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 Aug. 1-3, 2014
Weekend Box Office:
- Guardians of the Galaxy – $94,320,883 ($94,320,883 total) {week 1}
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $8,690,314 ($189,319,987 total) {week 4}
- Boyhood – $2,398,683 ($7,442,063 total) {week 4}
- Maleficent – $1,272,342 ($234,740,473 total) {week 10}
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $1,216,629 ($168,570,686 total) {week 8}
- Begin Again – $668,236 ($13,755,573 total) {week 6}
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $398,956 ($259,322,890 total) {week 18}
- X-Men: Days of Future Past – $187,084 ($231,696,337 total) {week 11}
- Ida – $35,939 ($3,551,006 total) {week 14}
- The Grand Budapest Hotel – $15,008 ($59,034,599 total) {week 22}
- The Lego Movie – $6,951 ($257,716,507 total) {week 26}
- Finding Vivian Maier – $2,228 ($1,503,616 total) {week 19}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Guardians of the Galaxy – $105,519,323 ($105,519,323 total)
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $9,722,089 ($211,797,391 total)
- Boyhood – $2,683,472 ($8,325,637 total)
- Maleficent – $1,423,403 ($262,610,517 total)
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $1,361,076 ($188,584,586 total)
- Begin Again – $747,574 ($15,388,732 total)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier – $446,323 ($290,111,532 total)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past – $209,296 ($259,204,960 total)
- Ida – $40,206 ($3,972,606 total)
- The Grand Budapest Hotel – $16,790 ($66,043,603 total)
- The Lego Movie – $7,776 ($288,314,428 total)
- Finding Vivian Maier – $2,493 ($1,682,136 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
- Finding Vivian Maier: Documentary Feature
- The Grand Budapest Hotel: Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup and Hairstyling [O]
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects
- 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. 31-Aug. 2, 2009
Weekend Box Office:
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $4,688,329 ($388,189,320 total) {week 6}
- The Hurt Locker – $1,909,170 ($6,755,335 total) {week 6}
- Up – $1,174,631 ($286,053,296 total) {week 10}
- Star Trek – $327,377 ($254,661,846 total) {week 13}
- In the Loop – $291,012 ($571,602 total) {week 2}
- Food, Inc. – $289,888 ($3,203,742 total) {week 8}
- The Cove – $57,640 ($57,640 total) {week 1}
- Departures – $47,656 ($1,069,506 total) {week 10}
- Burma VJ – $3,858 ($47,487 total) {week 11}
- Il Divo – $675 ($215,315 total) {week 15}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $5,713,510 ($473,073,385 total)
- The Hurt Locker – $2,326,642 ($8,232,502 total)
- Up – $1,431,484 ($348,603,617 total)
- Star Trek – $398,963 ($310,347,903 total)
- In the Loop – $354,647 ($696,592 total)
- Food, Inc. – $353,277 ($3,904,294 total)
- The Cove – $70,244 ($70,244 total)
- Departures – $58,077 ($1,303,371 total)
- Burma VJ – $4,702 ($57,871 total)
- Il Divo – $823 ($262,397 total)
Oscar Details:
- Burma VJ: Documentary Feature
- The Cove: 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]
- In the Loop: Adapted Screenplay
- 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. 30-Aug. 1, 2004
Weekend Box Office:
- The Village – $50,746,142 ($50,746,142 total) {week 1}
- I, Robot – $10,355,190 ($115,039,036 total) {week 3}
- Spider-Man 2 – $8,613,693 ($344,440,594 total) {week 5}
- Shrek 2 – $1,317,270 ($432,493,392 total) {week 11}
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $989,449 ($243,910,542 total) {week 9}
- Maria Full of Grace – $525,706 ($971,570 total) {week 3}
- Before Sunset – $459,263 ($3,226,863 total) {week 5}
- Troy – $115,467 ($132,946,242 total) {week 12}
- Super Size Me – $66,210 ($11,014,972 total) {week 13}
- Story of the Weeping Camel – $63,286 ($1,173,411 total) {week 9}
- The Twilight Samurai – $7,097 ($453,373 total) {week 15}
- My Architect – $2,439 ($2,748,981 total) {week 38}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- The Village – $74,689,169 ($74,689,169 total)
- I, Robot – $15,240,972 ($169,316,713 total)
- Spider-Man 2 – $12,677,803 ($506,954,433 total)
- Shrek 2 – $1,938,784 ($636,552,271 total)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $1,456,290 ($358,992,328 total)
- Maria Full of Grace – $773,744 ($1,429,976 total)
- Before Sunset – $675,952 ($4,749,360 total)
- Troy – $169,947 ($195,672,891 total)
- Super Size Me – $97,449 ($16,212,052 total)
- Story of the Weeping Camel – $93,146 ($1,727,049 total)
- The Twilight Samurai – $10,446 ($667,283 total)
- My Architect – $3,590 ($4,046,004 total)
Oscar Details:
- Before Sunset: Adapted Screenplay
- 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
- 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
- The Village : Original Score
20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 30-Aug. 1, 1999
