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. 24-26, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

3. ParaNorman – $8,639,288 ($28,261,577 total) {week 2}
16. Ted – $947,430 ($214,762,805 total) {week 9}
19. Brave – $516,772 ($230,089,038 total) {week 10}
22. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $463,125 ($8,859,718 total) {week 9}
24. Moonrise Kingdom – $401,929 ($43,671,697 total) {week 14}
35. Snow White and the Huntsman – $155,255 ($154,917,255 total) {week 13}
38. Searching for Sugar Man – $121,211 ($495,153 total) {week 5}
40. Marvel’s The Avengers – $115,335 ($617,800,446 total) {week 17}
51. Prometheus – $58,041 ($126,297,836 total) {week 12}
84. A Cat in Paris – $5,124 ($293,629 total) {week 13}
97. The Invisible War – $2,097 ($56,417 total) {week 10}
98. Monsieur Lazhar – $1,833 ($1,995,365 total) {week 20}
114. 5 Broken Cameras – $361 ($66,773 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. ParaNorman – $8,867,209 ($29,007,171 total)
16. Ted – $972,425 ($220,428,658 total)
19. Brave – $530,405 ($236,159,226 total)
22. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $475,343 ($9,093,454 total)
24. Moonrise Kingdom – $412,533 ($44,823,840 total)
35. Snow White and the Huntsman – $159,351 ($159,004,268 total)
38. Searching for Sugar Man – $124,409 ($508,216 total)
40. Marvel’s The Avengers – $118,378 ($634,099,201 total)
51. Prometheus – $59,572 ($129,629,814 total)
84. A Cat in Paris – $5,259 ($301,375 total)
97. The Invisible War – $2,152 ($57,905 total)
98. Monsieur Lazhar – $1,881 ($2,048,007 total)
114. 5 Broken Cameras – $371 ($68,535 total)

Oscar Details:

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

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 24-26, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Bourne Ultimatum – $12,472,215 ($185,253,615 total) {week 4}
18. Ratatouille – $1,168,729 ($199,064,945 total) {week 9}
19. Transformers – $1,148,876 ($308,597,165 total) {week 8}
27. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $310,765 ($308,140,022 total) {week 14}
31. Once – $215,807 ($7,629,391 total) {week 15}
35. Sicko – $140,179 ($23,881,842 total) {week 10}
37. No End in Sight – $136,589 ($598,122 total) {week 5}
42. Surf’s Up – $116,980 ($58,867,694 total) {week 12}
43. La Vie en Rose – $106,775 ($9,424,602 total) {week 13}
79. The Lives of Others – $6,656 ($11,273,091 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Bourne Ultimatum – $14,810,755 ($219,988,668 total)
18. Ratatouille – $1,387,866 ($236,389,622 total)
19. Transformers – $1,364,290 ($366,459,133 total)
27. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $369,033 ($365,916,276 total)
31. Once – $256,271 ($9,059,902 total)
35. Sicko – $166,463 ($28,359,687 total)
37. No End in Sight – $162,199 ($710,270 total)
42. Surf’s Up – $138,914 ($69,905,387 total)
43. La Vie en Rose – $126,795 ($11,191,715 total)
79. The Lives of Others – $7,904 ($13,386,796 total)

Oscar Details:

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

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 23-25, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $7,261,842 ($63,690,730 total) {week 19}
11. Road to Perdition – $2,723,997 ($94,633,258 total) {week 7}
21. Minority Report – $425,584 ($129,828,482 total) {week 10}
22. Lilo & Stitch – $363,607 ($140,200,685 total) {week 10}
25. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $314,237 ($299,916,358 total) {week 15}
49. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $47,403 ($73,215,310 total) {week 14}
54. Monsters, Inc. – $41,888 ($255,745,941 total) {week 37}
79. Ice Age – $14,154 ($176,362,826 total) {week 24}
91. Son of the Bride – $8,934 ($571,301 total) {week 23}
95. Elling – $8,616 ($197,188 total) {week 13}
122. Promises – $1,988 ($203,876 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $10,211,575 ($89,561,663 total)
11. Road to Perdition – $3,830,474 ($133,072,929 total)
21. Minority Report – $598,455 ($182,564,320 total)
22. Lilo & Stitch – $511,303 ($197,149,672 total)
25. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $441,879 ($421,741,247 total)
49. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – $66,658 ($102,955,092 total)
54. Monsters, Inc. – $58,903 ($359,628,974 total)
79. Ice Age – $19,903 ($248,000,738 total)
91. Son of the Bride – $12,563 ($803,361 total)
95. Elling – $12,116 ($277,285 total)
122. Promises – $2,796 ($286,690 total)

