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

The Goldfinch (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Supporting Actress (Nicole Kidman).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 12-14, 2014

Weekend Box Office:

3. Guardians of the Galaxy – $8,102,358 ($305,987,190 total) {week 7}
16. Boyhood – $882,716 ($21,826,167 total) {week 10}
24. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $392,039 ($206,827,518 total) {week 10}
26. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $372,012 ($175,236,284 total) {week 14}
28. Maleficent – $334,700 ($239,703,484 total) {week 16}
49. X-Men: Days of Future Past – $70,681 ($233,783,836 total) {week 17}
54. Begin Again – $57,714 ($16,084,607 total) {week 12}
65. Last Days in Vietnam – $22,200 ($63,400 total) {week 2}
93. Ida – $3,382 ($3,696,159 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Guardians of the Galaxy – $9,064,327 ($342,316,146 total)
16. Boyhood – $987,518 ($24,417,523 total)
24. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $438,585 ($231,383,539 total)
26. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $416,180 ($196,041,571 total)
28. Maleficent – $374,438 ($268,162,772 total)
49. X-Men: Days of Future Past – $79,073 ($261,540,301 total)
54. Begin Again – $64,566 ($17,994,285 total)
65. Last Days in Vietnam – $24,836 ($70,927 total)
93. Ida – $3,784 ($4,134,993 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]
• Last Days in Vietnam: Documentary Feature
• Maleficent: Costume Design
• X-Men: Days of Future Past: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 11-13, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

3. Inglourious Basterds – $6,140,617 ($103,903,469 total) {week 4}
8. District 9 – $3,538,769 ($108,456,233 total) {week 5}
10. Julie & Julia – $3,156,316 ($85,216,398 total) {week 6}
22. Up – $423,746 ($291,390,456 total) {week 16}
26. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $370,040 ($401,127,275 total) {week 12}
30. Star Trek – $190,314 ($257,424,306 total) {week 19}
32. The Hurt Locker – $141,017 ($12,263,550 total) {week 12}
37. In the Loop – $102,688 ($2,156,804 total) {week 8}
42. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $69,039 ($214,729 total) {week 4}
52. Food, Inc. – $33,292 ($4,238,694 total) {week 14}
59. The Cove – $24,005 ($726,699 total) {week 7}
67. Departures – $13,595 ($1,343,723 total) {week 16}
86. Il Divo – $4,174 ($231,615 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Inglourious Basterds – $7,483,365 ($126,623,694 total)
8. District 9 – $4,312,580 ($132,171,996 total)
10. Julie & Julia – $3,846,497 ($103,850,384 total)
22. Up – $516,405 ($355,107,836 total)
26. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – $450,955 ($488,840,439 total)
30. Star Trek – $231,929 ($313,714,421 total)
32. The Hurt Locker – $171,853 ($14,945,180 total)
37. In the Loop – $125,142 ($2,628,425 total)
42. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $84,136 ($261,683 total)
52. Food, Inc. – $40,572 ($5,165,555 total)
59. The Cove – $29,254 ($885,604 total)
67. Departures – $16,568 ($1,637,550 total)
86. Il Divo – $5,087 ($282,261 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)
• 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 Sep. 10-12, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

4. Hero – $4,420,702 ($41,652,507 total) {week 1}
8. Collateral – $2,718,073 ($92,691,776 total) {week 6}
20. Spider-Man 2 – $573,618 ($370,651,825 total) {week 11}
23. The Village – $355,933 ($112,703,100 total) {week 7}
24. I, Robot – $345,281 ($142,364,418 total) {week 9}
26. Maria Full of Grace – $290,124 ($4,932,193 total) {week 9}
30. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $203,877 ($248,619,248 total) {week 15}
36. Before Sunset – $133,484 ($5,377,753 total) {week 11}
62. Super Size Me – $33,177 ($11,450,330 total) {week 19}
65. Story of the Weeping Camel – $30,283 ($1,653,200 total) {week 15}
102. The Twilight Samurai – $3,283 ($516,685 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Hero – $6,506,476 ($61,304,978 total)
8. Collateral – $4,000,513 ($136,425,577 total)
20. Spider-Man 2 – $844,262 ($545,532,638 total)
23. The Village – $523,869 ($165,878,637 total)
24. I, Robot – $508,191 ($209,534,747 total)
26. Maria Full of Grace – $427,010 ($7,259,299 total)
30. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $300,070 ($365,922,694 total)
36. Before Sunset – $196,464 ($7,915,083 total)
62. Super Size Me – $48,831 ($16,852,821 total)
65. Story of the Weeping Camel – $44,571 ($2,433,212 total)
102. The Twilight Samurai – $4,832 ($760,467 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 Sep. 10-12, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Sixth Sense – $16,511,464 ($197,665,281 total) {week 6}
19. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $653,324 ($422,252,998 total) {week 17}
21. Tarzan – $542,026 ($168,548,792 total) {week 13}
38. Buena Vista Social Club – $170,014 ($4,692,689 total) {week 15}
40. The Red Violin – $163,411 ($8,609,924 total) {week 35}
42. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $134,544 ($205,399,422 total) {week 14}
44. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $124,479 ($51,820,421 total) {week 11}
49. The Mummy – $74,670 ($155,247,825 total) {week 19}
53. The Matrix – $62,463 ($171,321,460 total) {week 24}
999. Speaking in Strings – $1,519 ($1,519 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Sixth Sense – $29,707,634 ($355,641,864 total)
19. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $1,175,469 ($759,722,914 total)
21. Tarzan – $975,220 ($303,255,110 total)
38. Buena Vista Social Club – $305,891 ($8,443,145 total)
40. The Red Violin – $294,011 ($15,491,084 total)
42. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – $242,073 ($369,557,228 total)
44. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut – $223,964 ($93,235,954 total)
49. The Mummy – $134,347 ($279,323,843 total)
53. The Matrix – $112,384 ($308,243,729 total)
999. Speaking in Strings – $2,733 ($2,733 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”)
• Speaking in Strings: Documentary Feature
• 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. 16-18, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