Weekend Box Office:
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $3,420,720 ($408,597,032 total) {week 11}
- Tarzan – $3,035,186 ($158,352,002 total) {week 7}
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $1,231,068 ($198,003,561 total) {week 8}
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $902,152 ($49,893,282 total) {week 5}
- The Matrix – $612,428 ($168,932,002 total) {week 18}
- The Mummy – $510,725 ($153,112,105 total) {week 13}
- The Red Violin – $274,651 ($7,091,503 total) {week 29}
- Buena Vista Social Club – $191,033 ($2,938,708 total) {week 9}
- Life – $103,205 ($63,712,159 total) {week 16}
- Election – $58,804 ($14,813,007 total) {week 15}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $6,154,603 ($735,152,928 total)
- Tarzan – $5,460,945 ($284,908,917 total)
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $2,214,953 ($356,250,501 total)
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $1,623,163 ($89,768,622 total)
- The Matrix – $1,101,888 ($303,944,586 total)
- The Mummy – $918,903 ($275,481,228 total)
- The Red Violin – $494,156 ($12,759,122 total)
- Buena Vista Social Club – $343,709 ($5,287,360 total)
- Life – $185,688 ($114,631,719 total)
- Election – $105,801 ($26,651,749 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]
- 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 Aug. 5-7, 1994
Weekend Box Office:
- Clear and Present Danger – $20,348,017 ($20,348,017 total) {week 1}
- The Mask – $15,231,375 ($52,328,039 total) {week 2}
- Forrest Gump – $14,184,752 ($164,711,455 total) {week 5}
- True Lies – $9,189,733 ($100,824,836 total) {week 4}
- The Client – $7,147,556 ($56,875,276 total) {week 3}
- The Lion King – $7,074,280 ($232,392,912 total) {week 8}
- Speed – $1,704,714 ($107,872,308 total) {week 9}
- Eat Drink Man Woman – $155,521 ($195,068 total) {week 1}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Clear and Present Danger – $44,493,032 ($44,493,032 total)
- The Mask – $33,304,968 ($114,420,640 total)
- Forrest Gump – $31,016,419 ($360,158,540 total)
- True Lies – $20,094,297 ($220,463,876 total)
- The Client – $15,628,866 ($124,363,642 total)
- The Lion King – $15,468,641 ($508,151,009 total)
- Speed – $3,727,533 ($235,873,898 total)
- Eat Drink Man Woman – $340,063 ($426,536 total)
Oscar Details:
- Clear and Present Danger: Sound, Sound Effects
- The Client: Actress (Susan Sarandon)
- Eat Drink Man Woman : Foreign Language Film
- 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]
- The Mask : Visual Effects
- Speed: Editing, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
- True Lies: Visual Effects
30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 4-6, 1989
Weekend Box Office:
- Parenthood – $10,506,450 ($14,055,066 total) {week 1}
- Lethal Weapon 2 – $8,040,033 ($102,164,563 total) {week 5}
- When Harry Met Sallyโฆ – $7,308,491 ($35,693,448 total) {week 4}
- Batman – $6,702,916 ($214,353,921 total) {week 7}
- Dead Poets Society – $2,110,905 ($78,307,755 total) {week 10}
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $2,020,975 ($180,503,281 total) {week 11}
- Do the Right Thing – $1,064,650 ($21,203,891 total) {week 6}
- sex, lies and videotape – $155,982 ($155,982 total) {week 1}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Parenthood – $24,188,653 ($32,358,515 total)
- Lethal Weapon 2 – $18,510,303 ($235,210,102 total)
- When Harry Met Sallyโฆ – $16,826,098 ($82,175,848 total)
- Batman – $15,431,902 ($493,499,959 total)
- Dead Poets Society – $4,859,867 ($180,285,360 total)
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $4,652,824 ($415,566,748 total)
- Do the Right Thing – $2,451,109 ($48,817,019 total)
- sex, lies and videotape – $359,112 ($359,112 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
- Parenthood: Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest), Original Song (“I Love To See You Smile”)
- sex, lies and videotape: Original Screenplay
- When Harry Met Sallyโฆ: Original Screenplay
35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 3-5, 1984
Weekend Box Office:
- Ghostbusters – $6,443,646 ($152,985,267 total) {week 9}
- Purple Rain – $6,280,779 ($18,881,638 total) {week 2}
- The Karate Kid – $3,609,460 ($48,346,500 total) {week 7}
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $2,354,687 ($155,393,853 total) {week 11}
- The Muppets Take Manhattan – $1,524,552 ($19,691,476 total) {week 4}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Ghostbusters – $17,528,251 ($416,156,351 total)
- Purple Rain – $17,085,214 ($51,362,551 total)
- The Karate Kid – $9,818,591 ($131,513,991 total)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $6,405,309 ($422,708,279 total)
- The Muppets Take Manhattan – $4,147,144 ($53,565,503 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
- Purple Rain: Original Song Score [O]
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