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

Downsizing (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Supporting Actress (Hong Chau), Original Screenplay.

The Greatest Showman (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Hugh Jackman), Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams), Original Score, Original Song, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing.

The Post (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Actor (Tom Hanks), Actress (Meryl Streep), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 21-23, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $36,888,365 ($150,041,265 total) {week 2}
5. Lincoln – $5,525,774 ($116,673,598 total) {week 7}
7. Skyfall – $4,867,540 ($279,959,314 total) {week 7}
9. Life of Pi – $4,017,237 ($76,373,481 total) {week 5}
12. Wreck-It Ralph – $1,819,036 ($171,741,561 total) {week 8}
13. Silver Linings Playbook – $1,781,196 ($19,861,238 total) {week 6}
15. Argo – $899,693 ($106,435,363 total) {week 11}
17. Flight – $678,171 ($90,957,858 total) {week 8}
18. Anna Karenina – $669,187 ($9,639,374 total) {week 6}
19. Hitchcock – $579,676 ($4,194,968 total) {week 5}
21. Zero Dark Thirty – $417,150 ($646,162 total) {week 1}
26. The Impossible – $143,818 ($143,818 total) {week 1}
31. The Sessions – $91,222 ($5,375,009 total) {week 10}
32. Chasing Ice – $83,200 ($709,300 total) {week 6}
36. Frankenweenie – $69,592 ($34,485,378 total) {week 12}
37. Amour – $68,266 ($97,817 total) {week 1}
49. A Royal Affair – $26,774 ($585,872 total) {week 7}
56. Searching for Sugar Man – $15,703 ($2,960,488 total) {week 22}
59. The Master – $11,568 ($15,933,452 total) {week 15}
63. Brave – $7,365 ($237,236,938 total) {week 27}
67. ParaNorman – $5,349 ($55,978,942 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – $37,861,551 ($153,999,640 total)
5. Lincoln – $5,671,554 ($119,751,670 total)
7. Skyfall – $4,995,955 ($287,345,175 total)
9. Life of Pi – $4,123,219 ($78,388,359 total)
12. Wreck-It Ralph – $1,867,026 ($176,272,431 total)
13. Silver Linings Playbook – $1,828,187 ($20,385,215 total)
15. Argo – $923,429 ($109,243,331 total)
17. Flight – $696,062 ($93,357,500 total)
18. Anna Karenina – $686,841 ($9,893,679 total)
19. Hitchcock – $594,969 ($4,305,639 total)
21. Zero Dark Thirty – $428,155 ($663,209 total)
26. The Impossible – $147,612 ($147,612 total)
31. The Sessions – $93,629 ($5,516,812 total)
32. Chasing Ice – $85,395 ($728,013 total)
36. Frankenweenie – $71,428 ($35,395,168 total)
37. Amour – $70,067 ($100,398 total)
49. A Royal Affair – $27,480 ($601,328 total)
56. Searching for Sugar Man – $16,117 ($3,038,591 total)
59. The Master – $11,873 ($16,353,807 total)
63. Brave – $7,559 ($243,495,701 total)
67. ParaNorman – $5,490 ($57,455,773 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amour: Picture, Directing, Actress (Emmanuelle Riva), Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• 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
• The Impossible: Actress (Naomi Watts)
• 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
• Zero Dark Thirty: Picture, Actress (Jessica Chastain), Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Sound Editing [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 21-23, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

4. Charlie Wilson’s War – $9,656,250 ($9,656,250 total) {week 1}
5. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $9,300,805 ($9,300,805 total) {week 1}
7. The Golden Compass – $4,555,552 ($48,993,803 total) {week 3}
8. Enchanted – $4,222,859 ($98,421,252 total) {week 5}
10. Juno – $3,425,045 ($6,409,721 total) {week 3}
11. Atonement – $1,940,584 ($5,752,959 total) {week 3}
12. No Country for Old Men – $1,874,865 ($36,892,644 total) {week 7}
13. The Kite Runner – $1,178,368 ($1,879,253 total) {week 2}
17. August Rush – $473,938 ($29,495,525 total) {week 5}
22. American Gangster – $341,875 ($128,477,115 total) {week 8}
23. The Savages – $217,924 ($794,915 total) {week 4}
28. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $118,098 ($410,546 total) {week 4}
29. I’m Not There – $107,822 ($2,848,674 total) {week 5}
30. Into the Wild – $101,381 ($16,773,501 total) {week 14}
34. Michael Clayton – $50,729 ($39,022,895 total) {week 12}
35. Lars and the Real Girl – $45,742 ($5,609,849 total) {week 11}
39. Persepolis – $88,826 ($163,372 total) {week 1}
41. Gone Baby Gone – $30,172 ($20,232,393 total) {week 10}
46. Persepolis – $37,118 ($37,118 total) {week 0}
56. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $3,614 ($3,868,378 total) {week 14}
73. In the Valley of Elah – $460 ($6,764,923 total) {week 15}
77. War/Dance – $131 ($57,640 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Charlie Wilson’s War – $11,466,797 ($11,466,797 total)
5. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – $11,044,706 ($11,044,706 total)
7. The Golden Compass – $5,409,718 ($58,180,141 total)
8. Enchanted – $5,014,645 ($116,875,237 total)
10. Juno – $4,067,241 ($7,611,544 total)
11. Atonement – $2,304,444 ($6,831,639 total)
12. No Country for Old Men – $2,226,402 ($43,810,015 total)
13. The Kite Runner – $1,399,312 ($2,231,613 total)
17. August Rush – $562,801 ($35,025,936 total)
22. American Gangster – $405,977 ($152,566,574 total)
23. The Savages – $258,785 ($943,962 total)
28. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – $140,241 ($487,523 total)
29. I’m Not There – $128,039 ($3,382,800 total)
30. Into the Wild – $120,390 ($19,918,532 total)
34. Michael Clayton – $60,241 ($46,339,688 total)
35. Lars and the Real Girl – $54,319 ($6,661,696 total)
39. Persepolis – $105,481 ($194,004 total)
41. Gone Baby Gone – $35,829 ($24,025,967 total)
46. Persepolis – $44,078 ($44,078 total)
56. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – $4,292 ($4,593,699 total)
73. In the Valley of Elah – $546 ($8,033,346 total)
77. War/Dance – $156 ($68,448 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”)
• Charlie Wilson’s War: Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman)
• 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
• Persepolis: Animated Feature
• Persepolis: Animated Feature
• The Savages: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: Actor (Johnny Depp), Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• War/Dance: Documentary Feature

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 20-22, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $62,007,528 ($102,046,212 total) {week 1}
4. Gangs of New York – $9,496,870 ($9,496,870 total) {week 1}
6. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $6,013,847 ($6,013,847 total) {week 1}
13. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $1,461,534 ($217,765,974 total) {week 36}
15. Treasure Planet – $1,302,772 ($29,905,068 total) {week 4}
16. Adaptation. – $1,108,032 ($2,106,476 total) {week 3}
17. About Schmidt – $601,711 ($1,023,197 total) {week 2}
18. Far From Heaven – $601,250 ($8,932,005 total) {week 7}
19. Frida – $458,185 ($19,314,138 total) {week 9}
21. Bowling for Columbine – $386,034 ($14,476,943 total) {week 11}
23. 8 Mile – $344,025 ($114,134,575 total) {week 7}
31. The Crime of Father Amaro – $171,402 ($3,937,330 total) {week 6}
35. Talk to Her – $132,044 ($690,341 total) {week 5}
64. Spirited Away – $15,481 ($5,344,088 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – $87,194,751 ($143,496,997 total)
4. Gangs of New York – $13,354,463 ($13,354,463 total)
6. The Wild Thornberrys Movie – $8,456,649 ($8,456,649 total)
13. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $2,055,204 ($306,221,688 total)
15. Treasure Planet – $1,831,953 ($42,052,393 total)
16. Adaptation. – $1,558,110 ($2,962,119 total)
17. About Schmidt – $846,124 ($1,438,816 total)
18. Far From Heaven – $845,475 ($12,560,152 total)
19. Frida – $644,298 ($27,159,468 total)
21. Bowling for Columbine – $542,840 ($20,357,422 total)
23. 8 Mile – $483,767 ($160,495,607 total)
31. The Crime of Father Amaro – $241,025 ($5,536,659 total)
35. Talk to Her – $185,680 ($970,755 total)
64. Spirited Away – $21,769 ($7,514,836 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]
• Gangs of New York: Picture, Director, Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Hands That Built America”), Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Picture, Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• Spirited Away: Animated Feature [O]
• Talk to Her: Director, Original Screenplay [O]
• Treasure Planet: Animated Feature
• The Wild Thornberrys Movie: Original Song (“Father and Daughter”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 19-21, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

1. Titanic – $28,638,131 ($28,638,131 total) {week 1}
8. Amistad – $3,280,336 ($9,674,595 total) {week 2}
9. Anastasia – $1,664,967 ($44,429,716 total) {week 6}
999. The Apostle – $29,396 ($40,969 total) {week 1}
999. Deconstructing Harry – $272,683 ($787,878 total) {week 2}
999. Good Will Hunting – $198,411 ($937,922 total) {week 3}
999. Starship Troopers – $107,352 ($54,095,318 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Titanic – $50,974,625 ($50,974,625 total)
8. Amistad – $5,838,855 ($17,220,358 total)
9. Anastasia – $2,963,569 ($79,082,959 total)
999. The Apostle – $52,324 ($72,923 total)
999. Deconstructing Harry – $485,364 ($1,402,389 total)
999. Good Will Hunting – $353,163 ($1,669,460 total)
999. Starship Troopers – $191,082 ($96,287,309 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
• The Apostle: Actor (Robert Duvall)
• 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
• Titanic: Picture [O], Director [O], Actress (Kate Winslet), Supporting Actress (Gloria Stuart), Original Dramatic Score [O], Original Song (“My Heart Will Go On”) [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 18-20, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. A Few Good Men – $11,145,377 ($32,001,899 total) {week 2}
2. Aladdin – $7,224,990 ($59,754,530 total) {week 6}
5. The Bodyguard – $5,433,899 ($59,301,194 total) {week 4}
6. Toys – $4,810,027 ($4,810,027 total) {week 1}
10. Malcolm X – $1,297,197 ($37,875,385 total) {week 5}
11. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $1,020,494 ($79,802,143 total) {week 6}
999. The Crying Game – $601,112 ($1,238,311 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. A Few Good Men – $21,941,622 ($63,001,329 total)
2. Aladdin – $14,223,655 ($117,637,231 total)
5. The Bodyguard – $10,697,579 ($116,744,760 total)
6. Toys – $9,469,378 ($9,469,378 total)
10. Malcolm X – $2,553,759 ($74,564,312 total)
11. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – $2,009,021 ($157,104,460 total)
999. The Crying Game – $1,183,394 ($2,437,832 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
• Malcolm X: Actor, Costume Design
• Toys: Art Direction, Costume Design

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 18-20, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

3. Throw Momma From the Train – $5,680,836 ($15,206,372 total) {week 2}
5. Wall Street – $3,067,206 ($8,514,908 total) {week 2}
8. Fatal Attraction – $1,510,319 ($119,413,219 total) {week 14}
12. Empire of the Sun – $1,044,436 ($2,935,912 total) {week 2}
14. The Last Emperor – $755,000 ($2,238,809 total) {week 5}
999. Broadcast News – $197,542 ($197,542 total) {week 1}
999. The Dead – $69,074 ($69,074 total) {week 1}
999. Ironweed – $36,973 ($36,973 total) {week 1}
999. Moonstruck – $127,599 ($127,599 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Throw Momma From the Train – $11,870,187 ($31,773,928 total)
5. Wall Street – $6,408,970 ($17,792,020 total)
8. Fatal Attraction – $3,155,833 ($249,515,601 total)
12. Empire of the Sun – $2,182,364 ($6,134,629 total)
14. The Last Emperor – $1,577,583 ($4,678,023 total)
999. Broadcast News – $412,767 ($412,767 total)
999. The Dead – $144,331 ($144,331 total)
999. Ironweed – $77,256 ($77,256 total)
999. Moonstruck – $266,620 ($266,620 total)

Oscar Details:

• Broadcast News: Picture, Actor (William Hurt), Actress (Holly Hunter), Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks), Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• The Dead: Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design
• 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
• Ironweed: Actor (Jack Nicholson), Actress (Meryl Streep)
• 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]
• Moonstruck: Picture, Director, Actress (Cher) [O], Supporting Actor (Vincent Gardenia), Supporting Actress (Olympia Dukakis) [O], Original Screenplay
• Throw Momma From the Train: Supporting Actress (Anne Ramsey)
• Wall Street: Actor (Michael Douglas) [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 17-19, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. Tootsie – $5,540,470 ($5,540,470 total) {week 1}
4. Best Friends – $4,022,891 ($4,022,891 total) {week 1}
7. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $2,592,117 ($304,942,178 total) {week 28}
8. The Verdict – $2,331,805 ($2,543,105 total) {week 2}
12. An Officer and a Gentleman – $771,740 ($105,328,633 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Tootsie – $15,396,476 ($15,396,476 total)
4. Best Friends – $11,179,258 ($11,179,258 total)
7. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial – $7,203,264 ($847,407,345 total)
8. The Verdict – $6,479,880 ($7,067,064 total)
12. An Officer and a Gentleman – $2,144,597 ($292,698,956 total)

Oscar Details:

• Best Friends: Original Song (“How Do You Keep the Music Playing?”)
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• 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
• Tootsie: Picture, Director, Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Teri Garr), Supporting Actress (Jessica Lange) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“It Might Be You”), Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• The Verdict: Picture, Director, Actor (Paul Newman), Supporting Actor (James Mason), Adapted Screenplay