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

By the Sea (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Actor (Brad Pitt), Actress (Angelina Jolie), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography.

Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Documentary Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 12-14, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

2. Unstoppable – $22,688,457 ($22,688,457 total) {week 1}
12. The Social Network – $1,770,077 ($87,807,502 total) {week 7}
13. Hereafter – $1,318,493 ($31,448,842 total) {week 5}
18. Inside Job – $478,767 ($1,566,031 total) {week 6}
19. 127 Hours – $438,539 ($811,528 total) {week 2}
20. The Town – $438,397 ($90,626,556 total) {week 9}
23. Inception – $234,514 ($291,832,593 total) {week 18}
25. Toy Story 3 – $207,778 ($414,638,013 total) {week 22}
70. Waste Land – $8,271 ($38,729 total) {week 3}
85. Dogtooth – $4,073 ($63,072 total) {week 21}
90. Animal Kingdom – $3,437 ($989,764 total) {week 14}
94. Winter’s Bone – $2,427 ($6,222,365 total) {week 23}
96. I Am Love – $2,266 ($4,999,234 total) {week 22}
109. Restrepo – $915 ($1,328,725 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Unstoppable – $23,493,624 ($23,493,624 total)
12. The Social Network – $1,832,893 ($90,923,611 total)
13. Hereafter – $1,365,284 ($32,564,897 total)
18. Inside Job – $495,757 ($1,621,606 total)
19. 127 Hours – $454,102 ($840,327 total)
20. The Town – $453,955 ($93,842,708 total)
23. Inception – $242,836 ($302,189,136 total)
25. Toy Story 3 – $215,152 ($429,352,670 total)
70. Waste Land – $8,565 ($40,103 total)
85. Dogtooth – $4,218 ($65,310 total)
90. Animal Kingdom – $3,559 ($1,024,889 total)
94. Winter’s Bone – $2,513 ($6,443,184 total)
96. I Am Love – $2,346 ($5,176,647 total)
109. Restrepo – $947 ($1,375,879 total)

Oscar Details:

• 127 Hours: Picture, Actor (James Franco), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“If I Rise”), Editing
• Animal Kingdom: Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver)
• Dogtooth: Foreign Language Film
• Hereafter: Visual Effects
• I Am Love: Costume Design
• Inception: Picture, Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Inside Job: Documentary Feature
• Restrepo: Documentary Feature
• The Social Network: Picture, Directing, Actor (Jesse Eisenberg), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound Mixing
• The Town: Supporting Actor (Jeremy Renner)
• Toy Story 3: Picture, Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“We Belong Together”) [O], Sound Editing
• Unstoppable: Sound Editing
• Waste Land: Documentary Feature
• Winter’s Bone: Picture, Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Adapted Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 18-20, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

