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. 27-29, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

5. Ted – $7,353,150 ($193,618,750 total) {week 5}
7. Brave – $4,305,153 ($217,329,672 total) {week 6}
10. Moonrise Kingdom – $1,434,904 ($38,641,403 total) {week 10}
13. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $926,046 ($4,206,936 total) {week 5}
18. Marvel’s The Avengers – $512,958 ($615,996,809 total) {week 13}
19. Snow White and the Huntsman – $394,050 ($153,261,285 total) {week 9}
22. Prometheus – $203,937 ($125,521,856 total) {week 8}
35. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $81,778 ($30,906,701 total) {week 14}
47. Searching for Sugar Man – $27,459 ($27,459 total) {week 1}
56. Mirror Mirror – $14,913 ($64,868,692 total) {week 18}
63. A Cat in Paris – $9,736 ($247,256 total) {week 9}
67. Monsieur Lazhar – $7,598 ($1,949,155 total) {week 16}
91. 5 Broken Cameras – $728 ($61,186 total) {week 9}
100. The Invisible War – $200 ($49,699 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Ted – $7,547,140 ($198,726,782 total)
7. Brave – $4,418,731 ($223,063,244 total)
10. Moonrise Kingdom – $1,472,760 ($39,660,837 total)
13. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $950,477 ($4,317,923 total)
18. Marvel’s The Avengers – $526,491 ($632,247,981 total)
19. Snow White and the Huntsman – $404,446 ($157,304,610 total)
22. Prometheus – $209,317 ($128,833,362 total)
35. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $83,935 ($31,722,079 total)
47. Searching for Sugar Man – $28,183 ($28,183 total)
56. Mirror Mirror – $15,306 ($66,580,052 total)
63. A Cat in Paris – $9,993 ($253,779 total)
67. Monsieur Lazhar – $7,798 ($2,000,577 total)
91. 5 Broken Cameras – $747 ($62,800 total)
100. The Invisible War – $205 ($51,010 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
• Searching for Sugar Man: Documentary Feature [O]
• Snow White and the Huntsman: Costume Design
• Ted: Original Song (“Everybody Needs a Best Friend”)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 27-29, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

6. Transformers – $11,643,129 ($284,677,134 total) {week 4}
7. Ratatouille – $7,455,594 ($179,904,396 total) {week 5}
15. Sicko – $1,173,740 ($21,493,605 total) {week 6}
22. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $405,624 ($306,888,712 total) {week 10}
23. La Vie en Rose – $380,339 ($8,239,183 total) {week 9}
24. Once – $341,716 ($6,059,946 total) {week 11}
31. Surf’s Up – $133,956 ($57,614,376 total) {week 8}
44. The Lives of Others – $46,555 ($11,174,539 total) {week 25}
50. No End in Sight – $31,533 ($31,533 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Transformers – $13,826,216 ($338,054,097 total)
7. Ratatouille – $8,853,518 ($213,636,470 total)
15. Sicko – $1,393,816 ($25,523,656 total)
22. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $481,679 ($364,430,346 total)
23. La Vie en Rose – $451,653 ($9,784,030 total)
24. Once – $405,788 ($7,196,186 total)
31. Surf’s Up – $159,073 ($68,417,072 total)
44. The Lives of Others – $55,284 ($13,269,765 total)
50. No End in Sight – $37,445 ($37,445 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Lives of Others: Foreign Language Film
• No End in Sight: Documentary Feature
• 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. 26-28, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

2. Road to Perdition – $11,106,213 ($65,647,145 total) {week 3}
9. Minority Report – $3,124,360 ($123,375,096 total) {week 6}
10. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $3,004,597 ($35,417,552 total) {week 15}
11. Lilo & Stitch – $2,733,495 ($134,221,957 total) {week 6}
17. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $771,155 ($296,976,622 total) {week 11}
24. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $267,061 ($72,211,245 total) {week 10}
25. Spider-Man – $251,065 ($403,142,910 total) {week 13}
38. Ice Age – $88,623 ($176,123,766 total) {week 20}
40. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $81,178 ($313,111,364 total) {week 32}
45. Unfaithful – $67,001 ($52,655,427 total) {week 12}
47. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $63,401 ($13,622,333 total) {week 20}
86. Son of the Bride – $6,466 ($494,908 total) {week 19}
88. Elling – $6,265 ($162,087 total) {week 9}
112. Promises – $1,378 ($184,887 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Road to Perdition – $15,617,515 ($92,312,767 total)
9. Minority Report – $4,393,463 ($173,489,593 total)
10. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $4,225,053 ($49,804,028 total)
11. Lilo & Stitch – $3,843,830 ($188,742,408 total)
17. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $1,084,395 ($417,607,401 total)
24. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $375,540 ($101,543,179 total)
25. Spider-Man – $353,047 ($566,898,034 total)
38. Ice Age – $124,621 ($247,664,573 total)
40. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $114,152 ($440,296,014 total)
45. Unfaithful – $94,217 ($74,043,862 total)
47. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $89,154 ($19,155,673 total)
86. Son of the Bride – $9,092 ($695,938 total)
88. Elling – $8,810 ($227,926 total)
112. Promises – $1,938 ($259,987 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. 25-27, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

