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. 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

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 2-4, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

2. Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $9,910,256 ($297,327,572 total) {week 5}
3. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $6,375,278 ($34,236,714 total) {week 3}
9. Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $4,440,573 ($14,592,206 total) {week 4}
14. Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $2,477,309 ($154,320,631 total) {week 7}
16. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $2,109,083 ($23,490,002 total) {week 4}
33. Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $153,373 ($5,302,494 total) {week 9}
43. The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $114,548 ($363,809,990 total) {week 21}
93. Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $974 ($227,250 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $10,494,560 ($314,857,868 total)
3. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $6,751,161 ($36,255,295 total)
9. Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $4,702,387 ($15,452,556 total)
14. Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $2,623,370 ($163,419,304 total)
16. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $2,233,434 ($24,874,962 total)
33. Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $162,416 ($5,615,127 total)
43. The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $121,302 ($385,260,059 total)
93. Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $1,031 ($240,649 total)

Oscar Details:

• Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th): Actor (Viggo Mortensen)
• Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th): Actress (Meryl Streep), Costume Design
• Hell or High Water (2016, 89th): Picture, Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges), Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing
• The Jungle Book (2016, 89th): Visual Effects [O]
• Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th): Animated Feature, Visual Effects
• Life, Animated (2016, 89th): Documentary Feature
• Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling
• Suicide Squad (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 9-11, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Help (2011, 84th) – $8,926,142 ($137,327,800 total) {week 5}
3. Warrior (2011, 84th) – $5,242,107 ($5,242,107 total) {week 1}
6. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $3,886,285 ($167,847,116 total) {week 6}
16. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $1,001,583 ($377,104,684 total) {week 9}
24. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $415,831 ($53,531,714 total) {week 17}
35. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $174,938 ($350,800,077 total) {week 11}
37. Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $158,585 ($168,748,585 total) {week 18}
39. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $122,857 ($165,001,609 total) {week 16}
52. The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $47,109 ($13,090,521 total) {week 16}
88. Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $5,652 ($2,064,985 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Help (2011, 84th) – $10,310,651 ($158,628,329 total)
3. Warrior (2011, 84th) – $6,055,195 ($6,055,195 total)
6. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $4,489,076 ($193,881,410 total)
16. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $1,156,936 ($435,596,331 total)
24. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $480,329 ($61,834,868 total)
35. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $202,072 ($405,211,690 total)
37. Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $183,183 ($194,922,703 total)
39. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $141,913 ($190,594,545 total)
52. The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $54,416 ($15,120,955 total)
88. Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $6,529 ($2,385,279 total)

Oscar Details:

• Bridesmaids (2011, 84th): Supporting Actress (Melissa McCarthy), Original Screenplay
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th): Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects
• The Help (2011, 84th): Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer [O])
• Incendies (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film
• Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th): Animated Feature
• Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th): Visual Effects
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th): Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
• The Tree of Life (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Cinematography
• Warrior (2011, 84th): Supporting Actor (Nick Nolte)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 8-10, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

6. The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $4,514,306 ($17,963,845 total) {week 4}
7. Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $4,273,545 ($41,494,873 total) {week 7}
14. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $1,994,611 ($416,591,183 total) {week 10}
20. Cars (2006, 79th) – $478,322 ($242,618,740 total) {week 14}
21. The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $474,500 ($122,676,388 total) {week 11}
23. Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $453,273 ($197,430,626 total) {week 11}
24. Monster House (2006, 79th) – $451,667 ($71,423,510 total) {week 8}
29. Click (2006, 79th) – $250,552 ($136,812,330 total) {week 12}
31. Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $226,840 ($1,070,302 total) {week 5}
42. An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $108,061 ($23,353,499 total) {week 16}
87. Water (2006, 79th) – $4,356 ($3,228,780 total) {week 20}
97. My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $2,602 ($18,658 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $6,313,136 ($25,121,957 total)
7. Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $5,976,439 ($58,029,471 total)
14. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $2,789,410 ($582,591,639 total)
20. Cars (2006, 79th) – $668,921 ($339,295,826 total)
21. The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $663,576 ($171,559,651 total)
23. Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $633,890 ($276,101,456 total)
24. Monster House (2006, 79th) – $631,644 ($99,883,870 total)
29. Click (2006, 79th) – $350,390 ($191,328,388 total)
31. Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $317,230 ($1,496,789 total)
42. An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $151,120 ($32,659,244 total)
87. Water (2006, 79th) – $6,092 ($4,515,363 total)
97. My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $3,639 ($26,093 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cars (2006, 79th): Animated Feature, Original Song (“Our Town”)
• Click (2006, 79th): Makeup
• The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th): Actress (Meryl Streep), Costume Design
• Half Nelson (2006, 79th): Actor (Ryan Gosling)
• The Illusionist (2006, 79th): Cinematography
• An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th): Original Song (“I Need to Wake Up” [O]), Documentary Feature [O]
• Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th): Picture, Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin [O]), Supporting Actress (Abigail Breslin), Original Screenplay [O]
• Monster House (2006, 79th): Animated Feature
• My Country, My Country (2006, 79th): Documentary Feature
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th): Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• Superman Returns (2006, 79th): Visual Effects
• Water (2006, 79th): Foreign Language Film

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 7-9, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

22. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $435,565 ($263,482,327 total) {week 17}
25. Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $374,998 ($3,710,186 total) {week 8}
32. Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $183,145 ($197,017,228 total) {week 16}
40. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $110,782 ($56,256,886 total) {week 17}
42. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $94,750 ($78,474,311 total) {week 11}
51. Memento (2001, 74th) – $63,315 ($25,342,252 total) {week 26}
56. Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $50,674 ($6,582,367 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

22. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $704,907 ($426,413,095 total)
25. Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $606,887 ($6,004,471 total)
32. Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $296,397 ($318,847,669 total)
40. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $179,287 ($91,044,713 total)
42. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $153,341 ($127,000,828 total)
51. Memento (2001, 74th) – $102,467 ($41,013,256 total)
56. Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $82,010 ($10,652,735 total)

Oscar Details:

• A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th): Original Score, Visual Effects
• Ghost World (2001, 74th): Adapted Screenplay
• Memento (2001, 74th): Original Screenplay, Film Editing
• Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th): Picture, Actress (Nicole Kidman), Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th): Original Song (“There You’ll Be”), Sound, Sound Film Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Sexy Beast (2001, 74th): Supporting Actor (Ben Kingsley)
• Shrek (2001, 74th): Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 6-8, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

7. Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $2,848,204 ($285,620,448 total) {week 10}
12. Emma (1996, 69th) – $1,771,736 ($15,865,192 total) {week 6}
999. The Rock (1996, 69th) – $646,124 ($131,559,405 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $5,902,613 ($591,919,299 total)
12. Emma (1996, 69th) – $3,671,742 ($32,878,995 total)
999. The Rock (1996, 69th) – $1,339,026 ($272,643,473 total)

Oscar Details:

• Emma (1996, 69th): Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Costume Design
• Independence Day (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• The Rock (1996, 69th): Sound

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 6-8, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $3,106,995 ($187,253,083 total) {week 10}
7. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $2,104,058 ($153,118,105 total) {week 13}
9. City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $1,477,541 ($114,387,110 total) {week 14}
10. Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $1,272,219 ($50,977,803 total) {week 9}
12. The Commitments (1991, 64th) – $910,129 ($3,522,617 total) {week 4}
999. Barton Fink (1991, 64th) – $184,613 ($1,122,920 total) {week 3}
999. The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $92,765 ($130,280,726 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $6,760,113 ($407,420,010 total)
7. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $4,577,950 ($333,150,081 total)
9. City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $3,214,792 ($248,880,268 total)
10. Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $2,768,058 ($110,916,075 total)
12. The Commitments (1991, 64th) – $1,980,233 ($7,664,411 total)
999. Barton Fink (1991, 64th) – $401,676 ($2,443,218 total)
999. The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $201,835 ($283,461,152 total)

Oscar Details:

• Barton Fink (1991, 64th): Supporting Actor (Michael Lerner), Art Direction, Costume Design
• Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th): Directing, Original Screenplay
• City Slickers (1991, 64th): Supporting Actor (Jack Palance) [O]
• The Commitments (1991, 64th): Film Editing
• Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th): Original Song (“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”)
• The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th): Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Anthony Hopkins) [O], Actress (Jodie Foster) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Sound
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th): Film Editing, Cinematography, Makeup [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 5-7, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $3,426,615 ($16,681,881 total) {week 5}
2. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $3,285,555 ($135,636,648 total) {week 17}
3. The Fly (1986, 59th) – $2,501,186 ($26,138,982 total) {week 4}
4. The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $2,285,141 ($101,718,904 total) {week 12}
5. Aliens (1986, 59th) – $2,114,578 ($69,274,605 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $8,460,322 ($41,187,609 total)
2. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $8,112,044 ($334,887,250 total)
3. The Fly (1986, 59th) – $6,175,435 ($64,537,217 total)
4. The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $5,642,019 ($251,144,248 total)
5. Aliens (1986, 59th) – $5,220,899 ($171,039,186 total)

Oscar Details:

• Aliens (1986, 59th): Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Original Score, Film Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Fly (1986, 59th): Makeup [O]
• The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Glory of Love”)
• Stand By Me (1986, 59th): Adapted Screenplay
• Top Gun (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects

40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 4-6, 1981

Weekend Box Office:

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $5,406,403 ($125,254,773 total) {week 13}
2. Arthur (1981, 54th) – $5,001,805 ($38,663,847 total) {week 8}
13. Endless Love (1981, 54th) – $689,000 ($23,315,700 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $17,813,903 ($412,709,971 total)
2. Arthur (1981, 54th) – $16,480,768 ($127,395,985 total)
13. Endless Love (1981, 54th) – $2,270,230 ($76,824,393 total)

Oscar Details:

• Arthur (1981, 54th): Actor (Dudley Moore), Supporting Actor (John Gielgud) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”) [O]
• Endless Love (1981, 54th): Original Song (“Endless Love”)
• Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th): Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Sound [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Sound Effects Film Editing) [O]