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. 28-30, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

9. The Master – $2,680,554 ($9,568,624 total) {week 3}
18. ParaNorman – $780,975 ($53,934,944 total) {week 7}
26. Marvel’s The Avengers – $270,275 ($623,279,547 total) {week 22}
30. Ted – $175,485 ($218,118,550 total) {week 14}
37. Brave – $139,008 ($233,697,255 total) {week 15}
43. Searching for Sugar Man – $95,345 ($1,318,745 total) {week 10}
47. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $69,563 ($11,029,930 total) {week 14}
48. Moonrise Kingdom – $65,845 ($45,294,888 total) {week 19}
69. How to Survive a Plague – $16,145 ($57,125 total) {week 2}
111. 5 Broken Cameras – $291 ($70,410 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. The Master – $2,751,272 ($9,821,063 total)
18. ParaNorman – $801,579 ($55,357,851 total)
26. Marvel’s The Avengers – $277,405 ($639,722,852 total)
30. Ted – $180,115 ($223,872,934 total)
37. Brave – $142,675 ($239,862,635 total)
43. Searching for Sugar Man – $97,860 ($1,353,536 total)
47. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $71,398 ($11,320,921 total)
48. Moonrise Kingdom – $67,582 ($46,489,854 total)
69. How to Survive a Plague – $16,571 ($58,632 total)
111. 5 Broken Cameras – $299 ($72,268 total)

Oscar Details:

• 5 Broken Cameras: Documentary Feature
• Beasts of the Southern Wild: Picture, Directing, Actress (Quvenzhane Wallis), Adapted Screenplay
• Brave: Animated Feature [O]
• How to Survive a Plague: Documentary Feature
• Marvel’s The Avengers: Visual Effects
• The Master: Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Amy Adams)
• 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. 28-30, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

5. 3:10 to Yuma – $4,208,366 ($43,951,910 total) {week 4}
8. Eastern Promises – $2,938,847 ($11,281,492 total) {week 3}
10. Across the Universe – $2,016,224 ($5,476,433 total) {week 3}
11. The Bourne Ultimatum – $1,745,475 ($222,788,180 total) {week 9}
14. In the Valley of Elah – $1,512,310 ($3,438,958 total) {week 3}
15. Transformers – $1,200,730 ($315,175,018 total) {week 13}
20. Into the Wild – $631,451 ($930,015 total) {week 2}
26. Ratatouille – $243,895 ($203,360,412 total) {week 14}
40. Once – $98,868 ($9,087,735 total) {week 20}
42. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $92,351 ($300,737 total) {week 2}
46. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $72,876 ($309,404,152 total) {week 19}
56. Sicko – $32,742 ($24,481,743 total) {week 15}
62. La Vie en Rose – $24,967 ($9,985,261 total) {week 18}
66. No End in Sight – $19,778 ($1,380,560 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. 3:10 to Yuma – $4,997,435 ($52,192,893 total)
8. Eastern Promises – $3,489,881 ($13,396,772 total)
10. Across the Universe – $2,394,266 ($6,503,264 total)
11. The Bourne Ultimatum – $2,072,752 ($264,560,964 total)
14. In the Valley of Elah – $1,795,868 ($4,083,763 total)
15. Transformers – $1,425,867 ($374,270,334 total)
20. Into the Wild – $749,848 ($1,104,393 total)
26. Ratatouille – $289,625 ($241,490,489 total)
40. Once – $117,406 ($10,791,685 total)
42. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $109,667 ($357,125 total)
46. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $86,540 ($367,417,431 total)
56. Sicko – $38,881 ($29,072,070 total)
62. La Vie en Rose – $29,648 ($11,857,497 total)
66. No End in Sight – $23,486 ($1,639,415 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. 27-29, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $9,434,602 ($136,628,662 total) {week 24}
17. Spirited Away – $527,719 ($1,110,559 total) {week 2}
28. Road to Perdition – $176,480 ($103,550,075 total) {week 12}
33. Lilo & Stitch – $146,850 ($143,513,625 total) {week 15}
36. Minority Report – $109,927 ($131,719,843 total) {week 15}
38. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $106,553 ($301,921,139 total) {week 20}
115. Son of the Bride – $3,913 ($621,278 total) {week 28}
130. Elling – $1,825 ($309,647 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $13,266,902 ($192,126,707 total)
17. Spirited Away – $742,076 ($1,561,664 total)
28. Road to Perdition – $248,166 ($145,611,723 total)
33. Lilo & Stitch – $206,500 ($201,808,316 total)
36. Minority Report – $154,579 ($185,223,944 total)
38. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $149,834 ($424,560,362 total)
115. Son of the Bride – $5,502 ($873,639 total)
130. Elling – $2,566 ($435,424 total)

