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.

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5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 26-28, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

3. Despicable Me 2 – $16,424,135 ($306,812,720 total) {week 4}
14. The Lone Ranger – $1,684,417 ($85,321,430 total) {week 4}
19. Blue Jasmine – $612,064 ($612,064 total) {week 1}
21. 20 Feet from Stardom – $370,518 ($3,002,769 total) {week 7}
25. The Great Gatsby – $267,014 ($144,155,419 total) {week 12}
26. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $250,053 ($225,602,796 total) {week 11}
29. The Croods – $178,981 ($186,383,777 total) {week 19}
35. Iron Man 3 – $116,814 ($407,358,766 total) {week 13}
37. Before Midnight – $112,615 ($7,598,767 total) {week 10}
39. The Hunt – $105,918 ($259,110 total) {week 3}
45. The Act of Killing – $41,671 ($84,015 total) {week 2}
54. Kon-Tiki – $13,723 ($1,487,756 total) {week 14}
61. Dirty Wars – $6,853 ($356,077 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Despicable Me 2 – $18,040,286 ($338,512,927 total)
14. The Lone Ranger – $1,850,165 ($94,136,928 total)
19. Blue Jasmine – $672,292 ($675,303 total)
21. 20 Feet from Stardom – $406,977 ($3,313,018 total)
25. The Great Gatsby – $293,288 ($159,049,706 total)
26. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $274,658 ($248,912,310 total)
29. The Croods – $196,593 ($205,641,141 total)
35. Iron Man 3 – $128,309 ($449,447,495 total)
37. Before Midnight – $123,696 ($8,383,879 total)
39. The Hunt – $116,340 ($285,882 total)
45. The Act of Killing – $45,771 ($92,696 total)
54. Kon-Tiki – $15,073 ($1,641,472 total)
61. Dirty Wars – $7,527 ($392,867 total)

Oscar Details:

• 20 Feet from Stardom: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Act of Killing: Documentary Feature
• Before Midnight: Adapted Screenplay
• Blue Jasmine: Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Supporting Actress (Sally Hawkins), Original 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
• Star Trek: Into Darkness: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 25-27, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Dark Knight – $75,166,466 ($313,781,677 total) {week 2}
1. Wanted – $2,738,550 ($128,627,405 total) {week 5}
7. WALL-E – $6,422,186 ($195,308,076 total) {week 5}
8. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $5,100,305 ($66,059,925 total) {week 3}
12. Kung Fu Panda – $1,055,932 ($208,997,686 total) {week 8}
22. Iron Man – $310,654 ($314,925,955 total) {week 13}
25. Mongol – $163,137 ($5,171,878 total) {week 8}
28. The Visitor – $116,995 ($9,008,123 total) {week 16}
32. Encounters at the End of the World – $62,633 ($578,334 total) {week 7}
37. Man on Wire – $51,392 ($51,392 total) {week 1}
83. The Counterfeiters – $5,258 ($5,468,369 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Dark Knight – $93,486,983 ($392,008,585 total)
1. Wanted – $3,406,024 ($160,694,683 total)
7. WALL-E – $7,987,482 ($243,999,087 total)
8. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $6,343,416 ($82,528,904 total)
12. Kung Fu Panda – $1,313,297 ($261,101,566 total)
22. Iron Man – $386,371 ($393,438,136 total)
25. Mongol – $202,899 ($6,461,246 total)
28. The Visitor – $145,510 ($11,253,881 total)
32. Encounters at the End of the World – $77,899 ($722,515 total)
37. Man on Wire – $63,918 ($64,204 total)
83. The Counterfeiters – $6,540 ($6,831,653 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Counterfeiters: Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Dark Knight: Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• 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
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• 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. 25-27, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $23,136,029 ($176,838,155 total) {week 3}
5. Seabiscuit – $20,854,735 ($20,854,735 total) {week 1}
8. Finding Nemo – $4,391,650 ($313,119,898 total) {week 9}
14. Whale Rider – $1,085,258 ($9,577,687 total) {week 8}
23. Winged Migration – $337,296 ($5,962,361 total) {week 15}
27. Capturing the Friedmans – $136,722 ($2,370,574 total) {week 9}
35. Chicago – $105,211 ($170,306,377 total) {week 31}
36. Dirty Pretty Things – $100,588 ($260,222 total) {week 2}
47. Nowhere in Africa – $48,756 ($5,814,629 total) {week 21}
52. The Barbarian Invasions – $31,805 ($4,382,240 total) {week 12}
61. The Weather Underground – $23,108 ($129,863 total) {week 8}
62. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $22,680 ($339,734,454 total) {week 32}
66. A Mighty Wind – $14,579 ($17,508,936 total) {week 15}
75. City of God – $8,689 ($4,497,100 total) {week 28}
77. The Man Without a Past – $8,258 ($873,370 total) {week 17}
91. Balseros – $5,111 ($7,979 total) {week 1}
92. The Quiet American – $5,028 ($12,983,431 total) {week 36}
102. Bowling for Columbine – $2,773 ($21,548,337 total) {week 42}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $34,262,809 ($263,057,753 total)
5. Seabiscuit – $30,884,375 ($31,022,715 total)
8. Finding Nemo – $6,503,720 ($465,785,321 total)
14. Whale Rider – $1,607,190 ($14,247,405 total)
23. Winged Migration – $499,511 ($8,869,383 total)
27. Capturing the Friedmans – $202,476 ($3,526,376 total)
35. Chicago – $155,810 ($253,341,327 total)
36. Dirty Pretty Things – $148,964 ($387,096 total)
47. Nowhere in Africa – $72,204 ($8,649,622 total)
52. The Barbarian Invasions – $47,101 ($6,518,855 total)
61. The Weather Underground – $34,221 ($193,179 total)
62. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $33,587 ($505,376,128 total)
66. A Mighty Wind – $21,590 ($26,045,631 total)
75. City of God – $12,868 ($6,689,716 total)
77. The Man Without a Past – $12,230 ($1,299,192 total)
91. Balseros – $7,569 ($11,869 total)
92. The Quiet American – $7,446 ($19,313,661 total)
102. Bowling for Columbine – $4,107 ($32,054,491 total)