1. Air Force One – $37,132,505 ($37,132,505 total) {week 1}
3. Men in Black – $12,350,884 ($194,036,790 total) {week 4}
4. Contact – $9,704,949 ($64,973,014 total) {week 3}
7. Face/Off – $5,603,028 ($96,057,237 total) {week 5}
8. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $4,512,085 ($103,092,341 total) {week 6}
9. Hercules – $3,151,320 ($83,426,924 total) {week 7}
12. Con Air – $971,752 ($94,887,787 total) {week 8}
999. The Fifth Element – $420,687 ($61,778,086 total) {week 12}
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $408,660 ($223,375,949 total) {week 10}
999. Mrs. Brown – $320,865 ($454,820 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Air Force One – $66,094,241 ($66,094,241 total)
3. Men in Black – $21,984,035 ($345,377,031 total)
4. Contact – $17,274,386 ($115,649,134 total)
7. Face/Off – $9,973,146 ($170,977,696 total)
8. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $8,031,315 ($183,499,875 total)
9. Hercules – $5,609,212 ($148,496,290 total)
12. Con Air – $1,729,676 ($168,896,126 total)
999. The Fifth Element – $748,805 ($109,962,301 total)
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $727,397 ($397,599,456 total)
999. Mrs. Brown – $571,126 ($809,560 total)

Oscar Details:

• Air Force One: Editing, Sound
• 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. 24-27, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

8. Batman Returns – $2,830,557 ($150,598,782 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. Batman Returns – $5,572,446 ($296,480,012 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 24-26, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Robocop – $6,332,716 ($18,697,836 total) {week 2}
7. Full Metal Jacket – $3,320,220 ($26,814,910 total) {week 5}
11. Beverly Hills Cop II – $2,281,575 ($140,874,550 total) {week 10}
12. The Untouchables – $1,888,464 ($64,842,805 total) {week 8}
14. The Witches of Eastwick – $1,888,464 ($55,159,950 total) {week 7}
15. Innerspace – $1,666,222 ($23,079,581 total) {week 4}
17. Predator – $1,069,426 ($51,893,251 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Robocop – $13,232,299 ($39,069,391 total)
7. Full Metal Jacket – $6,937,646 ($56,030,132 total)
11. Beverly Hills Cop II – $4,767,383 ($294,359,354 total)
12. The Untouchables – $3,945,972 ($135,489,953 total)
14. The Witches of Eastwick – $3,945,972 ($115,257,491 total)
15. Innerspace – $3,481,594 ($48,225,109 total)
17. Predator – $2,234,581 ($108,431,678 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. 23-25, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $11,874,268 ($11,874,268 total) {week 1}
2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $11,255,124 ($150,572,544 total) {week 7}
4. The World According to Garp – $2,902,088 ($2,902,088 total) {week 1}
6. Rocky III – $2,804,020 ($91,306,000 total) {week 9}
7. Tron – $2,200,282 ($15,439,075 total) {week 3}
8. Poltergeist – $2,125,435 ($51,285,055 total) {week 8}
10. Annie – $1,683,007 ($39,427,731 total) {week 10}
16. Blade Runner – $847,941 ($23,443,381 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $32,997,541 ($32,997,541 total)
2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $31,276,994 ($418,427,784 total)
4. The World According to Garp – $8,064,646 ($8,064,646 total)
6. Rocky III – $7,792,124 ($253,731,299 total)
7. Tron – $6,114,389 ($42,903,824 total)
8. Poltergeist – $5,906,396 ($142,516,632 total)
10. Annie – $4,676,928 ($109,566,178 total)
16. Blade Runner – $2,356,353 ($65,147,083 total)

Oscar Details:

• Annie: Original Song Score, Art Direction
• The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: Supporting Actor (Charles Durning)
• 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
• The World According to Garp: Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Supporting Actress (Glenn Close)