Oscar in Box Office History (Week 32, 2021)

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. 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 Suicide Squad (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound, Visual Effects.

Annette (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Adam Driver).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 5-7, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $133,682,248 ($133,682,248 total) {week 1}
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $10,036,030 ($127,737,394 total) {week 3}
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $589,171 ($3,586,232 total) {week 5}
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $216,877 ($362,645,141 total) {week 17}
The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $23,474 ($9,135,320 total) {week 19}
Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $13,277 ($190,736 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $141,564,092 ($141,564,092 total)
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $10,627,750 ($135,268,732 total)
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $623,908 ($3,797,675 total)
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $229,664 ($384,026,531 total)
The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $24,858 ($9,673,934 total)
Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $14,060 ($201,982 total)

Oscar Details:

Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th): Actor (Viggo Mortensen)
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th): Visual Effects [O]
Life, Animated (2016, 89th): Documentary Feature
The Lobster (2016, 89th): Original Screenplay
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling
Suicide Squad (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 12-14, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $27,832,307 ($105,208,226 total) {week 2}
The Help (2011, 84th) – $26,044,590 ($35,918,416 total) {week 1}
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $7,251,414 ($357,337,355 total) {week 5}
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $1,384,632 ($347,268,800 total) {week 7}
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $703,277 ($49,664,598 total) {week 13}
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $360,520 ($167,169,895 total) {week 14}
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $351,096 ($163,433,627 total) {week 12}
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $158,988 ($12,472,585 total) {week 12}
Beginners (2011, 84th) – $101,331 ($5,526,446 total) {week 11}
Rio (2011, 84th) – $69,607 ($143,478,280 total) {week 18}
A Better Life (2011, 84th) – $17,428 ($1,697,973 total) {week 8}
In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $12,461 ($999,046 total) {week 20}
Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $10,315 ($2,010,913 total) {week 17}
If a Tree Falls (2011, 84th) – $2,852 ($58,957 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $32,149,298 ($121,526,778 total)
The Help (2011, 84th) – $30,084,293 ($41,489,620 total)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $8,376,160 ($412,762,947 total)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $1,599,398 ($401,132,687 total)
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $812,360 ($57,367,934 total)
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $416,439 ($193,099,147 total)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $405,554 ($188,783,357 total)
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $183,648 ($14,407,173 total)
Beginners (2011, 84th) – $117,048 ($6,383,637 total)
Rio (2011, 84th) – $80,404 ($165,732,793 total)
A Better Life (2011, 84th) – $20,131 ($1,961,341 total)
In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $14,394 ($1,154,005 total)
Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $11,915 ($2,322,820 total)
If a Tree Falls (2011, 84th) – $3,294 ($68,102 total)

Oscar Details:

Beginners (2011, 84th): Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer) [O]
A Better Life (2011, 84th): Actor (Demian Bichir)
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th): Supporting Actress (Melissa McCarthy), Original Screenplay
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th): Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects
The Help (2011, 84th): Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer [O])
If a Tree Falls (2011, 84th): Documentary Feature
In a Better World (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film [O]
Incendies (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th): Animated Feature
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction
Rio (2011, 84th): Original Song (“Real in Rio”)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th): Visual Effects
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th): Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Cinematography

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 11-13, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $7,237,927 ($392,431,781 total) {week 6}
Monster House (2006, 79th) – $3,285,771 ($63,663,488 total) {week 4}
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $2,603,168 ($5,642,853 total) {week 3}
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $1,869,313 ($116,491,461 total) {week 7}
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $1,242,461 ($192,594,159 total) {week 7}
Cars (2006, 79th) – $620,976 ($238,841,296 total) {week 10}
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $370,443 ($21,918,847 total) {week 12}
Click (2006, 79th) – $331,926 ($135,105,606 total) {week 8}
Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $53,983 ($53,983 total) {week 1}
Water (2006, 79th) – $15,606 ($3,176,218 total) {week 16}
Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $1,047 ($676,167 total) {week 26}
My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $1,005 ($6,182 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $10,122,048 ($548,805,361 total)
Monster House (2006, 79th) – $4,595,063 ($89,031,687 total)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $3,640,461 ($7,891,379 total)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $2,614,184 ($162,910,196 total)
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $1,737,549 ($269,337,786 total)
Cars (2006, 79th) – $868,418 ($334,013,171 total)
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $518,055 ($30,652,922 total)
Click (2006, 79th) – $464,190 ($188,941,580 total)
Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $75,494 ($75,494 total)
Water (2006, 79th) – $21,825 ($4,441,856 total)
Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $1,464 ($945,601 total)
My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $1,405 ($8,645 total)

Oscar Details:

Cars (2006, 79th): Animated Feature, Original Song (“Our Town”)
Click (2006, 79th): Makeup
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th): Actress (Meryl Streep), Costume Design
Half Nelson (2006, 79th): Actor (Ryan Gosling)
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th): Original Song (“I Need to Wake Up” [O]), Documentary Feature [O]
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th): Picture, Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin [O]), Supporting Actress (Abigail Breslin), Original Screenplay [O]
Monster House (2006, 79th): Animated Feature
My Country, My Country (2006, 79th): Documentary Feature
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th): Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects [O]
Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film
Superman Returns (2006, 79th): Visual Effects
Water (2006, 79th): Foreign Language Film

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 10-12, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

