Oscar in Box Office History (Week 50, 2015)

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

In the Heart of the Sea (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

The Big Short (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Actor (Christian Bale/Steve Carell), Supporting Actor (Christian Bale/Brad Pitt), Adapted Screenplay.

Boy and the World (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 10-12, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

Tangled – $14,331,687 ($115,395,560 total) {week 3}
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $8,484,316 ($257,672,721 total) {week 4}
Unstoppable – $3,705,966 ($74,227,908 total) {week 5}
Black Swan – $3,305,368 ($5,584,542 total) {week 2}
127 Hours – $1,008,848 ($8,250,856 total) {week 6}
The King’s Speech – $591,818 ($1,524,123 total) {week 3}
The Fighter – $300,010 ($300,010 total) {week 1}
The Social Network – $285,193 ($91,396,420 total) {week 11}
The Town – $130,103 ($91,947,016 total) {week 13}
Inside Job – $124,926 ($3,137,243 total) {week 10}
Inception – $49,996 ($292,462,233 total) {week 22}
The Tempest – $42,436 ($42,436 total) {week 1}
Hereafter – $31,444 ($32,490,707 total) {week 9}
Waste Land – $3,298 ($96,597 total) {week 7}
Winter’s Bone – $2,708 ($6,232,427 total) {week 27}
Dogtooth – $207 ($73,195 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Tangled – $14,840,289 ($119,490,713 total)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $8,785,407 ($266,817,000 total)
Unstoppable – $3,837,483 ($76,862,105 total)
Black Swan – $3,422,669 ($5,782,726 total)
127 Hours – $1,044,650 ($8,543,662 total)
The King’s Speech – $612,820 ($1,578,211 total)
The Fighter – $310,657 ($310,657 total)
The Social Network – $295,314 ($94,639,892 total)
The Town – $134,720 ($95,210,028 total)
Inside Job – $129,359 ($3,248,577 total)
Inception – $51,770 ($302,841,121 total)
The Tempest – $43,942 ($43,942 total)
Hereafter – $32,560 ($33,643,736 total)
Waste Land – $3,415 ($100,025 total)
Winter’s Bone – $2,804 ($6,453,603 total)
Dogtooth – $214 ($75,793 total)

Oscar Details:

127 Hours: Picture, Actor (James Franco), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“If I Rise”), Editing
Black Swan: Picture, Direcing, Actress (Natalie Portman) [O], Editing, Cinematography
Dogtooth: Foreign Language Film
The Fighter: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Christian Bale) [O], Supporting Actress (Amy Adams, Melissa Leo [O]), Original Screenplay, Editing
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I: Art Direction, Visual Effects
Hereafter: Visual Effects
Inception: Picture, Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
Inside Job: Documentary Feature
The King’s Speech: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Colin Firth) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Helena Bonham Carter), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
The Social Network: Picture, Directing, Actor (Jesse Eisenberg), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound Mixing
Tangled: Original Song (“I See the Light”)
The Tempest: Costume Design
The Town: Supporting Actor (Jeremy Renner)
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 Dec. 16-18, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

King Kong – $50,130,145 ($66,181,645 total) {week 1}
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $31,837,683 ($113,169,644 total) {week 2}
Syriana – $5,605,167 ($22,462,362 total) {week 4}
Walk the Line – $3,688,031 ($82,607,528 total) {week 5}
Brokeback Mountain – $2,508,494 ($3,474,311 total) {week 2}
Pride & Prejudice – $1,579,825 ($29,237,853 total) {week 6}
Memoirs of a Geisha – $1,302,331 ($2,274,320 total) {week 2}
Good Night, and Good Luck. – $341,905 ($22,432,374 total) {week 11}
Capote – $301,468 ($10,790,585 total) {week 12}
The Squid and the Whale – $218,053 ($4,299,500 total) {week 11}
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit – $125,009 ($55,508,438 total) {week 11}
Mrs. Henderson Presents – $42,486 ($123,522 total) {week 2}
A History of Violence – $37,054 ($31,061,904 total) {week 13}
Paradise Now – $35,171 ($969,442 total) {week 8}
Corpse Bride – $29,880 ($53,337,608 total) {week 14}
Transamerica – $20,394 ($115,677 total) {week 3}
North Country – $11,349 ($18,118,144 total) {week 9}
Darwin’s Nightmare – $908 ($97,614 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

King Kong – $63,894,428 ($84,353,204 total)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $40,579,387 ($144,242,744 total)
Syriana – $7,144,183 ($28,629,875 total)
Walk the Line – $4,700,657 ($105,289,158 total)
Brokeback Mountain – $3,197,254 ($4,428,256 total)
Pride & Prejudice – $2,013,599 ($37,265,719 total)
Memoirs of a Geisha – $1,659,913 ($2,898,782 total)
Good Night, and Good Luck. – $435,782 ($28,591,653 total)
Capote – $384,242 ($13,753,367 total)
The Squid and the Whale – $277,924 ($5,480,018 total)
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit – $159,333 ($70,749,444 total)
Mrs. Henderson Presents – $54,151 ($157,438 total)
A History of Violence – $47,228 ($39,590,602 total)
Paradise Now – $44,828 ($1,235,623 total)
Corpse Bride – $38,084 ($67,982,567 total)
Transamerica – $25,994 ($147,439 total)
North Country – $14,465 ($23,092,861 total)
Darwin’s Nightmare – $1,157 ($124,416 total)

Oscar Details:

Brokeback Mountain: Picture, Directing [O], Actor (Heath Ledger), Supporting Actor (Jake Gyllenhaal), Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Cinematography
Capote: Picture, Directing, Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman) [O], Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Adapted Screenplay
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects
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
King Kong: Art Direction, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
Memoirs of a Geisha: Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
Mrs. Henderson Presents: Actress (Judi Dench), Costume Design
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
Syriana: Supporting Actor (George Clooney) [O], Original Screenplay
Transamerica: Actress (Felicity Huffman), Original Song (“Travelin’ Thru”)
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]

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

Weekend Box Office:

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $13,805,465 ($213,634,400 total) {week 5}
The Emperor’s New Groove – $9,812,302 ($9,812,302 total) {week 1}
102 Dalmatians – $2,664,601 ($47,995,472 total) {week 4}
Meet the Parents – $1,200,775 ($159,004,330 total) {week 11}
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $1,078,762 ($2,145,415 total) {week 2}
Billy Elliot – $585,220 ($15,484,280 total) {week 10}
Quills – $442,182 ($1,405,023 total) {week 4}
You Can Count on Me – $279,866 ($2,539,642 total) {week 6}
Chocolat – $157,624 ($157,624 total) {week 1}
Requiem for a Dream – $140,088 ($2,546,851 total) {week 11}
Almost Famous – $49,345 ($31,932,799 total) {week 14}
Pollock – $44,244 ($44,244 total) {week 1}
Dancer in the Dark – $38,044 ($4,157,491 total) {week 13}
Wonder Boys – $23,720 ($19,217,251 total) {week 43}
The Contender – $18,037 ($17,693,172 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $20,925,909 ($323,820,603 total)
The Emperor’s New Groove – $14,873,192 ($14,873,192 total)
102 Dalmatians – $4,038,922 ($72,750,094 total)
Meet the Parents – $1,820,099 ($241,013,984 total)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $1,635,155 ($3,251,956 total)
Billy Elliot – $887,059 ($23,470,606 total)
Quills – $670,246 ($2,129,692 total)
You Can Count on Me – $424,212 ($3,849,513 total)
Chocolat – $238,922 ($238,922 total)
Requiem for a Dream – $212,341 ($3,860,440 total)
Almost Famous – $74,796 ($48,402,777 total)
Pollock – $67,064 ($67,064 total)
Dancer in the Dark – $57,666 ($6,301,800 total)
Wonder Boys – $35,954 ($29,128,931 total)
The Contender – $27,340 ($26,818,778 total)

Oscar Details:

102 Dalmatians: Costume Design
Almost Famous: Supporting Actress (Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
Billy Elliot: Directing, Supporting Actress (Julie Walters), Original Screenplay
Chocolat: Picture, Actress (Juliette Binoche), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
The Contender: Actress (Joan Allen), Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“A Love Before Time”), Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Foreign Language Film [O]
Dancer in the Dark: Original Song (“I’ve Seen It All”)
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
The Emperor’s New Groove: Original Song (“My Funny Friend and Me”)
Meet the Parents: Original Song (“A Fool in Love”)
Pollock: Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden) [O]
Quills: Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Art Direction, Costume Design
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 Dec. 15-17, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

Toy Story – $10,975,102 ($97,458,735 total) {week 4}
Sabrina – $5,563,259 ($5,563,259 total) {week 1}
The American President – $2,128,685 ($41,134,265 total) {week 5}
Casino – $2,067,205 ($32,825,325 total) {week 4}
Braveheart – $6,626 ($67,002,869 total) {week 30}
Sense and Sensibility – $721,341 ($721,341 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Toy Story – $20,613,008 ($183,043,187 total)
Sabrina – $10,448,696 ($10,448,696 total)
The American President – $3,998,013 ($77,256,769 total)
Casino – $3,882,544 ($61,651,243 total)
Braveheart – $12,445 ($125,842,170 total)
Sense and Sensibility – $1,354,794 ($1,354,794 total)

Oscar Details:

The American President: Original Musical or Comedy Score
Braveheart: Picture [O], Directing [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
Casino: Actress (Sharon Stone)
Sabrina: Original Song (“Moonlight”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
Sense and Sensibility: Picture, Actress (Emma Thompson), Supporting Actress (Kate Winslet), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
Toy Story: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 14-16, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

Home Alone – $11,617,249 ($99,307,437 total) {week 5}
Edward Scissorhands – $6,325,249 ($6,579,461 total) {week 2}
Dances With Wolves – $4,471,916 ($38,377,730 total) {week 6}
Misery – $4,002,586 ($26,107,348 total) {week 3}
Havana – $2,175,360 ($2,175,360 total) {week 1}
Ghost – $840,508 ($201,224,039 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Home Alone – $22,438,044 ($191,806,563 total)
Edward Scissorhands – $12,216,852 ($12,707,848 total)
Dances With Wolves – $8,637,247 ($74,124,363 total)
Misery – $7,730,763 ($50,424,831 total)
Havana – $4,201,582 ($4,201,582 total)
Ghost – $1,623,393 ($388,652,577 total)

Oscar Details:

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]
Edward Scissorhands: Makeup
Ghost: Picture, Supporting Actress (Whoopi Goldberg) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing
Havana: Original Score
Home Alone: Original Song (“Somewhere in My Memory”), Original Score
Misery: Actress (Kathy Bates) [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 13-15, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

White Nights – $3,138,677 ($10,616,870 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

White Nights – $7,223,378 ($24,433,754 total)

Oscar Details:

Back to the Future: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Power of Love’), Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
A Chorus Line: Original Song (“Surprise, Surprise”), Film Editing, Sound
Jagged Edge: Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup
Runaway Train: Actor (Jon Voight), Supporting Actor (Eric Roberts), Film Editing
White Nights: Original Song (“Say You, Say Me” [O], “Separate Lives (Love Theme from “White Nights”)”)
Young Sherlock Holmes: Visual Effects

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 12, 1980

Weekend Box Office:

XXXX – $XXXX ($XXXX total) {week XXX}
XXXX – $XXXX ($XXXX total) {week XXX}
XXXX – $XXXX ($XXXX total) {week XXX}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

XXXX – $XXXX ($XXXX total)
XXXX – $XXXX ($XXXX total)
XXXX – $XXXX ($XXXX 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