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

The Lion King (Wide)

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

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 18-20, 2014

Weekend Box Office:

1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $36,254,310 ($139,207,154 total) {week 2}
8. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $3,904,709 ($160,776,604 total) {week 6}
10. Maleficent – $3,238,213 ($228,303,448 total) {week 8}
11. Begin Again – $2,639,584 ($9,365,250 total) {week 4}
15. Boyhood – $1,170,217 ($1,785,384 total) {week 2}
21. X-Men: Days of Future Past – $710,704 ($230,485,366 total) {week 9}
29. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $181,371 ($258,591,352 total) {week 16}
35. Ida – $125,530 ($3,341,594 total) {week 12}
41. The Grand Budapest Hotel – $52,376 ($58,943,020 total) {week 20}
42. The Lego Movie – $42,286 ($257,484,827 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $40,558,677 ($155,734,809 total)
8. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $4,368,304 ($179,865,136 total)
10. Maleficent – $3,622,676 ($255,409,243 total)
11. Begin Again – $2,952,974 ($10,477,159 total)
15. Boyhood – $1,309,153 ($1,997,357 total)
21. X-Men: Days of Future Past – $795,084 ($257,850,214 total)
29. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $202,905 ($289,293,140 total)
35. Ida – $140,434 ($3,738,332 total)
41. The Grand Budapest Hotel – $58,594 ($65,941,151 total)
42. The Lego Movie – $47,306 ($288,055,241 total)

Oscar Details:

• Begin Again: Original Song (“Lost Stars”)
• Boyhood: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Ethan Hawke), Supporting Actress (Patricia Arquette) [O], Original Screenplay, Film Editing
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier: Visual Effects
• Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Visual Effects
• The Grand Budapest Hotel: Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup and Hairstyling [O]
• How to Train Your Dragon 2: Animated Feature
• Ida: Cinematography, Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Lego Movie: Original Song (“Everything Is Awesome”)
• Maleficent: Costume Design
• X-Men: Days of Future Past: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 17-19, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $13,691,487 ($363,808,123 total) {week 4}
8. Up – $3,172,014 ($279,583,282 total) {week 8}
14. The Hurt Locker – $740,224 ($2,148,619 total) {week 4}
15. Star Trek – $690,639 ($253,164,613 total) {week 11}
23. Food, Inc. – $297,882 ($2,225,447 total) {week 6}
37. Departures – $53,129 ($915,370 total) {week 8}
81. Burma VJ – $4,259 ($41,049 total) {week 9}
88. Il Divo – $3,085 ($208,510 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $16,685,359 ($443,360,833 total)
8. Up – $3,865,628 ($340,718,826 total)
14. The Hurt Locker – $902,086 ($2,618,450 total)
15. Star Trek – $841,659 ($308,523,275 total)
23. Food, Inc. – $363,019 ($2,712,078 total)
37. Departures – $64,747 ($1,115,531 total)
81. Burma VJ – $5,190 ($50,025 total)
88. Il Divo – $3,760 ($254,104 total)

Oscar Details:

• Burma VJ: Documentary Feature
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Il Divo: Makeup
• Food, Inc.: Documentary Feature
• The Hurt Locker: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Jeremy Renner), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O]
• Star Trek: Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Sound Mixing
• Up: Picture, Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Sound Editing

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 16-18, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. I, Robot – $52,179,887 ($52,179,887 total) {week 1}
2. Spider-Man 2 – $24,775,450 ($302,287,882 total) {week 3}
10. Shrek 2 – $3,230,786 ($425,011,646 total) {week 9}
12. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $2,758,045 ($238,344,679 total) {week 7}
19. Before Sunset – $581,261 ($1,709,920 total) {week 3}
31. Super Size Me – $145,975 ($10,633,019 total) {week 11}
33. Maria Full of Grace – $139,066 ($139,066 total) {week 1}
36. Troy – $129,420 ($132,459,414 total) {week 10}
38. Story of the Weeping Camel – $119,065 ($877,076 total) {week 7}
63. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $23,495 ($34,328,429 total) {week 18}
74. The Passion of the Christ – $12,039 ($370,257,518 total) {week 21}
89. The Twilight Samurai – $5,440 ($428,606 total) {week 13}
110. My Architect – $1,510 ($2,743,421 total) {week 36}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. I, Robot – $76,799,383 ($76,799,383 total)
2. Spider-Man 2 – $36,464,994 ($444,913,243 total)
10. Shrek 2 – $4,755,134 ($625,540,490 total)
12. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $4,059,345 ($350,800,381 total)
19. Before Sunset – $855,511 ($2,516,694 total)
31. Super Size Me – $214,849 ($15,649,886 total)
33. Maria Full of Grace – $204,680 ($204,680 total)
36. Troy – $190,483 ($194,956,368 total)
38. Story of the Weeping Camel – $175,242 ($1,290,898 total)
63. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – $34,580 ($50,525,256 total)
74. The Passion of the Christ – $17,719 ($544,952,289 total)
89. The Twilight Samurai – $8,007 ($630,831 total)
110. My Architect – $2,222 ($4,037,821 total)

Oscar Details:

• Before Sunset: Adapted Screenplay
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Actress (Kate Winslet), Original Screenplay [O]
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Original Score, Visual Effects
• I, Robot: Visual Effects
• Maria Full of Grace: Actress (Catalina Sandino Moreno)
• My Architect: Documentary Feature
• The Passion of the Christ : Original Score, Cinematography, Makeup
• Shrek 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Accidentally in Love”)
• Spider-Man 2: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• Story of the Weeping Camel : Documentary Feature
• Super Size Me : Documentary Feature
• Troy: Costume Design
• The Twilight Samurai: Foreign Language Film

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 16-18, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

7. Tarzan – $7,535,288 ($142,973,292 total) {week 5}
8. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $5,647,641 ($395,201,250 total) {week 9}
11. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $4,369,129 ($190,699,168 total) {week 6}
12. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $4,322,888 ($43,395,740 total) {week 3}
18. The Mummy – $632,195 ($150,744,850 total) {week 11}
21. The Red Violin – $393,029 ($5,957,593 total) {week 27}
25. Shakespeare in Love – $269,546 ($99,985,637 total) {week 32}
27. Buena Vista Social Club – $235,113 ($2,296,159 total) {week 7}
28. The Matrix – $224,609 ($167,910,762 total) {week 16}
32. Life – $149,435 ($63,314,304 total) {week 14}
57. Election – $38,212 ($14,524,160 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Tarzan – $13,557,585 ($257,239,348 total)
8. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $10,161,307 ($711,051,068 total)
11. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $7,860,992 ($343,108,346 total)
12. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $7,777,795 ($78,078,162 total)
18. The Mummy – $1,137,453 ($271,222,033 total)
21. The Red Violin – $707,143 ($10,718,976 total)
25. Shakespeare in Love – $484,971 ($179,895,418 total)
27. Buena Vista Social Club – $423,018 ($4,131,278 total)
28. The Matrix – $404,119 ($302,107,158 total)
32. Life – $268,865 ($113,915,893 total)
57. Election – $68,752 ($26,132,052 total)

Oscar Details:

• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me: Makeup
• Buena Vista Social Club: Documentary Feature
• Election: Adapted Screenplay
• Life: Makeup
• The Matrix : Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Mummy : Sound
• The Red Violin : Original Score [O]
• Shakespeare in Love: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut: Original Song (“Blame Canada”)
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• Tarzan: Original Song (“You’ll Be In My Heart”)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 22-24, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Forrest Gump – $21,931,425 ($109,132,967 total) {week 3}
2. True Lies – $20,696,264 ($61,531,149 total) {week 2}
3. The Client – $17,174,262 ($17,174,262 total) {week 1}
4. The Lion King – $14,005,541 ($199,723,355 total) {week 6}
6. Speed – $3,883,381 ($100,059,711 total) {week 7}
999. Schindler’s List – $90,045 ($95,953,003 total) {week 32}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Forrest Gump – $47,955,317 ($238,630,459 total)
2. True Lies – $45,254,510 ($134,544,187 total)
3. The Client – $37,553,291 ($37,553,291 total)
4. The Lion King – $30,624,556 ($436,715,661 total)
6. Speed – $8,491,412 ($218,790,851 total)
999. Schindler’s List – $196,893 ($209,811,112 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Client: Actress (Susan Sarandon)
• Forrest Gump: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Supporting Actor (Gary Sinise), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• The Lion King : Original Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” [O], “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”), Original Score [O]
• Schindler’s List: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Liam Neeson), Supporting Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup, Sound
• Speed: Editing, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• True Lies: Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 21-23, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Lethal Weapon 2 – $13,022,249 ($71,602,872 total) {week 3}
2. Batman – $11,164,319 ($187,521,450 total) {week 5}
3. When Harry Met Sally… – $8,846,522 ($11,085,052 total) {week 2}
7. Dead Poets Society – $3,547,080 ($70,020,395 total) {week 8}
8. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $3,383,204 ($172,107,395 total) {week 9}
12. Do the Right Thing – $2,090,610 ($16,905,541 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Lethal Weapon 2 – $29,980,694 ($164,848,929 total)
2. Batman – $25,703,243 ($431,724,447 total)
3. When Harry Met Sally… – $20,367,056 ($25,520,749 total)
7. Dead Poets Society – $8,166,325 ($161,205,645 total)
8. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $7,789,039 ($396,237,176 total)
12. Do the Right Thing – $4,813,142 ($38,921,069 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• Dead Poets Society: Picture, Director, Actor (Robin Williams), Original Screenplay [O]
• Do the Right Thing: Supporting Actor (Danny Aiello), Original Screenplay
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Original Score, Sound, Sound Effects [O]
• Lethal Weapon 2: Sound Effects
• When Harry Met Sally…: Original Screenplay

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 20-22, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Ghostbusters – $8,493,861 ($130,135,144 total) {week 7}
5. The Karate Kid – $4,248,830 ($35,969,149 total) {week 5}
7. The Muppets Take Manhattan – $3,647,069 ($11,979,757 total) {week 2}
8. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $3,060,056 ($147,185,208 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Ghostbusters – $23,105,324 ($353,998,576 total)
5. The Karate Kid – $11,557,829 ($97,844,649 total)
7. The Muppets Take Manhattan – $9,920,896 ($32,587,791 total)
8. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $8,324,081 ($400,378,810 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ghostbusters: Original Song (“Ghostbusters”), Visual Effects
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Original Score, Visual Effects [O]
• The Karate Kid : Supporting Actor (Noriyuki ‘Pat’ Morita)
• The Muppets Take Manhattan : Original Song Score