2. Forrest Gump – $6,066,317 ($256,260,919 total) {week 11}
3. Clear and Present Danger – $3,240,950 ($109,151,175 total) {week 7}
5. The Mask – $1,955,502 ($106,538,845 total) {week 8}
8. The Lion King – $1,623,687 ($266,901,023 total) {week 14}
10. True Lies – $1,555,809 ($137,398,094 total) {week 10}
12. The Client – $1,201,825 ($86,373,733 total) {week 9}
999. Blue Sky – $763,890 ($763,890 total) {week 1}
999. Jurassic Park – $350,375 ($355,123,870 total) {week 67}
999. Quiz Show – $757,714 ($757,714 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Forrest Gump – $13,264,626 ($560,340,861 total)
3. Clear and Present Danger – $7,086,671 ($238,670,273 total)
5. The Mask – $4,275,906 ($232,958,144 total)
8. The Lion King – $3,550,359 ($583,606,543 total)
10. True Lies – $3,401,936 ($300,435,067 total)
12. The Client – $2,627,914 ($188,865,053 total)
999. Blue Sky – $1,670,324 ($1,670,324 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $766,131 ($776,514,874 total)
999. Quiz Show – $1,656,820 ($1,656,820 total)

Oscar Details:

• Blue Sky: Actress (Jessica Lange) [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
• Quiz Show: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Paul Scofield), Adapted Screenplay
• True Lies: Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 15-17, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

3. Parenthood – $3,730,560 ($74,532,158 total) {week 7}
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $2,655,860 ($75,290,510 total) {week 10}
6. Lethal Weapon 2 – $2,206,481 ($137,872,405 total) {week 11}
7. The Abyss – $2,150,879 ($47,594,385 total) {week 6}
8. sex, lies and videotape – $1,751,442 ($13,260,801 total) {week 7}
10. Batman – $1,472,406 ($243,139,754 total) {week 13}
11. Dead Poets Society – $1,116,274 ($89,089,973 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Parenthood – $8,588,745 ($171,592,928 total)
4. When Harry Met Sally… – $6,114,499 ($173,338,857 total)
6. Lethal Weapon 2 – $5,079,908 ($317,419,089 total)
7. The Abyss – $4,951,898 ($109,574,982 total)
8. sex, lies and videotape – $4,032,287 ($30,529,905 total)
10. Batman – $3,389,872 ($559,772,633 total)
11. Dead Poets Society – $2,569,961 ($205,108,905 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]
• Lethal Weapon 2: Sound Effects
• Parenthood: Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest), Original Song (“I Love To See You Smile”)
• sex, lies and videotape: Original Screenplay
• When Harry Met Sally…: Original Screenplay

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 14-16, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Ghostbusters – $3,457,626 ($197,279,137 total) {week 15}
3. Purple Rain – $2,474,970 ($52,511,403 total) {week 8}
4. The Karate Kid – $2,210,145 ($75,512,142 total) {week 13}
5. The Woman in Red – $2,132,776 ($19,597,511 total) {week 5}
11. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $1,065,032 ($170,306,545 total) {week 17}
999. A Soldier’s Story – $156,383 ($156,383 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Ghostbusters – $9,405,566 ($536,646,224 total)
3. Purple Rain – $6,732,508 ($142,843,519 total)
4. The Karate Kid – $6,012,121 ($205,411,005 total)
5. The Woman in Red – $5,801,659 ($53,309,896 total)
11. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – $2,897,141 ($463,274,352 total)
999. A Soldier’s Story – $425,399 ($425,399 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]
• A Soldier’s Story: Picture, Supporting Actor (Adolph Caesar), Adapted Screenplay
• The Woman in Red : Original Song (“I Just Called to Say I Love You”) [O]