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

The Lego Batman Movie (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Animated Feature.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 10-12, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

9. The Descendants – $3,441,676 ($70,671,289 total) {week 13}
13. The Artist – $2,240,252 ($24,002,038 total) {week 12}
14. Hugo – $1,765,205 ($64,442,024 total) {week 12}
15. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – $1,473,011 ($29,406,900 total) {week 8}
18. The Iron Lady – $1,155,969 ($22,797,264 total) {week 7}
22. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – $547,509 ($21,995,078 total) {week 10}
24. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – $493,306 ($100,814,095 total) {week 8}
26. War Horse – $451,793 ($78,200,167 total) {week 8}
29. The Adventures of Tintin – $340,028 ($75,871,486 total) {week 8}
31. Albert Nobbs – $274,819 ($2,034,398 total) {week 3}
32. The Muppets – $271,985 ($87,777,650 total) {week 12}
33. A Separation – $265,801 ($1,622,398 total) {week 7}
34. Pina – $257,286 ($1,705,462 total) {week 8}
35. Puss in Boots – $217,342 ($148,741,020 total) {week 16}
36. My Week with Marilyn – $208,012 ($13,344,068 total) {week 12}
48. W.E. – $59,646 ($123,793 total) {week 2}
54. In Darkness – $27,413 ($49,104 total) {week 1}
56. Chico & Rita – $20,654 ($20,654 total) {week 1}
58. Real Steel – $19,451 ($85,463,309 total) {week 19}
62. Midnight in Paris – $17,567 ($56,534,737 total) {week 39}
67. The Help – $10,474 ($169,635,347 total) {week 27}
100. Margin Call – $743 ($5,353,586 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. The Descendants – $3,532,474 ($72,535,733 total)
13. The Artist – $2,299,354 ($24,635,258 total)
14. Hugo – $1,811,774 ($66,142,128 total)
15. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – $1,511,872 ($30,182,710 total)
18. The Iron Lady – $1,186,466 ($23,398,699 total)
22. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – $561,953 ($22,575,350 total)
24. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – $506,320 ($103,473,763 total)
26. War Horse – $463,712 ($80,263,237 total)
29. The Adventures of Tintin – $348,999 ($77,873,121 total)
31. Albert Nobbs – $282,069 ($2,088,069 total)
32. The Muppets – $279,160 ($90,093,392 total)
33. A Separation – $272,813 ($1,665,200 total)
34. Pina – $264,074 ($1,750,455 total)
35. Puss in Boots – $223,076 ($152,665,092 total)
36. My Week with Marilyn – $213,500 ($13,696,110 total)
48. W.E. – $61,220 ($127,059 total)
54. In Darkness – $28,136 ($50,399 total)
56. Chico & Rita – $21,199 ($21,199 total)
58. Real Steel – $19,964 ($87,717,994 total)
62. Midnight in Paris – $18,030 ($58,026,231 total)
67. The Help – $10,750 ($174,110,651 total)
100. Margin Call – $763 ($5,494,824 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Adventures of Tintin: Original Score
• Albert Nobbs: Actress (Glenn Close), Supporting Actress (Janet McTeer), Makeup
• The Artist: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Jean Dujardin) [O], Supporting Actress (Bérénice Bejo), Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
• Chico & Rita: Animated Feature
• The Descendants: Picture, Directing, Actor (George Clooney), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing
• Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close: Picture, Supporting Actor (Max von Sydow)
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Actress (Rooney Mara), Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• The Help: Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer [O])
• Hugo: Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• In Darkness: Foreign Language Film
• The Iron Lady: Actress (Meryl Streep) [O], Makeup [O]
• Margin Call: Original Screenplay
• Midnight in Paris: Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction
• The Muppets: Original Song (“Man or Muppet”)
• My Week with Marilyn: Actress (Michelle Williams), Supporting Actor (Kenneth Branagh)
• Pina: Documentary Feature
• Puss in Boots: Animated Feature
• Real Steel: Visual Effects
• A Separation: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Actor (Gary Oldman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• W.E.: Costume Design
• War Horse: Picture, Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 9-11, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

1. Norbit – $34,195,434 ($34,195,434 total) {week 1}
8. Pan’s Labyrinth – $3,577,283 ($26,619,057 total) {week 7}
9. Dreamgirls – $2,980,967 ($97,006,872 total) {week 9}
10. The Queen – $2,373,121 ($48,897,648 total) {week 20}
12. The Pursuit of Happyness – $2,353,543 ($160,490,618 total) {week 9}
14. Letters from Iwo Jima – $1,729,451 ($9,935,921 total) {week 8}
15. Babel – $1,677,367 ($32,019,555 total) {week 16}
16. Notes on a Scandal – $1,542,843 ($13,926,668 total) {week 8}
17. The Departed – $1,342,338 ($130,744,874 total) {week 19}
18. The Last King of Scotland – $1,340,740 ($11,449,370 total) {week 20}
20. Children of Men – $809,190 ($33,924,363 total) {week 7}
21. Blood Diamond – $784,416 ($55,104,016 total) {week 10}
24. Volver – $579,982 ($10,946,263 total) {week 15}
25. Happy Feet – $533,160 ($193,383,272 total) {week 13}
27. Venus – $470,071 ($1,837,193 total) {week 8}
34. Little Children – $229,487 ($4,701,836 total) {week 19}
36. The Lives of Others – $213,589 ($220,971 total) {week 1}
39. The Good Shepherd – $171,925 ($59,731,690 total) {week 8}
42. Apocalypto – $160,207 ($50,612,000 total) {week 10}
46. Borat – $123,487 ($128,262,372 total) {week 15}
50. The Curse of the Golden Flower – $65,378 ($6,466,942 total) {week 8}
52. The Good German – $64,029 ($1,111,392 total) {week 9}
62. Little Miss Sunshine – $29,062 ($59,719,677 total) {week 29}
73. Iraq in Fragments – $6,924 ($97,688 total) {week 12}
76. Operation Homecoming – $4,516 ($4,516 total) {week 1}
92. Jesus Camp – $1,875 ($901,531 total) {week 22}
98. The Illusionist – $1,380 ($39,867,879 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Norbit – $40,607,078 ($40,607,078 total)
8. Pan’s Labyrinth – $4,248,024 ($31,610,130 total)
9. Dreamgirls – $3,539,898 ($115,195,661 total)
10. The Queen – $2,818,081 ($58,065,957 total)
12. The Pursuit of Happyness – $2,794,832 ($190,582,609 total)
14. Letters from Iwo Jima – $2,053,723 ($11,798,906 total)
15. Babel – $1,991,873 ($38,023,222 total)
16. Notes on a Scandal – $1,832,126 ($16,537,918 total)
17. The Departed – $1,594,026 ($155,259,538 total)
18. The Last King of Scotland – $1,592,129 ($13,596,127 total)
20. Children of Men – $960,913 ($40,285,181 total)
21. Blood Diamond – $931,494 ($65,436,019 total)
24. Volver – $688,729 ($12,998,687 total)
25. Happy Feet – $633,128 ($229,642,636 total)
27. Venus – $558,209 ($2,181,667 total)
34. Little Children – $272,516 ($5,583,430 total)
36. The Lives of Others – $253,637 ($262,403 total)
39. The Good Shepherd – $204,161 ($70,931,382 total)
42. Apocalypto – $190,246 ($60,101,750 total)
46. Borat – $146,641 ($152,311,567 total)
50. The Curse of the Golden Flower – $77,636 ($7,679,494 total)
52. The Good German – $76,034 ($1,319,778 total)
62. Little Miss Sunshine – $34,511 ($70,917,116 total)
73. Iraq in Fragments – $8,222 ($116,005 total)
76. Operation Homecoming – $5,363 ($5,363 total)
92. Jesus Camp – $2,227 ($1,070,568 total)
98. The Illusionist – $1,639 ($47,343,106 total)

Oscar Details:

• Apocalypto: Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Babel: Picture, Supporting Actress (Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi), Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Editing
• Blood Diamond: Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Borat: Adapted Screenplay
• Children of Men: Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
• The Curse of the Golden Flower: Costume Design
• The Departed: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Mark Wahlberg), Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing
• Dreamgirls: Supporting Actor (Eddie Murphy), Supporting Actress (Jennifer Hudson) [O], Original Song (“Listen”, “Love You I Do”, “Patience”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound [O]
• The Good German: Original Score
• The Good Shepherd: Art Direction
• Happy Feet: Animated Feature [O]
• The Illusionist: Cinematography
• Iraq in Fragments: Documentary Feature
• Jesus Camp: Documentary Feature
• The Last King of Scotland: Actor (Forest Whitaker [O])
• Letters from Iwo Jima: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Sound Editing [O]
• Little Children: Actress (Kate Winslet), Supporting Actor (Jackie Earle Haley), Adapted Screenplay
• Little Miss Sunshine: Picture, Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin [O]), Supporting Actress (Abigail Breslin), Original Screenplay [O]
• The Lives of Others: Foreign Language Film
• Norbit: Makeup
• Notes on a Scandal: Actress (Judi Dench), Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Operation Homecoming: Documentary Feature
• Pan’s Labyrinth: Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Makeup [O], Foreign Language Film
• The Pursuit of Happyness: Actor (Will Smith)
• The Queen: Picture, Director, Actress (Helen Mirren [O]), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Costume Design
• Venus: Actor (Peter O’Toole)
• Volver: Actress (Penelope Cruz)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 8-10, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

4. Black Hawk Down – $8,003,621 ($86,716,746 total) {week 7}
7. A Beautiful Mind – $6,304,800 ($113,271,766 total) {week 8}
10. I Am Sam – $4,619,148 ($23,843,342 total) {week 7}
11. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $3,618,397 ($271,416,919 total) {week 8}
12. Monster’s Ball – $2,321,246 ($3,938,683 total) {week 7}
13. Gosford Park – $1,891,252 ($22,020,111 total) {week 7}
14. In the Bedroom – $1,694,211 ($19,291,142 total) {week 12}
15. The Royal Tenenbaums – $1,533,098 ($47,055,390 total) {week 9}
23. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $721,706 ($78,614,532 total) {week 7}
24. Amelie – $699,592 ($24,567,592 total) {week 15}
25. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $553,302 ($313,736,007 total) {week 13}
26. Vanilla Sky – $527,986 ($98,467,985 total) {week 1}
29. Kate & Leopold – $290,905 ($46,849,533 total) {week 7}
31. Monsters, Inc. – $280,877 ($251,644,856 total) {week 15}
40. Mulholland Drive – $73,485 ($6,649,583 total) {week 18}
47. Ali – $40,318 ($58,183,966 total) {week 7}
48. No Man’s Land – $34,400 ($499,572 total) {week 10}
54. The Man Who Wasn’t There – $23,984 ($7,408,032 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Black Hawk Down – $11,254,662 ($121,940,760 total)
7. A Beautiful Mind – $8,865,786 ($159,282,328 total)
10. I Am Sam – $6,495,428 ($33,528,417 total)
11. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $5,088,176 ($381,665,444 total)
12. Monster’s Ball – $3,264,127 ($5,538,561 total)
13. Gosford Park – $2,659,471 ($30,964,597 total)
14. In the Bedroom – $2,382,393 ($27,127,131 total)
15. The Royal Tenenbaums – $2,155,837 ($66,169,111 total)
23. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $1,014,860 ($110,547,457 total)
24. Amelie – $983,764 ($34,546,855 total)
25. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $778,051 ($441,174,385 total)
26. Vanilla Sky – $742,452 ($138,465,308 total)
29. Kate & Leopold – $409,070 ($65,879,636 total)
31. Monsters, Inc. – $394,968 ($353,862,044 total)
40. Mulholland Drive – $103,334 ($9,350,618 total)
47. Ali – $56,695 ($81,818,073 total)
48. No Man’s Land – $48,373 ($702,496 total)
54. The Man Who Wasn’t There – $33,726 ($10,417,147 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ali: Actor (Will Smith), Supporting Actor (Jon Voight)
• Amelie: Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Foreign Language Film
• A Beautiful Mind: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Russell Crowe), Supporting Actress (Jennifer Connelly) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Makeup
• Black Hawk Down: Directing, Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound [O]
• Gosford Park: Picture, Director, Supporting Actress (Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith), Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• I Am Sam: Actor (Sean Penn)
• In the Bedroom: Picture, Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Actress (Sissy Spacek), Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei), Adapted Screenplay
• Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius: Animated Feature
• Kate & Leopold: Original Song (“Until”)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Ian McKellen), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Original Song (“May It Be”), Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• The Man Who Wasn’t There: Cinematography
• Monster’s Ball: Actress (Halle Berry) [O], Original Screenplay
• Monsters, Inc.: Animated Feature, Original Song (If I Didn’t Have You [O]), Original Score, Sound Editing
• Mulholland Drive: Director
• No Man’s Land: Foreign Language Film
• The Royal Tenenbaums: Original Screenplay
• Vanilla Sky: Original Song (“Vanilla Sky”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 7-9, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

4. Jerry Maguire – $3,580,033 ($121,282,251 total) {week 9}
6. Evita – $3,001,066 ($40,993,867 total) {week 7}
8. The English Patient – $2,237,749 ($42,013,561 total) {week 13}
15. Shine – $1,030,587 ($15,992,423 total) {week 12}
21. The People vs. Larry Flynt – $600,288 ($18,778,141 total) {week 7}
23. One Fine Day – $411,984 ($44,230,542 total) {week 8}
26. Hamlet – $344,057 ($2,121,048 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Jerry Maguire – $6,372,303 ($215,877,122 total)
6. Evita – $5,341,767 ($72,967,297 total)
8. The English Patient – $3,983,096 ($74,782,308 total)
15. Shine – $1,834,400 ($28,465,816 total)
21. The People vs. Larry Flynt – $1,068,486 ($33,424,273 total)
23. One Fine Day – $733,314 ($78,728,438 total)
26. Hamlet – $612,406 ($3,775,373 total)

Oscar Details:

• The English Patient: Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Actress (Kristin Scott Thomas), Supporting Actress (Juliette Binoche [O]), Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O]
• Evita: Original Song (“You Must Love Me”) [O], Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound
• Hamlet: Adapted Screenplay, Drama Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Jerry Maguire: Picture, Actor (Tom Cruise), Supporting Actor (Cuba Gooding Jr.) [O], Original Screenplay, Film Editing
• One Fine Day: Original Song (“For the First Time”)
• The People vs. Larry Flynt: Director, Actor (Woody Harrelson)
• Shine: Picture, Director, Actor (Geoffrey Rush) [O], Supporting Actor (Armin Mueller-Stahl), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 7-9, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

4. Fried Green Tomatoes – $6,157,290 ($25,342,589 total) {week 7}
7. Grand Canyon – $2,461,245 ($23,988,943 total) {week 7}
8. Beauty and the Beast – $2,309,007 ($106,427,543 total) {week 13}
9. JFK – $2,308,799 ($57,947,808 total) {week 8}
10. Hook – $2,101,370 ($190,921,554 total) {week 9}
11. The Prince of Tides – $2,039,017 ($59,191,494 total) {week 7}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Fried Green Tomatoes – $12,121,701 ($49,891,314 total)
7. Grand Canyon – $4,845,391 ($47,226,425 total)
8. Beauty and the Beast – $4,545,684 ($209,521,211 total)
9. JFK – $4,545,274 ($114,080,383 total)
10. Hook – $4,136,914 ($375,862,433 total)
11. The Prince of Tides – $4,014,161 ($116,528,797 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beauty and the Beast: Picture, Original Song (“Be Our Guest”, “Beauty and the Beast” [O], “Belle”), Original Score [O], Sound
• Fried Green Tomatoes: Supporting Actress (Jessica Tandy), Adapted Screenplay
• Grand Canyon: Original Screenplay
• Hook: Original Song (“When You’re Alone”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Visual Effects
• JFK: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones), Adapted Screnplay, Original Score, Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Sound
• The Prince of Tides: Picture, Actor (Nick Nolte), Supporting Actress (Kate Nelligan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 6-8, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Platoon – $8,179,149 ($38,342,073 total) {week 8}
6. Crocodile Dundee – $2,589,206 ($143,241,200 total) {week 20}
8. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – $1,608,416 ($101,704,122 total) {week 12}
10. Radio Days – $1,318,002 ($3,421,661 total) {week 2}
11. Little Shop of Horrors – $1,112,016 ($34,656,704 total) {week 8}
13. The Mission – $963,000 ($10,991,140 total) {week 10}
999. Children of a Lesser God – $105,911 ($22,116,653 total) {week 12}
999. A Room with a View – $75,973 ($11,481,779 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Platoon – $17,090,447 ($80,116,301 total)
6. Crocodile Dundee – $5,410,182 ($299,304,502 total)
8. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – $3,360,808 ($212,512,194 total)
10. Radio Days – $2,753,984 ($7,149,609 total)
11. Little Shop of Horrors – $2,323,573 ($72,415,671 total)
13. The Mission – $2,012,202 ($22,966,142 total)
999. Children of a Lesser God – $221,303 ($46,213,058 total)
999. A Room with a View – $158,747 ($23,991,339 total)

Oscar Details:

• Children of a Lesser God: Picture, Actor (William Hurt), Actress (Marlee Matlin [O]), Supporting Actress (Piper Laurie), Adapted Screenplay
• Crocodile Dundee: Original Screenplay
• Little Shop of Horrors: Original Song (“Mean Green Mother from Outer Space”), Visual Effects
• The Mission: Picture, Director, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
• Platoon: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe), Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound [O]
• Radio Days: Original Screenplay, Art Direction
• A Room with a View: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Denholm Elliott), Supporting Actress (Maggie Smith), Adapted Screenplay [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O]
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: Original Score, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 5-7, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. On Golden Pond – $4,900,463 ($19,255,967 total) {week 10}
2. Absence of Malice – $1,837,530 ($32,739,501 total) {week 11}
5. Chariots of Fire – $1,669,582 ($7,627,460 total) {week 11}
7. Raiders of the Lost Ark – $1,281,561 ($187,406,147 total) {week 7}
10. Reds – $886,581 ($28,116,972 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. On Golden Pond – $13,617,953 ($53,510,629 total)
2. Absence of Malice – $5,106,333 ($90,980,178 total)
5. Chariots of Fire – $4,639,621 ($21,196,037 total)
7. Raiders of the Lost Ark – $3,561,345 ($520,785,109 total)
10. Reds – $2,463,730 ($78,134,579 total)

Oscar Details:

• Absence of Malice: Actor (Paul Newman), Supporting Actress (Melinda Dillon), Original Screenplay
• Chariots of Fire: Picture [O], Director, Supporting Actor (Ian Holm), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Editing, Costume Design [O]
• On Golden Pond: Picture, Director, Actor (Henry Fonda) [O], Actress (Katharine Hepburn) [O], Supporting Actress (Jane Fonda), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Sound
• Raiders of the Lost Ark: Picture, Director, Original Score, Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Reds: Picture, Director [O], Actor (Warren Beatty), Actress (Diane Keaton), Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson), Supporting Actress (Maureen Stapleton) [O], Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound