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. 17-19, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

3. ParaNorman – $14,087,050 ($14,087,050 total) {week 1}
12. Ted – $1,543,080 ($213,064,385 total) {week 8}
16. Brave – $815,785 ($229,121,303 total) {week 9}
19. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $563,293 ($8,110,969 total) {week 8}
20. Moonrise Kingdom – $503,385 ($42,966,193 total) {week 13}
28. Snow White and the Huntsman – $208,615 ($154,660,660 total) {week 12}
34. Marvel’s The Avengers – $148,968 ($617,595,391 total) {week 16}
37. Searching for Sugar Man – $106,283 ($309,359 total) {week 4}
43. Prometheus – $76,010 ($126,195,339 total) {week 11}
77. Monsieur Lazhar – $3,008 ($1,991,201 total) {week 19}
91. 5 Broken Cameras – $1,078 ($65,118 total) {week 12}
98. The Invisible War – $376 ($54,208 total) {week 9}
999. A Cat in Paris – $3,208 ($285,203 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. ParaNorman – $14,458,693 ($14,458,693 total)
12. Ted – $1,583,789 ($218,685,430 total)
16. Brave – $837,307 ($235,165,960 total)
19. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $578,154 ($8,324,952 total)
20. Moonrise Kingdom – $516,665 ($44,099,723 total)
28. Snow White and the Huntsman – $214,119 ($158,740,904 total)
34. Marvel’s The Avengers – $152,898 ($633,888,737 total)
37. Searching for Sugar Man – $109,087 ($317,520 total)
43. Prometheus – $78,015 ($129,524,613 total)
77. Monsieur Lazhar – $3,087 ($2,043,733 total)
91. 5 Broken Cameras – $1,106 ($66,836 total)
98. The Invisible War – $386 ($55,638 total)
999. A Cat in Paris – $3,293 ($292,727 total)

Oscar Details:

• ParaNorman: Animated Feature
• Ted: Original Song (“Everybody Needs a Best Friend”)
• Brave: Animated Feature [O]
• Beasts of the Southern Wild: Picture, Directing, Actress (Quvenzhane Wallis), Adapted Screenplay
• Moonrise Kingdom: Original Screenplay
• Snow White and the Huntsman: Costume Design
• Marvel’s The Avengers: Visual Effects
• Searching for Sugar Man: Documentary Feature [O]
• Prometheus: Visual Effects
• Monsieur Lazhar: Foreign Language Film
• 5 Broken Cameras: Documentary Feature
• The Invisible War: Documentary Feature
• A Cat in Paris: Animated Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 17-19, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Bourne Ultimatum – $19,874,370 ($164,694,690 total) {week 3}
15. Transformers – $1,948,099 ($306,487,922 total) {week 7}
16. Ratatouille – $1,643,850 ($196,620,846 total) {week 8}
28. Once – $203,102 ($7,309,077 total) {week 14}
30. Sicko – $200,411 ($23,616,424 total) {week 9}
33. Surf’s Up – $159,208 ($58,645,467 total) {week 11}
35. La Vie en Rose – $134,305 ($9,238,655 total) {week 12}
38. No End in Sight – $107,812 ($404,462 total) {week 4}
40. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $100,195 ($307,771,457 total) {week 13}
73. The Lives of Others – $8,572 ($11,257,599 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Bourne Ultimatum – $23,600,814 ($195,574,944 total)
15. Transformers – $2,313,368 ($363,954,407 total)
16. Ratatouille – $1,952,072 ($233,487,255 total)
28. Once – $241,184 ($8,679,529 total)
30. Sicko – $237,988 ($28,044,504 total)
33. Surf’s Up – $189,060 ($69,641,492 total)
35. La Vie en Rose – $159,487 ($10,970,903 total)
38. No End in Sight – $128,027 ($480,299 total)
40. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $118,982 ($365,478,605 total)
73. The Lives of Others – $10,179 ($13,368,399 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Bourne Ultimatum: Film Editing [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O]
• Transformers: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Ratatouille: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Once: Original Song [O]
• Sicko: Documentary Feature
• Surf’s Up: Animated Feature
• La Vie en Rose: Actress (Marion Cotillard) [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• No End in Sight: Documentary Feature
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End: Makeup, Visual Effects
• The Lives of Others: Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 16-18, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $5,700,072 ($52,777,170 total) {week 18}
8. Road to Perdition – $3,800,097 ($90,302,959 total) {week 6}
17. Minority Report – $564,101 ($129,115,416 total) {week 9}
19. Lilo & Stitch – $502,239 ($139,487,091 total) {week 9}
23. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $326,513 ($299,401,865 total) {week 14}
37. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $90,955 ($73,120,009 total) {week 13}
45. Spider-Man – $67,390 ($403,706,375 total) {week 16}
46. Monsters, Inc. – $63,691 ($255,660,741 total) {week 36}
69. Ice Age – $20,429 ($176,333,076 total) {week 23}
73. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $18,034 ($313,364,114 total) {week 35}
90. Son of the Bride – $8,159 ($558,845 total) {week 22}
108. Elling – $2,595 ($184,864 total) {week 12}
133. Promises – $225 ($194,952 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $8,015,420 ($74,215,057 total)
8. Road to Perdition – $5,343,682 ($126,983,679 total)
17. Minority Report – $793,237 ($181,561,609 total)
19. Lilo & Stitch – $706,247 ($196,146,219 total)
23. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $459,141 ($421,017,769 total)
37. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $127,901 ($102,821,080 total)
45. Spider-Man – $94,764 ($567,690,376 total)
46. Monsters, Inc. – $89,562 ($359,509,166 total)
69. Ice Age – $28,727 ($247,958,904 total)
73. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $25,359 ($440,651,431 total)
90. Son of the Bride – $11,473 ($785,846 total)
108. Elling – $3,649 ($259,955 total)
133. Promises – $316 ($274,141 total)

Oscar Details:

• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• Road to Perdition: Supporting Actor (Paul Newman), Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound, Sound Editing
• Minority Report: Sound Editing
• Lilo & Stitch: Animated Feature
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones: Visual Effects
• Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron: Animated Feature
• Spider-Man: Sound, Visual Effects
• Monsters, Inc.: Animated Feature, Original Song (If I Didn’t Have You [O]), Original Score, Sound Editing
• Ice Age: 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]
• Son of the Bride: Foreign Language Film
• Elling: Foreign Language Film
• Promises: Documentary Feature

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 15-17, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

2. Air Force One – $12,350,122 ($130,353,620 total) {week 4}
7. Men in Black – $4,204,505 ($225,304,729 total) {week 7}
9. Contact – $2,872,875 ($88,581,422 total) {week 6}
13. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $1,616,400 ($116,087,939 total) {week 9}
14. Face/Off – $1,122,883 ($107,689,374 total) {week 8}
999. Con Air – $206,349 ($96,712,318 total) {week 11}
999. The Fifth Element – $133,912 ($62,951,133 total) {week 15}
999. The Full Monty – $176,585 ($244,375 total) {week 1}
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $747,650 ($226,437,834 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Air Force One – $21,982,679 ($232,023,764 total)
7. Men in Black – $7,483,836 ($401,032,600 total)
9. Contact – $5,113,592 ($157,671,071 total)
13. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $2,877,122 ($206,631,473 total)
14. Face/Off – $1,998,683 ($191,682,393 total)
999. Con Air – $367,292 ($172,143,712 total)
999. The Fifth Element – $238,358 ($112,050,274 total)
999. The Full Monty – $314,314 ($434,977 total)
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $1,330,784 ($403,049,478 total)

Oscar Details:

• Air Force One: Editing, Sound
• Men in Black: Original Musical or Comedy Score, Art Direction, Makeup [O]
• Contact: Sound
• My Best Friend’s Wedding: Original Comedy/Musical Score
• Face/Off: Sound Effects
• Con Air: Original Song (“How Do I Live”), Sound
• The Fifth Element: Sound Editing
• The Full Monty: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Musical or Comedy Score [O]
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park: Visual Effects

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 14-16, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Unforgiven – $11,374,018 ($33,780,840 total) {week 2}
3. Death Becomes Her – $5,902,215 ($35,313,770 total) {week 3}
999. Batman Returns – $481,360 ($156,448,028 total) {week 9}
999. Enchanted April – $404,191 ($939,903 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Unforgiven – $22,391,741 ($66,503,485 total)
3. Death Becomes Her – $11,619,541 ($69,521,326 total)
999. Batman Returns – $947,641 ($307,995,274 total)
999. Enchanted April – $795,721 ($1,850,363 total)

Oscar Details:

• Unforgiven: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound
• Death Becomes Her: Visual Effects [O]
• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects
• Enchanted April: Supporting Actress (Joan Plowright), Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 14-16, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

8. Robocop – $2,701,585 ($38,387,471 total) {week 5}
14. Full Metal Jacket – $1,449,564 ($38,200,129 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. Robocop – $5,645,000 ($80,211,161 total)
14. Full Metal Jacket – $3,028,884 ($79,819,707 total)

Oscar Details:

• Robocop: Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects [O]
• Full Metal Jacket: Adapted Screenplay

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 13-15, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $8,448,840 ($201,968,592 total) {week 10}
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $5,019,863 ($16,974,643 total) {week 3}
4. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $4,445,997 ($48,081,292 total) {week 4}
8. The World According to Garp – $2,351,928 ($13,952,712 total) {week 4}
10. Rocky III – $1,710,820 ($103,689,153 total) {week 12}
12. Poltergeist – $1,425,480 ($60,647,035 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $23,478,579 ($561,252,856 total)
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $13,949,755 ($47,171,032 total)
4. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $12,355,032 ($133,613,658 total)
8. The World According to Garp – $6,535,800 ($38,773,353 total)
10. Rocky III – $4,754,217 ($288,142,986 total)
12. Poltergeist – $3,961,283 ($168,532,747 total)

Oscar Details:

• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• An Officer and a Gentleman: Actress (Debra Winger), Supporting Actor (Louis Gossett Jr.) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Up Where We Belong”) [O], Original Score, Film Editing
• The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: Supporting Actor (Charles Durning)
• The World According to Garp: Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Supporting Actress (Glenn Close)
• Rocky III: Original Song (“Eye of the Tiger”)
• Poltergeist: Original Score, Sound Editing, Visual Effects