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.

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 18-20, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

1. Gravity – $30,027,161 ($169,563,291 total) {week 3}
2. Captain Phillips – $16,413,093 ($52,443,328 total) {week 2}
6. Prisoners – $2,064,235 ($57,258,393 total) {week 5}
16. 12 Years a Slave – $923,715 ($923,715 total) {week 1}
20. Despicable Me 2 – $485,850 ($363,741,080 total) {week 16}
29. Blue Jasmine – $188,718 ($31,972,045 total) {week 13}
38. All Is Lost – $93,583 ($93,583 total) {week 1}
72. 20 Feet from Stardom – $7,881 ($4,698,376 total) {week 19}
83. The Grandmaster – $3,583 ($6,594,136 total) {week 9}
102. Before Midnight – $802 ($8,112,146 total) {week 22}
105. The Act of Killing – $517 ($445,092 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Gravity – $32,981,863 ($187,082,745 total)
2. Captain Phillips – $18,028,158 ($57,861,827 total)
6. Prisoners – $2,267,358 ($63,174,389 total)
16. 12 Years a Slave – $1,014,609 ($1,019,154 total)
20. Despicable Me 2 – $533,658 ($401,323,184 total)
29. Blue Jasmine – $207,288 ($35,275,430 total)
38. All Is Lost – $102,792 ($103,252 total)
72. 20 Feet from Stardom – $8,656 ($5,183,817 total)
83. The Grandmaster – $3,936 ($7,275,449 total)
102. Before Midnight – $881 ($8,950,301 total)
105. The Act of Killing – $568 ($491,079 total)

Oscar Details:

• 12 Years a Slave: Picture [O], Directing, Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Supporting Actor (Michael Fassbender), Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong’o) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Production Design, Costume Design
• 20 Feet from Stardom: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Act of Killing: Documentary Feature
• All Is Lost: Sound Editing
• 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. 17-19, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

13. The Duchess – $2,121,588 ($9,128,899 total) {week 5}
19. Rachel Getting Married – $657,646 ($1,693,047 total) {week 3}
20. The Dark Knight – $412,148 ($527,356,352 total) {week 14}
23. WALL-E – $342,730 ($222,104,566 total) {week 17}
29. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $182,297 ($21,754,183 total) {week 10}
35. Happy-Go-Lucky – $107,947 ($217,388 total) {week 2}
39. Tropic Thunder – $89,265 ($109,876,133 total) {week 10}
54. Man on Wire – $36,456 ($2,667,120 total) {week 13}
57. Frozen River – $34,514 ($2,112,984 total) {week 12}
66. Trouble the Water – $17,071 ($378,388 total) {week 9}
90. Encounters at the End of the World – $3,777 ($932,590 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

13. The Duchess – $2,638,688 ($11,404,767 total)
19. Rachel Getting Married – $817,936 ($2,115,130 total)
20. The Dark Knight – $512,602 ($658,828,200 total)
23. WALL-E – $426,264 ($277,476,039 total)
29. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $226,729 ($27,177,580 total)
35. Happy-Go-Lucky – $134,257 ($271,584 total)
39. Tropic Thunder – $111,022 ($137,268,651 total)
54. Man on Wire – $45,342 ($3,332,043 total)
57. Frozen River – $42,926 ($2,639,759 total)
66. Trouble the Water – $21,232 ($472,721 total)
90. Encounters at the End of the World – $4,698 ($1,165,088 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. 17-19, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

5. Mystic River – $10,445,547 ($13,532,943 total) {week 2}
11. Lost in Translation – $1,903,194 ($20,964,129 total) {week 6}
16. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $653,715 ($300,557,571 total) {week 15}
18. Finding Nemo – $511,514 ($338,163,432 total) {week 21}
23. Seabiscuit – $220,215 ($119,091,925 total) {week 13}
44. Whale Rider – $60,904 ($20,596,685 total) {week 20}
47. Thirteen – $57,819 ($4,428,906 total) {week 9}
48. Dirty Pretty Things – $57,199 ($7,803,048 total) {week 14}
52. American Splendor – $54,973 ($5,688,932 total) {week 10}
56. Pieces of April – $48,422 ($48,422 total) {week 1}
65. Winged Migration – $29,869 ($10,499,535 total) {week 27}
89. The Weather Underground – $7,846 ($446,554 total) {week 20}
90. Spellbound – $7,756 ($5,691,538 total) {week 25}
93. City of God – $7,568 ($4,676,802 total) {week 40}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Mystic River – $15,469,110 ($20,131,094 total)
11. Lost in Translation – $2,818,495 ($31,185,446 total)
16. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $968,105 ($447,098,078 total)
18. Finding Nemo – $757,516 ($503,039,135 total)
23. Seabiscuit – $326,123 ($177,156,645 total)
44. Whale Rider – $90,194 ($30,638,850 total)
47. Thirteen – $85,626 ($6,588,273 total)
48. Dirty Pretty Things – $84,708 ($11,607,519 total)
52. American Splendor – $81,411 ($8,462,640 total)
56. Pieces of April – $71,710 ($72,031 total)
65. Winged Migration – $44,234 ($15,618,711 total)
89. The Weather Underground – $11,619 ($664,277 total)
90. Spellbound – $11,486 ($8,466,517 total)
93. City of God – $11,208 ($6,957,034 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Splendor: Adapted Screenplay
• 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
• Pieces of April: Supporting Actress (Patricia Clarkson)
• 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. 16-18, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

