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 Lego Ninjago Movie (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

Battle of the Sexes (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Steve Carell), Actress (Emma Stone), Original Screenplay, Editing.

Stronger (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Jake Gyllenhaal).

Victoria and Abdul (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Judi Dench), Production Design, Costume Design.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 21-23, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

7. The Master – $4,391,092 ($5,446,975 total) {week 2}
9. ParaNorman – $2,345,630 ($52,582,728 total) {week 6}
24. Marvel’s The Avengers – $466,320 ($622,888,162 total) {week 21}
30. Ted – $244,655 ($217,838,900 total) {week 13}
40. Moonrise Kingdom – $127,879 ($45,161,623 total) {week 18}
42. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $123,747 ($10,902,973 total) {week 13}
44. Searching for Sugar Man – $93,338 ($1,186,139 total) {week 9}
61. How to Survive a Plague – $28,250 ($28,250 total) {week 1}
100. Monsieur Lazhar – $1,468 ($2,005,701 total) {week 24}
114. The Invisible War – $155 ($59,715 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. The Master – $4,506,937 ($5,590,677 total)
9. ParaNorman – $2,407,512 ($53,969,961 total)
24. Marvel’s The Avengers – $478,622 ($639,321,141 total)
30. Ted – $251,109 ($223,585,906 total)
40. Moonrise Kingdom – $131,253 ($46,353,073 total)
42. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $127,012 ($11,190,614 total)
44. Searching for Sugar Man – $95,800 ($1,217,432 total)
61. How to Survive a Plague – $28,995 ($28,995 total)
100. Monsieur Lazhar – $1,507 ($2,058,615 total)
114. The Invisible War – $159 ($61,290 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beasts of the Southern Wild: Picture, Directing, Actress (Quvenzhane Wallis), Adapted Screenplay
• How to Survive a Plague: Documentary Feature
• The Invisible War: Documentary Feature
• Marvel’s The Avengers: Visual Effects
• The Master: Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Amy Adams)
• Monsieur Lazhar: Foreign Language Film
• Moonrise Kingdom: Original Screenplay
• ParaNorman: Animated Feature
• Searching for Sugar Man: Documentary Feature [O]
• Ted: Original Song (“Everybody Needs a Best Friend”)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 21-23, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

4. 3:10 to Yuma – $6,157,624 ($37,718,878 total) {week 3}
5. Eastern Promises – $5,659,133 ($6,461,093 total) {week 2}
9. The Bourne Ultimatum – $2,872,565 ($220,239,735 total) {week 8}
13. Across the Universe – $1,950,871 ($2,896,771 total) {week 2}
16. Transformers – $1,436,280 ($313,588,051 total) {week 12}
17. In the Valley of Elah – $1,266,869 ($1,449,030 total) {week 2}
26. Ratatouille – $360,229 ($203,040,254 total) {week 13}
33. Into the Wild – $212,440 ($212,440 total) {week 1}
38. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $147,812 ($147,812 total) {week 1}
39. Once – $141,790 ($8,926,918 total) {week 19}
41. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $120,310 ($309,302,628 total) {week 18}
55. No End in Sight – $38,668 ($1,337,004 total) {week 9}
56. Sicko – $38,603 ($24,416,389 total) {week 14}
57. La Vie en Rose – $37,418 ($9,935,209 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. 3:10 to Yuma – $7,312,179 ($44,791,168 total)
5. Eastern Promises – $6,720,220 ($7,672,548 total)
9. The Bourne Ultimatum – $3,411,171 ($261,534,685 total)
13. Across the Universe – $2,316,659 ($3,439,916 total)
16. Transformers – $1,705,583 ($372,385,811 total)
17. In the Valley of Elah – $1,504,407 ($1,720,723 total)
26. Ratatouille – $427,772 ($241,110,302 total)
33. Into the Wild – $252,273 ($252,273 total)
38. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $175,527 ($175,527 total)
39. Once – $168,376 ($10,600,715 total)
41. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $142,868 ($367,296,871 total)
55. No End in Sight – $45,918 ($1,587,692 total)
56. Sicko – $45,841 ($28,994,462 total)
57. La Vie en Rose – $44,434 ($11,798,061 total)

Oscar Details:

• 3:10 to Yuma: Original Score, Sound Mixing
• Across the Universe: Costume Design
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: Supporting Actor (Casey Affleck), Cinematography
• The Bourne Ultimatum: Film Editing [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O]
• Eastern Promises: Actor (Viggo Mortensen)
• In the Valley of Elah: Actor (Tommy Lee Jones)
• Into the Wild: Supporting Actor (Hal Holbrook), Editing
• 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
• 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 Sep. 20-22, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $9,748,969 ($124,052,987 total) {week 23}
18. Spirited Away – $449,839 ($449,839 total) {week 1}
19. Road to Perdition – $390,839 ($103,235,362 total) {week 11}
29. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $189,572 ($301,765,141 total) {week 19}
30. Lilo & Stitch – $187,410 ($143,327,275 total) {week 14}
35. Minority Report – $143,871 ($131,552,004 total) {week 14}
88. Elling – $12,282 ($299,039 total) {week 17}
94. Son of the Bride – $9,303 ($616,359 total) {week 27}
97. Monsters, Inc. – $8,427 ($255,870,172 total) {week 41}
141. Promises – $1,399 ($211,916 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $13,708,963 ($174,442,841 total)
18. Spirited Away – $632,562 ($632,562 total)
19. Road to Perdition – $549,596 ($145,169,175 total)
29. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $266,575 ($424,340,999 total)
30. Lilo & Stitch – $263,535 ($201,546,271 total)
35. Minority Report – $202,311 ($184,987,930 total)
88. Elling – $17,271 ($420,508 total)
94. Son of the Bride – $13,082 ($866,722 total)
97. Monsters, Inc. – $11,850 ($359,803,667 total)
141. Promises – $1,967 ($297,995 total)

Oscar Details:

• Elling: Foreign Language Film
• 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
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones: Visual Effects

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 19-21, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

1. In & Out – $15,019,821 ($15,019,821 total) {week 1}
4. L.A. Confidential – $5,211,198 ($5,211,198 total) {week 1}
5. The Full Monty – $3,022,096 ($10,254,090 total) {week 6}
9. Air Force One – $2,073,198 ($166,093,896 total) {week 9}
13. Men in Black – $1,208,375 ($240,942,775 total) {week 12}
999. Con Air – $154,258 ($100,927,613 total) {week 16}
999. The Long Way Home – $10,606 ($13,258 total) {week 1}
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $184,795 ($228,709,214 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. In & Out – $26,734,627 ($26,734,627 total)
4. L.A. Confidential – $9,275,705 ($9,275,705 total)
5. The Full Monty – $5,379,199 ($18,251,833 total)
9. Air Force One – $3,690,202 ($295,639,898 total)
13. Men in Black – $2,150,855 ($428,867,641 total)
999. Con Air – $274,573 ($179,646,753 total)
999. The Long Way Home – $18,878 ($23,599 total)
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $328,927 ($407,092,435 total)

Oscar Details:

• Air Force One: Editing, Sound
• Con Air: Original Song (“How Do I Live”), Sound
• The Full Monty: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Musical or Comedy Score [O]
• In & Out: Supporting Actress (Joan Cusack)
• L.A. Confidential: Picture, Director, Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound
• The Long Way Home: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park: Visual Effects
• Men in Black: Original Musical or Comedy Score, Art Direction, Makeup [O]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 18-20, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

4. Husbands and Wives – $3,520,550 ($3,520,550 total) {week 1}
8. Unforgiven – $1,822,173 ($70,256,353 total) {week 7}
11. Death Becomes Her – $1,122,990 ($54,230,665 total) {week 8}
999. Batman Returns – $454,551 ($160,954,135 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Husbands and Wives – $6,930,818 ($6,930,818 total)
8. Unforgiven – $3,587,266 ($138,311,905 total)
11. Death Becomes Her – $2,210,802 ($106,762,538 total)
999. Batman Returns – $894,863 ($316,866,333 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects
• Death Becomes Her: Visual Effects [O]
• Husbands and Wives: Supporting Actress (Judy Davis), Original Screenplay
• 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 Sep. 18-20, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Fatal Attraction – $7,602,740 ($7,602,740 total) {week 1}
6. Dirty Dancing – $2,471,555 ($24,469,975 total) {week 5}
12. Robocop – $696,944 ($49,715,016 total) {week 10}
999. Maurice – $49,278 ($49,278 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Fatal Attraction – $15,886,032 ($15,886,032 total)
6. Dirty Dancing – $5,164,349 ($51,130,357 total)
12. Robocop – $1,456,274 ($103,880,225 total)
999. Maurice – $102,967 ($102,967 total)

Oscar Details:

• Dirty Dancing: Original Song (“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”) [O]
• Fatal Attraction: Picture, Director, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Anne Archer), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Maurice: Costume Design
• Robocop: Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 17-19, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $4,261,887 ($250,600,981 total) {week 15}
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $4,061,544 ($56,435,409 total) {week 8}
6. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $1,462,555 ($65,204,639 total) {week 9}
7. Rocky III – $972,703 ($113,928,936 total) {week 17}
8. The World According to Garp – $900,466 ($25,637,018 total) {week 9}
12. Poltergeist – $738,292 ($67,938,442 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $11,843,407 ($696,397,964 total)
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $11,286,672 ($156,829,011 total)
6. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $4,064,311 ($181,197,925 total)
7. Rocky III – $2,703,056 ($316,598,438 total)
8. The World According to Garp – $2,502,315 ($71,243,006 total)
12. Poltergeist – $2,051,648 ($188,794,922 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)