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

Arrival (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actress (Amy Adams), Supporting Actor (Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Joe Alwyn), Actress (Kristen Stewart), Supporting Actor (Vin Diesel, Steve Martin), Adapted Screenplay, Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing.

Elle (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Actress (Isabelle Huppert), Adapted Screenplay, Foreign Language Film.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 18-20, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

5. Puss in Boots – $10,804,311 ($122,391,873 total) {week 4}
13. Real Steel – $553,871 ($82,557,917 total) {week 7}
15. Moneyball – $512,387 ($72,641,291 total) {week 9}
16. The Ides of March – $460,272 ($39,100,143 total) {week 7}
18. Margin Call – $423,667 ($3,915,992 total) {week 5}
21. The Help – $297,702 ($168,231,632 total) {week 15}
30. Anonymous – $176,612 ($4,152,954 total) {week 4}
36. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – $86,291 ($176,454,885 total) {week 16}
38. Drive – $61,775 ($34,363,122 total) {week 10}
43. Midnight in Paris – $34,691 ($55,600,128 total) {week 27}
50. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – $25,423 ($381,000,185 total) {week 19}
75. Hell and Back Again – $4,974 ($29,686 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Puss in Boots – $11,131,301 ($126,096,041 total)
13. Real Steel – $570,634 ($85,056,517 total)
15. Moneyball – $527,894 ($74,839,766 total)
16. The Ides of March – $474,202 ($40,283,502 total)
18. Margin Call – $436,489 ($4,034,509 total)
21. The Help – $306,712 ($173,323,132 total)
30. Anonymous – $181,957 ($4,278,642 total)
36. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – $88,903 ($181,795,260 total)
38. Drive – $63,645 ($35,403,116 total)
43. Midnight in Paris – $35,741 ($57,282,856 total)
50. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – $26,192 ($392,531,086 total)
75. Hell and Back Again – $5,125 ($30,584 total)

Oscar Details:

• Anonymous: Costume Design
• 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
• Puss in Boots: Animated Feature
• Real Steel: Visual Effects
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 17-19, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

1. Happy Feet – $41,533,432 ($41,533,432 total) {week 1}
3. Borat – $14,602,874 ($90,757,366 total) {week 3}
8. Babel – $2,904,642 ($12,016,104 total) {week 4}
9. The Departed – $2,585,402 ($113,841,430 total) {week 7}
12. The Queen – $2,201,664 ($17,192,619 total) {week 8}
13. The Prestige – $1,949,969 ($49,363,657 total) {week 5}
16. Flags of Our Fathers – $819,575 ($32,670,358 total) {week 5}
22. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $317,347 ($422,543,393 total) {week 20}
23. Marie Antoinette – $303,051 ($15,563,082 total) {week 5}
29. Little Children – $164,534 ($1,467,068 total) {week 7}
32. Volver – $142,952 ($680,896 total) {week 3}
36. Little Miss Sunshine – $108,265 ($58,758,111 total) {week 17}
39. The Last King of Scotland – $99,505 ($3,258,925 total) {week 8}
40. The Illusionist – $78,559 ($39,210,709 total) {week 14}
52. The Devil Wears Prada – $25,933 ($124,703,638 total) {week 21}
59. Jesus Camp – $14,778 ($785,567 total) {week 10}
60. Iraq in Fragments – $12,810 ($55,057 total) {week 2}
63. Deliver Us From Evil – $11,085 ($181,735 total) {week 6}
73. Half Nelson – $6,766 ($2,680,659 total) {week 15}
125. My Country, My Country – $126 ($33,620 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Happy Feet – $51,805,823 ($51,805,823 total)
3. Borat – $18,214,577 ($113,204,226 total)
8. Babel – $3,623,042 ($14,988,026 total)
9. The Departed – $3,224,845 ($141,997,631 total)
12. The Queen – $2,746,198 ($21,444,839 total)
13. The Prestige – $2,432,251 ($61,572,684 total)
16. Flags of Our Fathers – $1,022,279 ($40,750,660 total)
22. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $395,836 ($527,050,309 total)
23. Marie Antoinette – $378,004 ($19,412,272 total)
29. Little Children – $205,228 ($1,829,915 total)
32. Volver – $178,308 ($849,301 total)
36. Little Miss Sunshine – $135,042 ($73,290,651 total)
39. The Last King of Scotland – $124,115 ($4,064,949 total)
40. The Illusionist – $97,989 ($48,908,625 total)
52. The Devil Wears Prada – $32,347 ($155,546,370 total)
59. Jesus Camp – $18,433 ($979,860 total)
60. Iraq in Fragments – $15,978 ($68,674 total)
63. Deliver Us From Evil – $13,827 ($226,683 total)
73. Half Nelson – $8,439 ($3,343,662 total)
125. My Country, My Country – $157 ($41,935 total)

Oscar Details:

• Babel: Picture, Supporting Actress (Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi), Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing
• Borat: Adapted Screenplay
• 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)
• Happy Feet: Animated Feature [O]
• The Illusionist: Cinematography
• Iraq in Fragments: Documentary Feature
• 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]
• 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
• Volver: Actress (Penelope Cruz)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 16-18, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $90,294,621 ($90,294,621 total) {week 1}
2. Monsters, Inc. – $22,716,685 ($156,341,118 total) {week 3}
11. Amelie – $1,323,345 ($2,699,216 total) {week 3}
12. Training Day – $908,870 ($74,190,371 total) {week 7}
13. The Man Who Wasn’t There – $893,669 ($3,184,764 total) {week 3}
22. Mulholland Drive – $222,395 ($4,691,058 total) {week 6}
40. Shrek – $64,080 ($267,467,391 total) {week 27}
61. Ghost World – $18,950 ($6,050,125 total) {week 18}
999. Moulin Rouge! – $3,873 ($56,741,381 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $130,336,935 ($130,336,935 total)
2. Monsters, Inc. – $32,790,692 ($225,672,603 total)
11. Amelie – $1,910,199 ($3,896,218 total)
12. Training Day – $1,311,920 ($107,091,048 total)
13. The Man Who Wasn’t There – $1,289,978 ($4,597,089 total)
22. Mulholland Drive – $321,019 ($6,771,368 total)
40. Shrek – $92,497 ($386,079,255 total)
61. Ghost World – $27,354 ($8,733,131 total)
999. Moulin Rouge! – $5,591 ($81,904,078 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amelie: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Foreign Language Film
• Ghost World: Adapted Screenplay
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Man Who Wasn’t There: Cinematography
• Monsters, Inc.: Animated Feature, Original Song (If I Didn’t Have You [O]), Original Score, Sound Editing
• Moulin Rouge!: Picture, Actress (Nicole Kidman), Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• Mulholland Drive: Director
• Shrek: Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Training Day: Actor (Denzel Washington [O]), Supporting Actor (Ethan Hawke)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 15-17, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Mirror Has Two Faces – $12,210,868 ($12,210,868 total) {week 1}
5. Romeo + Juliet – $5,421,137 ($31,434,358 total) {week 3}
6. Sleepers – $2,310,554 ($47,085,143 total) {week 5}
7. First Wives Club – $1,511,844 ($99,400,000 total) {week 9}
9. The Ghost and the Darkness – $1,033,749 ($36,166,456 total) {week 6}
10. Michael Collins – $801,107 ($9,462,670 total) {week 6}
11. Independence Day – $745,473 ($304,738,610 total) {week 20}
999. The English Patient – $278,439 ($278,439 total) {week 1}
999. The Rock – $20,911 ($134,038,743 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Mirror Has Two Faces – $22,570,767 ($22,570,767 total)
5. Romeo + Juliet – $10,020,518 ($58,103,779 total)
6. Sleepers – $4,270,866 ($87,032,945 total)
7. First Wives Club – $2,794,517 ($183,732,579 total)
9. The Ghost and the Darkness – $1,910,798 ($66,850,666 total)
10. Michael Collins – $1,480,779 ($17,490,953 total)
11. Independence Day – $1,377,944 ($563,283,811 total)
999. The English Patient – $514,671 ($514,671 total)
999. The Rock – $38,652 ($247,759,396 total)

Oscar Details:

• The English Patient: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Actress (Kristin Scott Thomas), Supporting Actress (Juliette Binoche [O]), Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
• First Wives Club: Original Comedy or Musical Score
• The Ghost and the Darkness: Sound Effects [O]
• Independence Day: Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• Michael Collins: Original Score, Cinematography
• The Mirror Has Two Faces: Supporting Actress (Lauren Bacall), Original Song (“I’ve Finally Found Someone”)
• The Rock: Sound
• Romeo + Juliet: Art Direction
• Sleepers: Original Dramatic Score

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 15-17, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

1. Cape Fear – $10,261,025 ($10,261,025 total) {week 1}
12. The Fisher King – $1,092,832 ($37,254,897 total) {week 9}
999. Beauty and the Beast – $162,146 ($162,146 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Cape Fear – $19,912,725 ($19,912,725 total)
12. The Fisher King – $2,120,769 ($72,297,508 total)
999. Beauty and the Beast – $314,663 ($314,663 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beauty and the Beast: Picture, Original Song (“Be Our Guest”, “Beauty and the Beast” [O], “Belle”), Original Score [O], Sound
• Cape Fear: Actor (Robert De Niro), Supporting Actress (Juliette Lewis)
• The Fisher King: Actor (Robin Williams), Supporting Actress (Mercedes Ruehl) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 14-16, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Crocodile Dundee – $5,521,551 ($76,016,041 total) {week 8}
2. The Color of Money – $3,107,994 ($31,459,355 total) {week 5}
4. Peggy Sue Got Married – $2,628,787 ($2,898,102 total) {week 6}
7. Children of a Lesser God – $1,331,594 ($15,828,763 total) {week 7}
8. Stand By Me – $1,316,136 ($42,328,513 total) {week 15}
10. Top Gun – $1,190,871 ($163,723,231 total) {week 27}
999. Blue Velvet – $252,793 ($5,930,189 total) {week 9}
999. Hoosiers – $22,068 ($22,068 total) {week 1}
999. The Mission – $260,673 ($401,798 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Crocodile Dundee – $12,159,319 ($167,399,206 total)
2. The Color of Money – $6,844,289 ($69,278,418 total)
4. Peggy Sue Got Married – $5,789,000 ($6,382,074 total)
7. Children of a Lesser God – $2,932,378 ($34,857,411 total)
8. Stand By Me – $2,898,337 ($93,214,003 total)
10. Top Gun – $2,622,484 ($360,544,150 total)
999. Blue Velvet – $556,690 ($13,059,203 total)
999. Hoosiers – $48,597 ($48,597 total)
999. The Mission – $574,043 ($884,822 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
• Hoosiers: Supporting Actor (Dennis Hopper), Original Score
• The Mission: Picture, Director, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
• Peggy Sue Got Married: Actress (Kathleen Turner), Cinematography, Costume Design
• Stand By Me: Adapted Screenplay
• Top Gun: Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Editing, Sound, Sound Effects