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

Geostorm (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Visual Effects.

The Snowman (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Actor (Michael Fassbender), Director, Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing.

BPM (Beats Per Minute) (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Foreign Language Film.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Original Screenplay.

Wonderstruck (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 19-21, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

2. Argo – $16,445,475 ($43,011,964 total) {week 2}
9. Frankenweenie – $4,329,358 ($28,238,779 total) {week 3}
16. The Master – $520,677 ($14,738,213 total) {week 6}
18. Brave – $421,577 ($235,044,709 total) {week 18}
22. Searching for Sugar Man – $197,188 ($1,968,290 total) {week 13}
29. The Sessions – $113,467 ($113,467 total) {week 1}
32. ParaNorman – $104,572 ($54,664,352 total) {week 10}
40. Ted – $69,745 ($218,628,680 total) {week 17}
61. Moonrise Kingdom – $19,324 ($45,489,125 total) {week 22}
64. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $17,413 ($11,186,650 total) {week 17}
78. How to Survive a Plague – $9,421 ($108,809 total) {week 5}
102. The Invisible War – $974 ($62,313 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Argo – $16,879,338 ($44,146,702 total)
9. Frankenweenie – $4,443,575 ($28,983,772 total)
16. The Master – $534,413 ($15,127,035 total)
18. Brave – $432,699 ($241,245,637 total)
22. Searching for Sugar Man – $202,390 ($2,020,217 total)
29. The Sessions – $116,460 ($116,460 total)
32. ParaNorman – $107,331 ($56,106,502 total)
40. Ted – $71,585 ($224,396,522 total)
61. Moonrise Kingdom – $19,834 ($46,689,215 total)
64. Beasts of the Southern Wild – $17,872 ($11,481,775 total)
78. How to Survive a Plague – $9,670 ($111,680 total)
102. The Invisible War – $1,000 ($63,957 total)

Oscar Details:

• Argo: Picture [O], Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin), Adapted Screenlay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Beasts of the Southern Wild: Picture, Directing, Actress (Quvenzhane Wallis), Adapted Screenplay
• Brave: Animated Feature [O]
• Frankenweenie: Animated Feature
• How to Survive a Plague: Documentary Feature
• The Invisible War: Documentary Feature
• 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]
• The Sessions: Actress (Helen Hunt)
• Ted: Original Song (“Everybody Needs a Best Friend”)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 19-21, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

4. Michael Clayton – $6,677,272 ($21,563,586 total) {week 3}
6. Gone Baby Gone – $5,501,406 ($5,501,406 total) {week 1}
11. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $3,150,180 ($11,224,145 total) {week 2}
12. Across the Universe – $2,653,475 ($16,720,931 total) {week 6}
14. Into the Wild – $2,138,403 ($6,490,408 total) {week 5}
21. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $531,282 ($2,178,826 total) {week 5}
22. 3:10 to Yuma – $502,313 ($52,738,678 total) {week 7}
23. Transformers – $479,694 ($318,326,165 total) {week 16}
29. Ratatouille – $340,588 ($204,907,550 total) {week 17}
30. The Bourne Ultimatum – $320,405 ($226,096,325 total) {week 12}
32. Eastern Promises – $245,961 ($16,866,286 total) {week 6}
36. Lars and the Real Girl – $188,603 ($316,218 total) {week 2}
48. In the Valley of Elah – $79,310 ($6,585,535 total) {week 6}
68. Once – $23,100 ($9,330,916 total) {week 23}
81. La Vie en Rose – $8,816 ($10,056,573 total) {week 21}
101. No End in Sight – $4,051 ($1,424,221 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Michael Clayton – $7,929,261 ($25,606,758 total)
6. Gone Baby Gone – $6,532,920 ($6,532,920 total)
11. Elizabeth: The Golden Age – $3,740,839 ($13,328,672 total)
12. Across the Universe – $3,151,002 ($19,856,106 total)
14. Into the Wild – $2,539,354 ($7,707,360 total)
21. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $630,897 ($2,587,356 total)
22. 3:10 to Yuma – $596,497 ($62,627,180 total)
23. Transformers – $569,637 ($378,012,321 total)
29. Ratatouille – $404,448 ($243,327,716 total)
30. The Bourne Ultimatum – $380,481 ($268,489,386 total)
32. Eastern Promises – $292,079 ($20,028,715 total)
36. Lars and the Real Girl – $223,966 ($375,509 total)
48. In the Valley of Elah – $94,181 ($7,820,323 total)
68. Once – $27,431 ($11,080,463 total)
81. La Vie en Rose – $10,469 ($11,942,180 total)
101. No End in Sight – $4,811 ($1,691,262 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)
• Elizabeth: The Golden Age: Actress (Cate Blanchett), Costume Design [O]
• Gone Baby Gone: Supporting Actress (Amy Ryan)
• In the Valley of Elah: Actor (Tommy Lee Jones)
• Into the Wild: Supporting Actor (Hal Holbrook), Editing
• Lars and the Real Girl: Original Screenplay
• Michael Clayton: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score
• No End in Sight: Documentary Feature
• Once: Original Song [O]
• Ratatouille: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• 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 Oct. 18-20, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $7,145,309 ($169,292,979 total) {week 27}
19. Bowling for Columbine – $728,051 ($1,052,554 total) {week 2}
20. Spirited Away – $519,252 ($3,424,435 total) {week 5}
23. Lilo & Stitch – $341,991 ($144,561,702 total) {week 18}
58. Minority Report – $36,771 ($131,976,147 total) {week 18}
61. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $29,707 ($302,155,373 total) {week 23}
65. Road to Perdition – $24,361 ($103,902,447 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $10,047,706 ($238,059,146 total)
19. Bowling for Columbine – $1,023,783 ($1,480,097 total)
20. Spirited Away – $730,170 ($4,815,428 total)
23. Lilo & Stitch – $480,906 ($203,282,118 total)
58. Minority Report – $51,707 ($185,584,358 total)
61. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – $41,774 ($424,889,741 total)
65. Road to Perdition – $34,256 ($146,107,228 total)

Oscar Details:

• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• 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
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones: Visual Effects

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 17-19, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

5. In & Out – $3,713,247 ($53,147,645 total) {week 5}
9. L.A. Confidential – $2,543,752 ($26,864,037 total) {week 5}
12. The Full Monty – $1,734,066 ($22,389,354 total) {week 10}
16. Boogie Nights – $869,146 ($1,025,671 total) {week 2}
999. Air Force One – $169,478 ($169,792,834 total) {week 13}
999. Men in Black – $301,530 ($244,064,365 total) {week 16}
999. The Sweet Hereafter – $47,286 ($143,274 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. In & Out – $6,609,418 ($94,600,492 total)
9. L.A. Confidential – $4,527,768 ($47,816,815 total)
12. The Full Monty – $3,086,562 ($39,852,075 total)
16. Boogie Nights – $1,547,042 ($1,825,650 total)
999. Air Force One – $301,663 ($302,223,846 total)
999. Men in Black – $536,710 ($434,423,935 total)
999. The Sweet Hereafter – $84,167 ($255,021 total)

Oscar Details:

• Air Force One: Editing, Sound
• Boogie Nights: Supporting Actor (Burt Reynolds), Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore), Original Screenplay
• 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
• Men in Black: Original Musical or Comedy Score, Art Direction, Makeup [O]
• The Sweet Hereafter: Director, Adapted Screenplay

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 16-18, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Under Siege – $11,151,874 ($30,301,259 total) {week 2}
2. The Last of the Mohicans – $5,828,251 ($43,734,536 total) {week 4}
11. Glengarry Glen Ross – $1,087,947 ($5,841,652 total) {week 3}
999. Batman Returns – $230,373 ($162,744,850 total) {week 18}
999. A River Runs Through It – $471,968 ($859,445 total) {week 2}
999. Unforgiven – $144,378 ($74,079,040 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Under Siege – $21,954,412 ($59,653,322 total)
2. The Last of the Mohicans – $11,473,930 ($86,099,074 total)
11. Glengarry Glen Ross – $2,141,814 ($11,500,312 total)
999. Batman Returns – $453,529 ($320,391,669 total)
999. A River Runs Through It – $929,151 ($1,691,968 total)
999. Unforgiven – $284,233 ($145,837,532 total)

Oscar Details:

• Batman Returns: Makeup, Visual Effects
• Glengarry Glen Ross: Supporting Actor (Al Pacino)
• The Last of the Mohicans: Sound [O]
• A River Runs Through It: Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O]
• Under Siege: Sound, Sound Effects
• 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 Oct. 16-18, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Fatal Attraction – $7,688,730 ($55,482,673 total) {week 5}
3. The Princess Bride – $3,632,285 ($9,407,905 total) {week 4}
5. Dirty Dancing – $1,839,181 ($34,837,670 total) {week 9}
999. Hope and Glory – $25,497 ($25,497 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Fatal Attraction – $16,065,709 ($115,931,826 total)
3. The Princess Bride – $7,589,711 ($19,657,950 total)
5. Dirty Dancing – $3,842,995 ($72,793,802 total)
999. Hope and Glory – $53,276 ($53,276 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
• Hope and Glory: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Princess Bride: Original Song (“Storybook Love”)

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 15-17, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $3,315,692 ($270,557,116 total) {week 19}
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $3,260,328 ($75,479,008 total) {week 12}
3. My Favorite Year – $2,205,749 ($5,567,783 total) {week 2}
7. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $546,295 ($69,701,637 total) {week 13}
8. Rocky III – $475,759 ($117,432,059 total) {week 21}
10. Annie – $298,613 ($53,051,409 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $9,214,015 ($751,854,299 total)
2. An Officer and a Gentleman – $9,060,163 ($209,749,488 total)
3. My Favorite Year – $6,129,581 ($15,472,377 total)
7. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – $1,518,105 ($193,694,685 total)
8. Rocky III – $1,322,092 ($326,333,307 total)
10. Annie – $829,819 ($147,425,174 total)

Oscar Details:

• Annie: Original Song Score, Art Direction
• 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]
• My Favorite Year: Actor (Peter O’Toole)
• 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
• Rocky III: Original Song (“Eye of the Tiger”)