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. 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 Two Popes (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Directing, Actor (Jonathan Pryce), Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins).

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 28-30, 2014

Weekend Box Office:

3. Big Hero 6 – $18,816,798 ($167,219,558 total) {week 4}
4. Interstellar – $15,743,005 ($147,035,482 total) {week 4}
7. The Theory of Everything – $5,011,146 ($9,530,209 total) {week 4}
8. Gone Girl – $2,465,434 ($160,745,345 total) {week 9}
9. Birdman – $1,874,369 ($17,220,426 total) {week 7}
11. Beyond the Lights – $1,570,656 ($12,731,390 total) {week 3}
13. Foxcatcher – $1,032,000 ($2,126,000 total) {week 3}
14. Nightcrawler – $845,362 ($28,677,308 total) {week 5}
16. Whiplash – $496,000 ($3,965,000 total) {week 8}
18. The Imitation Game – $479,352 ($479,352 total) {week 1}
19. Guardians of the Galaxy – $461,937 ($331,855,381 total) {week 18}
20. The Judge – $439,666 ($46,054,959 total) {week 8}
25. The Boxtrolls – $268,595 ($49,899,676 total) {week 10}
29. CitizenFour – $190,605 ($1,503,864 total) {week 6}
45. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $29,012 ($176,980,231 total) {week 25}
48. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya – $24,594 ($476,492 total) {week 7}
54. Boyhood – $17,243 ($24,004,732 total) {week 21}
56. Maleficent – $15,740 ($241,407,328 total) {week 27}
65. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $6,408 ($208,543,795 total) {week 21}
67. Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me – $6,310 ($278,290 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Big Hero 6 – $21,050,861 ($187,073,043 total)
4. Interstellar – $17,612,126 ($164,492,571 total)
7. The Theory of Everything – $5,606,105 ($10,661,703 total)
8. Gone Girl – $2,758,148 ($179,830,166 total)
9. Birdman – $2,096,907 ($19,264,956 total)
11. Beyond the Lights – $1,757,135 ($14,242,950 total)
13. Foxcatcher – $1,154,526 ($2,378,414 total)
14. Nightcrawler – $945,729 ($32,082,080 total)
16. Whiplash – $554,889 ($4,435,753 total)
18. The Imitation Game – $536,264 ($536,264 total)
19. Guardians of the Galaxy – $516,781 ($371,255,591 total)
20. The Judge – $491,866 ($51,522,928 total)
25. The Boxtrolls – $300,484 ($55,824,117 total)
29. CitizenFour – $213,235 ($1,682,413 total)
45. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $32,457 ($197,992,572 total)
48. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya – $27,514 ($533,064 total)
54. Boyhood – $19,290 ($26,854,743 total)
56. Maleficent – $17,609 ($270,068,908 total)
65. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – $7,169 ($233,303,585 total)
67. Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me – $7,059 ($311,331 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beyond the Lights: Origianl Song (“Grateful”)
• Big Hero 6: Animated Feature [O]
• Birdman: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Michael Keaton), Supporting Actor (Edward Norton), Supporting Actress (Emma Stone), Origianl Screenplay [O], Cinematography [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• The Boxtrolls: Animated Feature
• Boyhood: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Ethan Hawke), Supporting Actress (Patricia Arquette) [O], Original Screenplay, Film Editing
• CitizenFour: Documentary Feature [O]
• Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Visual Effects
• Foxcatcher: Directing, Actor (Steve Carell), Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Original Screenplay, Makeup and Hairstyling
• Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me: Original Song (“I’m Not Gonna Miss You”)
• Gone Girl: Actress (Rosamund Pike)
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects
• How to Train Your Dragon 2: Animated Feature
• The Imitation Game: Picture, Directing, Actor (Benedict Cumberbatch), Supporting Actress (Keira Knightley), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing, Production Design
• Interstellar: Original Score, Production Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Judge: Supporting Actor (Robert Duvall)
• Maleficent: Costume Design
• Nightcrawler: Original Screenplay
• The Tale of the Princess Kaguya: Animated Feature
• The Theory of Everything: Picture, Actor (Eddie Redmayne) [O], Actress (Felicity Jones), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Whiplash: Picture, Supporting Actor (J.K. Simmons) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing [O], Sound Mixing [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 27-29, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Blind Side – $40,111,364 ($100,238,841 total) {week 2}
8. Precious – $7,081,032 ($32,433,482 total) {week 4}
9. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $6,965,267 ($10,024,072 total) {week 3}
15. An Education – $911,388 ($5,563,649 total) {week 8}
18. The Princess and the Frog – $786,190 ($1,216,860 total) {week 1}
22. A Serious Man – $478,235 ($8,163,478 total) {week 9}
26. Coco Before Chanel – $197,578 ($5,627,432 total) {week 10}
29. The Messenger – $140,203 ($353,303 total) {week 3}
30. Julie & Julia – $135,211 ($94,125,426 total) {week 17}
42. Inglourious Basterds – $56,456 ($120,381,050 total) {week 15}
61. Bright Star – $19,120 ($4,420,963 total) {week 11}
92. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $1,969 ($474,224 total) {week 15}
97. The Cove – $1,248 ($847,443 total) {week 18}
100. Departures – $945 ($1,490,231 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Blind Side – $48,882,382 ($122,157,734 total)
8. Precious – $8,629,418 ($39,525,603 total)
9. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $8,488,339 ($12,216,002 total)
15. An Education – $1,110,678 ($6,780,234 total)
18. The Princess and the Frog – $958,104 ($1,482,947 total)
22. A Serious Man – $582,809 ($9,948,559 total)
26. Coco Before Chanel – $240,782 ($6,857,964 total)
29. The Messenger – $170,861 ($430,559 total)
30. Julie & Julia – $164,777 ($114,707,519 total)
42. Inglourious Basterds – $68,801 ($146,704,373 total)
61. Bright Star – $23,301 ($5,387,680 total)
92. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $2,400 ($577,921 total)
97. The Cove – $1,521 ($1,032,751 total)
100. Departures – $1,152 ($1,816,095 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Baader Meinhof Complex: Foreign Language Film
• The Blind Side: Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
• Bright Star: Costume Design
• Coco Before Chanel: Costume Design
• The Cove: Documentary Feature
• Departures: Foreign Language Film [O]
• An Education: Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
• Fantastic Mr. Fox: Animated Feature, Original Score
• Inglourious Basterds: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Julie & Julia: Actress (Meryl Streep)
• The Messenger: Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
• Precious: Picture, Director, Actress (Gabourey Sidibe), Supporting Actress (Mo’Nique) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing
• The Princess and the Frog: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Almost There”), Original Song (“Down in New Orleans”)
• A Serious Man: Picture, Original Screenplay

