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. 24-26, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

13. The Artist – $2,905,858 ($31,779,657 total) {week 14}
15. The Descendants – $2,133,442 ($78,460,135 total) {week 15}
16. Hugo – $1,510,760 ($69,354,704 total) {week 14}
19. The Iron Lady – $694,982 ($25,721,579 total) {week 9}
23. A Separation – $366,330 ($2,532,860 total) {week 9}
25. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – $341,549 ($23,276,126 total) {week 12}
26. My Week with Marilyn – $304,959 ($14,074,651 total) {week 14}
28. The Adventures of Tintin – $274,988 ($76,901,742 total) {week 10}
30. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – $258,148 ($31,215,132 total) {week 10}
33. Pina – $192,128 ($2,558,451 total) {week 10}
35. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – $178,163 ($101,701,267 total) {week 10}
36. War Horse – $175,780 ($79,041,412 total) {week 10}
38. Midnight in Paris – $159,622 ($56,720,579 total) {week 41}
39. The Muppets – $145,905 ($88,355,068 total) {week 14}
41. Albert Nobbs – $129,051 ($2,610,628 total) {week 5}
43. Puss in Boots – $116,725 ($149,234,747 total) {week 18}
47. In Darkness – $88,713 ($278,138 total) {week 3}
58. Bullhead – $41,300 ($94,600 total) {week 2}
60. Chico & Rita – $40,563 ($118,622 total) {week 3}
64. W.E. – $27,627 ($265,276 total) {week 4}
68. The Help – $22,594 ($169,668,586 total) {week 29}
70. Undefeated – $19,313 ($70,195 total) {week 2}
106. Hell and Back Again – $628 ($39,165 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

13. The Artist – $2,982,520 ($32,618,065 total)
15. The Descendants – $2,189,726 ($80,530,063 total)
16. Hugo – $1,550,617 ($71,184,414 total)
19. The Iron Lady – $713,317 ($26,400,163 total)
23. A Separation – $375,994 ($2,599,682 total)
25. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – $350,560 ($23,890,195 total)
26. My Week with Marilyn – $313,004 ($14,445,967 total)
28. The Adventures of Tintin – $282,243 ($78,930,557 total)
30. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – $264,958 ($32,038,647 total)
33. Pina – $197,197 ($2,625,948 total)
35. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – $182,863 ($104,384,341 total)
36. War Horse – $180,417 ($81,126,675 total)
38. Midnight in Paris – $163,833 ($58,216,976 total)
39. The Muppets – $149,754 ($90,686,043 total)
41. Albert Nobbs – $132,456 ($2,679,501 total)
43. Puss in Boots – $119,804 ($153,171,845 total)
47. In Darkness – $91,053 ($285,476 total)
58. Bullhead – $42,390 ($97,096 total)
60. Chico & Rita – $41,633 ($121,751 total)
64. W.E. – $28,356 ($272,274 total)
68. The Help – $23,190 ($174,144,767 total)
70. Undefeated – $19,823 ($72,047 total)
106. Hell and Back Again – $645 ($40,198 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]
• Bullhead: Foreign Language Film
• 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
• Hell and Back Again: Documentary Feature
• 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]
• 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
• A Separation: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Actor (Gary Oldman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Undefeated: Documentary Feature [O]
• W.E.: Costume Design
• War Horse: Picture, Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 23-25, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

5. Norbit – $9,825,021 ($74,763,394 total) {week 3}
15. Pan’s Labyrinth – $1,278,430 ($32,356,624 total) {week 9}
16. The Queen – $1,105,665 ($52,862,098 total) {week 22}
17. Dreamgirls – $835,251 ($101,233,784 total) {week 11}
18. The Last King of Scotland – $783,758 ($14,009,273 total) {week 22}
20. Letters from Iwo Jima – $707,311 ($12,834,854 total) {week 10}
21. Notes on a Scandal – $579,054 ($16,267,488 total) {week 10}
23. Babel – $443,475 ($33,806,170 total) {week 18}
24. The Lives of Others – $441,256 ($1,315,931 total) {week 3}
27. Volver – $309,509 ($12,018,524 total) {week 17}
28. Venus – $308,136 ($2,858,520 total) {week 10}
29. The Pursuit of Happyness – $275,325 ($162,586,036 total) {week 11}
30. Blood Diamond – $242,611 ($56,220,154 total) {week 12}
31. Happy Feet – $221,523 ($194,254,584 total) {week 15}
33. The Departed – $214,213 ($131,805,297 total) {week 21}
35. Children of Men – $198,660 ($34,905,193 total) {week 9}
47. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $69,055 ($240,110 total) {week 2}
48. Little Miss Sunshine – $65,468 ($59,831,476 total) {week 31}
49. Little Children – $64,275 ($5,071,224 total) {week 21}
54. Borat – $43,205 ($128,449,559 total) {week 17}
58. Apocalypto – $32,851 ($50,829,674 total) {week 12}
60. The Good Shepherd – $24,390 ($59,873,825 total) {week 10}
65. Iraq in Fragments – $15,764 ($131,627 total) {week 16}
74. The Curse of the Golden Flower – $8,891 ($6,526,337 total) {week 10}
75. The Good German – $8,585 ($1,177,826 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Norbit – $11,667,212 ($88,781,530 total)
15. Pan’s Labyrinth – $1,518,136 ($38,423,491 total)
16. The Queen – $1,312,977 ($62,773,741 total)
17. Dreamgirls – $991,861 ($120,215,119 total)
18. The Last King of Scotland – $930,713 ($16,636,012 total)
20. Letters from Iwo Jima – $839,932 ($15,241,389 total)
21. Notes on a Scandal – $687,627 ($19,317,642 total)
23. Babel – $526,627 ($40,144,827 total)
24. The Lives of Others – $523,992 ($1,562,668 total)
27. Volver – $367,542 ($14,271,997 total)
28. Venus – $365,912 ($3,394,493 total)
29. The Pursuit of Happyness – $326,948 ($193,070,918 total)
30. Blood Diamond – $288,101 ($66,761,433 total)
31. Happy Feet – $263,059 ($230,677,319 total)
33. The Departed – $254,378 ($156,518,790 total)
35. Children of Men – $235,909 ($41,449,917 total)
47. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $82,003 ($285,131 total)
48. Little Miss Sunshine – $77,743 ($71,049,878 total)
49. Little Children – $76,327 ($6,022,079 total)
54. Borat – $51,306 ($152,533,851 total)
58. Apocalypto – $39,011 ($60,360,238 total)
60. The Good Shepherd – $28,963 ($71,100,167 total)
65. Iraq in Fragments – $18,720 ($156,307 total)
74. The Curse of the Golden Flower – $10,558 ($7,750,025 total)
75. The Good German – $10,195 ($1,398,668 total)

Oscar Details:

• The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film; Live Action Short Film
• 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]
• Iraq in Fragments: 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
• 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. 22-24, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

7. A Beautiful Mind – $5,306,985 ($132,688,491 total) {week 10}
11. Black Hawk Down – $3,603,377 ($101,310,344 total) {week 9}
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $3,457,862 ($283,191,086 total) {week 10}
15. I Am Sam – $2,268,809 ($33,135,033 total) {week 9}
16. In the Bedroom – $2,250,243 ($26,150,628 total) {week 14}
17. Monster’s Ball – $2,097,738 ($10,761,306 total) {week 9}
18. Gosford Park – $2,014,025 ($28,423,398 total) {week 9}
23. Amelie – $747,646 ($26,994,595 total) {week 17}
24. The Royal Tenenbaums – $558,873 ($49,533,662 total) {week 11}
27. Iris – $292,497 ($965,577 total) {week 11}
29. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $261,270 ($79,771,578 total) {week 10}
30. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $254,748 ($314,675,739 total) {week 15}
33. Vanilla Sky – $181,852 ($99,282,596 total) {week 1}
34. Monsters, Inc. – $147,102 ($252,177,407 total) {week 17}
47. Mulholland Drive – $61,830 ($6,866,428 total) {week 20}
49. No Man’s Land – $52,703 ($640,490 total) {week 12}
53. Moulin Rouge! – $28,811 ($57,218,358 total) {week 38}
56. The Man Who Wasn’t There – $23,547 ($7,494,849 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. A Beautiful Mind – $7,462,662 ($186,586,054 total)
11. Black Hawk Down – $5,067,055 ($142,462,222 total)
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $4,862,432 ($398,222,233 total)
15. I Am Sam – $3,190,391 ($46,594,358 total)
16. In the Bedroom – $3,164,283 ($36,772,914 total)
17. Monster’s Ball – $2,949,831 ($15,132,508 total)
18. Gosford Park – $2,832,114 ($39,968,875 total)
23. Amelie – $1,051,337 ($37,959,697 total)
24. The Royal Tenenbaums – $785,885 ($69,654,048 total)
27. Iris – $411,308 ($1,357,791 total)
29. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – $367,397 ($112,174,491 total)
30. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $358,226 ($442,495,833 total)
33. Vanilla Sky – $255,720 ($139,610,811 total)
34. Monsters, Inc. – $206,854 ($354,610,915 total)
47. Mulholland Drive – $86,945 ($9,655,545 total)
49. No Man’s Land – $74,111 ($900,655 total)
53. Moulin Rouge! – $40,514 ($80,460,238 total)
56. The Man Who Wasn’t There – $33,112 ($10,539,228 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Iris: Actress (Judi Dench), Supporting Actor (Jim Broadbent) [O], Supporting Actress (Kate Winslet)
• Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius: Animated Feature
• 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
• Moulin Rouge!: Picture, Actress (Nicole Kidman), Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• 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. 21-23, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

9. Jerry Maguire – $3,080,444 ($131,653,945 total) {week 11}
10. The English Patient – $2,823,228 ($51,532,324 total) {week 15}
11. Shine – $2,282,998 ($23,063,578 total) {week 14}
13. Evita – $1,228,586 ($46,266,762 total) {week 9}
17. Sling Blade – $752,148 ($2,020,421 total) {week 12}
20. Secrets & Lies – $610,507 ($8,930,000 total) {week 4}
26. Hamlet – $290,488 ($3,157,347 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Jerry Maguire – $5,483,056 ($234,338,286 total)
10. The English Patient – $5,025,223 ($91,725,291 total)
11. Shine – $4,063,637 ($41,052,164 total)
13. Evita – $2,186,830 ($82,352,820 total)
17. Sling Blade – $1,338,791 ($3,596,261 total)
20. Secrets & Lies – $1,086,676 ($15,895,011 total)
26. Hamlet – $517,056 ($5,619,940 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
• Secrets & Lies: Picture, Director, Actress (Brenda Blethyn), Supporting Actress (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), Original Screenplay
• Shine: Picture, Director, Actor (Geoffrey Rush) [O], Supporting Actor (Armin Mueller-Stahl), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Editing
• Sling Blade: Actor (Billy Bob Thornton), Adapted Screenplay [O]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 21-23, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

3. Fried Green Tomatoes – $5,006,595 ($40,954,794 total) {week 9}
7. Beauty and the Beast – $2,430,432 ($113,340,569 total) {week 15}
10. Bugsy – $1,877,375 ($42,539,905 total) {week 11}
11. The Prince of Tides – $1,776,590 ($64,269,134 total) {week 9}
12. JFK – $1,710,049 ($63,115,040 total) {week 10}
15. Grand Canyon – $1,232,923 ($28,664,600 total) {week 9}
16. Hook – $905,350 ($113,648,960 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Fried Green Tomatoes – $9,856,357 ($80,626,667 total)
7. Beauty and the Beast – $4,784,730 ($223,130,711 total)
10. Bugsy – $3,695,941 ($83,747,235 total)
11. The Prince of Tides – $3,497,528 ($126,525,018 total)
12. JFK – $3,366,530 ($124,252,982 total)
15. Grand Canyon – $2,427,224 ($56,431,273 total)
16. Hook – $1,782,340 ($223,737,832 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beauty and the Beast: Picture, Original Song (“Be Our Guest”, “Beauty and the Beast” [O], “Belle”), Original Score [O], Sound
• Bugsy: Picture, Directing, Actor (Warren Beatty), Supporting Actor (Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O]
• 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. 20-22, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

1. Platoon – $8,216,207 ($65,873,971 total) {week 10}
2. Mannequin – $5,006,984 ($12,071,965 total) {week 2}
6. Crocodile Dundee – $2,115,716 ($149,363,133 total) {week 22}
8. Radio Days – $1,569,079 ($6,997,195 total) {week 4}
11. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – $962,654 ($104,745,563 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Platoon – $17,167,880 ($137,644,589 total)
2. Mannequin – $10,462,163 ($25,224,541 total)
6. Crocodile Dundee – $4,420,818 ($312,096,367 total)
8. Radio Days – $3,278,613 ($14,620,737 total)
11. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – $2,011,479 ($218,867,327 total)

Oscar Details:

• Crocodile Dundee: Original Screenplay
• Mannequin: Original Song (“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”)
• Platoon: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe), Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound [O]
• Radio Days: Original Screenplay, Art Direction
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: Original Score, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Feb. 19-21, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

1. On Golden Pond – $6,526,822 ($39,430,714 total) {week 12}
4. Chariots of Fire – $1,689,149 ($12,570,598 total) {week 15}
6. Raiders of the Lost Ark – $1,442,813 ($191,231,287 total) {week 9}
7. Reds – $1,272,275 ($31,802,166 total) {week 11}
9. Arthur – $997,606 ($84,620,103 total) {week 10}
10. Absence of Malice – $893,845 ($36,138,745 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. On Golden Pond – $18,137,461 ($109,574,467 total)
4. Chariots of Fire – $4,693,996 ($34,932,580 total)
6. Raiders of the Lost Ark – $4,009,450 ($531,414,835 total)
7. Reds – $3,535,540 ($88,375,407 total)
9. Arthur – $2,772,259 ($235,151,783 total)
10. Absence of Malice – $2,483,916 ($100,426,376 total)

Oscar Details:

• Absence of Malice: Actor (Paul Newman), Supporting Actress (Melinda Dillon), Original Screenplay
• Arthur: Actor (Dudley Moore), Supporting Actor (John Gielgud) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”) [O]
• 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