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 Sep. 6-8, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

9. Blue Jasmine – $2,347,694 ($25,108,580 total) {week 7}
15. Despicable Me 2 – $1,459,505 ($357,558,315 total) {week 10}
17. The Grandmaster – $1,030,576 ($4,959,006 total) {week 3}
35. The Lone Ranger – $193,857 ($88,818,158 total) {week 10}
46. Iron Man 3 – $79,236 ($408,992,272 total) {week 19}
49. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $59,751 ($228,756,232 total) {week 17}
52. 20 Feet from Stardom – $52,293 ($4,488,665 total) {week 13}
63. The Croods – $14,363 ($187,150,638 total) {week 25}
68. The Hunt – $11,227 ($585,366 total) {week 9}
71. Before Midnight – $10,450 ($8,067,725 total) {week 16}
85. The Act of Killing – $4,894 ($391,532 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Blue Jasmine – $2,578,709 ($27,702,824 total)
15. Despicable Me 2 – $1,603,122 ($394,501,610 total)
17. The Grandmaster – $1,131,986 ($5,471,376 total)
35. The Lone Ranger – $212,933 ($97,994,942 total)
46. Iron Man 3 – $87,033 ($451,249,776 total)
49. Star Trek: Into Darkness – $65,631 ($252,391,562 total)
52. 20 Feet from Stardom – $57,439 ($4,952,439 total)
63. The Croods – $15,776 ($206,487,235 total)
68. The Hunt – $12,332 ($645,847 total)
71. Before Midnight – $11,478 ($8,901,291 total)
85. The Act of Killing – $5,376 ($431,985 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
• Despicable Me 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Happy”)
• The Grandmaster: Cinematography, Costume Design
• The Hunt: Foreign Language Film
• Iron Man 3: Visual Effects
• The Lone Ranger: Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects
• Star Trek: Into Darkness: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 5-7, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

2. Tropic Thunder – $7,230,710 ($96,541,629 total) {week 4}
3. The Dark Knight – $5,515,119 ($511,997,658 total) {week 8}
11. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $2,115,668 ($16,026,700 total) {week 4}
22. WALL-E – $774,300 ($219,398,090 total) {week 11}
26. Kung Fu Panda – $388,218 ($214,227,690 total) {week 14}
29. Frozen River – $282,428 ($1,153,521 total) {week 6}
31. Man on Wire – $208,522 ($1,802,569 total) {week 7}
37. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $144,305 ($75,602,005 total) {week 9}
39. Iron Man – $126,734 ($318,006,770 total) {week 19}
40. Wanted – $116,985 ($134,168,655 total) {week 11}
50. Trouble the Water – $41,900 ($146,384 total) {week 3}
63. The Visitor – $22,036 ($9,359,138 total) {week 22}
69. Encounters at the End of the World – $17,772 ($861,707 total) {week 13}
80. Mongol – $11,503 ($5,701,643 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Tropic Thunder – $8,993,070 ($120,609,807 total)
3. The Dark Knight – $6,859,333 ($639,640,528 total)
11. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $2,631,325 ($20,022,214 total)
22. WALL-E – $963,022 ($274,094,828 total)
26. Kung Fu Panda – $482,839 ($267,635,429 total)
29. Frozen River – $351,265 ($1,441,098 total)
31. Man on Wire – $259,346 ($2,251,956 total)
37. Hellboy II: The Golden Army – $179,477 ($94,449,859 total)
39. Iron Man – $157,623 ($397,287,009 total)
40. Wanted – $145,498 ($167,617,387 total)
50. Trouble the Water – $52,112 ($182,878 total)
63. The Visitor – $27,407 ($11,692,405 total)
69. Encounters at the End of the World – $22,104 ($1,076,534 total)
80. Mongol – $14,307 ($7,123,083 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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.)
• Trouble the Water: Documentary Feature
• 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 Sep. 5-7, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

3. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $5,271,528 ($281,831,452 total) {week 9}
8. Seabiscuit – $3,705,320 ($109,642,685 total) {week 7}
18. Whale Rider – $894,293 ($18,129,128 total) {week 14}
19. Dirty Pretty Things – $852,661 ($5,771,124 total) {week 8}
20. Finding Nemo – $804,150 ($333,843,390 total) {week 15}
21. Thirteen – $624,611 ($1,861,652 total) {week 3}
22. American Splendor – $580,938 ($2,829,651 total) {week 4}
31. Winged Migration – $251,577 ($9,505,323 total) {week 21}
51. Spellbound – $51,886 ($5,463,482 total) {week 19}
59. Capturing the Friedmans – $35,164 ($3,005,798 total) {week 15}
79. The Weather Underground – $16,456 ($341,571 total) {week 14}
81. Nowhere in Africa – $15,782 ($6,092,989 total) {week 27}
87. City of God – $10,529 ($4,606,165 total) {week 34}
117. The Man Without a Past – $2,679 ($916,447 total) {week 23}
143. Bowling for Columbine – $480 ($21,575,207 total) {week 48}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $7,806,757 ($419,241,812 total)
8. Seabiscuit – $5,487,315 ($163,100,313 total)
18. Whale Rider – $1,324,384 ($26,968,205 total)
19. Dirty Pretty Things – $1,262,730 ($8,584,906 total)
20. Finding Nemo – $1,190,889 ($496,612,804 total)
21. Thirteen – $925,004 ($2,769,323 total)
22. American Splendor – $860,328 ($4,209,282 total)
31. Winged Migration – $372,568 ($14,139,759 total)
51. Spellbound – $76,839 ($8,127,269 total)
59. Capturing the Friedmans – $52,075 ($4,471,311 total)
79. The Weather Underground – $24,370 ($508,108 total)
81. Nowhere in Africa – $23,372 ($9,063,700 total)
87. City of God – $15,593 ($6,851,957 total)
117. The Man Without a Past – $3,967 ($1,363,272 total)
143. Bowling for Columbine – $711 ($32,094,462 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Splendor: Adapted Screenplay
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• Capturing the Friedmans: Documentary Feature
• 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 Man Without a Past: Foreign Language Film
• 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
• Thirteen: Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter)
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature
• Whale Rider: Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes)
• Winged Migration: Documentary Feature

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 4-6, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

3. Saving Private Ryan – $6,790,469 ($165,036,969 total) {week 7}
11. Armageddon – $2,828,361 ($192,140,665 total) {week 10}
14. The Mask of Zorro – $2,106,833 ($87,940,321 total) {week 8}
22. Mulan – $1,058,103 ($117,725,653 total) {week 12}
999. Titanic – $70,467 ($600,541,628 total) {week 38}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Saving Private Ryan – $12,929,400 ($315,646,399 total)
11. Armageddon – $5,385,344 ($367,484,385 total)
14. The Mask of Zorro – $4,011,518 ($168,192,895 total)
22. Mulan – $2,014,682 ($225,159,724 total)
999. Titanic – $134,173 ($1,148,583,881 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
• Mulan: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• 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 Sep. 3-5, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Fugitive – $17,239,413 ($133,670,684 total) {week 5}
4. Jurassic Park – $3,195,075 ($315,700,185 total) {week 13}
8. In the Line of Fire – $2,601,730 ($97,272,400 total) {week 9}
11. Sleepless in Seattle – $2,875,506 ($112,910,299 total) {week 11}
12. The Firm – $2,362,240 ($150,032,582 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Fugitive – $37,185,497 ($289,619,815 total)
4. Jurassic Park – $6,891,792 ($684,017,068 total)
8. In the Line of Fire – $5,611,944 ($210,756,867 total)
11. Sleepless in Seattle – $6,202,480 ($244,638,981 total)
12. The Firm – $5,095,363 ($325,070,594 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]
• Sleepless in Seattle: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“A Wink and a Smile”)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 2-4, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

3. A Fish Called Wanda – $5,098,053 ($37,794,123 total) {week 8}
4. Die Hard – $4,766,648 ($58,456,957 total) {week 8}
5. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $4,434,566 ($130,686,435 total) {week 11}
8. Married to the Mob – $3,405,665 ($12,086,524 total) {week 3}
9. Big – $2,487,652 ($97,856,795 total) {week 14}
10. Tucker The Man and His Dreams – $2,329,291 ($14,404,223 total) {week 4}
11. Coming to America – $2,305,075 ($117,382,908 total) {week 10}
16. The Last Temptation of Christ – $1,179,051 ($3,680,949 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. A Fish Called Wanda – $11,076,792 ($82,484,984 total)
4. Die Hard – $10,356,732 ($127,581,242 total)
5. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $9,635,201 ($285,220,760 total)
8. Married to the Mob – $7,399,657 ($26,378,618 total)
9. Big – $5,405,044 ($213,570,669 total)
10. Tucker The Man and His Dreams – $5,060,966 ($31,436,954 total)
11. Coming to America – $5,008,350 ($256,186,055 total)
16. The Last Temptation of Christ – $2,561,782 ($8,033,604 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), 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
• Married to the Mob: Supporting Actor (Dean Stockwell)
• 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 Sep. 9-11, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

6. Return of the Jedi – $1,621,851 ($234,515,987 total) {week 16}
7. Flashdance – $1,425,850 ($83,396,837 total) {week 22}
8. Trading Places – $1,279,288 ($82,263,931 total) {week 14}
10. WarGames – $964,876 ($69,527,019 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Return of the Jedi – $4,597,819 ($667,812,192 total)
7. Flashdance – $4,042,172 ($237,482,422 total)
8. Trading Places – $3,626,680 ($234,256,337 total)
10. WarGames – $2,735,347 ($197,986,464 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