Shrek (2001, 74th) – $684,371 ($259,456,747 total) {week 13}
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $340,800 ($1,288,971 total) {week 4}
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $258,718 ($55,093,223 total) {week 13}
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $237,128 ($195,072,119 total) {week 12}
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $205,810 ($5,972,627 total) {week 9}
Memento (2001, 74th) – $198,338 ($24,595,255 total) {week 22}
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $106,217 ($77,926,150 total) {week 7}
Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $69,019 ($817,051 total) {week 10}
Under the Sun (1999, 72nd) – $5,954 ($60,730 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Shrek (2001, 74th) – $1,107,569 ($419,898,198 total)
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $551,542 ($2,086,038 total)
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $418,703 ($89,161,470 total)
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $383,762 ($315,699,754 total)
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $333,078 ($9,665,948 total)
Memento (2001, 74th) – $320,985 ($39,804,335 total)
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $171,899 ($126,113,699 total)
Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $111,699 ($1,322,295 total)
Under the Sun (1999, 72nd) – $9,636 ($98,284 total)

Oscar Details:

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th): Original Score, Visual Effects
Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd): Foreign Language Film
Ghost World (2001, 74th): Adapted Screenplay
Memento (2001, 74th): Original Screenplay, Film Editing
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th): Picture, Actress (Nicole Kidman), Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th): Original Song (“There You’ll Be”), Sound, Sound Film Editing [O], Visual Effects
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th): Supporting Actor (Ben Kingsley)
Shrek (2001, 74th): Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay
Under the Sun (1999, 72nd): Foreign Language Film

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 9-11, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $8,681,272 ($256,756,659 total) {week 6}
The Nutty Professor (1996, 69th) – $2,902,925 ($114,956,650 total) {week 7}
Twister (1996, 69th) – $1,573,565 ($233,667,074 total) {week 14}
Emma (1996, 69th) – $1,404,183 ($1,831,560 total) {week 2}
Trainspotting (1996, 69th) – $1,328,242 ($5,534,070 total) {week 4}
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $831,953 ($128,019,137 total) {week 10}
Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $35,933 ($191,652,928 total) {week 38}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $17,991,052 ($532,102,035 total)
The Nutty Professor (1996, 69th) – $6,016,017 ($238,235,953 total)
Twister (1996, 69th) – $3,261,053 ($484,251,221 total)
Emma (1996, 69th) – $2,910,026 ($3,795,722 total)
Trainspotting (1996, 69th) – $2,752,646 ($11,468,797 total)
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $1,724,138 ($265,306,628 total)
Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $74,467 ($397,181,181 total)

Oscar Details:

Emma (1996, 69th): Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Costume Design
Independence Day (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects [O]
The Nutty Professor (1996, 69th): Makeup [O]
The Rock (1996, 69th): Sound
Toy Story (1995, 68th): Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
Trainspotting (1996, 69th): Adapted Screenplay
Twister (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 9-11, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $6,725,035 ($159,166,629 total) {week 6}
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $2,518,742 ($138,607,978 total) {week 9}
Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $2,312,734 ($41,192,390 total) {week 5}
City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $1,808,803 ($105,309,769 total) {week 10}
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $189,457 ($129,412,237 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $14,632,143 ($346,310,290 total)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $5,480,208 ($301,579,354 total)
Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $5,031,982 ($89,625,248 total)
City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $3,935,543 ($229,130,044 total)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $412,215 ($281,571,518 total)

Oscar Details:

Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th): Directing, Original Screenplay
City Slickers (1991, 64th): Supporting Actor (Jack Palance) [O]
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th): Original Song (“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th): Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Anthony Hopkins) [O], Actress (Jodie Foster) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Sound
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th): Film Editing, Cinematography, Makeup [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 8-10, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

Aliens (1986, 59th) – $5,779,352 ($47,312,167 total) {week 4}
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $3,674,410 ($83,059,004 total) {week 8}
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $3,428,696 ($113,552,057 total) {week 13}
Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $242,795 ($242,795 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Aliens (1986, 59th) – $14,269,236 ($116,813,868 total)
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $9,072,128 ($205,072,905 total)
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $8,465,460 ($280,360,335 total)
Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $599,462 ($599,462 total)

Oscar Details:

Aliens (1986, 59th): Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Original Score, Film Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Glory of Love”)
Stand By Me (1986, 59th): Adapted Screenplay
Top Gun (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects

40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 7-9, 1981

Weekend Box Office:

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $4,846,228 ($95,974,374 total) {week 9}
Arthur (1981, 54th) – $3,098,055 ($16,800,890 total) {week 4}
Endless Love (1981, 54th) – $1,711,316 ($17,112,680 total) {week 4}
The Great Muppet Caper (1981, 54th) – $504,000 ($22,756,670 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $15,968,147 ($316,232,110 total)
Arthur (1981, 54th) – $10,207,980 ($55,358,328 total)
Endless Love (1981, 54th) – $5,638,725 ($56,385,665 total)
The Great Muppet Caper (1981, 54th) – $1,660,662 ($74,982,409 total)

Oscar Details:

Arthur (1981, 54th): Actor (Dudley Moore), Supporting Actor (John Gielgud) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”) [O]
Endless Love (1981, 54th): Original Song (“Endless Love”)
The Great Muppet Caper (1981, 54th): Original Song (“The First Time It Happens”)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th): Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Sound [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Sound Effects Film Editing) [O]