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 26-28, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Incredibles – $23,580,279 ($214,294,035 total) {week 4}
4. The Polar Express – $19,389,297 ($81,479,861 total) {week 1}
8. Finding Neverland – $4,670,177 ($7,753,315 total) {week 3}
9. Ray – $3,976,685 ($65,126,870 total) {week 5}
11. Sideways – $2,912,836 ($9,950,066 total) {week 6}
16. Kinsey – $1,292,518 ($2,545,366 total) {week 3}
17. The Motorcycle Diaries – $657,028 ($13,677,171 total) {week 10}
19. Shark Tale – $325,442 ($158,966,465 total) {week 9}
20. Being Julia – $324,394 ($2,674,051 total) {week 7}
33. A Very Long Engagement – $101,749 ($101,749 total) {week 1}
37. Vera Drake – $91,170 ($1,833,121 total) {week 8}
47. I, Robot – $27,703 ($144,738,046 total) {week 20}
64. Zelary – $7,553 ($292,221 total) {week 11}
78. The Village – $4,255 ($114,195,633 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Incredibles – $34,705,918 ($315,402,171 total)
4. The Polar Express – $28,537,548 ($119,923,660 total)
8. Finding Neverland – $6,873,658 ($11,411,481 total)
9. Ray – $5,852,963 ($95,855,007 total)
11. Sideways – $4,287,169 ($14,644,703 total)
16. Kinsey – $1,902,353 ($3,746,320 total)
17. The Motorcycle Diaries – $967,027 ($20,130,329 total)
19. Shark Tale – $478,992 ($233,969,966 total)
20. Being Julia – $477,449 ($3,935,721 total)
33. A Very Long Engagement – $149,756 ($149,756 total)
37. Vera Drake – $134,186 ($2,698,024 total)
47. I, Robot – $40,774 ($213,028,300 total)
64. Zelary – $11,117 ($430,097 total)
78. The Village – $6,263 ($168,075,376 total)

Oscar Details:

• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• I, Robot: Visual Effects
• The Incredibles: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O]
• Kinsey: Supporting Actress (Laura Linney)
• The Motorcycle Diaries : Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Al Otro Lado del Rio”) [O]
• The Polar Express : Original Song (“Believe”), Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Ray: Picture, Director, Actor (Jamie Foxx) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing [O]
• Shark Tale: Animated Feature
• Sideways: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]
• Vera Drake: Director, Actress (Imelda Staunton), Original Screenplay
• A Very Long Engagement: Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Village : Original Score
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 26-28, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. Toy Story 2 – $57,388,839 ($80,481,962 total) {week 2}
4. Sleepy Hollow – $18,414,444 ($61,638,812 total) {week 2}
9. The Insider – $2,480,294 ($22,052,444 total) {week 4}
10. Being John Malkovich – $2,044,834 ($11,908,584 total) {week 5}
12. The Sixth Sense – $1,542,524 ($272,318,916 total) {week 17}
15. American Beauty – $1,170,667 ($66,524,764 total) {week 11}
18. Music of the Heart – $780,118 ($13,452,635 total) {week 5}
25. The Straight Story – $334,165 ($3,072,928 total) {week 7}
29. Fight Club – $222,867 ($35,301,496 total) {week 7}
30. All About My Mother – $210,562 ($505,211 total) {week 4}
36. Boys Don’t Cry – $142,294 ($1,961,871 total) {week 8}
53. Buena Vista Social Club – $59,361 ($6,663,437 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Toy Story 2 – $103,254,722 ($144,804,160 total)
4. Sleepy Hollow – $33,131,500 ($110,901,327 total)
9. The Insider – $4,462,576 ($39,677,035 total)
10. Being John Malkovich – $3,679,091 ($21,426,074 total)
12. The Sixth Sense – $2,775,329 ($489,959,624 total)
15. American Beauty – $2,106,279 ($119,692,193 total)
18. Music of the Heart – $1,403,598 ($24,204,150 total)
25. The Straight Story – $601,234 ($5,528,851 total)
29. Fight Club – $400,985 ($63,514,896 total)
30. All About My Mother – $378,846 ($908,982 total)
36. Boys Don’t Cry – $256,017 ($3,529,823 total)
53. Buena Vista Social Club – $106,803 ($11,988,940 total)

Oscar Details:

• All About My Mother: Foreign Language Film [O]
• American Beauty: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography
• Being John Malkovich: Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay
• Boys Don’t Cry: Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actress (Chloe Sevigny)
• Buena Vista Social Club: Documentary Feature
• Fight Club: Sound Effects
• The Insider : Picture, Director, Actor (Russell Crowe), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• Music of the Heart: Actress, Original Song (“Music of My Heart”)
• The Sixth Sense : Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Sleepy Hollow: Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 2-4, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

