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. 29-31, 2014

Weekend Box Office:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy – $17,082,262 ($275,379,530 total) {week 5}
16. Boyhood – $1,522,433 ($18,522,954 total) {week 8}
17. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $1,176,225 ($173,506,452 total) {week 12}
19. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $861,266 ($205,281,257 total) {week 8}
20. Begin Again – $804,859 ($15,345,974 total) {week 10}
22. Maleficent – $677,935 ($238,519,237 total) {week 14}
28. X-Men: Days of Future Past – $468,623 ($233,283,151 total) {week 15}
67. Ida – $11,634 ($3,668,193 total) {week 18}
80. The Lego Movie – $3,996 ($257,754,698 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Guardians of the Galaxy – $19,110,389 ($308,074,529 total)
16. Boyhood – $1,703,187 ($20,722,130 total)
17. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $1,315,875 ($194,106,361 total)
19. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $963,522 ($229,653,695 total)
20. Begin Again – $900,418 ($17,167,956 total)
22. Maleficent – $758,424 ($266,837,922 total)
28. X-Men: Days of Future Past – $524,261 ($260,980,171 total)
67. Ida – $13,015 ($4,103,707 total)
80. The Lego Movie – $4,470 ($288,357,153 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
• Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Visual Effects
• 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 Aug. 28-30, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

2. Inglourious Basterds – $19,303,653 ($73,022,841 total) {week 2}
4. District 9 – $10,270,435 ($90,383,712 total) {week 3}
6. Julie & Julia – $7,035,675 ($70,628,063 total) {week 4}
19. Up – $649,188 ($289,639,811 total) {week 14}
20. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $575,531 ($399,416,040 total) {week 10}
27. The Hurt Locker – $280,290 ($11,595,912 total) {week 10}
32. Star Trek – $182,482 ($256,673,273 total) {week 17}
34. In the Loop – $149,041 ($1,779,340 total) {week 6}
42. Food, Inc. – $66,774 ($4,098,279 total) {week 12}
44. The Cove – $45,703 ($619,467 total) {week 5}
48. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $31,685 ($59,191 total) {week 2}
49. Departures – $29,438 ($1,279,245 total) {week 14}
81. Il Divo – $3,009 ($225,313 total) {week 19}
999. Revanche – $3,547 ($354,259 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Inglourious Basterds – $23,524,718 ($88,990,502 total)
4. District 9 – $12,516,237 ($110,147,617 total)
6. Julie & Julia – $8,574,143 ($86,072,066 total)
19. Up – $791,144 ($352,974,383 total)
20. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $701,380 ($486,755,014 total)
27. The Hurt Locker – $341,580 ($14,131,551 total)
32. Star Trek – $222,385 ($312,799,162 total)
34. In the Loop – $181,631 ($2,168,422 total)
42. Food, Inc. – $81,375 ($4,994,436 total)
44. The Cove – $55,697 ($754,924 total)
48. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $38,613 ($72,134 total)
49. Departures – $35,875 ($1,558,973 total)
81. Il Divo – $3,667 ($274,581 total)
999. Revanche – $4,323 ($431,724 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Baader Meinhof Complex: Foreign Language Film
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• District 9: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Visual Effects
• 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
• Inglourious Basterds: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Julie & Julia: Actress (Meryl Streep)
• Revanche: Foreign Language Film
• 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 Aug. 27-29, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

1. Hero – $18,004,319 ($18,004,319 total) {week 1}
6. Collateral – $6,470,109 ($80,158,380 total) {week 4}
15. The Village – $1,889,981 ($110,507,857 total) {week 5}
16. Spider-Man 2 – $1,574,837 ($367,816,575 total) {week 9}
18. I, Robot – $1,256,914 ($140,549,286 total) {week 7}
23. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $485,683 ($247,598,604 total) {week 13}
24. Maria Full of Grace – $384,635 ($3,923,157 total) {week 7}
36. Before Sunset – $129,394 ($4,779,731 total) {week 9}
55. Story of the Weeping Camel – $50,585 ($1,510,891 total) {week 13}
66. Super Size Me – $26,072 ($11,327,782 total) {week 17}
90. The Twilight Samurai – $7,308 ($503,015 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Hero – $26,499,110 ($26,499,110 total)
6. Collateral – $9,522,834 ($117,978,678 total)
15. The Village – $2,781,711 ($162,647,635 total)
16. Spider-Man 2 – $2,317,876 ($541,359,661 total)
18. I, Robot – $1,849,951 ($206,863,200 total)
23. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $714,838 ($364,420,490 total)
24. Maria Full of Grace – $566,113 ($5,774,180 total)
36. Before Sunset – $190,445 ($7,034,902 total)
55. Story of the Weeping Camel – $74,452 ($2,223,759 total)
66. Super Size Me – $38,373 ($16,672,452 total)
90. The Twilight Samurai – $10,756 ($740,347 total)

Oscar Details:

• Before Sunset: Adapted Screenplay
• Collateral: Supporting Actor (Jamie Foxx), Editing
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Original Score, Visual Effects
• Hero: Foreign Language Film
• I, Robot: Visual Effects
• Maria Full of Grace: Actress (Catalina Sandino Moreno)
• Spider-Man 2: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• Story of the Weeping Camel : Documentary Feature
• Super Size Me : Documentary Feature
• The Twilight Samurai: Foreign Language Film
• The Village : Original Score

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 27-29, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Sixth Sense – $20,099,149 ($138,853,903 total) {week 4}
20. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $910,246 ($419,423,967 total) {week 15}
23. Tarzan – $591,192 ($166,496,093 total) {week 11}
24. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $561,089 ($204,213,909 total) {week 12}
36. Buena Vista Social Club – $184,776 ($4,060,940 total) {week 13}
40. The Mummy – $1,430,405 ($154,964,260 total) {week 17}
44. The Red Violin – $114,683 ($7,926,723 total) {week 33}
45. The Matrix – $112,756 ($171,051,684 total) {week 22}
57. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $59,902 ($51,247,370 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Sixth Sense – $36,162,642 ($249,827,692 total)
20. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $1,637,726 ($754,632,886 total)
23. Tarzan – $1,063,680 ($299,561,868 total)
24. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $1,009,518 ($367,424,238 total)
36. Buena Vista Social Club – $332,451 ($7,306,494 total)
40. The Mummy – $2,573,603 ($278,813,649 total)
44. The Red Violin – $206,339 ($14,261,860 total)
45. The Matrix – $202,872 ($307,758,345 total)
57. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $107,776 ($92,204,914 total)

Oscar Details:

• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me: Makeup
• Buena Vista Social Club: Documentary Feature
• The Matrix : Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Mummy : Sound
• The Red Violin : Original Score [O]
• The Sixth Sense : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Editing
• 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 Sep. 2-4, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

1. Forrest Gump – $12,221,147 ($238,771,095 total) {week 9}
3. Clear and Present Danger – $9,271,153 ($98,735,989 total) {week 5}
4. The Mask – $660,654 ($100,251,076 total) {week 6}
6. True Lies – $4,130,340 ($132,204,043 total) {week 8}
7. The Lion King – $3,919,074 ($262,317,184 total) {week 12}
10. The Client – $3,010,045 ($82,469,691 total) {week 7}
16. Maverick – $1,714,088 ($98,456,702 total) {week 16}
18. Speed – $1,427,292 ($111,798,221 total) {week 13}
20. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – $1,037,094 ($2,821,185 total) {week 4}
999. Jurassic Park – $537,615 ($353,929,000 total) {week 65}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Forrest Gump – $26,722,795 ($522,097,562 total)
3. Clear and Present Danger – $20,272,330 ($215,896,397 total)
4. The Mask – $1,444,588 ($219,209,291 total)
6. True Lies – $9,031,413 ($289,077,740 total)
7. The Lion King – $8,569,458 ($573,583,508 total)
10. The Client – $6,581,773 ($180,328,463 total)
16. Maverick – $3,748,030 ($215,285,707 total)
18. Speed – $3,120,921 ($244,458,311 total)
20. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – $2,267,713 ($6,168,811 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $1,175,551 ($773,902,167 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert : Costume Design [O]
• Clear and Present Danger: Sound, Sound Effects
• The Client: Actress (Susan Sarandon)
• 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]
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], 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
• Maverick: Costume Design
• Speed: Editing, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• True Lies: Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 1-3, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

2. Parenthood – $6,074,333 ($62,682,519 total) {week 5}
3. The Abyss – $5,532,135 ($40,726,991 total) {week 4}
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $4,849,364 ($67,515,438 total) {week 8}
5. Lethal Weapon 2 – $4,659,654 ($131,302,932 total) {week 9}
7. Batman – $2,866,560 ($237,866,300 total) {week 11}
8. sex, lies and videotape – $3,416,823 ($8,064,653 total) {week 5}
11. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $2,701,555 ($189,539,802 total) {week 15}
14. Dead Poets Society – $1,370,827 ($86,402,887 total) {week 14}
999. Shirley Valentine – $245,422 ($245,422 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Parenthood – $13,984,736 ($144,311,895 total)
3. The Abyss – $12,736,452 ($93,764,407 total)
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $11,164,531 ($155,438,565 total)
5. Lethal Weapon 2 – $10,727,768 ($302,294,408 total)
7. Batman – $6,599,586 ($547,631,734 total)
8. sex, lies and videotape – $7,866,439 ($18,566,984 total)
11. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $6,219,701 ($436,371,232 total)
14. Dead Poets Society – $3,156,010 ($198,922,516 total)
999. Shirley Valentine – $565,027 ($565,027 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Abyss : Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• Dead Poets Society: Picture, Director, Actor (Robin Williams), Original Screenplay [O]
• 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
• Shirley Valentine:
• When Harry Met Sally…: Original Screenplay

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 31-Sep. 2, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Ghostbusters – $5,004,808 ($186,704,084 total) {week 13}
4. The Karate Kid – $4,155,645 ($69,959,648 total) {week 11}
5. Purple Rain – $4,068,212 ($45,660,272 total) {week 6}
7. The Woman in Red – $3,577,644 ($13,683,901 total) {week 3}
10. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $2,175,460 ($167,334,648 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Ghostbusters – $13,614,269 ($507,879,562 total)
4. The Karate Kid – $11,304,344 ($190,306,900 total)
5. Purple Rain – $11,066,505 ($124,206,811 total)
7. The Woman in Red – $9,732,044 ($37,223,469 total)
10. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $5,917,769 ($455,190,084 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)
• Purple Rain: Original Song Score [O]
• The Woman in Red : Original Song (“I Just Called to Say I Love You”) [O]