Oscar Details:

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

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 22-24, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

3. Air Force One – $7,870,403 ($143,092,008 total) {week 5}
10. Men in Black – $2,881,113 ($230,502,569 total) {week 8}
11. Contact – $2,110,003 ($92,151,875 total) {week 7}
16. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $1,028,840 ($118,011,868 total) {week 10}
999. Con Air – $963,436 ($97,820,698 total) {week 12}
999. The Full Monty – $244,767 ($612,311 total) {week 2}
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $472,080 ($227,308,399 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Air Force One – $14,008,974 ($254,697,539 total)
10. Men in Black – $5,128,256 ($410,284,529 total)
11. Contact – $3,755,713 ($164,026,322 total)
16. My Best Friend’s Wedding – $1,831,290 ($210,055,983 total)
999. Con Air – $1,714,874 ($174,116,580 total)
999. The Full Monty – $435,675 ($1,089,887 total)
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $840,282 ($404,599,046 total)

Oscar Details:

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

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 21-23, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Unforgiven – $7,741,277 ($46,130,479 total) {week 3}
4. Death Becomes Her – $3,806,650 ($41,926,820 total) {week 4}
999. Batman Returns – $266,448 ($156,950,109 total) {week 10}
999. Enchanted April – $679,647 ($1,826,341 total) {week 4}
999. The Ox – $4,285 ($4,285 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Unforgiven – $15,240,056 ($90,815,907 total)
4. Death Becomes Her – $7,494,056 ($82,540,270 total)
999. Batman Returns – $524,549 ($308,983,709 total)
999. Enchanted April – $1,338,004 ($3,595,471 total)
999. The Ox – $8,436 ($8,436 total)

Oscar Details:

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

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 21-23, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

4. Dirty Dancing – $3,900,000 ($3,900,000 total) {week 1}
9. Robocop – $2,139,220 ($42,007,338 total) {week 6}
14. Full Metal Jacket – $1,150,462 ($40,324,497 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Dirty Dancing – $8,149,105 ($8,149,105 total)
9. Robocop – $4,469,930 ($87,774,924 total)
14. Full Metal Jacket – $2,403,907 ($84,258,604 total)

Oscar Details:

• Dirty Dancing: Original Song (“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”) [O]
• Full Metal Jacket: Adapted Screenplay
• Robocop: Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 20-22, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $7,684,162 ($215,707,267 total) {week 11}
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $5,338,434 ($25,300,837 total) {week 4}
5. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $2,931,803 ($53,374,789 total) {week 5}
9. The World According to Garp – $1,883,834 ($17,274,992 total) {week 5}
12. Rocky III – $1,793,805 ($105,961,800 total) {week 13}
14. Poltergeist – $1,279,800 ($62,285,580 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $21,353,607 ($599,431,419 total)
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $14,835,036 ($70,308,789 total)
5. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $8,147,221 ($148,323,818 total)
9. The World According to Garp – $5,235,008 ($48,005,675 total)
12. Rocky III – $4,984,825 ($294,458,471 total)
14. Poltergeist – $3,556,451 ($173,086,119 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: Supporting Actor (Charles Durning)
• 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
• Poltergeist: Original Score, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Rocky III: Original Song (“Eye of the Tiger”)
• The World According to Garp: Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Supporting Actress (Glenn Close)