Oscar Details:

• Balseros: Documentary Feature
• 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
• Dirty Pretty Things: Original Screenplay
• 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)
• Seabiscuit: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature
• Whale Rider: Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes)
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 24-26, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. Saving Private Ryan – $30,576,104 ($30,576,104 total) {week 1}
2. The Mask of Zorro – $13,414,229 ($47,269,464 total) {week 2}
5. Armageddon – $11,159,371 ($149,607,826 total) {week 4}
10. Mulan – $3,516,744 ($108,138,500 total) {week 6}
12. Titanic – $1,476,279 ($593,234,448 total) {week 32}
14. The Truman Show – $1,017,723 ($122,019,970 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Saving Private Ryan – $58,218,467 ($58,479,244 total)
2. The Mask of Zorro – $25,541,378 ($90,406,629 total)
5. Armageddon – $21,248,013 ($286,136,929 total)
10. Mulan – $6,696,061 ($206,823,528 total)
12. Titanic – $2,810,911 ($1,134,608,315 total)
14. The Truman Show – $1,937,797 ($233,372,949 total)

Oscar Details:

• Armageddon: Original Song (“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”), Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• The Mask of Zorro: Sound, Sound Effects
• Mulan: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Saving Private Ryan: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• 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. 23-25, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. Poetic Justice – $11,728,455 ($11,728,455 total) {week 1}
2. In the Line of Fire – $11,214,003 ($54,119,247 total) {week 3}
3. The Firm – $10,000,456 ($112,896,195 total) {week 4}
5. Jurassic Park – $8,420,160 ($270,958,085 total) {week 7}
7. Sleepless in Seattle – $5,754,245 ($81,724,953 total) {week 5}
13. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $1,469,695 ($33,906,438 total) {week 7}
999. Cliffhanger – $667,188 ($77,106,270 total) {week 9}
999. Scent of a Woman – $29,520 ($62,905,496 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Poetic Justice – $25,298,334 ($25,411,653 total)
2. In the Line of Fire – $24,188,659 ($117,258,369 total)
3. The Firm – $21,571,032 ($244,608,423 total)
5. Jurassic Park – $18,162,326 ($587,075,851 total)
7. Sleepless in Seattle – $12,411,934 ($177,070,732 total)
13. What’s Love Got to Do With It – $3,170,139 ($73,463,949 total)
999. Cliffhanger – $1,439,128 ($167,063,585 total)
999. Scent of a Woman – $63,675 ($136,295,241 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]
• Poetic Justice: Original Song (“Again”)
• Scent of a Woman: Picture, Director, Actor (Al Pacino) [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Sleepless in Seattle: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“A Wink and a Smile”)
• What’s Love Got to Do With It: Actor (Laurence Fishburne), Actress (Angela Bassett)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 22-24, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $8,919,732 ($84,057,913 total) {week 5}
2. Coming to America – $8,886,442 ($81,234,946 total) {week 4}
3. Die Hard – $7,105,514 ($10,147,587 total) {week 2}
9. Big – $3,904,483 ($75,251,703 total) {week 8}
10. Bull Durham – $2,416,510 ($36,314,129 total) {week 6}
999. A Fish Called Wanda – $115,076 ($313,906 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $19,380,342 ($183,454,861 total)
2. Coming to America – $19,308,011 ($177,293,787 total)
3. Die Hard – $15,438,501 ($22,146,923 total)
9. Big – $8,483,463 ($164,235,469 total)
10. Bull Durham – $5,250,471 ($79,254,924 total)
999. A Fish Called Wanda – $250,031 ($685,094 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• Bull Durham: Original Screenplay
• Coming to America: Costume Design, Makeup
• Die Hard: Editing, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• A Fish Called Wanda: Director, Supporting Actor (Kevin Kline) [O], Original Screenplay
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit: Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Animation Direction, Richard Williams)

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 29-31, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

3. Return of the Jedi – $5,659,948 ($201,411,234 total) {week 10}
7. Trading Places – $3,043,667 ($64,266,216 total) {week 8}
10. WarGames – $2,097,748 ($55,092,916 total) {week 9}
12. Flashdance – $1,573,396 ($68,574,323 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Return of the Jedi – $16,045,503 ($573,542,466 total)
7. Trading Places – $8,628,554 ($183,005,701 total)
10. WarGames – $5,946,949 ($156,883,637 total)
12. Flashdance – $4,460,453 ($195,273,548 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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