Oscar Details:

• Elling: Foreign Language Film
• Lilo & Stitch: Animated Feature
• Minority Report: Sound Editing
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• 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. 26-28, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

2. In & Out – $11,225,464 ($30,376,543 total) {week 2}
6. L.A. Confidential – $4,422,450 ($11,574,944 total) {week 2}
8. The Full Monty – $2,752,802 ($13,999,115 total) {week 7}
11. Air Force One – $1,216,315 ($167,901,381 total) {week 10}
13. Men in Black – $906,890 ($242,117,436 total) {week 13}
999. Con Air – $61,268 ($101,035,795 total) {week 17}
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $142,595 ($228,893,639 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. In & Out – $19,980,837 ($54,068,923 total)
6. L.A. Confidential – $7,871,768 ($20,602,896 total)
8. The Full Monty – $4,899,868 ($24,917,815 total)
11. Air Force One – $2,164,988 ($298,857,142 total)
13. Men in Black – $1,614,225 ($430,958,486 total)
999. Con Air – $109,054 ($179,839,313 total)
999. The Lost World: Jurassic Park – $253,813 ($407,420,704 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 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. 25-27, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Last of the Mohicans – $10,976,661 ($10,976,661 total) {week 1}
4. Mr. Saturday Night – $4,514,027 ($4,514,027 total) {week 1}
9. Husbands and Wives – $1,783,740 ($6,350,940 total) {week 2}
13. Unforgiven – $1,009,810 ($72,105,359 total) {week 8}
999. Batman Returns – $363,315 ($161,511,928 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Last of the Mohicans – $21,609,475 ($21,609,475 total)
4. Mr. Saturday Night – $8,886,651 ($8,886,651 total)
9. Husbands and Wives – $3,511,604 ($12,502,935 total)
13. Unforgiven – $1,987,987 ($141,951,996 total)
999. Batman Returns – $715,249 ($317,964,446 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects
• Husbands and Wives: Supporting Actress (Judy Davis), Original Screenplay
• The Last of the Mohicans: Sound [O]
• Mr. Saturday Night: Supporting Actor (David Paymer)
• 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. 25-27, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Fatal Attraction – $7,707,763 ($18,709,510 total) {week 2}
6. Dirty Dancing – $2,100,759 ($27,376,139 total) {week 6}
13. Robocop – $640,647 ($50,616,395 total) {week 11}
999. The Princess Bride – $206,243 ($206,243 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Fatal Attraction – $16,105,479 ($39,093,784 total)
6. Dirty Dancing – $4,389,565 ($57,202,828 total)
13. Robocop – $1,338,641 ($105,763,669 total)
999. The Princess Bride – $430,948 ($430,948 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
• The Princess Bride: Original Song (“Storybook Love”)
• Robocop: Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 24-26, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $4,091,788 ($256,031,594 total) {week 16}
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $3,819,909 ($61,500,061 total) {week 9}
7. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $1,208,906 ($66,939,244 total) {week 10}
9. The World According to Garp – $780,951 ($26,748,650 total) {week 10}
10. Rocky III – $757,000 ($115,007,000 total) {week 18}
11. Poltergeist – $720,000 ($68,850,000 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $11,370,717 ($711,489,157 total)
3. An Officer and a Gentleman – $10,615,189 ($170,903,231 total)
7. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $3,359,443 ($186,018,239 total)
9. The World According to Garp – $2,170,194 ($74,332,133 total)
10. Rocky III – $2,103,636 ($319,594,282 total)
11. Poltergeist – $2,000,816 ($191,328,061 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)