Every week, we’ll take a look back in 5-year intervals in the box office past to explore how Oscar’s nominees were doing at the box office that 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 chance 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. 24-26, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Town – $15,605,171 ($48,692,072 total) {week 2}
10. Inception – $1,247,006 ($287,053,292 total) {week 11}
21. Toy Story 3 – $313,847 ($411,086,067 total) {week 15}
36. Salt – $143,697 ($117,223,003 total) {week 10}
45. The Kids Are All Right – $84,025 ($20,654,031 total) {week 12}
50. Winter’s Bone – $56,558 ($6,049,871 total) {week 16}
61. Animal Kingdom – $28,195 ($8,706,969 total) {week 7}
62. I Am Love – $26,202 ($4,886,968 total) {week 15}
81. Restrepo – $9,848 ($1,279,951 total) {week 14}
87. Exit Through the Gift Shop – $6,707 ($3,260,663 total) {week 24}
91. Gasland – $5,528 ($21,184 total) {week 2}
96. The Secret in Their Eyes – $4,260 ($6,381,946 total) {week 24}
127. The Milk of Sorrow – $392 ($10,376 total) {week 5}
130. Dogtooth – $231 ($56,471 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Town – $16,158,967 ($50,420,054 total)
10. Inception – $1,291,260 ($297,240,228 total)
21. Toy Story 3 – $324,985 ($425,674,673 total)
36. Salt – $148,797 ($121,383,008 total)
45. The Kids Are All Right – $87,007 ($21,387,000 total)
50. Winter’s Bone – $58,565 ($6,264,569 total)
61. Animal Kingdom – $29,196 ($9,015,962 total)
62. I Am Love – $27,132 ($5,060,397 total)
81. Restrepo – $10,197 ($1,325,374 total)
87. Exit Through the Gift Shop – $6,945 ($3,376,377 total)
91. Gasland – $5,724 ($21,936 total)
96. The Secret in Their Eyes – $4,411 ($6,608,428 total)
127. The Milk of Sorrow – $406 ($10,744 total)
130. Dogtooth – $239 ($58,475 total)

Oscar Details:

• Animal Kingdom: Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver)
• Dogtooth: Foreign Language Film
• Exit Through the Gift Shop: Documentary Feature
• Gasland: Documentary Feature
• I Am Love: Costume Design
• Inception: Picture, Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Kids Are All Right: Picture, Actress (Annette Bening), Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Original Screenplay
• The Milk of Sorrow : Foreign Language Film
• Restrepo: Documentary Feature
• Salt: Sound Mixing
• The Secret in Their Eyes: Foreign Language Film
• The Town: Supporting Actor (Jeremy Renner)
• Toy Story 3: Picture, Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“We Belong Together”) [O], Sound Editing
• Winter’s Bone: Picture, Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Adapted Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 30-Oct. 2, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

3. Corpse Bride – $10,033,257 ($33,188,109 total) {week 3}
4. A History of Violence – $8,103,077 ($8,871,781 total) {week 2}
12. The Constant Gardener – $1,419,745 ($29,869,811 total) {week 5}
16. March of the Penguins – $1,114,959 ($74,515,363 total) {week 15}
23. Capote – $324,857 ($324,857 total) {week 1}
25. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – $292,093 ($204,482,131 total) {week 12}
36. Junebug – $143,990 ($2,267,595 total) {week 9}
40. Batman Begins – $115,230 ($205,085,404 total) {week 16}
52. War of the Worlds – $55,744 ($233,331,057 total) {week 14}
62. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – $21,109 ($380,209,351 total) {week 20}
79. Hustle & Flow – $10,553 ($22,182,800 total) {week 11}
87. Murderball – $7,046 ($1,523,883 total) {week 13}
106. Darwin’s Nightmare – $3,048 ($58,830 total) {week 9}
110. Cinderella Man – $2,545 ($61,607,475 total) {week 18}
117. Howl’s Moving Castle – $2,014 ($4,710,455 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Corpse Bride – $12,788,098 ($42,300,601 total)
4. A History of Violence – $10,327,947 ($11,307,715 total)
12. The Constant Gardener – $1,809,566 ($38,071,194 total)
16. March of the Penguins – $1,421,094 ($94,975,119 total)
23. Capote – $414,053 ($414,053 total)
25. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – $372,293 ($260,626,991 total)
36. Junebug – $183,525 ($2,890,211 total)
40. Batman Begins – $146,869 ($261,395,905 total)
52. War of the Worlds – $71,050 ($297,396,995 total)
62. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – $26,905 ($484,603,806 total)
79. Hustle & Flow – $13,451 ($28,273,553 total)
87. Murderball – $8,981 ($1,942,297 total)
106. Darwin’s Nightmare – $3,885 ($74,983 total)
110. Cinderella Man – $3,244 ($78,523,100 total)
117. Howl’s Moving Castle – $2,567 ($6,003,809 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman Begins: Cinematography
• Capote: Picture, Directing, Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman) [O], Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Adapted Screenplay
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Costume Design
• Cinderella Man: Supporting Actor (Paul Giamatti), Editing, Makeup
• The Constant Gardener: Supporting Actress (Rachel Weisz) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Origianl Score, Editing
• Corpse Bride: Animated Feature
• Darwin’s Nightmare: Documentary Feature
• A History of Violence: Supporting Actor (William Hurt), Adapted Screenplay
• Howl’s Moving Castle: Animated Feature
• Hustle & Flow: Actor (Terrence Howard), Original Song (“It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”) [O]
• Junebug: Supporting Actress (Amy Adams)
• March of the Penguins: Documentary Feature [O]
• Murderball: Documentary Feature
• Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith: Makeup
• War of the Worlds: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 29-Oct. 1, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