3. Junior – $5,150,805 ($20,313,750 total) {week 2}
4. Interview with the Vampire – $5,119,150 ($91,018,110 total) {week 4}
6. The Lion King – $3,110,403 ($285,973,976 total) {week 25}
12. Pulp Fiction – $1,668,538 ($55,918,361 total) {week 8}
999. Tom & Viv – $21,968 ($21,968 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Junior – $11,262,765 ($44,418,104 total)
4. Interview with the Vampire – $11,193,548 ($199,020,461 total)
6. The Lion King – $6,801,216 ($625,311,517 total)
12. Pulp Fiction – $3,648,430 ($122,271,249 total)
999. Tom & Viv – $48,035 ($48,035 total)

Oscar Details:

• Interview with the Vampire: Original Score, Art Direction
• Junior: Original Song (“Look What Love Has Done”)
• The Lion King : Original Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” [O], “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”), Original Score [O]
• Pulp Fiction: Picture, Director, Actor (John Travolta), Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Supporting Actress (Uma Thurman), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• Tom & Viv: Actress (Miranda Richardson), Supporting Actress (Rosemary Harris)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 1-3, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

1. Back to the Future Part II – $12,110,340 ($60,003,540 total) {week 2}
3. Harlem Nights – $5,202,610 ($42,544,572 total) {week 3}
4. Steel Magnolias – $4,856,409 ($22,685,485 total) {week 3}
5. The Little Mermaid – $4,030,274 ($22,109,571 total) {week 3}
9. Dad – $1,386,905 ($17,094,150 total) {week 6}
10. The Bear – $1,081,344 ($25,002,168 total) {week 6}
11. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $820,248 ($14,309,992 total) {week 8}
999. Batman – $31,264 ($251,161,818 total) {week 24}
999. Parenthood – $195,767 ($94,681,427 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Back to the Future Part II – $27,881,236 ($138,144,170 total)
3. Harlem Nights – $11,977,797 ($97,948,964 total)
4. Steel Magnolias – $11,180,750 ($52,228,044 total)
5. The Little Mermaid – $9,278,767 ($50,902,136 total)
9. Dad – $3,193,026 ($39,355,297 total)
10. The Bear – $2,489,543 ($57,561,666 total)
11. Crimes and Misdemeanors – $1,888,430 ($32,945,422 total)
999. Batman – $71,978 ($578,241,566 total)
999. Parenthood – $450,708 ($217,981,925 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future Part II: Visual Effects
• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• The Bear : Editing
• Crimes and Misdemeanors: Director, Supporting Actor (Martin Landau), Original Screenplay
• Dad: Makeup
• Harlem Nights: Costume Design
• The Little Mermaid: Original Song (“Kiss the Girl”, “Under the Sea” [O]), Original Score [O]
• Parenthood: Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest), Original Song (“I Love To See You Smile”)
• Steel Magnolias: Supporting Actress (Julia Roberts)

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

9. Amadeus – $1,104,448 ($15,061,352 total) {week 11}
10. Places in the Heart – $1,090,962 ($27,700,854 total) {week 11}
11. A Soldier’s Story – $943,471 ($18,768,078 total) {week 12}
13. Ghostbusters – $991,525 ($218,865,876 total) {week 26}
999. The Killing Fields – $81,806 ($479,285 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Amadeus – $3,004,362 ($40,970,463 total)
10. Places in the Heart – $2,967,676 ($75,352,918 total)
11. A Soldier’s Story – $2,566,466 ($51,053,641 total)
13. Ghostbusters – $2,697,184 ($595,367,294 total)
999. The Killing Fields – $222,532 ($1,303,769 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amadeus: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (F. Murray Abraham [O], Tom Hulce), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound [O]
• Ghostbusters: Original Song (“Ghostbusters”), Visual Effects
• The Killing Fields : Picture, Director, Actor (Sam Waterston), Supporting Actor (Haing S. Ngor) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography [O]
• Places in the Heart: Picture, Director, Actress (Sally Field) [O], Supporting Actor (John Malkovich), Supporting Actress (Linsday Crouse), Original Screenplay [O], Costume Design
• A Soldier’s Story: Picture, Supporting Actor (Adolph Caesar), Adapted Screenplay