2. Walk the Line – $22,347,341 ($22,347,341 total) {week 1}
10. Pride & Prejudice – $2,141,554 ($6,000,723 total) {week 2}
11. Good Night, and Good Luck. – $1,668,875 ($16,855,662 total) {week 7}
15. Capote – $846,450 ($7,725,427 total) {week 8}
19. Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit – $285,592 ($54,728,446 total) {week 7}
20. The Squid and the Whale – $280,866 ($2,787,794 total) {week 7}
22. North Country – $228,328 ($17,884,392 total) {week 5}
31. Paradise Now – $121,141 ($530,147 total) {week 4}
33. A History of Violence – $109,352 ($30,745,328 total) {week 9}
34. March of the Penguins – $106,032 ($77,273,739 total) {week 22}
38. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – $77,963 ($206,376,804 total) {week 19}
40. Corpse Bride – $67,710 ($52,829,776 total) {week 10}
41. The Constant Gardener – $57,938 ($33,496,839 total) {week 12}
63. War of the Worlds – $17,203 ($234,277,056 total) {week 21}
64. Cinderella Man – $15,316 ($61,630,949 total) {week 25}
88. Junebug – $5,694 ($2,668,419 total) {week 16}
133. Darwin’s Nightmare – $650 ($81,505 total) {week 16}
139. Hustle & Flow – $150 ($22,201,636 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Walk the Line – $28,483,272 ($28,483,272 total)
10. Pride & Prejudice – $2,729,563 ($7,648,347 total)
11. Good Night, and Good Luck. – $2,127,100 ($21,483,738 total)
15. Capote – $1,078,861 ($9,846,605 total)
19. Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit – $364,007 ($69,755,289 total)
20. The Squid and the Whale – $357,984 ($3,553,241 total)
22. North Country – $291,020 ($22,794,927 total)
31. Paradise Now – $154,403 ($675,710 total)
33. A History of Violence – $139,377 ($39,187,103 total)
34. March of the Penguins – $135,145 ($98,490,865 total)
38. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – $99,369 ($263,041,886 total)
40. Corpse Bride – $86,301 ($67,335,300 total)
41. The Constant Gardener – $73,846 ($42,694,099 total)
63. War of the Worlds – $21,926 ($298,602,738 total)
64. Cinderella Man – $19,521 ($78,553,019 total)
88. Junebug – $7,257 ($3,401,089 total)
133. Darwin’s Nightmare – $828 ($103,884 total)
139. Hustle & Flow – $191 ($28,297,561 total)

Oscar Details:

• Capote: Picture, Directing, Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman) [O], Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Adapted Screenplay
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Costume Design
• Cinderella Man: Supporting Actor (Paul Giamatti), Editing, Makeup
• The Constant Gardener: Supporting Actress (Rachel Weisz) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Origianl Score, Editing
• Corpse Bride: Animated Feature
• Darwin’s Nightmare: Documentary Feature
• Good Night, and Good Luck.: Picture, Directing, Actor (David Strathairn), Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction
• A History of Violence: Supporting Actor (William Hurt), Adapted Screenplay
• Hustle & Flow: Actor (Terrence Howard), Original Song (“It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”) [O]
• Junebug: Supporting Actress (Amy Adams)
• March of the Penguins: Documentary Feature [O]
• North Country: Actress (Charlize Theron), Supporting Actress (Frances McDormand)
• Paradise Now: Foreign Language Film
• Pride & Prejudice: Actress (Keira Knightley), Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Squid and the Whale: Original Screenplay
• Walk the Line: Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Actress (Reese Witherspoon) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit: Animated Feature [O]
• War of the Worlds: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 17-19, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

1. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $55,082,330 ($55,082,330 total) {week 1}
8. Meet the Parents – $6,367,685 ($138,513,485 total) {week 7}
12. Billy Elliot – $1,774,290 ($8,403,080 total) {week 6}
17. You Can Count on Me – $301,478 ($462,176 total) {week 2}
20. Requiem for a Dream – $224,188 ($1,338,894 total) {week 7}
23. Almost Famous – $166,878 ($31,203,848 total) {week 10}
28. The Contender – $142,108 ($17,366,454 total) {week 6}
29. Dancer in the Dark – $133,754 ($3,623,395 total) {week 9}
34. The Perfect Storm – $92,903 ($182,450,592 total) {week 21}
40. Wonder Boys – $68,485 ($18,945,558 total) {week 39}
55. The Cell – $29,935 ($60,861,717 total) {week 14}
56. Hollow Man – $27,966 ($73,209,340 total) {week 16}
999. One Day in September – $15,149 ($15,149 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $83,492,140 ($83,492,140 total)
8. Meet the Parents – $9,651,946 ($209,954,577 total)
12. Billy Elliot – $2,689,415 ($12,737,136 total)
17. You Can Count on Me – $456,971 ($700,552 total)
20. Requiem for a Dream – $339,817 ($2,029,455 total)
23. Almost Famous – $252,949 ($47,297,855 total)
28. The Contender – $215,403 ($26,323,549 total)
29. Dancer in the Dark – $202,740 ($5,492,233 total)
34. The Perfect Storm – $140,820 ($276,553,124 total)
40. Wonder Boys – $103,808 ($28,717,107 total)
55. The Cell – $45,375 ($92,252,361 total)
56. Hollow Man – $42,390 ($110,968,517 total)
999. One Day in September – $22,962 ($22,962 total)

