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

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Original Score, Film Editing, Production Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 14-16, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $84,617,303 ($84,617,303 total) {week 1}
3. Lincoln – $7,033,132 ($107,687,319 total) {week 6}
4. Skyfall – $6,555,732 ($271,921,795 total) {week 6}
5. Life of Pi – $5,413,066 ($69,572,472 total) {week 4}
7. Wreck-It Ralph – $3,216,043 ($168,721,592 total) {week 7}
10. Silver Linings Playbook – $2,109,274 ($16,979,323 total) {week 5}
11. Flight – $1,910,666 ($89,418,704 total) {week 7}
12. Argo – $1,170,175 ($104,955,079 total) {week 10}
13. Hitchcock – $1,107,659 ($3,071,871 total) {week 4}
14. Anna Karenina – $1,022,214 ($8,380,517 total) {week 5}
21. The Sessions – $147,487 ($5,208,538 total) {week 9}
31. Chasing Ice – $65,559 ($612,089 total) {week 5}
39. A Royal Affair – $46,514 ($534,267 total) {week 6}
44. Brave – $39,680 ($237,211,825 total) {week 26}
48. ParaNorman – $28,679 ($55,964,935 total) {week 18}
50. Frankenweenie – $24,126 ($34,403,191 total) {week 11}
51. Searching for Sugar Man – $22,555 ($2,931,599 total) {week 21}
64. The Master – $9,361 ($15,912,499 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $86,849,669 ($86,849,669 total)
3. Lincoln – $7,218,679 ($110,528,316 total)
4. Skyfall – $6,728,685 ($279,095,611 total)
5. Life of Pi – $5,555,873 ($71,407,927 total)
7. Wreck-It Ralph – $3,300,888 ($173,172,790 total)
10. Silver Linings Playbook – $2,164,921 ($17,427,270 total)
11. Flight – $1,961,073 ($91,777,740 total)
12. Argo – $1,201,046 ($107,723,994 total)
13. Hitchcock – $1,136,881 ($3,152,913 total)
14. Anna Karenina – $1,049,182 ($8,601,611 total)
21. The Sessions – $151,378 ($5,345,949 total)
31. Chasing Ice – $67,289 ($628,237 total)
39. A Royal Affair – $47,741 ($548,362 total)
44. Brave – $40,727 ($243,469,926 total)
48. ParaNorman – $29,436 ($57,441,397 total)
50. Frankenweenie – $24,762 ($35,310,813 total)
51. Searching for Sugar Man – $23,150 ($3,008,940 total)
64. The Master – $9,608 ($16,332,301 total)

Oscar Details:

• Anna Karenina: Original Score, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design [O]
• Argo: Picture [O], Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin), Adapted Screenlay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Brave: Animated Feature [O]
• Chasing Ice: Original Song (“Before My Time”)
• Flight: Actor (Denzel Washington), Original Screenplay
• Frankenweenie: Animated Feature
• Hitchcock: Makeup and Hairstyling
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects
• Life of Pi: Picture, Directing [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Pi’s Lullaby”), Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Production Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• Lincoln: Picture, Directing, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) [O], Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones), Supporting Actress (Sally Field), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design [O], Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• The Master: Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Amy Adams)
• ParaNorman: Animated Feature
• A Royal Affair: Foreign Language Film
• Searching for Sugar Man: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Sessions: Actress (Helen Hunt)
• Silver Linings Playbook: Picture, Directing, Actor (Bradley Cooper), Actress (Jennifer Lawrence) [O], Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing
• Skyfall: Original Song (“Skyfall”) [O], Original Score, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O]
• Wreck-It Ralph: Animated Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 14-16, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

3. The Golden Compass – $8,825,549 ($40,768,661 total) {week 2}
4. Enchanted – $5,533,884 ($91,801,187 total) {week 4}
5. No Country for Old Men – $2,827,530 ($33,390,003 total) {week 6}
9. Atonement – $1,806,862 ($2,918,154 total) {week 2}
10. August Rush – $1,765,319 ($28,045,110 total) {week 4}
11. Juno – $1,427,454 ($2,153,400 total) {week 2}
14. American Gangster – $1,081,350 ($127,582,340 total) {week 7}
19. The Kite Runner – $471,713 ($471,713 total) {week 1}
23. I’m Not There – $210,764 ($2,605,781 total) {week 4}
24. Into the Wild – $207,255 ($16,533,817 total) {week 13}
28. Michael Clayton – $114,334 ($38,920,455 total) {week 11}
30. Lars and the Real Girl – $106,487 ($5,498,148 total) {week 10}
31. The Savages – $96,938 ($531,737 total) {week 3}
32. Gone Baby Gone – $95,850 ($20,153,993 total) {week 9}
36. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $56,565 ($257,891 total) {week 3}
54. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $13,528 ($3,854,797 total) {week 13}
66. War/Dance – $4,636 ($54,599 total) {week 6}
71. In the Valley of Elah – $4,273 ($6,763,856 total) {week 14}
73. Once – $3,424 ($9,437,933 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. The Golden Compass – $10,480,339 ($48,412,785 total)
4. Enchanted – $6,571,487 ($109,013,910 total)
5. No Country for Old Men – $3,357,692 ($39,650,629 total)
9. Atonement – $2,145,649 ($3,465,308 total)
10. August Rush – $2,096,316 ($33,303,568 total)
11. Juno – $1,695,102 ($2,557,163 total)
14. American Gangster – $1,284,103 ($151,504,029 total)
19. The Kite Runner – $560,159 ($560,159 total)
23. I’m Not There – $250,282 ($3,094,365 total)
24. Into the Wild – $246,115 ($19,633,908 total)
28. Michael Clayton – $135,772 ($46,218,040 total)
30. Lars and the Real Girl – $126,453 ($6,529,051 total)
31. The Savages – $115,114 ($631,438 total)
32. Gone Baby Gone – $113,822 ($23,932,867 total)
36. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $67,171 ($306,246 total)
54. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $16,065 ($4,577,571 total)
66. War/Dance – $5,505 ($64,836 total)
71. In the Valley of Elah – $5,074 ($8,032,079 total)
73. Once – $4,066 ($11,207,545 total)

Oscar Details:

• American Gangster: Supporting Actress (Ruby Dee), Art Direction
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: Supporting Actor (Casey Affleck), Cinematography
• Atonement: Picture, Supporting Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• August Rush: Original Song (“Raise It Up”)
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• Enchanted: Original Song (“Happy Working Song”), Original Song (“So Close”), Original Song (“That’s How You Know”)
• The Golden Compass: Art Direction, Visual Effects [O]
• Gone Baby Gone: Supporting Actress (Amy Ryan)
• I’m Not There: Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett)
• In the Valley of Elah: Actor (Tommy Lee Jones)
• Into the Wild: Supporting Actor (Hal Holbrook), Editing
• Juno: Picture, Director, Actress (Ellen Page), Original Screenplay [O]
• The Kite Runner: Original Score
• Lars and the Real Girl: Original Screenplay
• Michael Clayton: Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score
• No Country for Old Men: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Once: Original Song [O]
• The Savages: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay
• War/Dance: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 13-15, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

9. Treasure Planet – $3,102,173 ($27,905,575 total) {week 3}
12. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $1,704,285 ($215,640,319 total) {week 35}
13. 8 Mile – $1,354,575 ($113,357,310 total) {week 6}
16. Frida – $868,088 ($18,478,584 total) {week 8}
19. Far From Heaven – $722,430 ($7,981,302 total) {week 6}
20. Bowling for Columbine – $562,410 ($13,769,089 total) {week 10}
23. The Crime of Father Amaro – $311,401 ($3,650,300 total) {week 5}
24. About Schmidt – $282,367 ($282,367 total) {week 1}
25. Adaptation. – $277,184 ($858,055 total) {week 2}
35. Talk to Her – $88,838 ($515,316 total) {week 4}
61. Spirited Away – $27,243 ($5,315,997 total) {week 13}
122. Promises – $575 ($243,769 total) {week 40}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Treasure Planet – $4,362,264 ($39,240,714 total)
12. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2,396,559 ($303,232,600 total)
13. 8 Mile – $1,904,798 ($159,402,620 total)
16. Frida – $1,220,702 ($25,984,515 total)
19. Far From Heaven – $1,015,878 ($11,223,277 total)
20. Bowling for Columbine – $790,859 ($19,362,041 total)
23. The Crime of Father Amaro – $437,891 ($5,133,038 total)
24. About Schmidt – $397,063 ($397,063 total)
25. Adaptation. – $389,775 ($1,206,594 total)
35. Talk to Her – $124,924 ($724,635 total)
61. Spirited Away – $38,309 ($7,475,335 total)
122. Promises – $809 ($342,787 total)

Oscar Details:

• 8 Mile: Original Song (“Lose Yourself”) [O]
• About Schmidt: Actor (Jack Nicholson), Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates)
• Adaptation.: Actor (Nicoals Cage), Supporting Actor (Chris Cooper) [O], Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Adapted Screenplay
• Bowling for Columbine: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Crime of Father Amaro: Foreign Language Film
• Far From Heaven: Actress (Julianne Moore), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography
• Frida: Actress, Original Score [O], Original Song (“Burn It Blue”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• Promises: Documentary Feature
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
• Treasure Planet: Animated Feature

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 12-14, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

5. Amistad – $4,573,523 ($4,661,866 total) {week 1}
8. Anastasia – $3,031,625 ($41,943,900 total) {week 5}
999. Deconstructing Harry – $356,476 ($356,476 total) {week 1}
999. Good Will Hunting – $229,823 ($629,475 total) {week 2}
999. Starship Troopers – $403,067 ($53,791,017 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Amistad – $8,140,672 ($8,297,918 total)
8. Anastasia – $5,396,160 ($74,658,314 total)
999. Deconstructing Harry – $634,512 ($634,512 total)
999. Good Will Hunting – $409,075 ($1,120,438 total)
999. Starship Troopers – $717,442 ($95,745,666 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amistad: Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Anastasia: Original Song (“Journey to the Past”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Deconstructing Harry: Original Screenplay
• Good Will Hunting: Picture, Director, Actor (Matt Damon), Supporting Actor (Robin Williams) [O], Supporting Actress (Minnie Driver), Original Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Original Song (“Miss Misery”), Editing
• Starship Troopers: Visual Effects

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 11-13, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. A Few Good Men – $15,517,468 ($15,517,468 total) {week 1}
3. The Bodyguard – $7,427,230 ($51,313,778 total) {week 3}
4. Aladdin – $7,408,776 ($50,334,739 total) {week 5}
7. Malcolm X – $1,819,072 ($35,730,153 total) {week 4}
8. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $1,605,595 ($78,142,084 total) {week 5}
10. A River Runs Through It – $732,378 ($31,504,183 total) {week 10}
11. Under Siege – $715,469 ($75,412,823 total) {week 10}
12. The Last of the Mohicans – $415,001 ($69,854,374 total) {week 12}
999. The Crying Game – $120,185 ($537,825 total) {week 3}
999. Passion Fish – $14,385 ($18,780 total) {week 1}
999. Unforgiven – $23,055 ($75,000,108 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. A Few Good Men – $30,548,847 ($30,548,847 total)
3. The Bodyguard – $14,621,800 ($101,020,136 total)
4. Aladdin – $14,585,470 ($99,092,727 total)
7. Malcolm X – $3,581,161 ($70,341,048 total)
8. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $3,160,894 ($153,836,344 total)
10. A River Runs Through It – $1,441,814 ($62,021,488 total)
11. Under Siege – $1,408,526 ($148,463,317 total)
12. The Last of the Mohicans – $817,002 ($137,520,539 total)
999. The Crying Game – $236,605 ($1,058,802 total)
999. Passion Fish – $28,319 ($36,972 total)
999. Unforgiven – $45,388 ($147,650,815 total)

Oscar Details:

• Aladdin: Original Song (“A Whole New World” [O], “Friend Like Me”), Original Score [O], Sound, Sound Effects
• The Bodyguard: Original Song (“I Have Nothing”, “Run to You”)
• Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound Effects
• The Crying Game: Picture, Director, Actor (Stephen Rea), Supporting Actor (Jaye Davidson), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• A Few Good Men: Picture, Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson), Editing, Sound
• The Last of the Mohicans: Sound [O]
• Malcolm X: Actor, Costume Design
• Passion Fish: Actress (Mary McDonnell), Original Screenplay
• A River Runs Through It: Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O]
• Under Siege: Sound, Sound Effects
• Unforgiven: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 11-13, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Throw Momma From the Train – $7,318,878 ($7,318,878 total) {week 1}
3. Wall Street – $4,104,611 ($4,104,611 total) {week 1}
5. Fatal Attraction – $2,017,291 ($117,235,848 total) {week 13}
9. Empire of the Sun – $1,314,509 ($1,314,509 total) {week 1}
10. Dirty Dancing – $844,229 ($51,480,865 total) {week 17}
13. The Last Emperor – $402,257 ($1,327,493 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Throw Momma From the Train – $15,292,899 ($15,292,899 total)
3. Wall Street – $8,576,642 ($8,576,642 total)
5. Fatal Attraction – $4,215,158 ($244,965,953 total)
9. Empire of the Sun – $2,746,685 ($2,746,685 total)
10. Dirty Dancing – $1,764,028 ($107,569,992 total)
13. The Last Emperor – $840,522 ($2,773,815 total)

Oscar Details:

• Dirty Dancing: Original Song (“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”) [O]
• Empire of the Sun: Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
• Fatal Attraction: Picture, Director, Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Anne Archer), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• The Last Emperor: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
• Throw Momma From the Train: Supporting Actress (Anne Ramsey)
• Wall Street: Actor (Michael Douglas) [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 10-12, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

4. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $2,035,699 ($301,455,400 total) {week 27}
5. An Officer and a Gentleman – $1,163,336 ($104,138,525 total) {week 20}
10. My Favorite Year – $359,691 ($17,458,105 total) {week 10}
12. Sophie’s Choice – $202,131 ($202,131 total) {week 1}
999. Gandhi – $131,153 ($131,153 total) {week 1}
999. The Verdict – $100,982 ($100,982 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $5,657,027 ($837,717,897 total)
5. An Officer and a Gentleman – $3,232,808 ($289,391,751 total)
10. My Favorite Year – $999,549 ($48,514,530 total)
12. Sophie’s Choice – $561,704 ($561,704 total)
999. Gandhi – $364,463 ($364,463 total)
999. The Verdict – $280,620 ($280,620 total)

Oscar Details:

• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Gandhi: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Ben Kingsley) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• My Favorite Year: Actor (Peter O’Toole)
• An Officer and a Gentleman: Actress (Debra Winger), Supporting Actor (Louis Gossett Jr.) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Up Where We Belong”) [O], Original Score, Film Editing
• Sophie’s Choice: Actress (Meryl Streep) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• The Verdict: Picture, Director, Actor (Paul Newman), Supporting Actor (James Mason), Adapted Screenplay