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

Aquaman (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Bumblebee (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Visual Effects.

Mary Poppins Returns (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Directing, Actress (Emily Blunt), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Original Song, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Welcome to Marwen (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Actor (Steve Carell), Visual Effects.

Cold War (Limited)

Oscar Potential: Cinematography, Foreign Language Film.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 20-22, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – $31,505,278 ($127,550,695 total) {week 2}
3. Frozen – $19,642,107 ($192,034,117 total) {week 5}
4. American Hustle – $19,106,933 ($20,220,301 total) {week 2}
5. Saving Mr. Banks – $9,344,381 ($9,969,867 total) {week 2}
11. Philomena – $1,210,637 ($13,322,189 total) {week 5}
12. Inside Llewyn Davis – $1,081,364 ($2,132,514 total) {week 3}
13. The Book Thief – $753,408 ($16,596,997 total) {week 7}
14. Nebraska – $565,103 ($4,370,469 total) {week 6}
17. Gravity – $431,497 ($253,567,282 total) {week 12}
19. Dallas Buyers Club – $382,846 ($15,156,122 total) {week 8}
20. 12 Years a Slave – $370,090 ($37,080,316 total) {week 10}
23. Her – $260,382 ($364,640 total) {week 1}
25. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – $193,165 ($100,850,051 total) {week 9}
26. Captain Phillips – $140,388 ($104,287,640 total) {week 11}
29. Despicable Me 2 – $98,505 ($367,504,160 total) {week 25}
31. The Great Beauty – $68,428 ($650,946 total) {week 6}
33. All Is Lost – $48,545 ($5,840,569 total) {week 10}
40. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom – $29,231 ($292,993 total) {week 4}
44. Blue Jasmine – $22,420 ($32,971,782 total) {week 22}
61. 20 Feet from Stardom – $2,916 ($4,804,150 total) {week 28}
72. The Act of Killing – $1,058 ($457,948 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – $32,299,863 ($130,767,610 total)
3. Frozen – $20,137,494 ($196,877,348 total)
4. American Hustle – $19,588,823 ($20,730,271 total)
5. Saving Mr. Banks – $9,580,053 ($10,221,314 total)
11. Philomena – $1,241,170 ($13,658,184 total)
12. Inside Llewyn Davis – $1,108,637 ($2,186,297 total)
13. The Book Thief – $772,409 ($17,015,585 total)
14. Nebraska – $579,355 ($4,480,695 total)
17. Gravity – $442,380 ($259,962,422 total)
19. Dallas Buyers Club – $392,502 ($15,538,370 total)
20. 12 Years a Slave – $379,424 ($38,015,507 total)
23. Her – $266,949 ($373,836 total)
25. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – $198,037 ($103,393,558 total)
26. Captain Phillips – $143,929 ($106,917,845 total)
29. Despicable Me 2 – $100,989 ($376,772,865 total)
31. The Great Beauty – $70,154 ($667,363 total)
33. All Is Lost – $49,769 ($5,987,872 total)
40. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom – $29,968 ($300,382 total)
44. Blue Jasmine – $22,985 ($33,803,353 total)
61. 20 Feet from Stardom – $2,990 ($4,925,314 total)
72. The Act of Killing – $1,085 ($469,498 total)

Oscar Details:

• 12 Years a Slave: Picture [O], Directing, Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Supporting Actor (Michael Fassbender), Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong’o) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Production Design, Costume Design
• 20 Feet from Stardom: Documentary Feature [O]
• The Act of Killing: Documentary Feature
• All Is Lost: Sound Editing
• American Hustle: Picture, Directing, Actor (Christian Bale), Actress (Amy Adams), Supporting Actor (Bradley Cooper), Supporting Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Production Design, Costume Design
• Blue Jasmine: Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Supporting Actress (Sally Hawkins), Original Screenplay
• The Book Thief: Original Score
• Captain Phillips: Picture, Supporting Actor (Barkhad Abdi), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Dallas Buyers Club: Picture, Actor (Matthew McConaughey) [O], Supporting Actor (Jared Leto) [O], Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling [O]
• Despicable Me 2: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Happy”)
• Frozen: Animated Feature [O], Original Song (“Let It Go”) [O]
• Gravity: Picture, Directing [O], Actress (Sandra Bullock), Original Score [O], Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Production Design, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Great Beauty: Foreign Language Film [O]
• Her: Picture, Original Screenplay [O], Original Song (“The Moon Song”), Original Score, Production Design
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Inside Llewyn Davis: Cinematography, Sound Mixing
• Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa: Makeup and Hairstyling
• Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom: Original Song (“Ordinary Love”)
• Nebraska: Picture, Directing, Actor (Bruce Dern), Supporting Actress (June Squibb), Original Screenplay, Cinematography
• Philomena: Picture, Actress (Judi Dench), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Saving Mr. Banks: Original Score

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 19-21, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

7. Bolt – $4,146,856 ($94,900,059 total) {week 5}
8. Slumdog Millionaire – $3,053,760 ($12,037,510 total) {week 6}
9. Australia – $2,174,188 ($41,796,525 total) {week 4}
11. Milk – $1,729,156 ($1,410,039 total) {week 4}
15. Doubt – $680,948 ($1,399,548 total) {week 2}
19. Frost/Nixon – $378,052 ($1,491,262 total) {week 3}
24. The Wrestler – $202,714 ($288,220 total) {week 1}
26. Rachel Getting Married – $130,230 ($9,785,033 total) {week 12}
28. Changeling – $101,905 ($35,397,257 total) {week 9}
29. The Reader – $92,790 ($349,240 total) {week 2}
31. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $72,723 ($22,658,945 total) {week 19}
38. The Dark Knight – $51,743 ($530,811,565 total) {week 23}
40. Happy-Go-Lucky – $44,621 ($3,101,671 total) {week 11}
55. WALL-E – $11,074 ($223,773,410 total) {week 26}
63. Man on Wire – $5,917 ($2,913,155 total) {week 22}
76. Frozen River – $1,471 ($2,307,807 total) {week 21}
89. Trouble the Water – $242 ($486,362 total) {week 18}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Bolt – $3,754,657 ($85,924,644 total)
8. Slumdog Millionaire – $2,764,943 ($10,899,032 total)
9. Australia – $1,968,559 ($37,843,512 total)
11. Milk – $1,565,617 ($1,276,681 total)
15. Doubt – $616,546 ($1,267,182 total)
19. Frost/Nixon – $342,297 ($1,350,222 total)
24. The Wrestler – $183,542 ($260,961 total)
26. Rachel Getting Married – $117,913 ($8,859,589 total)
28. Changeling – $92,267 ($32,049,471 total)
29. The Reader – $84,014 ($316,210 total)
31. Vicky Cristina Barcelona – $65,845 ($20,515,917 total)
38. The Dark Knight – $46,849 ($480,608,706 total)
40. Happy-Go-Lucky – $40,401 ($2,808,323 total)
55. WALL-E – $10,027 ($202,609,468 total)
63. Man on Wire – $5,357 ($2,637,636 total)
76. Frozen River – $1,332 ($2,089,540 total)
89. Trouble the Water – $219 ($440,363 total)

Oscar Details:

• Australia: Costume Design
• Bolt: Animated Feature
• Changeling: Actress (Angelina Jolie), Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Dark Knight: Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Doubt: Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), Supporting Actress (Viola Davis), Adapted Screenplay
• Frost/Nixon: Picture, Director, Actor (Frank Langella), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Frozen River: Actress (Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay
• Happy-Go-Lucky: Original Screenplay
• Man on Wire: Documentary Feature [O]
• Milk: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Josh Brolin), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Costume Design
• Rachel Getting Married: Actress (Anne Hathaway)
• The Reader: Picture, Director, Actress (Kate Winslet) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography
• Slumdog Millionaire: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Jai Ho”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing
• Trouble the Water: Documentary Feature
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz) [O]
• WALL-E: Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Down to Earth”), Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• The Wrestler: Actor (Mickey Rourke), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 19-21, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $72,629,713 ($124,100,534 total) {week 1}
3. Something’s Gotta Give – $11,416,793 ($33,429,833 total) {week 2}
4. The Last Samurai – $7,769,301 ($59,487,166 total) {week 3}
12. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $1,500,514 ($78,522,124 total) {week 6}
15. In America – $505,989 ($1,422,980 total) {week 4}
16. Brother Bear – $451,406 ($81,110,628 total) {week 9}
19. Mystic River – $305,385 ($52,989,083 total) {week 11}
20. The Cooler – $284,871 ($678,555 total) {week 4}
22. Lost in Translation – $263,089 ($30,032,134 total) {week 15}
23. 21 Grams – $259,484 ($3,308,691 total) {week 5}
26. Big Fish – $164,641 ($562,525 total) {week 2}
37. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $71,051 ($205,640 total) {week 2}
38. The Triplets of Belleville – $65,648 ($391,719 total) {week 4}
43. House of Sand and Fog – $45,572 ($45,572 total) {week 1}
44. Pieces of April – $43,978 ($2,313,443 total) {week 10}
46. The Fog of War – $41,449 ($41,449 total) {week 1}
48. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $40,528 ($305,343,252 total) {week 24}
64. Tupac: Resurrection – $18,042 ($7,707,563 total) {week 6}
66. My Architect – $16,185 ($278,713 total) {week 6}
85. City of God – $3,810 ($4,775,067 total) {week 49}
86. Dirty Pretty Things – $3,720 ($8,058,634 total) {week 23}
109. The Weather Underground – $449 ($494,125 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – $55,227,890 ($94,366,484 total)
3. Something’s Gotta Give – $8,681,370 ($25,420,163 total)
4. The Last Samurai – $5,907,804 ($45,234,251 total)
12. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – $1,140,996 ($59,708,500 total)
15. In America – $384,756 ($1,082,039 total)
16. Brother Bear – $343,251 ($61,676,808 total)
19. Mystic River – $232,216 ($40,293,086 total)
20. The Cooler – $216,617 ($515,976 total)
22. Lost in Translation – $200,054 ($22,836,541 total)
23. 21 Grams – $197,313 ($2,515,940 total)
26. Big Fish – $125,194 ($427,746 total)
37. Girl with a Pearl Earring – $54,027 ($156,369 total)
38. The Triplets of Belleville – $49,919 ($297,865 total)
43. House of Sand and Fog – $34,653 ($34,653 total)
44. Pieces of April – $33,441 ($1,759,150 total)
46. The Fog of War – $31,518 ($31,518 total)
48. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – $30,818 ($232,184,087 total)
64. Tupac: Resurrection – $13,719 ($5,860,858 total)
66. My Architect – $12,307 ($211,934 total)
85. City of God – $2,897 ($3,630,978 total)
86. Dirty Pretty Things – $2,829 ($6,127,814 total)
109. The Weather Underground – $341 ($375,734 total)

Oscar Details:

• 21 Grams: Actress (Naomi Watts), Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro)
• Big Fish: Original Score
• Brother Bear: Animated Feature
• City of God: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• The Cooler: Supporting Actor (Alec Baldwin)
• Dirty Pretty Things: Original Screenplay
• The Fog of War: Documentary Feature [O]
• Girl with a Pearl Earring: Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design
• House of Sand and Fog: Actor (Ben Kingsley), Supporting Actress (Shohreh Aghdashloo), Original Score
• In America: Actress (Samantha Morton), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Original Screenplay
• The Last Samurai: Supporting Actor (Ken Watanabe), Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Picture [O], Director [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Song (“Into the West”) [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound Mixing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Lost in Translation: Picture, Director, Actor (Bill Murray), Original Screenplay [O]
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: Picture, Director, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects
• My Architect: Documentary Feature
• Mystic River: Picture, Director, Actor (Sean Penn) [O], Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) [O], Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), Adapted Screenplay
• Pieces of April: Supporting Actress (Patricia Clarkson)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: Actor (Johnny Depp), Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
• Something’s Gotta Give: Actress (Diane Keaton)
• The Triplets of Belleville: Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
• Tupac: Resurrection : Documentary Feature
• The Weather Underground: Documentary Feature

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 18-20, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Prince of Egypt – $14,524,321 ($14,524,321 total) {week 1}
3. A Bug’s Life – $987,932 ($96,342,660 total) {week 5}
10. Elizabeth – $931,078 ($13,180,224 total) {week 7}
12. Life Is Beautiful – $616,260 ($8,043,944 total) {week 9}
13. Babe: Pig in the City – $579,505 ($14,546,720 total) {week 4}
999. Shakespeare in Love – $340,495 ($688,478 total) {week 2}
999. A Simple Plan – $406,036 ($960,130 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Prince of Egypt – $8,590,046 ($8,590,046 total)
3. A Bug’s Life – $584,288 ($56,979,455 total)
10. Elizabeth – $550,663 ($7,795,114 total)
12. Life Is Beautiful – $364,472 ($4,757,389 total)
13. Babe: Pig in the City – $342,734 ($8,603,293 total)
999. Shakespeare in Love – $201,377 ($407,183 total)
999. A Simple Plan – $240,140 ($567,845 total)

Oscar Details:

• Babe: Pig in the City: Original Song (“That’ll Do”)
• A Bug’s Life: Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Elizabeth: Picture, Actress (Cate Blanchett), Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup
• Life Is Beautiful: Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Prince of Egypt: Original Song (“When You Believe”) [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Shakespeare in Love: Picture [O], Director, Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• A Simple Plan: Supporting Actor (Billy Bob Thornton), Adapted Screenplay

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 17-19, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

2. Mrs. Doubtfire – $9,056,287 ($72,648,376 total) {week 4}
4. Beethoven’s 2nd – $6,017,225 ($6,017,225 total) {week 1}
6. Geronimo: An American Legend – $2,310,738 ($7,785,870 total) {week 1}
9. Addams Family Values – $1,169,495 ($40,751,165 total) {week 5}
10. The Piano – $1,071,907 ($10,961,290 total) {week 6}
13. Jurassic Park – $694,575 ($336,817,970 total) {week 28}
14. Schindler’s List – $656,636 ($935,263 total) {week 1}
999. Six Degrees of Separation – $35,857 ($127,776 total) {week 2}
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $74,421 ($74,421 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Mrs. Doubtfire – $4,727,999 ($37,927,399 total)
4. Beethoven’s 2nd – $3,141,401 ($3,141,401 total)
6. Geronimo: An American Legend – $1,206,363 ($4,064,754 total)
9. Addams Family Values – $610,556 ($21,274,883 total)
10. The Piano – $559,608 ($5,722,540 total)
13. Jurassic Park – $362,615 ($175,841,916 total)
14. Schindler’s List – $342,809 ($488,271 total)
999. Six Degrees of Separation – $18,720 ($66,708 total)
999. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – $38,853 ($38,853 total)

Oscar Details:

• Addams Family Values: Art Direction
• Beethoven’s 2nd: Original Song (“The Day I Fall in Love”)
• Geronimo: An American Legend: Sound
• Jurassic Park: Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Mrs. Doubtfire: Makeup [O]
• The Piano: Picture, Director, Actress (Holly Hunter) [O], Supporting Actress (Anna Paquin) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Schindler’s List: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Liam Neeson), Supporting Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup, Sound
• Six Degrees of Separation: Actress (Stockard Channing)
• What’s Eating Gilbert Grape: Supporting Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 16-18, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

2. Rain Man – $7,005,719 ($7,005,719 total) {week 1}
4. Scrooged – $4,561,210 ($41,887,818 total) {week 4}
6. Tequila Sunrise – $3,008,168 ($16,807,557 total) {week 3}
999. Mississippi Burning – $160,628 ($480,372 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Rain Man – $3,630,959 ($3,630,959 total)
4. Scrooged – $2,364,007 ($21,709,827 total)
6. Tequila Sunrise – $1,559,088 ($8,711,105 total)
999. Mississippi Burning – $83,251 ($248,970 total)

Oscar Details:

• Mississippi Burning: Picture, Director, Actor (Gene Hackman), Supporting Actress (Frances McDormand), Editing, Cinematography [O], Sound
• Rain Man: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Dustin Hoffman) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction
• Scrooged: Makeup
• Tequila Sunrise: Cinematography

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Dec. 23-25, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

2. Terms of Endearment – $4,290,254 ($25,772,894 total) {week 5}
5. Yentl – $2,637,697 ($11,834,972 total) {week 6}
11. To Be or Not to Be – $1,659,470 ($3,346,839 total) {week 2}
13. Silkwood – $1,431,199 ($3,699,005 total) {week 2}
15. Return of the Jedi – $1,213,489 ($246,174,591 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Terms of Endearment – $1,704,199 ($10,237,657 total)
5. Yentl – $1,047,761 ($4,701,155 total)
11. To Be or Not to Be – $659,184 ($1,329,451 total)
13. Silkwood – $568,509 ($1,469,340 total)
15. Return of the Jedi – $482,029 ($97,786,880 total)

Oscar Details:

• Return of the Jedi: Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
• Silkwood: Directing, Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actress (Cher), Original Screenplay, Editing
• Terms of Endearment: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actress (Shirley MacLaine) [O], Actress (Debra Winger), Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Art Direction, Sound
• To Be or Not to Be: Supporting Actor (Charles Durning)
• Yentl: Supporting Actress (Amy Irving), Original Song (“Papa, Can You Hear Me?”), Original Song (“The Way He Makes Me Feel”), Original Song Score [O], Art Direction