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

Jackie (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actress (Natalie Portman), Supporting Actor (Peter Sarsgaard), Supporting Actress (Greta Gerwig), Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 9-11, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Muppets – $6,978,870 ($65,742,128 total) {week 3}
6. Hugo – $6,050,309 ($33,414,719 total) {week 3}
7. The Descendants – $4,380,138 ($23,630,561 total) {week 4}
12. Puss in Boots – $1,628,199 ($141,873,474 total) {week 7}
14. My Week with Marilyn – $780,822 ($5,118,661 total) {week 3}
17. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – $310,562 ($310,562 total) {week 1}
19. The Artist – $295,361 ($888,741 total) {week 3}
24. Margin Call – $178,130 ($4,947,213 total) {week 8}
26. Moneyball – $150,309 ($74,176,912 total) {week 12}
28. Real Steel – $131,872 ($83,611,200 total) {week 10}
30. The Ides of March – $118,673 ($40,467,881 total) {week 10}
31. Midnight in Paris – $115,370 ($56,177,987 total) {week 30}
34. The Help – $106,325 ($169,224,625 total) {week 18}
43. Drive – $48,452 ($34,677,497 total) {week 13}
48. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – $35,670 ($176,698,086 total) {week 19}
49. Anonymous – $31,852 ($4,463,292 total) {week 7}
107. Hell and Back Again – $401 ($34,292 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Muppets – $7,190,084 ($67,731,801 total)
6. Hugo – $6,233,420 ($34,426,009 total)
7. The Descendants – $4,512,702 ($24,345,736 total)
12. Puss in Boots – $1,677,476 ($146,167,249 total)
14. My Week with Marilyn – $804,453 ($5,273,576 total)
17. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – $319,961 ($319,961 total)
19. The Artist – $304,300 ($915,639 total)
24. Margin Call – $183,521 ($5,096,939 total)
26. Moneyball – $154,858 ($76,421,863 total)
28. Real Steel – $135,863 ($86,141,678 total)
30. The Ides of March – $122,265 ($41,692,634 total)
31. Midnight in Paris – $118,862 ($57,878,204 total)
34. The Help – $109,543 ($174,346,177 total)
43. Drive – $49,918 ($35,727,005 total)
48. Rise of the Planet of the Apes – $36,750 ($182,045,821 total)
49. Anonymous – $32,816 ($4,598,373 total)
107. Hell and Back Again – $413 ($35,330 total)

Oscar Details:

• Anonymous: Costume Design
• The Artist: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Jean Dujardin) [O], Supporting Actress (Bérénice Bejo), Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• The Descendants: Picture, Directing, Actor (George Clooney), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing
• Drive: Sound Editing
• Hell and Back Again: Documentary Feature
• The Help: Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer [O])
• Hugo: Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [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
• The Muppets: Original Song (“Man or Muppet”)
• My Week with Marilyn: Actress (Michelle Williams), Supporting Actor (Kenneth Branagh)
• Puss in Boots: Animated Feature
• Real Steel: Visual Effects
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Visual Effects
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Actor (Gary Oldman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 8-10, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

