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.

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5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 20-22, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

1. Prisoners – $20,817,053 ($20,817,053 total) {week 1}
13. Despicable Me 2 – $1,360,420 ($360,730,820 total) {week 12}
14. Blue Jasmine – $1,212,206 ($29,605,701 total) {week 9}
31. The Grandmaster – $240,136 ($6,296,553 total) {week 5}
47. The Lone Ranger – $94,751 ($89,146,110 total) {week 12}
90. Before Midnight – $5,644 ($8,095,928 total) {week 18}
101. The Hunt – $3,056 ($602,585 total) {week 11}
105. The Act of Killing – $2,185 ($431,835 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Prisoners – $22,865,471 ($22,967,892 total)
13. Despicable Me 2 – $1,494,287 ($398,001,901 total)
14. Blue Jasmine – $1,331,488 ($32,664,593 total)
31. The Grandmaster – $263,766 ($6,947,119 total)
47. The Lone Ranger – $104,075 ($98,356,778 total)
90. Before Midnight – $6,199 ($8,932,408 total)
101. The Hunt – $3,357 ($664,845 total)
105. The Act of Killing – $2,400 ($476,453 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Act of Killing: Documentary Feature
• Before Midnight: Adapted Screenplay
• Blue Jasmine: Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Supporting Actress (Sally Hawkins), Original Screenplay
• Despicable Me 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Happy”)
• The Grandmaster: Cinematography, Costume Design
• The Hunt: Foreign Language Film
• The Lone Ranger: Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects
• Prisoners: Cinematography

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 19-21, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

9. The Dark Knight – $2,915,174 ($521,890,027 total) {week 10}
11. Tropic Thunder – $2,556,241 ($106,805,722 total) {week 6}
14. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $951,512 ($19,394,888 total) {week 6}
26. WALL-E – $310,469 ($220,503,606 total) {week 13}
29. Kung Fu Panda – $248,524 ($214,949,523 total) {week 16}
32. The Duchess – $190,426 ($190,426 total) {week 1}
37. Frozen River – $133,494 ($1,760,310 total) {week 8}
39. Man on Wire – $119,484 ($2,232,828 total) {week 9}
43. Iron Man – $59,037 ($318,219,154 total) {week 21}
51. Trouble the Water – $37,375 ($238,591 total) {week 5}
78. The Visitor – $9,166 ($9,402,630 total) {week 24}
89. Encounters at the End of the World – $6,983 ($900,034 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. The Dark Knight – $3,625,697 ($651,999,101 total)
11. Tropic Thunder – $3,179,280 ($133,432,775 total)
14. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $1,183,426 ($24,230,104 total)
26. WALL-E – $386,140 ($275,475,953 total)
29. Kung Fu Panda – $309,097 ($268,537,217 total)
32. The Duchess – $236,839 ($237,900 total)
37. Frozen River – $166,031 ($2,199,162 total)
39. Man on Wire – $148,606 ($2,789,480 total)
43. Iron Man – $73,426 ($397,552,341 total)
51. Trouble the Water – $46,485 ($298,073 total)
78. The Visitor – $11,400 ($11,746,740 total)
89. Encounters at the End of the World – $8,685 ($1,124,416 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Dark Knight: Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• The Duchess: Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• Encounters at the End of the World: Documentary Feature
• Frozen River: Actress (Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay
• Iron Man: Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Kung Fu Panda: Animated Feature
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• 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

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 19-21, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

9. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $3,480,968 ($292,495,912 total) {week 11}
10. Lost in Translation – $2,622,737 ($3,957,028 total) {week 2}
13. Seabiscuit – $1,622,465 ($116,026,970 total) {week 9}
20. American Splendor – $510,330 ($4,640,236 total) {week 6}
21. Thirteen – $467,086 ($3,212,979 total) {week 5}
23. Finding Nemo – $419,862 ($335,258,448 total) {week 17}
24. Whale Rider – $390,728 ($19,696,877 total) {week 16}
28. Dirty Pretty Things – $297,813 ($6,994,938 total) {week 10}
43. Winged Migration – $117,218 ($10,036,406 total) {week 23}
64. Spellbound – $32,439 ($5,580,404 total) {week 21}
70. The Barbarian Invasions – $21,352 ($4,958,643 total) {week 20}
79. Capturing the Friedmans – $16,122 ($3,082,536 total) {week 17}
81. The Weather Underground – $15,538 ($375,676 total) {week 16}
89. City of God – $13,798 ($4,640,944 total) {week 36}
99. Nowhere in Africa – $7,341 ($6,146,263 total) {week 29}
147. The Man Without a Past – $266 ($921,547 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $5,155,065 ($435,105,859 total)
10. Lost in Translation – $3,884,086 ($5,886,325 total)
13. Seabiscuit – $2,402,755 ($172,597,333 total)
20. American Splendor – $755,762 ($6,902,640 total)
21. Thirteen – $691,721 ($4,779,506 total)
23. Finding Nemo – $621,786 ($498,717,791 total)
24. Whale Rider – $578,640 ($29,300,329 total)
28. Dirty Pretty Things – $441,040 ($10,405,405 total)
43. Winged Migration – $173,591 ($14,929,778 total)
64. Spellbound – $48,040 ($8,301,198 total)
70. The Barbarian Invasions – $31,621 ($7,376,290 total)
79. Capturing the Friedmans – $23,876 ($4,585,464 total)
81. The Weather Underground – $23,011 ($558,841 total)
89. City of God – $20,434 ($6,903,693 total)
99. Nowhere in Africa – $10,871 ($9,142,948 total)
147. The Man Without a Past – $394 ($1,370,858 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Splendor: Adapted Screenplay
• The Barbarian Invasions: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [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
• Lost in Translation: Picture, Director, Actor (Bill Murray), Original Screenplay [O]
• 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. 18-20, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. One True Thing – $6,606,455 ($6,606,455 total) {week 1}
6. Saving Private Ryan – $3,405,161 ($178,091,556 total) {week 9}
9. Armageddon – $1,254,927 ($195,835,936 total) {week 12}
999. Titanic – $14,003 ($600,674,693 total) {week 40}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. One True Thing – $12,579,028 ($12,635,373 total)
6. Saving Private Ryan – $6,483,601 ($340,614,341 total)
9. Armageddon – $2,389,445 ($374,551,886 total)
999. Titanic – $26,662 ($1,148,838,379 total)

Oscar Details:

• Armageddon: Original Song (“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”), Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• One True Thing: Actress (Meryl Streep)
• 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. 17-19, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Fugitive – $7,141,890 ($154,293,908 total) {week 7}
6. The Age of Innocence – $2,317,289 ($2,317,289 total) {week 1}
7. Jurassic Park – $2,070,255 ($322,104,145 total) {week 15}
8. Sleepless in Seattle – $1,428,228 ($116,856,908 total) {week 13}
15. The Firm – $1,011,099 ($153,000,724 total) {week 12}
16. In the Line of Fire – $975,678 ($101,315,728 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Fugitive – $15,405,091 ($334,303,467 total)
6. The Age of Innocence – $4,998,404 ($5,020,793 total)
7. Jurassic Park – $4,465,550 ($697,892,314 total)
8. Sleepless in Seattle – $3,080,695 ($253,189,967 total)
15. The Firm – $2,180,945 ($331,501,569 total)
16. In the Line of Fire – $2,104,542 ($219,517,411 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Age of Innocence: Supporting Actress (Winona Ryder), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• 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. 16-18, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. A Fish Called Wanda – $2,555,291 ($45,132,409 total) {week 10}
2. Die Hard – $2,544,486 ($65,388,311 total) {week 10}
5. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $2,087,303 ($135,939,312 total) {week 13}
9. Married to the Mob – $1,398,630 ($16,254,627 total) {week 5}
10. Coming to America – $1,304,208 ($120,794,325 total) {week 12}
11. Big – $1,302,410 ($101,278,722 total) {week 16}
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $523,568 ($5,401,802 total) {week 6}
999. Running on Empty – $203,998 ($514,878 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. A Fish Called Wanda – $5,552,007 ($98,500,659 total)
2. Die Hard – $5,528,530 ($142,708,796 total)
5. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $4,535,186 ($296,685,068 total)
9. Married to the Mob – $3,038,872 ($35,475,427 total)
10. Coming to America – $2,833,717 ($263,631,410 total)
11. Big – $2,829,811 ($221,038,963 total)
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $1,137,582 ($11,789,334 total)
999. Running on Empty – $443,237 ($1,123,712 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)
• Running on Empty: Supporting Actor (River Phoenix), Original Screenplay
• 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. 23-25, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

6. Flashdance – $1,186,594 ($87,014,585 total) {week 24}
7. Zelig – $1,148,576 ($6,763,952 total) {week 11}
9. Return of the Jedi – $1,093,199 ($237,883,852 total) {week 18}
10. Trading Places – $1,038,479 ($85,285,760 total) {week 16}
13. WarGames – $710,786 ($71,654,691 total) {week 17}
999. Educating Rita – $73,518 ($73,518 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Flashdance – $3,363,900 ($247,784,390 total)
7. Zelig – $3,256,122 ($19,261,159 total)
9. Return of the Jedi – $3,099,132 ($677,402,588 total)
10. Trading Places – $2,944,006 ($242,861,355 total)
13. WarGames – $2,015,022 ($204,045,263 total)
999. Educating Rita – $208,418 ($209,351 total)

Oscar Details:

• Educating Rita: Actor (Michael Caine), Actress (Julie Walters), Adapted Screenplay
• 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
• Zelig: Cinematography, Costume Design