5. Beloved – $8,165,551 ($8,165,551 total) {week 1}
6. What Dreams May Come – $6,403,270 ($41,145,926 total) {week 3}
12. Saving Private Ryan – $903,995 ($187,722,738 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Beloved – $15,547,627 ($15,617,269 total)
6. What Dreams May Come – $12,192,154 ($78,694,873 total)
12. Saving Private Ryan – $1,721,253 ($359,034,746 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beloved: Costume Design
• 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. 15-17, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

8. The Age of Innocence – $2,652,151 ($22,288,476 total) {week 5}
9. The Fugitive – $2,021,360 ($172,494,360 total) {week 11}
19. Jurassic Park – $655,050 ($327,871,950 total) {week 19}
999. Farewell My Concubine – $69,408 ($69,408 total) {week 1}
999. Fearless – $144,044 ($144,044 total) {week 1}
999. The Nightmare Before Christmas – $191,232 ($191,232 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

8. The Age of Innocence – $5,720,703 ($48,291,698 total)
9. The Fugitive – $4,360,083 ($373,737,780 total)
19. Jurassic Park – $1,412,946 ($710,389,225 total)
999. Farewell My Concubine – $149,713 ($150,384 total)
999. Fearless – $310,704 ($312,095 total)
999. The Nightmare Before Christmas – $412,488 ($414,336 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Age of Innocence: Supporting Actress (Winona Ryder), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• Farewell My Concubine: Cinematography, Foreign Language Film
• Fearless: Supporting Actress (Rosie Perez)
• 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]
• The Nightmare Before Christmas: Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 14-16, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Accused – $4,316,369 ($4,316,369 total) {week 1}
4. Gorillas in the Mist – $2,631,125 ($12,660,068 total) {week 4}
6. A Fish Called Wanda – $1,160,918 ($54,809,453 total) {week 14}
7. Die Hard – $1,062,121 ($74,138,586 total) {week 14}
8. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $1,044,924 ($143,273,001 total) {week 17}
10. Big – $903,280 ($106,684,340 total) {week 20}
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $200,022 ($7,379,396 total) {week 10}
999. Running on Empty – $354,103 ($2,215,874 total) {week 6}
999. Salaam Bombay! – $14,994 ($32,034 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Accused – $9,378,388 ($9,420,397 total)
4. Gorillas in the Mist – $5,716,775 ($27,630,367 total)
6. A Fish Called Wanda – $2,522,384 ($119,620,631 total)
7. Die Hard – $2,307,723 ($161,806,111 total)
8. Who Framed Roger Rabbit – $2,270,358 ($312,690,710 total)
10. Big – $1,962,601 ($232,836,625 total)
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $434,598 ($16,105,397 total)
999. Running on Empty – $769,377 ($4,836,105 total)
999. Salaam Bombay! – $32,578 ($69,914 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Accused: Actress (Jodie Foster) [O]
• 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
• Salaam Bombay!: Foreign Language Film
• 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. 21-23, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Big Chill – $3,194,164 ($17,798,023 total) {week 4}
4. Under Fire – $1,837,768 ($1,837,768 total) {week 1}
7. The Right Stuff – $1,601,167 ($1,601,167 total) {week 1}
11. Return of the Jedi – $503,212 ($241,664,222 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Big Chill – $9,055,201 ($50,681,989 total)
4. Under Fire – $5,209,926 ($5,233,263 total)
7. The Right Stuff – $4,539,181 ($4,559,514 total)
11. Return of the Jedi – $1,426,566 ($688,167,642 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Big Chill: Picture, Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Screenplay
• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• The Right Stuff: Picture, Supporting Actor (Sam Shepard), Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
• Under Fire: Original Score