1. Apocalypto – $15,005,604 ($15,005,604 total) {week 1}
2. Happy Feet – $12,904,413 ($137,932,841 total) {week 4}
5. Blood Diamond – $8,648,324 ($8,648,324 total) {week 1}
11. Borat – $2,571,596 ($120,266,165 total) {week 6}
14. The Queen – $875,874 ($24,547,384 total) {week 11}
19. Babel – $456,581 ($17,605,771 total) {week 7}
20. The Departed – $438,302 ($118,740,373 total) {week 10}
21. Volver – $371,788 ($2,375,995 total) {week 6}
29. The Prestige – $140,403 ($51,900,823 total) {week 8}
35. Little Miss Sunshine – $80,071 ($59,214,502 total) {week 20}
36. Little Children – $65,714 ($1,927,684 total) {week 10}
38. Flags of Our Fathers – $53,757 ($33,574,332 total) {week 8}
40. The Illusionist – $52,751 ($39,617,631 total) {week 17}
49. The Last King of Scotland – $29,219 ($3,487,930 total) {week 11}
63. Days of Glory – $10,996 ($13,742 total) {week 1}
67. Jesus Camp – $9,496 ($840,645 total) {week 13}
76. Half Nelson – $5,488 ($2,694,973 total) {week 18}
93. The Devil Wears Prada – $1,941 ($124,739,606 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Apocalypto – $18,716,914 ($18,716,914 total)
2. Happy Feet – $16,096,039 ($172,047,528 total)
5. Blood Diamond – $10,787,299 ($10,787,299 total)
11. Borat – $3,207,624 ($150,011,384 total)
14. The Queen – $1,092,502 ($30,618,645 total)
19. Babel – $569,506 ($21,960,175 total)
20. The Departed – $546,706 ($148,108,221 total)
21. Volver – $463,742 ($2,963,646 total)
29. The Prestige – $175,129 ($64,737,362 total)
35. Little Miss Sunshine – $99,875 ($73,859,921 total)
36. Little Children – $81,967 ($2,404,455 total)
38. Flags of Our Fathers – $67,053 ($41,878,213 total)
40. The Illusionist – $65,798 ($49,416,190 total)
49. The Last King of Scotland – $36,446 ($4,350,594 total)
63. Days of Glory – $13,716 ($17,141 total)
67. Jesus Camp – $11,845 ($1,048,560 total)
76. Half Nelson – $6,845 ($3,361,516 total)
93. The Devil Wears Prada – $2,421 ($155,591,234 total)

Oscar Details:

• Apocalypto: Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Babel: Picture, Supporting Actress (Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi), Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing
• Blood Diamond: Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Borat: Adapted Screenplay
• Days of Glory: Foreign Language Film
• 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
• 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]
• 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 Dec. 7-9, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $38,107,822 ($38,107,822 total) {week 4}
4. Monsters, Inc. – $6,597,454 ($212,391,025 total) {week 6}
9. Amelie – $1,005,599 ($11,303,432 total) {week 6}
16. Training Day – $352,772 ($75,685,034 total) {week 10}
17. The Man Who Wasn’t There – $340,502 ($5,969,582 total) {week 6}
30. The Affair of the Necklace – $88,846 ($261,803 total) {week 2}
32. In the Bedroom – $81,516 ($373,546 total) {week 3}
37. Mulholland Drive – $70,755 ($5,265,058 total) {week 9}
51. Moulin Rouge! – $24,649 ($56,951,243 total) {week 30}
53. No Man’s Land – $22,645 ($22,645 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $55,007,227 ($55,007,227 total)
4. Monsters, Inc. – $9,523,180 ($306,578,564 total)
9. Amelie – $1,451,545 ($16,316,085 total)
16. Training Day – $509,213 ($109,248,538 total)
17. The Man Who Wasn’t There – $491,502 ($8,616,870 total)
30. The Affair of the Necklace – $128,246 ($377,903 total)
32. In the Bedroom – $117,665 ($539,200 total)
37. Mulholland Drive – $102,132 ($7,599,916 total)
51. Moulin Rouge! – $35,580 ($82,207,006 total)
53. No Man’s Land – $32,687 ($32,687 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Affair of the Necklace: Costume Design
• Amelie: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Foreign Language Film
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• In the Bedroom: Picture, Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Actress (Sissy Spacek), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei), Adapted Screenplay
• 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
• No Man’s Land: Foreign Language Film
• Training Day: Actor (Denzel Washington [O]), Supporting Actor (Ethan Hawke)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 6-8, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