3. Almost Famous – $5,570,441 ($17,833,970 total) {week 3}
11. Space Cowboys – $1,402,641 ($86,975,047 total) {week 9}
13. The Cell – $1,040,830 ($59,084,146 total) {week 7}
25. The Perfect Storm – $372,285 ($180,631,498 total) {week 14}
29. Gladiator – $273,392 ($186,089,136 total) {week 22}
31. The Patriot – $210,110 ($113,053,954 total) {week 14}
36. Hollow Man – $176,389 ($72,713,763 total) {week 9}
42. Dancer in the Dark – $106,463 ($271,246 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Almost Famous – $8,443,507 ($27,032,196 total)
11. Space Cowboys – $2,126,081 ($131,834,162 total)
13. The Cell – $1,577,659 ($89,557,973 total)
25. The Perfect Storm – $564,298 ($273,795,796 total)
29. Gladiator – $414,399 ($282,068,319 total)
31. The Patriot – $318,478 ($171,363,786 total)
36. Hollow Man – $267,365 ($110,217,336 total)
42. Dancer in the Dark – $161,373 ($411,147 total)

Oscar Details:

• Almost Famous: Supporting Actress (Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• The Cell: Makeup
• Dancer in the Dark: Original Song (“I’ve Seen It All”)
• Gladiator: Picture [O], Directing, Actor (Russell Crowe) [O], Supporting Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Sound [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Hollow Man: Visual Effects
• The Patriot: Original Score, Cinematography, Sound
• The Perfect Storm: Sound, Visual Effects
• Space Cowboys: Sound Editing

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 29-Oct. 1, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

1. Seven – $12,378,647 ($30,805,661 total) {week 2}
9. Unstrung Heroes – $1,585,220 ($4,968,996 total) {week 3}
10. The Usual Suspects – $1,508,426 ($17,626,795 total) {week 7}
999. Apollo 13 – $552,955 ($167,319,430 total) {week 14}
999. Batman Forever – $184,593 ($183,197,567 total) {week 16}
999. Braveheart – $681,641 ($65,921,954 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Seven – $23,249,091 ($57,857,989 total)
9. Unstrung Heroes – $2,977,298 ($9,332,574 total)
10. The Usual Suspects – $2,833,067 ($33,105,958 total)
999. Apollo 13 – $1,038,538 ($314,252,815 total)
999. Batman Forever – $346,695 ($344,074,511 total)
999. Braveheart – $1,280,231 ($123,812,038 total)

Oscar Details:

• Apollo 13: Picture, Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Kathleen Quinlan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing [O], Art Direction, Sound [O], Visual Effects
• Batman Forever: Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects Editing
• Braveheart: Picture [O], Directing [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Seven: Editing
• Unstrung Heroes: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• The Usual Suspects: Supporting Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Original Screenplay [O]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 28-30, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

2. Good Fellas – $5,881,427 ($14,852,528 total) {week 2}
3. Ghost – $5,435,657 ($155,272,432 total) {week 12}
4. Postcards from the Edge – $4,101,237 ($23,225,598 total) {week 3}
8. Flatliners – $1,674,686 ($53,653,737 total) {week 8}
11. Pretty Woman – $883,765 ($165,026,231 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Good Fellas – $11,359,636 ($28,686,798 total)
3. Ghost – $10,498,657 ($299,899,709 total)
4. Postcards from the Edge – $7,921,302 ($44,858,897 total)
8. Flatliners – $3,234,559 ($103,629,085 total)
11. Pretty Woman – $1,706,941 ($318,738,607 total)

Oscar Details:

• Flatliners: Sound Effects Editing
• Ghost: Picture, Supporting Actress (Whoopi Goldberg) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing
• Good Fellas: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci), Supporting Actres (Lorraine Bracco), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Postcards from the Edge: Actress (Meryl Streep), Original Song (“I’m Checkin’ Out”)
• Pretty Woman: Actress (Julia Roberts)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 27-29, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

2. Agnes of God – $4,210,065 ($6,629,673 total) {week 3}
3. Back to the Future – $3,971,640 ($155,159,200 total) {week 13}
8. Cocoon – $702,295 ($75,011,861 total) {week 15}
10. The Kiss of the Spider Woman – $628,147 ($5,363,358 total) {week 10}
12. The Journey of Natty Gann – $490,318 ($490,318 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Agnes of God – $9,689,079 ($15,257,585 total)
3. Back to the Future – $9,140,366 ($357,084,694 total)
8. Cocoon – $1,616,268 ($172,632,931 total)
10. The Kiss of the Spider Woman – $1,445,623 ($12,343,277 total)
12. The Journey of Natty Gann – $1,128,422 ($1,128,422 total)

Oscar Details:

• Agnes of God: Actress (Anne Bancroft), Supporting Actress (Meg Tilly), Original Score
• Back to the Future: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Power of Love’), Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Cocoon: Supporting Actor (Don Ameche) [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Journey of Natty Gann: Costume Design
• The Kiss of the Spider Woman: Picture, Directing, Actor (William Hurt) [O], Adapted Screenplay

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 26-28, 1980

Weekend Box Office:

5. Resurrection – $308,068 ($308,068 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Resurrection – $935,656 ($935,656 total)

Oscar Details:

• Resurrection: Actress (Ellen Burstyn), Supporting Actress (Eva Le Gallienne)