Oscar Details:

• Almost Famous: Supporting Actress (Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• Billy Elliot: Directing, Supporting Actress (Julie Walters), Original Screenplay
• The Cell: Makeup
• The Contender: Actress (Joan Allen), Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges)
• Dancer in the Dark: Original Song (“I’ve Seen It All”)
• Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• Hollow Man: Visual Effects
• Meet the Parents: Original Song (“A Fool in Love”)
• One Day in September: Documentary Feature
• The Perfect Storm: Sound, Visual Effects
• Requiem for a Dream: Actress (Ellen Burstyn)
• Wonder Boys: Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Things Have Changed”), Editing
• You Can Count on Me: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 17-19, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

3. The American President – $10,014,558 ($10,014,558 total) {week 1}
9. Seven – $1,641,769 ($84,225,310 total) {week 9}
999. Apollo 13 – $158,565 ($171,842,845 total) {week 21}
999. Braveheart – $13,634 ($66,937,077 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The American President – $18,808,951 ($18,808,951 total)
9. Seven – $3,083,506 ($158,188,686 total)
999. Apollo 13 – $297,811 ($322,748,516 total)
999. Braveheart – $25,607 ($125,718,602 total)

Oscar Details:

• The American President: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Apollo 13: Picture, Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Kathleen Quinlan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing [O], Art Direction, Sound [O], Visual Effects
• Braveheart: Picture [O], Directing [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Seven: Editing

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 16-18, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

1. Home Alone – $17,081,997 ($17,081,997 total) {week 1}
5. Ghost – $3,001,897 ($190,315,716 total) {week 19}
7. Reversal of Fortune – $1,726,542 ($7,079,558 total) {week 5}
12. Avalon – $1,017,450 ($12,234,424 total) {week 7}
999. Dances With Wolves – $565,083 ($1,532,461 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Home Alone – $32,992,888 ($32,992,888 total)
5. Ghost – $5,797,990 ($367,583,782 total)
7. Reversal of Fortune – $3,334,716 ($13,673,756 total)
12. Avalon – $1,965,146 ($23,630,081 total)
999. Dances With Wolves – $1,091,425 ($2,959,860 total)

Oscar Details:

• Avalon: Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Dances With Wolves: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Kevin Costner), Supporting Actor (Graham Greene), Supporting Actress (Mary McDonnell), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound [O]
• Ghost: Picture, Supporting Actress (Whoopi Goldberg) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing
• Home Alone: Original Song (“Somewhere in My Memory”), Original Score
• Reversal of Fortune: Directing, Actor (Jeremy Irons) [O], Adapted Screenplay

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 15-17, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

2. Jagged Edge – $2,341,962 ($28,871,084 total) {week 7}
5. Back to the Future – $1,947,661 ($178,376,369 total) {week 20}
13. Agnes of God – $867,678 ($23,510,920 total) {week 10}
14. Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins – $621,180 ($13,421,006 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Jagged Edge – $5,389,811 ($66,444,157 total)
5. Back to the Future – $4,482,363 ($410,516,883 total)
13. Agnes of God – $1,996,881 ($54,108,230 total)
14. Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins – $1,429,589 ($30,887,217 total)

Oscar Details:

• Agnes of God: Actress (Anne Bancroft), Supporting Actress (Meg Tilly), Original Score
• Back to the Future: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Power of Love’), Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Jagged Edge: Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup
• Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins: Makeup

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 14-16, 1980

Weekend Box Office:

999. Raging Bull – $128,590 ($128,590 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

999. Raging Bull – $390,550 ($390,550 total)

Oscar Details:

• Raging Bull: Picture, Directing, Actor (Robert De Niro) [O], Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci), Supporting Actress (Cathy Moriarty), Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound