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

Marriage Story (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Directing, Actor (Adam Driver), Actress (Scarlett Johansson), Supporting Actress (Laura Dern), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 5-7, 2014

Weekend Box Office:

4. Big Hero 6 – $8,042,918 ($177,461,157 total) {week 5}
5. Interstellar – $7,788,357 ($158,445,319 total) {week 5}
7. The Theory of Everything – $2,645,428 ($13,590,862 total) {week 5}
8. Gone Girl – $1,473,516 ($162,834,542 total) {week 10}
10. Birdman – $1,150,315 ($18,919,810 total) {week 8}
11. Nightcrawler – $1,069,094 ($30,014,481 total) {week 6}
14. Beyond the Lights – $723,845 ($13,815,382 total) {week 4}
15. Wild – $606,810 ($654,058 total) {week 1}
16. Foxcatcher – $575,000 ($2,842,000 total) {week 4}
18. The Imitation Game – $389,260 ($1,000,459 total) {week 2}
19. Whiplash – $351,000 ($4,415,000 total) {week 9}
22. Guardians of the Galaxy – $266,761 ($332,226,145 total) {week 19}
23. The Judge – $261,104 ($46,473,113 total) {week 9}
31. The Boxtrolls – $141,044 ($50,088,928 total) {week 11}
32. CitizenFour – $139,331 ($1,727,575 total) {week 7}
48. Boyhood – $25,700 ($24,050,000 total) {week 22}
50. Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me – $22,692 ($311,183 total) {week 7}
51. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya – $18,526 ($501,888 total) {week 8}
56. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $13,262 ($176,997,107 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Big Hero 6 – $8,997,830 ($198,530,597 total)
5. Interstellar – $8,713,046 ($177,257,064 total)
7. The Theory of Everything – $2,959,512 ($15,204,465 total)
8. Gone Girl – $1,648,462 ($182,167,407 total)
10. Birdman – $1,286,889 ($21,166,103 total)
11. Nightcrawler – $1,196,024 ($33,578,012 total)
14. Beyond the Lights – $809,785 ($15,455,642 total)
15. Wild – $678,855 ($731,712 total)
16. Foxcatcher – $643,268 ($3,179,422 total)
18. The Imitation Game – $435,476 ($1,119,241 total)
19. Whiplash – $392,673 ($4,939,180 total)
22. Guardians of the Galaxy – $298,433 ($371,670,375 total)
23. The Judge – $292,104 ($51,990,729 total)
31. The Boxtrolls – $157,790 ($56,035,839 total)
32. CitizenFour – $155,873 ($1,932,685 total)
48. Boyhood – $28,751 ($26,905,386 total)
50. Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me – $25,386 ($348,129 total)
51. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya – $20,726 ($561,476 total)
56. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – $14,837 ($198,011,451 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]
• 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)
• 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]
• Wild: Actress (Reese Witherspoon), Supporting Actress (Laura Dern)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 4-6, 2009

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Blind Side – $20,043,181 ($128,867,559 total) {week 3}
11. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $2,918,331 ($14,084,495 total) {week 4}
12. Precious – $2,282,077 ($36,252,012 total) {week 5}
13. Up in the Air – $1,181,450 ($1,181,450 total) {week 1}
16. The Princess and the Frog – $747,710 ($2,410,810 total) {week 2}
17. An Education – $479,774 ($6,264,756 total) {week 9}
23. A Serious Man – $221,428 ($8,488,738 total) {week 10}
33. Coco Before Chanel – $81,193 ($5,795,589 total) {week 11}
34. The Messenger – $71,515 ($464,878 total) {week 4}
36. Inglourious Basterds – $62,924 ($120,464,449 total) {week 16}
58. Bright Star – $13,128 ($4,440,055 total) {week 12}
89. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $2,046 ($476,270 total) {week 16}
107. The Cove – $320 ($848,540 total) {week 19}
110. Departures – $94 ($1,490,694 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Blind Side – $24,425,957 ($157,046,599 total)
11. Fantastic Mr. Fox – $3,556,473 ($17,164,305 total)
12. Precious – $2,781,091 ($44,179,119 total)
13. Up in the Air – $1,439,794 ($1,439,794 total)
16. The Princess and the Frog – $911,209 ($2,937,974 total)
17. An Education – $584,685 ($7,634,649 total)
23. A Serious Man – $269,847 ($10,344,942 total)
33. Coco Before Chanel – $98,947 ($7,062,891 total)
34. The Messenger – $87,153 ($566,531 total)
36. Inglourious Basterds – $76,683 ($146,806,009 total)
58. Bright Star – $15,999 ($5,410,947 total)
89. The Baader Meinhof Complex – $2,493 ($580,414 total)
107. The Cove – $390 ($1,034,087 total)
110. Departures – $115 ($1,816,659 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
• 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
• Up in the Air: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actress (Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick), Adapted Screenplay

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 3-5, 2004

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Polar Express – $10,778,094 ($96,127,863 total) {week 1}
4. The Incredibles – $9,015,796 ($225,858,787 total) {week 5}
5. Closer – $7,707,972 ($7,707,972 total) {week 1}
8. Finding Neverland – $2,824,222 ($11,683,573 total) {week 4}
10. Ray – $1,888,860 ($67,792,750 total) {week 6}
11. Sideways – $1,802,826 ($12,478,931 total) {week 7}
16. Kinsey – $740,669 ($3,653,063 total) {week 4}
18. The Motorcycle Diaries – $407,538 ($14,277,652 total) {week 11}
19. House of Flying Daggers – $397,472 ($397,472 total) {week 1}
23. Being Julia – $178,271 ($2,971,460 total) {week 8}
26. Shark Tale – $147,382 ($159,160,152 total) {week 10}
36. A Very Long Engagement – $72,585 ($213,031 total) {week 2}
39. Vera Drake – $60,704 ($1,923,886 total) {week 9}
56. I, Robot – $14,761 ($144,758,543 total) {week 21}
63. Zelary – $9,221 ($304,494 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Polar Express – $15,863,410 ($141,482,877 total)
4. The Incredibles – $13,269,626 ($332,423,400 total)
5. Closer – $11,344,745 ($11,344,745 total)
8. Finding Neverland – $4,156,745 ($17,196,112 total)
10. Ray – $2,780,061 ($99,778,701 total)
11. Sideways – $2,653,435 ($18,366,736 total)
16. Kinsey – $1,090,131 ($5,376,650 total)
18. The Motorcycle Diaries – $599,822 ($21,014,129 total)
19. House of Flying Daggers – $585,007 ($585,007 total)
23. Being Julia – $262,383 ($4,373,453 total)
26. Shark Tale – $216,920 ($234,255,039 total)
36. A Very Long Engagement – $106,832 ($313,543 total)
39. Vera Drake – $89,345 ($2,831,613 total)
56. I, Robot – $21,726 ($213,058,467 total)
63. Zelary – $13,572 ($448,160 total)

Oscar Details:

• Being Julia: Actress (Annette Bening)
• Closer: Supporting Actor (Clive Owen), Supporting Actress (Natalie Portman)
• Finding Neverland: Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
• House of Flying Daggers: Cinematography
• 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
• Zelary: Foreign Language Film

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 3-5, 1999

Weekend Box Office:

1. Toy Story 2 – $27,760,276 ($116,781,392 total) {week 3}
4. Sleepy Hollow – $8,868,259 ($74,133,875 total) {week 3}
8. Being John Malkovich – $1,363,626 ($13,826,808 total) {week 6}
9. The Insider – $1,328,825 ($23,927,806 total) {week 5}
11. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $1,292,968 ($429,002,763 total) {week 29}
12. The Sixth Sense – $966,524 ($273,549,908 total) {week 18}
14. American Beauty – $780,219 ($67,589,142 total) {week 12}
19. Music of the Heart – $418,925 ($14,050,608 total) {week 6}
22. Fight Club – $233,069 ($35,635,696 total) {week 8}
26. The Straight Story – $208,406 ($3,355,921 total) {week 8}
28. The End of the Affair – $198,535 ($198,535 total) {week 1}
32. All About My Mother – $156,334 ($628,399 total) {week 5}
38. Boys Don’t Cry – $106,993 ($2,118,767 total) {week 9}
40. Sweet and Lowdown – $94,686 ($94,686 total) {week 1}
52. Buena Vista Social Club – $52,161 ($6,740,759 total) {week 27}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Toy Story 2 – $49,946,638 ($210,114,552 total)
4. Sleepy Hollow – $15,955,883 ($133,382,602 total)
8. Being John Malkovich – $2,453,453 ($24,877,367 total)
9. The Insider – $2,390,839 ($43,051,210 total)
11. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – $2,326,324 ($771,867,176 total)
12. The Sixth Sense – $1,738,982 ($492,174,441 total)
14. American Beauty – $1,403,780 ($121,607,236 total)
19. Music of the Heart – $753,735 ($25,280,031 total)
22. Fight Club – $419,341 ($64,116,193 total)
26. The Straight Story – $374,967 ($6,038,015 total)
28. The End of the Affair – $357,207 ($357,207 total)
32. All About My Mother – $281,278 ($1,130,623 total)
38. Boys Don’t Cry – $192,503 ($3,812,112 total)
40. Sweet and Lowdown – $170,360 ($170,360 total)
52. Buena Vista Social Club – $93,849 ($12,128,059 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
• The End of the Affair : Actress (Julianne Moore), Cinematography
• 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
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace: Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
• The Straight Story : Actor (Richard Farnsworth)
• Sweet and Lowdown: Actor (Sean Penn), Supporting Actress (Samantha Morton)
• Toy Story 2: Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 9-11, 1994

Weekend Box Office:

5. Junior – $2,716,240 ($24,043,830 total) {week 3}
7. Interview with the Vampire – $2,216,367 ($94,551,514 total) {week 5}
8. The Lion King – $2,211,922 ($289,021,690 total) {week 26}
12. Pulp Fiction – $1,042,589 ($57,475,172 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Junior – $5,939,338 ($52,574,308 total)
7. Interview with the Vampire – $4,846,314 ($206,746,612 total)
8. The Lion King – $4,836,595 ($631,975,657 total)
12. Pulp Fiction – $2,279,728 ($125,675,376 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

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 8-10, 1989

Weekend Box Office:

3. Back to the Future Part II – $7,010,580 ($69,486,570 total) {week 3}
5. Steel Magnolias – $3,021,928 ($27,468,769 total) {week 4}
6. Harlem Nights – $2,917,788 ($46,876,890 total) {week 4}
7. The Little Mermaid – $2,764,119 ($25,748,251 total) {week 4}
11. The Bear – $683,513 ($25,993,678 total) {week 7}
12. Dad – $637,315 ($18,173,025 total) {week 7}
999. Batman – $11,133 ($251,185,407 total) {week 25}
999. Parenthood – $106,760 ($94,832,407 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Back to the Future Part II – $16,140,227 ($159,976,637 total)
5. Steel Magnolias – $6,957,285 ($63,240,440 total)
6. Harlem Nights – $6,717,527 ($107,923,117 total)
7. The Little Mermaid – $6,363,740 ($59,279,349 total)
11. The Bear – $1,573,629 ($59,844,387 total)
12. Dad – $1,467,269 ($41,839,156 total)
999. Batman – $25,631 ($578,295,874 total)
999. Parenthood – $245,790 ($218,329,521 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future Part II: Visual Effects
• Batman: Art Direction [O]
• The Bear : Editing
• 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 Dec. 7-9, 1984

Weekend Box Office:

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $15,214,805 ($15,214,805 total) {week 1}
2. 2010 – $7,393,361 ($7,393,361 total) {week 1}
10. Amadeus – $634,773 ($16,015,463 total) {week 12}
11. Places in the Heart – $544,285 ($28,404,734 total) {week 12}
13. Ghostbusters – $679,554 ($219,376,581 total) {week 27}
999. The Killing Fields – $56,308 ($571,996 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Beverly Hills Cop – $41,387,892 ($41,387,892 total)
2. 2010 – $20,111,702 ($20,111,702 total)
10. Amadeus – $1,726,734 ($43,565,873 total)
11. Places in the Heart – $1,480,585 ($77,267,640 total)
13. Ghostbusters – $1,848,549 ($596,756,533 total)
999. The Killing Fields – $153,171 ($1,555,965 total)

Oscar Details:

• 2010: Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound, Visual Effects
• 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]
• Beverly Hills Cop: Original Screenplay
• 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