total)
14. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $3,511,910 ($43,398,172 total)
16. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $1,435,217 ($415,701,990 total)
22. Spider-Man – $566,959 ($566,374,040 total)
31. Ice Age – $186,045 ($247,404,882 total)
33. Unfaithful – $159,637 ($73,846,248 total)
34. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $149,391 ($440,090,467 total)
35. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $143,523 ($19,013,218 total)
39. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $113,556 ($101,080,542 total)
73. Elling – $13,844 ($212,151 total)
86. Son of the Bride – $9,722 ($677,026 total)
111. Promises – $1,925 ($252,407 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Promises: Documentary Feature
• 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. 18-20, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

1. Men in Black – $19,029,928 ($172,145,793 total) {week 3}
3. Contact – $16,114,633 ($47,408,514 total) {week 2}
5. Face/Off – $8,911,744 ($86,302,135 total) {week 4}
6. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $6,522,025 ($94,729,094 total) {week 5}
7. Hercules – $5,192,475 ($76,760,217 total) {week 6}
11. Con Air – $1,775,312 ($92,985,580 total) {week 7}
999. The Fifth Element – $100,291 ($61,310,358 total) {week 11}
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $701,375 ($222,529,669 total) {week 9}
999. Mrs. Brown – $76,268 ($76,268 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Men in Black – $33,872,443 ($306,412,011 total)
3. Contact – $28,683,345 ($84,385,089 total)
5. Face/Off – $15,862,516 ($153,614,040 total)
6. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $11,608,920 ($168,613,660 total)
7. Hercules – $9,242,379 ($136,629,842 total)
11. Con Air – $3,159,978 ($165,510,281 total)
999. The Fifth Element – $178,514 ($109,129,766 total)
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $1,248,417 ($396,093,115 total)
999. Mrs. Brown – $135,754 ($135,754 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• Mrs. Brown: Actress (Judi Dench), Makeup
• My Best Friend’s Wedding: Original Comedy/Musical Score

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 17-19, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

6. Batman Returns – $4,303,453 ($145,480,492 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Batman Returns – $8,472,099 ($286,403,764 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 17-19, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Robocop – $8,008,721 ($8,008,721 total) {week 1}
5. Full Metal Jacket – $4,548,246 ($21,034,088 total) {week 4}
8. Innerspace – $3,100,218 ($19,816,649 total) {week 3}
9. Beverly Hills Cop II – $3,043,394 ($137,166,966 total) {week 9}
10. The Witches of Eastwick – $2,804,682 ($51,918,373 total) {week 6}
11. The Untouchables – $2,756,946 ($61,374,285 total) {week 7}
14. Predator – $1,697,726 ($49,985,393 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Robocop – $16,734,335 ($16,734,335 total)
5. Full Metal Jacket – $9,503,624 ($43,951,023 total)
8. Innerspace – $6,477,949 ($41,407,167 total)
9. Beverly Hills Cop II – $6,359,215 ($286,612,305 total)
10. The Witches of Eastwick – $5,860,422 ($108,484,171 total)
11. The Untouchables – $5,760,677 ($128,242,432 total)
14. Predator – $3,547,422 ($104,445,182 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beverly Hills Cop II: Original Song (“Shakedown”)
• Full Metal Jacket: Adapted Screenplay
• Innerspace: Visual Effects [O]
• Predator: Visual Effects
• Robocop: Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects [O]
• 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. 16-18, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $13,003,581 ($129,434,096 total) {week 6}
5. Rocky III – $3,587,682 ($85,987,682 total) {week 8}
7. Poltergeist – $2,648,700 ($47,448,700 total) {week 7}
9. Annie – $2,224,479 ($35,822,803 total) {week 9}
12. Blade Runner – $1,492,855 ($21,774,216 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $36,135,802 ($359,685,906 total)
5. Rocky III – $9,969,851 ($238,952,164 total)
7. Poltergeist – $7,360,503 ($131,855,741 total)
9. Annie – $6,181,630 ($99,548,402 total)
12. Blade Runner – $4,148,512 ($60,508,621 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”)