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 Old Man and the Gun (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Robert Redford).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 27-29, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

2. Prisoners – $10,865,262 ($38,549,194 total) {week 2}
16. Despicable Me 2 – $792,895 ($361,774,715 total) {week 13}
18. Blue Jasmine – $624,245 ($30,662,232 total) {week 10}
35. Alone Yet Not Alone – $125,775 ($125,775 total) {week 1}
40. The Grandmaster – $105,090 ($6,505,616 total) {week 6}
48. The Lone Ranger – $60,725 ($89,237,148 total) {week 13}
58. 20 Feet from Stardom – $21,745 ($4,651,659 total) {week 16}
88. The Hunt – $6,475 ($610,968 total) {week 12}
103. Before Midnight – $3,350 ($8,102,196 total) {week 19}
113. The Act of Killing – $2,216 ($438,055 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Prisoners – $11,934,414 ($42,532,137 total)
16. Despicable Me 2 – $870,917 ($399,153,652 total)
18. Blue Jasmine – $685,671 ($33,830,285 total)
35. Alone Yet Not Alone – $138,151 ($138,770 total)
40. The Grandmaster – $115,431 ($7,177,783 total)
48. The Lone Ranger – $66,700 ($98,457,222 total)
58. 20 Feet from Stardom – $23,885 ($5,132,273 total)
88. The Hunt – $7,112 ($674,094 total)
103. Before Midnight – $3,680 ($8,939,323 total)
113. The Act of Killing – $2,434 ($483,315 total)

Oscar Details:

• 20 Feet from Stardom: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Act of Killing: Documentary Feature
• Alone Yet Not Alone: Original Song (“Alone Yet Not Alone”) (nomination rescinded)
• 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. 26-28, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

13. The Dark Knight – $1,664,421 ($524,474,684 total) {week 11}
16. Tropic Thunder – $1,184,950 ($108,768,665 total) {week 7}
17. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $665,544 ($20,411,318 total) {week 7}
19. The Duchess – $563,075 ($830,007 total) {week 2}
24. WALL-E – $244,023 ($220,834,460 total) {week 14}
30. Kung Fu Panda – $206,782 ($215,207,213 total) {week 17}
43. Man on Wire – $99,128 ($2,388,576 total) {week 10}
44. Frozen River – $92,126 ($1,905,400 total) {week 9}
48. Iron Man – $58,364 ($318,298,180 total) {week 22}
55. Trouble the Water – $33,325 ($285,709 total) {week 6}
76. Encounters at the End of the World – $9,367 ($915,395 total) {week 16}
85. The Visitor – $5,327 ($9,413,262 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

13. The Dark Knight – $2,070,095 ($655,228,122 total)
16. Tropic Thunder – $1,473,761 ($135,885,087 total)
17. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $827,759 ($25,499,933 total)
19. The Duchess – $700,315 ($1,036,931 total)
24. WALL-E – $303,499 ($275,889,291 total)
30. Kung Fu Panda – $257,182 ($268,859,151 total)
43. Man on Wire – $123,289 ($2,984,057 total)
44. Frozen River – $114,580 ($2,380,423 total)
48. Iron Man – $72,589 ($397,651,069 total)
55. Trouble the Water – $41,447 ($356,937 total)
76. Encounters at the End of the World – $11,650 ($1,143,606 total)
85. The Visitor – $6,625 ($11,760,022 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. 26-28, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

10. Lost in Translation – $3,695,901 ($8,647,315 total) {week 3}
12. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $2,374,249 ($295,713,028 total) {week 12}
16. Seabiscuit – $880,380 ($117,396,680 total) {week 10}
22. Finding Nemo – $360,887 ($335,734,009 total) {week 18}
23. Thirteen – $308,325 ($3,698,035 total) {week 6}
24. American Splendor – $287,771 ($5,102,643 total) {week 7}
29. Dirty Pretty Things – $214,131 ($7,310,189 total) {week 11}
30. Whale Rider – $209,589 ($20,055,214 total) {week 17}
41. Winged Migration – $105,275 ($10,200,223 total) {week 24}
67. Spellbound – $26,762 ($5,631,135 total) {week 22}
85. The Weather Underground – $12,604 ($396,887 total) {week 17}
91. Capturing the Friedmans – $9,057 ($3,099,424 total) {week 18}
98. Nowhere in Africa – $6,746 ($6,167,763 total) {week 30}
102. City of God – $6,120 ($4,650,832 total) {week 37}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

10. Lost in Translation – $5,473,366 ($12,863,419 total)
12. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $3,516,093 ($439,891,519 total)
16. Seabiscuit – $1,303,780 ($174,634,862 total)
22. Finding Nemo – $534,448 ($499,425,217 total)
23. Thirteen – $456,607 ($5,501,057 total)
24. American Splendor – $426,168 ($7,590,499 total)
29. Dirty Pretty Things – $317,113 ($10,874,361 total)
30. Whale Rider – $310,386 ($29,833,378 total)
41. Winged Migration – $155,905 ($15,173,466 total)
67. Spellbound – $39,633 ($8,376,664 total)
85. The Weather Underground – $18,666 ($590,394 total)
91. Capturing the Friedmans – $13,413 ($4,610,586 total)
98. Nowhere in Africa – $9,990 ($9,174,931 total)
102. City of God – $9,063 ($6,918,402 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Splendor: Adapted Screenplay
• 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]
• 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. 25-27, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

4. One True Thing – $4,438,980 ($13,191,940 total) {week 2}
7. Saving Private Ryan – $2,511,565 ($181,818,565 total) {week 10}
11. Armageddon – $951,613 ($197,134,670 total) {week 13}
999. Titanic – $3,337 ($600,681,921 total) {week 41}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. One True Thing – $8,452,045 ($25,230,640 total)
7. Saving Private Ryan – $4,782,148 ($347,742,543 total)
11. Armageddon – $1,811,920 ($377,035,819 total)
999. Titanic – $6,354 ($1,148,852,203 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. 24-26, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Fugitive – $5,231,382 ($161,438,942 total) {week 8}
5. The Age of Innocence – $4,768,616 ($8,107,430 total) {week 2}
8. Jurassic Park – $1,582,675 ($324,235,070 total) {week 16}
13. Sleepless in Seattle – $1,106,070 ($118,386,674 total) {week 14}
999. In the Line of Fire – $403,063 ($101,935,705 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Fugitive – $11,284,116 ($349,784,374 total)
5. The Age of Innocence – $10,285,928 ($17,566,098 total)
8. Jurassic Park – $3,413,838 ($702,509,318 total)
13. Sleepless in Seattle – $2,385,798 ($256,504,460 total)
999. In the Line of Fire – $869,409 ($220,860,694 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Age of Innocence: Supporting Actress (Winona Ryder), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• 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. 23-25, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

2. A Fish Called Wanda – $2,205,248 ($48,258,794 total) {week 11}
3. Die Hard – $2,132,131 ($68,217,305 total) {week 11}
4. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $1,692,166 ($138,197,918 total) {week 14}
12. Big – $1,115,650 ($102,760,832 total) {week 17}
13. Coming to America – $1,004,286 ($122,202,686 total) {week 13}
14. Married to the Mob – $1,002,074 ($17,742,944 total) {week 6}
999. Gorillas in the Mist – $366,925 ($366,925 total) {week 1}
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $430,328 ($6,065,222 total) {week 7}
999. Running on Empty – $212,741 ($804,912 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. A Fish Called Wanda – $4,791,451 ($105,323,937 total)
3. Die Hard – $4,632,586 ($148,883,023 total)
4. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $3,676,653 ($301,614,434 total)
12. Big – $2,424,028 ($224,273,641 total)
13. Coming to America – $2,182,062 ($266,705,132 total)
14. Married to the Mob – $2,177,256 ($38,723,652 total)
999. Gorillas in the Mist – $797,236 ($800,807 total)
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $934,995 ($13,237,236 total)
999. Running on Empty – $462,233 ($1,756,706 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
• Gorillas in the Mist: Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Sound
• 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. 30-Oct. 2, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Big Chill – $3,662,152 ($3,662,152 total) {week 1}
8. Trading Places – $1,185,709 ($86,757,964 total) {week 17}
10. Flashdance – $936,451 ($88,347,294 total) {week 25}
11. Return of the Jedi – $917,828 ($239,135,743 total) {week 19}
13. Zelig – $905,416 ($8,060,138 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Big Chill – $10,381,910 ($10,428,414 total)
8. Trading Places – $3,361,391 ($247,053,631 total)
10. Flashdance – $2,654,764 ($251,579,437 total)
11. Return of the Jedi – $2,601,970 ($680,967,497 total)
13. Zelig – $2,566,783 ($22,952,202 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Big Chill: Picture, Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original 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
• Zelig: Cinematography, Costume Design