2. Daylight – $10,015,875 ($10,015,875 total) {week 1}
3. Star Trek: First Contact – $6,609,903 ($71,146,315 total) {week 3}
7. The English Patient – $2,707,595 ($13,219,641 total) {week 4}
8. The Mirror Has Two Faces – $2,381,388 ($37,166,009 total) {week 4}
10. Romeo + Juliet – $1,313,651 ($41,668,083 total) {week 6}
999. The Crucible – $69,880 ($185,692 total) {week 2}
999. Independence Day – $91,511 ($306,052,958 total) {week 23}
999. Shine – $168,882 ($728,925 total) {week 3}
999. Sleepers – $327,225 ($51,540,914 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Daylight – $18,513,507 ($18,513,507 total)
3. Star Trek: First Contact – $12,217,852 ($131,508,008 total)
7. The English Patient – $5,004,763 ($24,435,400 total)
8. The Mirror Has Two Faces – $4,401,796 ($68,698,256 total)
10. Romeo + Juliet – $2,428,174 ($77,019,963 total)
999. The Crucible – $129,167 ($343,236 total)
999. Independence Day – $169,150 ($565,713,273 total)
999. Shine – $312,164 ($1,347,357 total)
999. Sleepers – $604,848 ($95,269,065 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Crucible: Supporting Actress (Joan Allen), Adapted Screenplay
• Daylight: Sound Effects Editing
• 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]
• Independence Day: Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• The Mirror Has Two Faces: Supporting Actress (Lauren Bacall), Original Song (“I’ve Finally Found Someone”)
• Romeo + Juliet: Art Direction
• Shine: Picture, Director, Actor (Geoffrey Rush) [O], Supporting Actor (Armin Mueller-Stahl), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing
• Sleepers: Original Dramatic Score
• Star Trek: First Contact: Makeup

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 6-8, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

1. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country – $18,162,837 ($18,162,837 total) {week 1}
2. The Addams Family – $8,606,326 ($67,112,265 total) {week 3}
4. Beauty and the Beast – $5,969,372 ($34,112,416 total) {week 4}
5. Cape Fear – $4,856,355 ($46,044,067 total) {week 4}
6. For the Boys – $2,597,491 ($9,754,780 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country – $35,247,121 ($35,247,121 total)
2. The Addams Family – $16,701,588 ($130,239,241 total)
4. Beauty and the Beast – $11,584,268 ($66,199,154 total)
5. Cape Fear – $9,424,328 ($89,353,926 total)
6. For the Boys – $5,040,737 ($18,930,298 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Addams Family: Costume Design
• 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)
• For the Boys: Actress (Bette Midler)
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country: Makeup, Visual Effects

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of XXXX, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – $8,833,818 ($38,938,152 total) {week 2}
2. Heartbreak Ridge – $8,100,840 ($8,100,840 total) {week 1}
3. An American Tail – $4,019,890 ($20,237,639 total) {week 3}
4. Crocodile Dundee – $3,803,625 ($99,480,811 total) {week 11}
6. The Color of Money – $1,503,724 ($41,680,532 total) {week 8}
7. Peggy Sue Got Married – $1,401,130 ($36,986,568 total) {week 9}
10. Stand By Me – $847,517 ($46,681,853 total) {week 18}
11. Top Gun – $668,089 ($167,827,777 total) {week 30}
12. Children of a Lesser God – $647,654 ($20,024,379 total) {week 10}
999. Hoosiers – $116,972 ($1,102,423 total) {week 4}
999. The Mission – $147,322 ($1,298,091 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – $19,453,448 ($85,747,898 total)
2. Heartbreak Ridge – $17,839,316 ($17,839,316 total)
3. An American Tail – $8,852,426 ($44,566,445 total)
4. Crocodile Dundee – $8,376,177 ($219,072,298 total)
6. The Color of Money – $3,311,435 ($91,787,048 total)
7. Peggy Sue Got Married – $3,085,507 ($81,450,205 total)
10. Stand By Me – $1,866,365 ($102,800,738 total)
11. Top Gun – $1,471,236 ($369,583,002 total)
12. Children of a Lesser God – $1,426,235 ($44,096,813 total)
999. Hoosiers – $257,591 ($2,427,708 total)
999. The Mission – $324,426 ($2,858,599 total)

Oscar Details:

• An American Tail: Original Song (“Somewhere Out There”)
• 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
• Heartbreak Ridge: Sound
• 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
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: Original Score, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects
• Top Gun: Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Editing, Sound, Sound Effects

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 4-6, 1981

Weekend Box Office:

999. On Golden Pond – $89,213 ($89,213 total) {week 1}
999. Reds – $2,325,029 ($2,325,029 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

999. On Golden Pond – $262,184 ($262,184 total)
999. Reds – $6,832,909 ($6,832,909 total)

Oscar Details:

• On Golden Pond: Picture, Director, Actor (Henry Fonda) [O], Actress (Katharine Hepburn) [O], Supporting Actress (Jane Fonda), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• Reds: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Warren Beatty), Actress (Diane Keaton), Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson), Supporting Actress (Maureen Stapleton) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound