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

None

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 18-20, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

7. The King’s Speech – $6,529,530 ($103,241,506 total) {week 13}
11. True Grit – $2,410,521 ($164,128,024 total) {week 9}
13. The Fighter – $1,567,302 ($87,978,800 total) {week 11}
15. Black Swan – $1,327,788 ($101,536,863 total) {week 12}
19. Barney’s Version – $620,081 ($1,965,438 total) {week 6}
20. Tangled – $534,351 ($194,097,938 total) {week 13}
21. Biutiful – $537,614 ($3,037,665 total) {week 4}
23. Tron: Legacy – $452,223 ($170,441,511 total) {week 10}
24. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $359,045 ($293,901,794 total) {week 14}
25. Blue Valentine – $330,177 ($8,829,644 total) {week 8}
26. 127 Hours – $319,289 ($17,412,209 total) {week 16}
28. The Illusionist – $303,523 ($1,137,549 total) {week 8}
32. Another Year – $206,934 ($2,487,912 total) {week 8}
40. The Social Network – $88,432 ($96,760,021 total) {week 21}
43. Rabbit Hole – $56,680 ($1,974,842 total) {week 10}
50. Inside Job – $23,523 ($3,969,891 total) {week 20}
52. Winter’s Bone – $17,713 ($6,421,490 total) {week 37}
55. The Way Back – $14,912 ($2,673,855 total) {week 5}
999. Animal Kingdom – $450 ($1,041,082 total) {week 28}
999. Dogtooth – $339 ($105,168 total) {week 35}
999. The Tempest – $844 ($277,515 total) {week 11}
999. Waste Land – $5,351 ($154,235 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. The King’s Speech – $6,727,145 ($106,366,091 total)
11. True Grit – $2,483,475 ($169,095,329 total)
13. The Fighter – $1,614,736 ($90,641,462 total)
15. Black Swan – $1,367,973 ($104,609,858 total)
19. Barney’s Version – $638,848 ($2,024,922 total)
20. Tangled – $550,523 ($199,972,277 total)
21. Biutiful – $553,885 ($3,129,599 total)
23. Tron: Legacy – $465,909 ($175,599,892 total)
24. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $369,911 ($302,796,678 total)
25. Blue Valentine – $340,170 ($9,096,872 total)
26. 127 Hours – $328,952 ($17,939,186 total)
28. The Illusionist – $312,709 ($1,171,977 total)
32. Another Year – $213,197 ($2,563,208 total)
40. The Social Network – $91,108 ($99,688,445 total)
43. Rabbit Hole – $58,395 ($2,034,610 total)
50. Inside Job – $24,235 ($4,090,039 total)
52. Winter’s Bone – $18,249 ($6,615,835 total)
55. The Way Back – $15,363 ($2,754,779 total)
999. Animal Kingdom – $464 ($1,072,590 total)
999. Dogtooth – $349 ($108,351 total)
999. The Tempest – $870 ($285,914 total)
999. Waste Land – $5,513 ($158,903 total)

Oscar Details:

• 127 Hours: Picture, Actor (James Franco), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“If I Rise”), Editing
• Animal Kingdom: Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver)
• Another Year: Original Screenplay
• Barney’s Version: Makeup
• Biutiful: Actor (Javier Bardem), Foreign Language Film
• Black Swan: Picture, Direcing, Actress (Natalie Portman) [O], Editing, Cinematography
• Blue Valentine: Actress (Michelle Williams)
• 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
• The Illusionist: Animated Feature
• 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
• Rabbit Hole: Actress (Nicole Kidman)
• 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
• Tron: Legacy: Sound Editing
• True Grit: Picture, Directing, Actor (Jeff Bridges), Supporting Actress (Hailee Steinfeld), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing
• Waste Land: Documentary Feature
• The Way Back: Makeup
• Winter’s Bone: Picture, Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Adapted Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 17-19, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

11. Brokeback Mountain – $3,190,960 ($71,433,222 total) {week 11}
12. Walk the Line – $1,541,419 ($116,070,807 total) {week 14}
14. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $1,326,902 ($286,745,514 total) {week 11}
15. Match Point – $1,239,123 ($20,151,653 total) {week 8}
18. Capote – $1,147,009 ($21,807,453 total) {week 21}
19. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $925,913 ($5,641,044 total) {week 11}
20. Good Night, and Good Luck. – $739,391 ($29,294,176 total) {week 20}
21. Munich – $666,990 ($45,280,755 total) {week 9}
24. Transamerica – $605,445 ($3,655,820 total) {week 12}
28. King Kong – $377,340 ($216,253,650 total) {week 10}
29. The New World – $352,878 ($11,926,906 total) {week 9}
35. Syriana – $223,929 ($49,065,208 total) {week 13}
39. Memoirs of a Geisha – $197,041 ($53,443,308 total) {week 11}
46. Pride & Prejudice – $123,119 ($38,221,026 total) {week 15}
49. The Squid and the Whale – $94,099 ($7,051,157 total) {week 20}
60. Paradise Now – $29,996 ($1,301,968 total) {week 17}
62. Days of Glory – $19,439 ($19,439 total) {week 9}
67. Sophie Scholl – $17,310 ($17,310 total) {week 1}
76. Darwin’s Nightmare – $10,044 ($146,333 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

11. Brokeback Mountain – $3,980,175 ($89,100,675 total)
12. Walk the Line – $1,922,655 ($144,778,396 total)
14. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $1,655,082 ($357,665,779 total)
15. Match Point – $1,545,593 ($25,135,726 total)
18. Capote – $1,430,697 ($27,201,052 total)
19. Mrs. Henderson Presents – $1,154,917 ($7,036,234 total)
20. Good Night, and Good Luck. – $922,263 ($36,539,453 total)
21. Munich – $831,955 ($56,479,965 total)
24. Transamerica – $755,189 ($4,560,008 total)
28. King Kong – $470,667 ($269,739,286 total)
29. The New World – $440,155 ($14,876,767 total)
35. Syriana – $279,313 ($61,200,420 total)
39. Memoirs of a Geisha – $245,775 ($66,661,348 total)
46. Pride & Prejudice – $153,570 ($47,674,165 total)
49. The Squid and the Whale – $117,372 ($8,795,107 total)
60. Paradise Now – $37,415 ($1,623,981 total)
62. Days of Glory – $24,247 ($24,247 total)
67. Sophie Scholl – $21,591 ($21,591 total)
76. Darwin’s Nightmare – $12,528 ($182,525 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
• Darwin’s Nightmare: Documentary Feature
• Days of Glory: Foreign Language Film
• Good Night, and Good Luck.: Picture, Directing, Actor (David Strathairn), Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction
• King Kong: Art Direction, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Match Point: Original Screenplay
• 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
• Munich: Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Editing
• The New World: Cinematography
• Paradise Now: Foreign Language Film
• Pride & Prejudice: Actress (Keira Knightley), Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
• Sophie Scholl: Foreign Language Film
• 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

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 16-18, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $8,683,907 ($71,424,200 total) {week 11}
6. Traffic – $7,498,582 ($80,020,627 total) {week 8}
8. Chocolat – $5,669,966 ($34,078,868 total) {week 10}
9. Cast Away – $5,401,468 ($216,918,728 total) {week 9}
12. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $3,308,585 ($25,376,665 total) {week 9}
19. The Emperor’s New Groove – $1,123,663 ($84,876,378 total) {week 10}
22. Shadow of the Vampire – $638,251 ($6,516,140 total) {week 8}
23. 102 Dalmatians – $541,691 ($64,954,661 total) {week 13}
26. You Can Count on Me – $401,512 ($6,866,196 total) {week 15}
28. Before Night Falls – $397,047 ($1,887,839 total) {week 9}
31. Quills – $330,730 ($6,217,308 total) {week 13}
33. Pollock – $305,744 ($395,824 total) {week 10}
34. Billy Elliot – $300,840 ($19,992,750 total) {week 19}
35. Malena – $299,105 ($2,516,378 total) {week 9}
36. Meet the Parents – $250,255 ($165,192,600 total) {week 20}
43. Almost Famous – $173,665 ($32,112,674 total) {week 23}
46. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $90,165 ($259,928,470 total) {week 14}
48. Requiem for a Dream – $94,018 ($3,441,461 total) {week 20}
51. Gladiator – $58,948 ($186,669,000 total) {week 42}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $12,534,898 ($103,098,183 total)
6. Traffic – $10,823,925 ($115,506,806 total)
8. Chocolat – $8,184,386 ($49,191,582 total)
9. Cast Away – $7,796,819 ($313,114,136 total)
12. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $4,775,820 ($36,630,274 total)
19. The Emperor’s New Groove – $1,621,966 ($122,515,903 total)
22. Shadow of the Vampire – $921,292 ($9,405,806 total)
23. 102 Dalmatians – $781,911 ($93,759,643 total)
26. You Can Count on Me – $579,568 ($9,911,099 total)
28. Before Night Falls – $573,123 ($2,725,026 total)
31. Quills – $477,396 ($8,974,453 total)
33. Pollock – $441,330 ($571,357 total)
34. Billy Elliot – $434,251 ($28,858,793 total)
35. Malena – $431,747 ($3,632,298 total)
36. Meet the Parents – $361,234 ($238,449,389 total)
43. Almost Famous – $250,679 ($46,353,453 total)
46. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – $130,150 ($375,197,102 total)
48. Requiem for a Dream – $135,711 ($4,967,621 total)
51. Gladiator – $85,089 ($269,449,776 total)

Oscar Details:

• 102 Dalmatians: Costume Design
• Almost Famous: Supporting Actress (Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand), Original Screenplay [O], Editing
• Before Night Falls: Actor (Javier Bardem)
• Billy Elliot: Directing, Supporting Actress (Julie Walters), Original Screenplay
• Cast Away: Actor (Tom Hanks), Sound
• Chocolat: Picture, Actress (Juliette Binoche), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• 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]
• 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”)
• Gladiator: Picture [O], Directing, Actor (Russell Crowe) [O], Supporting Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Sound [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Malena: Original Score, Cinematography
• Meet the Parents: Original Song (“A Fool in Love”)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Cinematography
• 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)
• Shadow of the Vampire: Supporting Actor (Willem Dafoe), Makeup
• Traffic: Picture, Directing [O], Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Editing [O]
• You Can Count on Me: Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 16-18, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

5. Mr. Holland’s Opus – $6,264,015 ($48,816,751 total) {week 8}
8. Leaving Las Vegas – $3,111,682 ($19,948,671 total) {week 17}
9. Sense and Sensibility – $3,022,623 ($28,564,489 total) {week 10}
10. Dead Man Walking – $2,870,407 ($17,722,366 total) {week 8}
13. Braveheart – $1,474,122 ($68,521,645 total) {week 39}
15. Toy Story – $1,118,529 ($182,063,509 total) {week 13}
18. 12 Monkeys – $873,915 ($53,305,869 total) {week 8}
19. Babe – $838,365 ($59,080,135 total) {week 29}
20. Seven – $774,669 ($95,323,354 total) {week 22}
24. The Postman (Il Postino) – $607,606 ($11,347,334 total) {week 36}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Mr. Holland’s Opus – $11,578,507 ($90,233,678 total)
8. Leaving Las Vegas – $5,751,684 ($36,873,448 total)
9. Sense and Sensibility – $5,587,066 ($52,799,067 total)
10. Dead Man Walking – $5,305,707 ($32,758,310 total)
13. Braveheart – $2,724,791 ($126,656,525 total)
15. Toy Story – $2,067,507 ($336,529,156 total)
18. 12 Monkeys – $1,615,359 ($98,531,437 total)
19. Babe – $1,549,648 ($109,204,684 total)
20. Seven – $1,431,911 ($176,197,240 total)
24. The Postman (Il Postino) – $1,123,109 ($20,974,597 total)

Oscar Details:

• 12 Monkeys: Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Costume Design
• Babe: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (James Cromwell), Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Art Direction, Visual Effects [O]
• Braveheart: Picture [O], Directing [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing, Cinematography [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• Dead Man Walking: Directing, Actor (Sean Penn), Actress (Susan Sarandon) [O], Original Song (“Dead Man Walkin’”)
• Leaving Las Vegas: Directing, Actor (Nicolas Cage) [O], Actress (Elisabeth Shue), Adapted Screenplay
• Mr. Holland’s Opus: Actor (Richard Dreyfuss)
• The Postman (Il Postino): Picture, Directing, Actor (Massimo Troisi), Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O]
• Sense and Sensibility: Picture, Actress (Emma Thompson), Supporting Actress (Kate Winslet), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
• Seven: Editing
• Toy Story: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 15-17, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Silence of the Lambs – $13,766,814 ($13,766,814 total) {week 1}
4. Home Alone – $7,376,443 ($230,160,502 total) {week 14}
5. Dances With Wolves – $6,202,141 ($111,742,261 total) {week 15}
10. Awakenings – $2,727,892 ($40,163,707 total) {week 9}
11. Green Card – $2,377,467 ($21,857,074 total) {week 9}
14. Hamlet – $1,376,196 ($15,567,440 total) {week 9}
15. The Grifters – $1,107,069 ($10,094,475 total) {week 11}
16. The Godfather, Part III – $1,104,935 ($63,835,658 total) {week 9}
17. Good Fellas – $915,985 ($41,944,737 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Silence of the Lambs – $26,716,121 ($26,716,121 total)
4. Home Alone – $14,314,855 ($446,653,516 total)
5. Dances With Wolves – $12,035,984 ($216,848,996 total)
10. Awakenings – $5,293,795 ($77,942,396 total)
11. Green Card – $4,613,754 ($42,416,222 total)
14. Hamlet – $2,670,670 ($30,210,448 total)
15. The Grifters – $2,148,398 ($19,589,516 total)
16. The Godfather, Part III – $2,144,256 ($123,880,600 total)
17. Good Fellas – $1,777,577 ($81,398,694 total)

Oscar Details:

• Awakenings: Picture, Actor (Robert De Niro), Adapted Screenplay
• 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]
• The Godfather, Part III: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Andy Garcia), Original Song, Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction
• Good Fellas: Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci), Supporting Actres (Lorraine Bracco), Adapted Screenplay, Editing
• Green Card: Original Screenplay
• The Grifters: Directing, Actress (Anjelica Huston), Supporting Actress (Annette Bening), Adapted Screenplay
• Hamlet: Art Direction, Costume Design
• Home Alone: Original Song (“Somewhere in My Memory”), Original Score
• The Silence of the Lambs: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Anthony Hopkins) [O], Actress (Jodie Foster) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Sound

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 14-16, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Color Purple – $6,165,314 ($54,125,302 total) {week 9}
5. Out of Africa – $3,661,460 ($60,022,414 total) {week 9}
6. Murphy’s Romance – $3,559,495 ($14,645,622 total) {week 8}
10. Hannah and Her Sisters – $1,573,236 ($3,430,262 total) {week 2}
999. Back to the Future – $514,750 ($199,846,910 total) {week 33}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Color Purple – $13,576,985 ($119,192,377 total)
5. Out of Africa – $8,063,107 ($132,178,739 total)
6. Murphy’s Romance – $7,838,564 ($32,251,949 total)
10. Hannah and Her Sisters – $3,464,512 ($7,553,973 total)
999. Back to the Future – $1,133,560 ($440,094,139 total)

Oscar Details:

• Back to the Future: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Power of Love’), Sound, Sound Effects Editing [O]
• The Color Purple: Picture, Actress (Whoopi Goldberg), Supporting Actress (Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)”)
• Hannah and Her Sisters: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) [O], Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Art Direction
• Murphy’s Romance: Actor (James Garner), Cinematography
• Out of Africa: Picture [O], Directing [O], Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actor (Klaus Maria Brandauer), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Sound [O]