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

Star Trek: Beyond (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Makupe, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 29-31, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – $21,977,093 ($318,511,602 total) {week 3}
8. Transformers: Dark of the Moon – $6,086,311 ($338,007,725 total) {week 5}
12. Midnight in Paris – $1,156,947 ($46,851,966 total) {week 11}
13. Bridesmaids – $859,095 ($165,457,080 total) {week 12}
15. Kung Fu Panda 2 – $662,153 ($161,681,667 total) {week 10}
20. The Tree of Life – $332,997 ($11,685,371 total) {week 10}
25. Beginners – $231,217 ($5,032,405 total) {week 9}
28. Rio – $184,065 ($143,021,068 total) {week 16}
41. A Better Life – $76,724 ($1,585,558 total) {week 6}
59. Incendies – $20,217 ($1,959,458 total) {week 15}
65. In a Better World – $11,578 ($963,914 total) {week 18}
97. If a Tree Falls – $1,349 ($53,010 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – $22,642,226 ($328,151,297 total)
8. Transformers: Dark of the Moon – $6,270,512 ($348,237,467 total)
12. Midnight in Paris – $1,191,962 ($48,269,932 total)
13. Bridesmaids – $885,095 ($170,464,608 total)
15. Kung Fu Panda 2 – $682,193 ($166,574,933 total)
20. The Tree of Life – $343,075 ($12,039,027 total)
25. Beginners – $238,215 ($5,184,710 total)
28. Rio – $189,636 ($147,349,574 total)
41. A Better Life – $79,046 ($1,633,545 total)
59. Incendies – $20,829 ($2,018,761 total)
65. In a Better World – $11,928 ($993,087 total)
97. If a Tree Falls – $1,390 ($54,614 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beginners: Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer) [O]
• A Better Life: Actor (Demian Bichir)
• Bridesmaids: Supporting Actress (Melissa McCarthy), Original Screenplay
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2: Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects
• If a Tree Falls: Documentary Feature
• In a Better World: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Incendies: Foreign Language Film
• Kung Fu Panda 2: Animated Feature
• Midnight in Paris: Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction
• Rio: Original Song (“Real in Rio”)
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• The Tree of Life: Picture, Directing, Cinematography

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 28-30, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $20,606,578 ($358,485,761 total) {week 4}
4. Monster House – $11,663,308 ($44,035,290 total) {week 2}
9. The Devil Wears Prada – $4,673,346 ($106,561,887 total) {week 5}
12. Superman Returns – $3,788,228 ($185,794,683 total) {week 5}
14. Cars – $2,620,756 ($234,802,642 total) {week 8}
15. Click – $1,922,308 ($132,430,248 total) {week 6}
16. An Inconvenient Truth – $742,168 ($20,149,280 total) {week 10}
20. Little Miss Sunshine – $370,998 ($499,012 total) {week 1}
37. Poseidon – $77,663 ($60,572,835 total) {week 12}
48. Water – $28,565 ($3,113,922 total) {week 14}
114. Sophie Scholl – $1,227 ($674,107 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $25,703,167 ($447,149,415 total)
4. Monster House – $14,547,973 ($54,926,461 total)
9. The Devil Wears Prada – $5,829,196 ($132,917,651 total)
12. Superman Returns – $4,725,164 ($231,746,956 total)
14. Cars – $3,268,943 ($292,875,967 total)
15. Click – $2,397,749 ($165,183,989 total)
16. An Inconvenient Truth – $925,727 ($25,132,766 total)
20. Little Miss Sunshine – $462,756 ($622,432 total)
37. Poseidon – $96,871 ($75,554,208 total)
48. Water – $35,630 ($3,884,083 total)
114. Sophie Scholl – $1,530 ($840,833 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cars: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Our Town”)
• Click: Makeup
• The Devil Wears Prada: Actress (Meryl Streep), Costume Design
• An Inconvenient Truth: Original Song (“I Need to Wake Up” [O]), Documentary Feature [O]
• Little Miss Sunshine: Picture, Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin [O]), Supporting Actress (Abigail Breslin), Original Screenplay [O]
• Monster House: Animated Feature
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest: Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• Poseidon: Visual Effects
• Sophie Scholl: Foreign Language Film
• Superman Returns: Visual Effects
• Water: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 27-29, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

