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 Aug. 16-18, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

11. Despicable Me 2 – $3,908,735 ($346,114,855 total) {week 7}
14. Blue Jasmine – $2,291,183 ($9,421,764 total) {week 4}
27. Iron Man 3 – $314,484 ($408,195,474 total) {week 16}
29. The Lone Ranger – $222,905 ($87,707,876 total) {week 7}
31. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $194,283 ($227,161,815 total) {week 14}
34. 20 Feet from Stardom – $121,064 ($4,083,809 total) {week 10}
39. The Croods – $74,979 ($186,992,792 total) {week 22}
43. The Great Gatsby – $46,817 ($144,812,796 total) {week 15}
45. The Act of Killing – $44,250 ($312,240 total) {week 5}
54. The Hunt – $27,888 ($500,984 total) {week 6}
63. Cutie and the Boxer – $21,098 ($21,098 total) {week 1}
65. Before Midnight – $19,200 ($7,983,147 total) {week 13}
113. Searching for Sugar Man – $282 ($3,695,904 total) {week 56}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

11. Despicable Me 2 – $4,293,358 ($381,875,799 total)
14. Blue Jasmine – $2,516,638 ($10,395,230 total)
27. Iron Man 3 – $345,430 ($450,370,652 total)
29. The Lone Ranger – $244,839 ($96,769,944 total)
31. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $213,401 ($250,632,408 total)
34. 20 Feet from Stardom – $132,977 ($4,505,752 total)
39. The Croods – $82,357 ($206,313,080 total)
43. The Great Gatsby – $51,424 ($159,775,004 total)
45. The Act of Killing – $48,604 ($344,501 total)
54. The Hunt – $30,632 ($552,746 total)
63. Cutie and the Boxer – $23,174 ($23,278 total)
65. Before Midnight – $21,089 ($8,807,974 total)
113. Searching for Sugar Man – $310 ($4,077,769 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
• Cutie and the Boxer: Documentary Feature
• Despicable Me 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Happy”)
• The Great Gatsby: Production Design [O], Costume Design [O]
• The Hunt: Foreign Language Film
• Iron Man 3: Visual Effects
• The Lone Ranger: Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects
• Searching for Sugar Man: Documentary Feature [O]
• Star Trek: Into Darkness: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 15-17, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

1. Tropic Thunder – $25,812,796 ($36,845,588 total) {week 1}
2. The Dark Knight – $16,379,293 ($471,082,150 total) {week 5}
10. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $3,755,575 ($3,755,575 total) {week 1}
13. WALL-E – $1,836,332 ($214,129,943 total) {week 8}
19. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $541,150 ($74,616,780 total) {week 6}
21. Wanted – $368,835 ($133,319,410 total) {week 8}
23. Iron Man – $341,178 ($317,058,295 total) {week 16}
25. Kung Fu Panda – $283,677 ($211,933,936 total) {week 11}
29. Man on Wire – $214,348 ($800,247 total) {week 4}
45. Frozen River – $59,664 ($254,777 total) {week 3}
51. Mongol – $36,219 ($5,621,596 total) {week 11}
55. Encounters at the End of the World – $28,617 ($777,380 total) {week 10}
65. The Visitor – $18,093 ($9,277,453 total) {week 19}
96. The Counterfeiters – $2,287 ($5,483,549 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Tropic Thunder – $32,104,216 ($46,031,327 total)
2. The Dark Knight – $20,371,461 ($588,524,636 total)
10. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $4,670,931 ($4,691,853 total)
13. WALL-E – $2,283,906 ($267,513,313 total)
19. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $673,046 ($93,219,013 total)
21. Wanted – $458,732 ($166,556,422 total)
23. Iron Man – $424,334 ($396,102,076 total)
25. Kung Fu Panda – $352,818 ($264,769,834 total)
29. Man on Wire – $266,592 ($999,751 total)
45. Frozen River – $74,206 ($318,294 total)
51. Mongol – $45,047 ($7,023,080 total)
55. Encounters at the End of the World – $35,592 ($971,184 total)
65. The Visitor – $22,503 ($11,590,356 total)
96. The Counterfeiters – $2,844 ($6,850,618 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
• Frozen River: Actress (Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay
• 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
• Tropic Thunder: Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.)
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz) [O]
• 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 Aug. 15-17, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

6. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $9,167,599 ($248,720,985 total) {week 6}
8. Seabiscuit – $8,087,670 ($83,012,545 total) {week 4}
14. Finding Nemo – $1,358,901 ($327,793,194 total) {week 12}
17. Whale Rider – $721,540 ($14,053,529 total) {week 11}
21. Dirty Pretty Things – $557,263 ($1,986,903 total) {week 5}
28. Winged Migration – $260,332 ($8,057,441 total) {week 18}
37. American Splendor – $159,705 ($159,705 total) {week 1}
44. Spellbound – $76,051 ($5,122,868 total) {week 16}
47. Capturing the Friedmans – $61,339 ($2,794,120 total) {week 12}
53. Chicago – $33,582 ($170,617,614 total) {week 34}
58. Nowhere in Africa – $24,873 ($5,997,933 total) {week 24}
62. A Mighty Wind – $20,195 ($17,548,613 total) {week 18}
73. The Weather Underground – $13,062 ($241,583 total) {week 11}
79. City of God – $8,474 ($4,558,932 total) {week 31}
91. The Man Without a Past – $5,160 ($903,604 total) {week 20}
92. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $5,105 ($339,781,747 total) {week 35}
94. Bowling for Columbine – $4,953 ($21,568,100 total) {week 45}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $13,576,560 ($369,987,933 total)
8. Seabiscuit – $11,977,263 ($123,486,323 total)
14. Finding Nemo – $2,012,435 ($487,612,761 total)
17. Whale Rider – $1,068,549 ($20,905,498 total)
21. Dirty Pretty Things – $825,267 ($2,955,642 total)
28. Winged Migration – $385,533 ($11,985,945 total)
37. American Splendor – $236,512 ($237,571 total)
44. Spellbound – $112,626 ($7,620,585 total)
47. Capturing the Friedmans – $90,839 ($4,156,427 total)
53. Chicago – $49,733 ($253,804,311 total)
58. Nowhere in Africa – $36,835 ($8,922,298 total)
62. A Mighty Wind – $29,907 ($26,104,653 total)
73. The Weather Underground – $19,344 ($359,370 total)
79. City of God – $12,549 ($6,781,695 total)
91. The Man Without a Past – $7,642 ($1,344,167 total)
92. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $7,560 ($505,446,479 total)
94. Bowling for Columbine – $7,335 ($32,083,890 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Splendor: Adapted Screenplay
• 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
• Seabiscuit: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• Spellbound: Documentary Feature
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature
• Whale Rider: Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes)
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 14-16, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

1. Saving Private Ryan – $13,157,819 ($126,035,694 total) {week 4}
10. Armageddon – $4,138,566 ($180,032,498 total) {week 7}
11. The Mask of Zorro – $3,760,358 ($78,430,821 total) {week 5}
999. Titanic – $707,918 ($598,614,980 total) {week 35}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Saving Private Ryan – $25,053,161 ($241,053,342 total)
10. Armageddon – $7,880,041 ($344,326,547 total)
11. The Mask of Zorro – $7,159,914 ($150,005,216 total)
999. Titanic – $1,347,912 ($1,144,899,013 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
• 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]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 13-15, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Fugitive – $22,438,277 ($60,056,238 total) {week 2}
5. In the Line of Fire – $4,461,092 ($84,205,291 total) {week 6}
7. Jurassic Park – $4,300,805 ($299,567,960 total) {week 10}
9. The Firm – $3,435,860 ($139,248,778 total) {week 7}
11. Sleepless in Seattle – $3,066,985 ($101,533,632 total) {week 8}
15. Searching for Bobby Fischer – $1,121,354 ($1,121,354 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Fugitive – $48,399,472 ($130,121,849 total)
5. In the Line of Fire – $9,622,597 ($182,444,797 total)
7. Jurassic Park – $9,276,857 ($649,063,913 total)
9. The Firm – $7,411,167 ($301,705,686 total)
11. Sleepless in Seattle – $6,615,501 ($219,989,536 total)
15. Searching for Bobby Fischer – $2,418,766 ($2,429,600 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Firm: Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter), Original Score
• The Fugitive: Picture, Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones) [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects
• In the Line of Fire: Supporting Actor (John Malkovich), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Searching for Bobby Fischer: Cinematography
• Sleepless in Seattle: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“A Wink and a Smile”)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 12-14, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

3. Die Hard – $5,742,848 ($38,415,083 total) {week 5}
4. A Fish Called Wanda – $5,256,304 ($16,693,985 total) {week 5}
5. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $4,349,661 ($113,041,981 total) {week 8}
6. Tucker The Man and His Dreams – $3,709,562 ($3,709,562 total) {week 1}
7. Coming to America – $3,611,470 ($106,688,022 total) {week 7}
9. Big – $2,225,217 ($88,904,983 total) {week 11}
14. Bull Durham – $1,040,442 ($43,575,439 total) {week 9}
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $401,211 ($401,211 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Die Hard – $12,477,769 ($83,840,218 total)
4. A Fish Called Wanda – $11,420,631 ($36,434,318 total)
5. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $9,450,723 ($246,712,061 total)
6. Tucker The Man and His Dreams – $8,059,949 ($8,096,051 total)
7. Coming to America – $7,846,819 ($232,844,661 total)
9. Big – $4,834,839 ($194,033,503 total)
14. Bull Durham – $2,260,620 ($95,102,600 total)
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $871,731 ($875,636 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
• The Last Temptation of Christ: Director
• Tucker The Man and His Dreams: Supporting Actor (Martin Landau), Art Direction, Costume Design
• 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 Aug. 19-21, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

6. Return of the Jedi – $3,033,669 ($222,489,243 total) {week 13}
9. Trading Places – $1,877,435 ($75,420,736 total) {week 11}
11. Flashdance – $1,516,078 ($76,021,471 total) {week 19}
12. WarGames – $1,400,185 ($63,702,257 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Return of the Jedi – $8,600,211 ($633,564,606 total)
9. Trading Places – $5,322,379 ($214,769,524 total)
11. Flashdance – $4,297,961 ($216,480,189 total)
12. WarGames – $3,969,413 ($181,399,760 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