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 Nutcracker and the Four Realms (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Original Score, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing.

Boy Erased (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay.

A Private War (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Rosamund Pike).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 1-3, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

2. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – $20,010,303 ($61,568,639 total) {week 2}
5. Gravity – $12,825,346 ($218,891,359 total) {week 5}
6. Captain Phillips – $8,407,725 ($82,458,232 total) {week 4}
7. 12 Years a Slave – $4,792,214 ($8,952,538 total) {week 3}
15. All Is Lost – $571,003 ($1,447,510 total) {week 3}
16. Despicable Me 2 – $423,340 ($364,774,325 total) {week 18}
19. Prisoners – $401,278 ($59,949,885 total) {week 7}
22. Dallas Buyers Club – $260,865 ($260,865 total) {week 1}
32. Blue Jasmine – $111,675 ($32,387,326 total) {week 15}
58. The Square – $12,000 ($32,700 total) {week 2}
60. 20 Feet from Stardom – $582 ($4,730,870 total) {week 21}
71. The Broken Circle Breakdown – $7,100 ($7,100 total) {week 1}
106. Before Midnight – $350 ($8,114,507 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – $21,979,337 ($67,929,974 total)
5. Gravity – $14,087,373 ($241,507,440 total)
6. Captain Phillips – $9,235,053 ($90,977,902 total)
7. 12 Years a Slave – $5,263,773 ($9,877,523 total)
15. All Is Lost – $627,190 ($1,597,068 total)
16. Despicable Me 2 – $464,997 ($402,463,185 total)
19. Prisoners – $440,764 ($66,143,969 total)
22. Dallas Buyers Club – $286,534 ($287,818 total)
32. Blue Jasmine – $122,664 ($35,733,618 total)
58. The Square – $13,181 ($36,079 total)
60. 20 Feet from Stardom – $639 ($5,219,668 total)
71. The Broken Circle Breakdown – $7,799 ($7,834 total)
106. Before Midnight – $384 ($8,952,906 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]
• All Is Lost: Sound Editing
• Before Midnight: Adapted Screenplay
• Blue Jasmine: Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Supporting Actress (Sally Hawkins), Original Screenplay
• The Broken Circle Breakdown: Foreign Language Film
• Captain Phillips: Picture, Supporting Actor (Barkhad Abdi), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Dallas Buyers Club: Picture, Actor (Matthew McConaughey) [O], Supporting Actor (Jared Leto) [O], Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling [O]
• Despicable Me 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Happy”)
• 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]
• Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa: Makeup and Hairstyling
• Prisoners: Cinematography
• The Square: Documentary Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

4. Changeling – $9,351,560 ($10,031,122 total) {week 2}
17. Rachel Getting Married – $711,380 ($3,691,540 total) {week 5}
19. The Duchess – $623,310 ($12,331,518 total) {week 7}
25. Happy-Go-Lucky – $277,006 ($762,761 total) {week 4}
26. The Dark Knight – $270,468 ($528,213,279 total) {week 16}
29. WALL-E – $211,392 ($222,722,986 total) {week 19}
34. Tropic Thunder – $120,057 ($110,268,794 total) {week 12}
40. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $82,160 ($22,121,273 total) {week 12}
56. Frozen River – $26,227 ($2,198,174 total) {week 14}
63. Man on Wire – $20,161 ($2,771,553 total) {week 15}
69. Trouble the Water – $16,209 ($425,461 total) {week 11}
112. Encounters at the End of the World – $1,730 ($943,934 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Changeling – $11,630,840 ($12,531,917 total)
17. Rachel Getting Married – $884,766 ($4,611,854 total)
19. The Duchess – $775,231 ($15,405,810 total)
25. Happy-Go-Lucky – $344,521 ($952,920 total)
26. The Dark Knight – $336,390 ($659,898,762 total)
29. WALL-E – $262,915 ($278,248,633 total)
34. Tropic Thunder – $149,319 ($137,759,204 total)
40. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $102,185 ($27,636,186 total)
56. Frozen River – $32,619 ($2,746,187 total)
63. Man on Wire – $25,075 ($3,462,511 total)
69. Trouble the Water – $20,160 ($531,530 total)
112. Encounters at the End of the World – $2,152 ($1,179,260 total)

Oscar Details:

• Changeling: Actress (Angelina Jolie), Cinematography, Art Direction
• 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. 31-Nov. 2, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

2. Brother Bear – $19,404,492 ($19,802,809 total) {week 2}
6. Mystic River – $6,232,376 ($33,546,588 total) {week 4}
13. Lost in Translation – $1,233,218 ($24,844,481 total) {week 8}
21. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $433,278 ($301,823,371 total) {week 17}
24. Finding Nemo – $289,011 ($339,159,075 total) {week 23}
25. Pieces of April – $232,570 ($551,542 total) {week 3}
31. Seabiscuit – $141,645 ($119,564,075 total) {week 15}
51. American Splendor – $37,555 ($5,811,096 total) {week 12}
55. Winged Migration – $32,384 ($10,600,573 total) {week 29}
58. Dirty Pretty Things – $29,857 ($7,908,251 total) {week 16}
68. Whale Rider – $21,136 ($20,702,778 total) {week 22}
77. Thirteen – $16,407 ($4,533,153 total) {week 11}
99. Spellbound – $5,884 ($5,712,183 total) {week 27}
103. City of God – $4,782 ($4,691,017 total) {week 42}
112. The Weather Underground – $3,502 ($453,628 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Brother Bear – $28,736,669 ($29,457,910 total)
6. Mystic River – $9,229,704 ($49,902,636 total)
13. Lost in Translation – $1,826,308 ($36,957,711 total)
21. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $641,654 ($448,981,034 total)
24. Finding Nemo – $428,005 ($504,520,216 total)
25. Pieces of April – $344,420 ($820,453 total)
31. Seabiscuit – $209,766 ($177,858,997 total)
51. American Splendor – $55,616 ($8,644,367 total)
55. Winged Migration – $47,958 ($15,769,012 total)
58. Dirty Pretty Things – $44,216 ($11,764,015 total)
68. Whale Rider – $31,301 ($30,796,670 total)
77. Thirteen – $24,298 ($6,743,347 total)
99. Spellbound – $8,714 ($8,497,227 total)
103. City of God – $7,082 ($6,978,180 total)
112. The Weather Underground – $5,186 ($674,800 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Splendor: Adapted Screenplay
• Brother Bear: Animated 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
• 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. 30-Nov. 1, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. Pleasantville – $6,879,604 ($18,294,728 total) {week 2}
8. Beloved – $2,656,117 ($18,712,389 total) {week 3}
9. What Dreams May Come – $2,284,940 ($50,547,986 total) {week 5}
999. American History X – $156,076 ($185,816 total) {week 1}
999. Life Is Beautiful – $459,634 ($651,832 total) {week 2}
999. Saving Private Ryan – $568,678 ($189,658,496 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Pleasantville – $13,099,118 ($34,990,130 total)
8. Beloved – $5,057,383 ($35,788,940 total)
9. What Dreams May Come – $4,350,643 ($96,677,065 total)
999. American History X – $297,177 ($355,388 total)
999. Life Is Beautiful – $875,167 ($1,246,681 total)
999. Saving Private Ryan – $1,082,792 ($362,737,038 total)

Oscar Details:

• American History X: Actor (Edward Norton)
• Beloved: Costume Design
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Pleasantville: Original Dramatic Score, Art Direction, 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. 29-31, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas – $8,212,477 ($16,496,778 total) {week 3}
9. The Age of Innocence – $1,553,481 ($27,190,937 total) {week 7}
12. The Fugitive – $1,122,563 ($176,074,697 total) {week 13}
13. Fearless – $1,010,024 ($1,469,358 total) {week 3}
999. Jurassic Park – $500,565 ($329,398,445 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas – $17,714,353 ($35,743,019 total)
9. The Age of Innocence – $3,350,866 ($58,913,697 total)
12. The Fugitive – $2,421,374 ($381,495,177 total)
13. Fearless – $2,178,627 ($3,183,609 total)
999. Jurassic Park – $1,079,721 ($713,696,631 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Age of Innocence: Supporting Actress (Winona Ryder), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• 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. 28-30, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Accused – $3,006,276 ($14,225,673 total) {week 3}
4. Gorillas in the Mist – $1,554,650 ($17,866,977 total) {week 6}
11. A Fish Called Wanda – $791,632 ($57,367,479 total) {week 16}
13. Die Hard – $680,673 ($76,181,473 total) {week 16}
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $112,607 ($7,816,140 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Accused – $6,531,884 ($31,047,272 total)
4. Gorillas in the Mist – $3,377,865 ($38,994,351 total)
11. A Fish Called Wanda – $1,720,018 ($125,203,476 total)
13. Die Hard – $1,478,932 ($166,264,675 total)
999. The Last Temptation of Christ – $244,667 ($17,058,583 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Accused: Actress (Jodie Foster) [O]
• 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

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 4-6, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Big Chill – $2,967,617 ($25,303,941 total) {week 6}
7. The Right Stuff – $1,485,106 ($5,767,908 total) {week 3}
9. Educating Rita – $1,203,990 ($3,589,001 total) {week 7}
12. Under Fire – $715,233 ($4,873,623 total) {week 3}
999. Return of the Jedi – $355,538 ($242,621,536 total) {week 24}
999. Testament – $317,996 ($317,996 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Big Chill – $8,412,959 ($72,055,984 total)
7. The Right Stuff – $4,210,158 ($16,424,805 total)
9. Educating Rita – $3,413,216 ($10,220,108 total)
12. Under Fire – $2,027,629 ($13,878,222 total)
999. Return of the Jedi – $1,007,922 ($690,893,707 total)
999. Testament – $901,493 ($905,531 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Big Chill: Picture, Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Screenplay
• Educating Rita: Actor (Michael Caine), Actress (Julie Walters), Adapted 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]
• Testament: Actress (Jane Alexander)
• Under Fire: Original Score