10. Shrek – $1,792,718 ($255,526,280 total) {week 11}
14. A.I. Artificial Intelligence – $943,536 ($76,719,018 total) {week 5}
16. Pearl Harbor – $826,872 ($193,662,453 total) {week 10}
21. Moulin Rouge! – $363,755 ($54,029,521 total) {week 11}
22. Sexy Beast – $334,311 ($5,136,077 total) {week 7}
23. Memento – $252,001 ($23,844,220 total) {week 20}
29. Ghost World – $133,003 ($310,158 total) {week 2}
35. Divided We Fall – $72,128 ($607,766 total) {week 8}
41. Bridget Jones’ Diary – $60,231 ($71,409,079 total) {week 16}
63. Under the Sun – $6,875 ($48,567 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

10. Shrek – $2,587,722 ($368,842,705 total)
14. A.I. Artificial Intelligence – $1,361,959 ($110,741,056 total)
16. Pearl Harbor – $1,193,559 ($279,544,566 total)
21. Moulin Rouge! – $525,067 ($77,989,609 total)
22. Sexy Beast – $482,566 ($7,413,737 total)
23. Memento – $363,754 ($34,418,247 total)
29. Ghost World – $191,985 ($447,702 total)
35. Divided We Fall – $104,114 ($877,288 total)
41. Bridget Jones’ Diary – $86,941 ($103,076,356 total)
63. Under the Sun – $9,924 ($70,105 total)

Oscar Details:

• A.I. Artificial Intelligence: Original Score, Visual Effects
• Bridget Jones’ Diary: Actress (Renee Zellweger)
• Divided We Fall: Foreign Language Film
• Ghost World: Adapted Screenplay
• Memento: Original Screenplay, Film Editing
• Moulin Rouge!: Picture, Actress (Nicole Kidman), Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• Pearl Harbor: Original Song (“There You’ll Be”), Sound, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Sexy Beast: Supporting Actor (Ben Kingsley)
• Shrek: Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Under the Sun: Foreign Language Film

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 26-28, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

2. Independence Day – $13,799,097 ($223,114,893 total) {week 4}
7. The Nutty Professor – $5,333,650 ($102,737,215 total) {week 5}
13. Eraser – $2,191,472 ($90,940,535 total) {week 6}
14. The Hunchback of Notre Dame – $1,942,049 ($88,717,017 total) {week 6}
17. The Rock – $1,292,642 ($124,721,237 total) {week 8}
18. Trainspotting – $781,615 ($1,224,004 total) {week 2}
999. Toy Story – $56,963 ($191,492,543 total) {week 36}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Independence Day – $25,506,476 ($412,409,203 total)
7. The Nutty Professor – $9,858,806 ($189,901,142 total)
13. Eraser – $4,050,753 ($168,095,966 total)
14. The Hunchback of Notre Dame – $3,589,715 ($163,985,979 total)
17. The Rock – $2,389,341 ($230,536,766 total)
18. Trainspotting – $1,444,750 ($2,262,469 total)
999. Toy Story – $105,291 ($353,957,936 total)

Oscar Details:

• Eraser: Sound Effects Editing
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Independence Day: Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• The Nutty Professor: Makeup [O]
• The Rock: Sound
• Toy Story: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Trainspotting: Adapted Screenplay

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 26-28, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day – $11,051,400 ($133,612,304 total) {week 4}
5. Boyz N the Hood – $4,740,995 ($30,885,888 total) {week 3}
6. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – $4,555,972 ($127,926,047 total) {week 7}
10. City Slickers – $3,833,502 ($97,741,024 total) {week 8}
999. The Silence of the Lambs – $295,908 ($128,510,017 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day – $21,446,541 ($259,290,386 total)
5. Boyz N the Hood – $9,200,458 ($59,937,697 total)
6. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – $8,841,399 ($248,255,535 total)
10. City Slickers – $7,439,361 ($189,677,949 total)
999. The Silence of the Lambs – $574,244 ($249,388,798 total)

Oscar Details:

• Boyz N the Hood: Directing, Original Screenplay
• City Slickers: Supporting Actor (Jack Palance) [O]
• Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves: Original Song (“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”)
• The Silence of the Lambs: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Anthony Hopkins) [O], Actress (Jodie Foster) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Sound
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day: Editing, Cinematography, Makeup [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 25-27, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Aliens – $8,640,292 ($25,074,095 total) {week 2}
3. The Karate Kid Part II – $4,965,149 ($69,414,898 total) {week 6}
5. Top Gun – $3,817,026 ($101,801,942 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Aliens – $19,027,274 ($55,217,077 total)
3. The Karate Kid Part II – $10,934,034 ($152,862,457 total)
5. Top Gun – $8,405,688 ($224,183,791 total)

Oscar Details:

• Aliens: Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Original Score, Film Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Karate Kid Part II: Original Song (“Glory of Love”)
• Top Gun: Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Editing, Sound, Sound Effects