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

First Man (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Directing, Actor (Ryan Gosling), Supporting Actress (Claire Foy), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Beautiful Boy (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Directing, Actor (Steve Carell), Supporting Actor (Timothée Chalamet), Supporting Actress (Maura Tierney), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 11-13, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

1. Gravity – $43,188,256 ($122,323,175 total) {week 2}
2. Captain Phillips – $25,718,314 ($25,718,314 total) {week 1}
6. Prisoners – $3,635,392 ($53,590,271 total) {week 4}
19. Despicable Me 2 – $505,615 ($363,060,130 total) {week 15}
27. Blue Jasmine – $230,428 ($31,672,810 total) {week 12}
68. The Grandmaster – $7,808 ($6,585,451 total) {week 8}
111. Before Midnight – $615 ($8,110,621 total) {week 21}
112. The Act of Killing – $441 ($443,203 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Gravity – $47,438,023 ($134,961,732 total)
2. Captain Phillips – $28,249,021 ($28,375,557 total)
6. Prisoners – $3,993,118 ($59,127,273 total)
19. Despicable Me 2 – $555,368 ($400,571,878 total)
27. Blue Jasmine – $253,102 ($34,945,277 total)
68. The Grandmaster – $8,576 ($7,265,867 total)
111. Before Midnight – $676 ($8,948,619 total)
112. The Act of Killing – $484 ($488,995 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
• Captain Phillips: Picture, Supporting Actor (Barkhad Abdi), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Despicable Me 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Happy”)
• The Grandmaster: Cinematography, Costume Design
• Gravity: Picture, Directing [O], Actress (Sandra Bullock), Original Score [O], Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Production Design, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Prisoners: Cinematography

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 10-12, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

9. The Duchess – $3,304,841 ($5,603,061 total) {week 4}
19. The Dark Knight – $528,328 ($526,690,914 total) {week 13}
25. Rachel Getting Married – $445,628 ($863,746 total) {week 2}
27. WALL-E – $409,355 ($221,595,782 total) {week 16}
29. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $252,468 ($21,445,663 total) {week 9}
33. Tropic Thunder – $150,760 ($109,731,757 total) {week 9}
40. Happy-Go-Lucky – $73,867 ($73,867 total) {week 1}
46. Man on Wire – $53,444 ($2,600,296 total) {week 12}
52. Frozen River – $40,283 ($2,061,019 total) {week 11}
71. Trouble the Water – $16,451 ($354,928 total) {week 8}
108. Encounters at the End of the World – $2,427 ($926,736 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. The Duchess – $4,110,338 ($6,999,924 total)
19. The Dark Knight – $657,099 ($657,996,866 total)
25. Rachel Getting Married – $554,242 ($1,079,081 total)
27. WALL-E – $509,128 ($276,840,413 total)
29. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $314,003 ($26,792,144 total)
33. Tropic Thunder – $187,505 ($137,088,281 total)
40. Happy-Go-Lucky – $91,871 ($92,282 total)
46. Man on Wire – $66,470 ($3,248,559 total)
52. Frozen River – $50,101 ($2,574,839 total)
71. Trouble the Water – $20,461 ($443,413 total)
108. Encounters at the End of the World – $3,019 ($1,157,775 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
• Happy-Go-Lucky: Original Screenplay
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• Rachel Getting Married: Actress (Anne Hathaway)
• Tropic Thunder: Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.)
• Trouble the Water: Documentary Feature
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz) [O]
• WALL-E: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Down to Earth”), Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 10-12, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

10. Lost in Translation – $2,812,279 ($18,122,174 total) {week 5}
15. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $1,022,122 ($299,468,874 total) {week 14}
17. Mystic River – $640,815 ($828,422 total) {week 1}
19. Finding Nemo – $626,484 ($337,367,455 total) {week 20}
22. Seabiscuit – $314,985 ($118,742,235 total) {week 12}
32. Thirteen – $145,168 ($4,305,654 total) {week 8}
36. American Splendor – $107,520 ($5,591,638 total) {week 9}
37. Whale Rider – $105,332 ($20,480,971 total) {week 19}
39. Dirty Pretty Things – $100,244 ($7,704,994 total) {week 13}
53. Winged Migration – $56,663 ($10,441,130 total) {week 26}
92. Spellbound – $8,280 ($5,672,176 total) {week 24}
103. Capturing the Friedmans – $5,117 ($3,117,985 total) {week 20}
104. City of God – $4,967 ($4,664,357 total) {week 39}
113. The Weather Underground – $3,698 ($433,766 total) {week 19}
115. Nowhere in Africa – $3,521 ($6,178,092 total) {week 32}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

10. Lost in Translation – $4,164,785 ($26,957,861 total)
15. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $1,513,690 ($445,478,574 total)
17. Mystic River – $949,001 ($1,232,329 total)
19. Finding Nemo – $927,778 ($501,855,070 total)
22. Seabiscuit – $466,470 ($176,636,459 total)
32. Thirteen – $214,983 ($6,404,928 total)
36. American Splendor – $159,229 ($8,317,909 total)
37. Whale Rider – $155,989 ($30,466,718 total)
39. Dirty Pretty Things – $148,454 ($11,461,658 total)
53. Winged Migration – $83,914 ($15,531,830 total)
92. Spellbound – $12,262 ($8,437,715 total)
103. Capturing the Friedmans – $7,578 ($4,638,197 total)
104. City of God – $7,356 ($6,938,521 total)
113. The Weather Underground – $5,476 ($645,254 total)
115. Nowhere in Africa – $5,214 ($9,190,296 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]
• Mystic River: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) [O], Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), Adapted Screenplay
• 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 Oct. 9-11, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

3. What Dreams May Come – $10,917,143 ($31,248,297 total) {week 2}
9. One True Thing – $1,920,795 ($20,183,340 total) {week 4}
10. Saving Private Ryan – $1,300,581 ($186,258,536 total) {week 12}
12. Armageddon – $723,198 ($198,798,517 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. What Dreams May Come – $20,786,799 ($59,764,867 total)
9. One True Thing – $3,657,292 ($38,602,252 total)
10. Saving Private Ryan – $2,476,373 ($356,234,343 total)
12. Armageddon – $1,377,006 ($380,218,059 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]
• What Dreams May Come: Art Direction, Visual Effects [O]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 8-10, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

5. The Age of Innocence – $3,404,626 ($18,447,142 total) {week 4}
11. The Fugitive – $2,340,011 ($169,640,042 total) {week 10}
16. Jurassic Park – $844,760 ($326,919,630 total) {week 18}
999. Short Cuts – $106,553 ($134,670 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. The Age of Innocence – $7,343,795 ($39,968,808 total)
11. The Fugitive – $5,047,415 ($367,553,424 total)
16. Jurassic Park – $1,822,151 ($708,325,865 total)
999. Short Cuts – $229,835 ($291,785 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
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Short Cuts: Director

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 7-9, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

3. Gorillas in the Mist – $4,042,940 ($9,195,683 total) {week 3}
5. A Fish Called Wanda – $1,636,968 ($53,318,164 total) {week 13}
6. Die Hard – $1,513,576 ($72,770,440 total) {week 13}
8. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $1,404,155 ($141,978,958 total) {week 16}
13. Big – $84,625 ($105,591,874 total) {week 19}
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $308,885 ($7,100,522 total) {week 9}
999. Running on Empty – $343,847 ($1,798,399 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Gorillas in the Mist – $8,784,295 ($20,069,410 total)
5. A Fish Called Wanda – $3,556,721 ($116,365,920 total)
6. Die Hard – $3,288,621 ($158,820,157 total)
8. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $3,050,877 ($309,866,485 total)
13. Big – $183,869 ($230,452,338 total)
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $671,130 ($15,496,760 total)
999. Running on Empty – $747,093 ($3,924,973 total)

Oscar Details:

• Big: Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
• 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
• 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 Oct. 14-16, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Big Chill – $3,253,763 ($13,448,866 total) {week 3}
8. Flashdance – $724,676 ($90,463,574 total) {week 27}
10. Return of the Jedi – $622,402 ($240,962,087 total) {week 21}
11. Trading Places – $542,383 ($88,621,914 total) {week 19}
12. Zelig – $537,769 ($9,772,241 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Big Chill – $9,224,160 ($38,297,247 total)
8. Flashdance – $2,054,399 ($257,605,796 total)
10. Return of the Jedi – $1,764,460 ($686,168,229 total)
11. Trading Places – $1,537,613 ($252,361,450 total)
12. Zelig – $1,524,532 ($27,827,620 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