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

Certain Women (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Kristen Stewart), Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams, Laura Dern), Original Screenplay.

Desierto (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Foreign Language Film.

Miss Hokusai (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 21-23, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

2. Real Steel – $10,824,512 ($66,732,152 total) {week 3}
5. The Ides of March – $4,853,051 ($29,112,377 total) {week 3}
7. Moneyball – $3,981,852 ($63,640,746 total) {week 5}
17. The Help – $713,429 ($166,190,265 total) {week 11}
18. Drive – $608,534 ($33,188,983 total) {week 6}
20. Margin Call – $561,906 ($561,906 total) {week 1}
27. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – $237,066 ($175,631,265 total) {week 12}
29. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – $180,790 ($380,531,427 total) {week 15}
36. Midnight in Paris – $109,215 ($55,275,621 total) {week 23}
56. Warrior – $28,575 ($13,632,517 total) {week 7}
86. The Tree of Life – $6,147 ($13,303,319 total) {week 22}
104. Hell and Back Again – $2,326 ($15,890 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Real Steel – $11,152,114 ($68,751,788 total)
5. The Ides of March – $4,999,928 ($29,993,458 total)
7. Moneyball – $4,102,362 ($65,566,822 total)
17. The Help – $735,021 ($171,219,983 total)
18. Drive – $626,951 ($34,193,442 total)
20. Margin Call – $578,912 ($578,912 total)
27. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – $244,241 ($180,946,713 total)
29. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – $186,262 ($392,048,141 total)
36. Midnight in Paris – $112,520 ($56,948,528 total)
56. Warrior – $29,440 ($14,045,103 total)
86. The Tree of Life – $6,333 ($13,705,942 total)
104. Hell and Back Again – $2,396 ($16,371 total)

Oscar Details:

• Drive: Sound Editing
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2: Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects
• Hell and Back Again: Documentary Feature
• The Help: Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer [O])
• The Ides of March: Adapted Screenplay
• Margin Call: Original Screenplay
• Midnight in Paris: Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction
• Moneyball: Picture, Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Sound Mixing
• Real Steel: Visual Effects
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Visual Effects
• The Tree of Life: Picture, Directing, Cinematography
• Warrior: Supporting Actor (Nick Nolte)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 20-22, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Prestige – $14,801,808 ($14,801,808 total) {week 1}
2. The Departed – $13,462,256 ($76,935,185 total) {week 3}
3. Flags of Our Fathers – $10,245,190 ($10,245,190 total) {week 1}
8. Marie Antoinette – $5,361,050 ($5,361,050 total) {week 1}
16. The Queen – $151,081 ($3,768,588 total) {week 4}
19. The Illusionist – $754,633 ($37,466,817 total) {week 10}
20. Little Miss Sunshine – $541,716 ($57,209,137 total) {week 13}
21. The Last King of Scotland – $431,610 ($1,924,774 total) {week 4}
27. Little Children – $238,390 ($508,772 total) {week 3}
32. Monster House – $202,477 ($73,661,010 total) {week 14}
34. Superman Returns – $17,330 ($200,006,305 total) {week 17}
39. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $119,883 ($421,243,455 total) {week 16}
43. The Devil Wears Prada – $81,129 ($124,450,077 total) {week 17}
47. Jesus Camp – $61,344 ($594,475 total) {week 6}
51. Half Nelson – $48,666 ($2,591,047 total) {week 11}
52. The Black Dahlia – $46,520 ($22,518,325 total) {week 6}
74. An Inconvenient Truth – $10,294 ($23,793,821 total) {week 22}
77. Deliver Us From Evil – $9,257 ($32,636 total) {week 2}
127. My Country, My Country – $356 ($32,854 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Prestige – $18,462,713 ($18,462,713 total)
2. The Departed – $16,791,852 ($95,963,429 total)
3. Flags of Our Fathers – $12,779,115 ($12,779,115 total)
8. Marie Antoinette – $6,686,989 ($6,686,989 total)
16. The Queen – $188,448 ($4,700,666 total)
19. The Illusionist – $941,275 ($46,733,419 total)
20. Little Miss Sunshine – $675,698 ($71,358,572 total)
21. The Last King of Scotland – $538,359 ($2,400,825 total)
27. Little Children – $297,351 ($634,606 total)
32. Monster House – $252,555 ($91,879,458 total)
34. Superman Returns – $21,616 ($249,473,513 total)
39. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $149,533 ($525,428,859 total)
43. The Devil Wears Prada – $101,194 ($155,230,096 total)
47. Jesus Camp – $76,516 ($741,505 total)
51. Half Nelson – $60,702 ($3,231,886 total)
52. The Black Dahlia – $58,026 ($28,087,743 total)
74. An Inconvenient Truth – $12,840 ($29,678,705 total)
77. Deliver Us From Evil – $11,547 ($40,708 total)
127. My Country, My Country – $444 ($40,980 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Black Dahlia: Cinematography
• Deliver Us From Evil: Documentary Feature
• The Departed: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Mark Wahlberg), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing
• The Devil Wears Prada: Actress (Meryl Streep), Costume Design
• Flags of Our Fathers: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Half Nelson: Actor (Ryan Gosling)
• The Illusionist: Cinematography
• An Inconvenient Truth: Original Song (“I Need to Wake Up” [O]), Documentary Feature [O]
• Jesus Camp: Documentary Feature
• The Last King of Scotland: Actor (Forest Whitaker [O])
• Little Children: Actress (Kate Winslet), Supporting Actor (Jackie Earle Haley), Adapted Screenplay
• Little Miss Sunshine: Picture, Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin [O]), Supporting Actress (Abigail Breslin), Original Screenplay [O]
• Marie Antoinette: Costume Design [O]
• Monster House: Animated Feature
• My Country, My Country: Documentary Feature
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest: Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Prestige: Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Queen: Picture, Director, Actress (Helen Mirren [O]), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Costume Design
• Superman Returns: Visual Effects

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 19-21, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

3. Training Day – $9,325,443 ($57,283,521 total) {week 3}
15. Mulholland Drive – $960,558 ($1,859,343 total) {week 2}
20. Shrek – $271,870 ($266,636,479 total) {week 23}
34. Ghost World – $111,652 ($5,792,350 total) {week 14}
35. Pearl Harbor – $106,723 ($198,245,981 total) {week 22}
999. Moulin Rouge! – $15,009 ($56,689,748 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Training Day – $13,460,931 ($82,686,637 total)
15. Mulholland Drive – $1,386,530 ($2,683,893 total)
20. Shrek – $392,434 ($384,879,865 total)
34. Ghost World – $161,166 ($8,361,042 total)
35. Pearl Harbor – $154,051 ($286,160,718 total)
999. Moulin Rouge! – $21,665 ($81,829,548 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ghost World: Adapted Screenplay
• Moulin Rouge!: Picture, Actress (Nicole Kidman), Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• Mulholland Drive: Director
• Pearl Harbor: Original Song (“There You’ll Be”), Sound, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Shrek: Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Training Day: Actor (Denzel Washington [O]), Supporting Actor (Ethan Hawke)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 18-20, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

1. Sleepers – $12,305,745 ($12,305,745 total) {week 1}
2. The Ghost and the Darkness – $7,507,928 ($20,241,321 total) {week 2}
3. First Wives Club – $6,737,593 ($82,155,146 total) {week 5}
5. That Thing You Do! – $3,866,648 ($17,754,851 total) {week 3}
10. Fly Away Home – $1,407,425 ($19,758,779 total) {week 6}
11. Independence Day – $1,344,607 ($299,213,307 total) {week 16}
999. Michael Collins – $187,692 ($460,992 total) {week 2}
999. The Rock – $133,536 ($133,768,962 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Sleepers – $22,746,140 ($22,746,140 total)
2. The Ghost and the Darkness – $13,877,776 ($37,414,387 total)
3. First Wives Club – $12,453,877 ($151,856,910 total)
5. That Thing You Do! – $7,147,175 ($32,818,356 total)
10. Fly Away Home – $2,601,507 ($36,522,449 total)
11. Independence Day – $2,485,393 ($553,070,751 total)
999. Michael Collins – $346,933 ($852,105 total)
999. The Rock – $246,830 ($247,260,728 total)

Oscar Details:

• First Wives Club: Original Comedy or Musical Score
• Fly Away Home: Cinematography
• The Ghost and the Darkness: Sound Effects [O]
• Independence Day: Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• Michael Collins: Original Score, Cinematography
• The Rock: Sound
• Sleepers: Original Dramatic Score
• That Thing You Do!: Original Song (“That Thing You Do”)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 18-20, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Fisher King – $3,381,180 ($27,372,072 total) {week 5}
12. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – $964,175 ($163,012,523 total) {week 19}
999. Terminator 2: Judgment Day – $566,489 ($198,849,143 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Fisher King – $6,561,577 ($53,118,724 total)
12. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – $1,871,095 ($316,344,967 total)
999. Terminator 2: Judgment Day – $1,099,339 ($385,890,142 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Fisher King: Actor (Robin Williams), Supporting Actress (Mercedes Ruehl) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction
• Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves: Original Song (“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”)
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day: Editing, Cinematography, Makeup [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 17-19, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Crocodile Dundee – $7,434,202 ($42,667,910 total) {week 4}
2. The Color of Money – $6,357,877 ($6,357,877 total) {week 1}
4. Peggy Sue Got Married – $4,209,201 ($12,309,278 total) {week 2}
6. Children of a Lesser God – $203,890 ($6,991,691 total) {week 3}
7. Top Gun – $1,874,879 ($156,548,833 total) {week 23}
9. Stand By Me – $1,392,995 ($35,359,341 total) {week 11}
10. That’s Life – $703,982 ($2,955,920 total) {week 4}
11. The Karate Kid Part II – $65,408 ($111,476,372 total) {week 18}
999. Blue Velvet – $386,542 ($3,986,512 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Crocodile Dundee – $16,371,275 ($93,961,408 total)
2. The Color of Money – $14,001,039 ($14,001,039 total)
4. Peggy Sue Got Married – $9,269,319 ($27,106,955 total)
6. Children of a Lesser God – $448,998 ($15,396,797 total)
7. Top Gun – $4,128,777 ($344,745,004 total)
9. Stand By Me – $3,067,593 ($77,866,797 total)
10. That’s Life – $1,550,278 ($6,509,398 total)
11. The Karate Kid Part II – $144,039 ($245,488,399 total)
999. Blue Velvet – $851,226 ($8,778,923 total)

Oscar Details:

• Blue Velvet: Director
• Children of a Lesser God: Picture, Actor (William Hurt), Actress (Marlee Matlin [O]), Supporting Actress (Piper Laurie), Adapted Screenplay
• The Color of Money: Actor (Paul Newman [O]), Supporting Actress (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction
• Crocodile Dundee: Original Screenplay
• The Karate Kid Part II: Original Song (“Glory of Love”)
• Peggy Sue Got Married: Actress (Kathleen Turner), Cinematography, Costume Design
• Stand By Me: Adapted Screenplay
• That’s Life: Original Song (“Life in a Looking Glass”)
• Top Gun: Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Editing, Sound, Sound Effects