Oscar in Box Office History (Week 9, 2016)

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

Triple 9 (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Affleck, Mackie, Ejiofor, Harrelson), Supporting Actress (Winslet), Original Screenplay, Film Editing.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 4-6, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

Rango – $38,079,323 ($38,079,323 total) {week 1}
The King’s Speech – $6,230,227 ($123,546,104 total) {week 15}
The Fighter – $1,118,397 ($92,037,546 total) {week 13}
Black Swan – $1,012,346 ($105,118,886 total) {week 14}
True Grit – $675,388 ($168,681,088 total) {week 11}
Tangled – $790,248 ($195,784,588 total) {week 15}
Barney’s Version – $319,150 ($3,195,684 total) {week 8}
Biutiful – $278,280 ($4,237,777 total) {week 6}
Tron: Legacy – $243,424 ($171,363,350 total) {week 12}
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $158,423 ($294,562,162 total) {week 16}
127 Hours – $122,976 ($18,136,899 total) {week 18}
The Illusionist – $148,769 ($1,725,536 total) {week 10}
Blue Valentine – $95,826 ($9,408,652 total) {week 10}
Another Year – $85,335 ($2,901,263 total) {week 10}
Inside Job – $68,431 ($4,121,153 total) {week 22}
Rabbit Hole – $28,738 ($2,119,973 total) {week 12}
Winter’s Bone – $9,318 ($6,520,145 total) {week 39}
Waste Land – $6,022 ($179,672 total) {week 19}
Animal Kingdom – $297 ($1,042,349 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Rango – $39,231,787 ($39,231,787 total)
The King’s Speech – $6,418,784 ($127,285,204 total)
The Fighter – $1,152,245 ($94,823,046 total)
Black Swan – $1,042,984 ($108,300,290 total)
True Grit – $695,828 ($173,786,190 total)
Tangled – $814,165 ($201,709,973 total)
Barney’s Version – $328,809 ($3,292,401 total)
Biutiful – $286,702 ($4,366,033 total)
Tron: Legacy – $250,791 ($176,549,630 total)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I – $163,218 ($303,477,032 total)
127 Hours – $126,698 ($18,685,809 total)
The Illusionist – $153,271 ($1,777,759 total)
Blue Valentine – $98,726 ($9,693,403 total)
Another Year – $87,918 ($2,989,069 total)
Inside Job – $70,502 ($4,245,879 total)
Rabbit Hole – $29,608 ($2,184,134 total)
Winter’s Bone – $9,600 ($6,717,476 total)
Waste Land – $6,204 ($185,110 total)
Animal Kingdom – $306 ($1,073,896 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)
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)
Rango: Animated Feature [O]
Tangled: Original Song (“I See the Light”)
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
Winter’s Bone: Picture, Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Adapted Screenplay

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 3-5, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

Brokeback Mountain – $2,469,841 ($78,861,599 total) {week 13}
Capote – $1,585,366 ($25,471,928 total) {week 23}
Transamerica – $1,452,303 ($6,633,150 total) {week 14}
Mrs. Henderson Presents – $905,491 ($8,472,639 total) {week 13}
Good Night, and Good Luck. – $599,121 ($31,173,663 total) {week 22}
Match Point – $557,524 ($22,391,474 total) {week 10}
Walk the Line – $489,229 ($118,229,366 total) {week 16}
Munich – $449,605 ($46,731,905 total) {week 11}
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $390,806 ($288,795,853 total) {week 13}
King Kong – $207,065 ($216,959,345 total) {week 12}
Syriana – $167,962 ($49,620,666 total) {week 15}
The New World – $98,326 ($12,465,566 total) {week 11}
Memoirs of a Geisha – $89,428 ($56,826,414 total) {week 13}
Days of Glory – $50,798 ($179,111 total) {week 13}
Tsotsi – $65,280 ($168,885 total) {week 2}
The Squid and the Whale – $60,260 ($7,271,869 total) {week 22}
Joyeux Noel – $42,732 ($278,825 total) {week 12}
Paradise Now – $38,797 ($1,393,566 total) {week 19}
Sophie Scholl – $37,084 ($120,985 total) {week 3}
Darwin’s Nightmare – $8,465 ($171,952 total) {week 31}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Brokeback Mountain – $3,080,702 ($98,366,300 total)
Capote – $1,977,472 ($31,771,855 total)
Transamerica – $1,811,499 ($8,273,715 total)
Mrs. Henderson Presents – $1,129,444 ($10,568,162 total)
Good Night, and Good Luck. – $747,301 ($38,883,790 total)
Match Point – $695,415 ($27,929,518 total)
Walk the Line – $610,229 ($147,470,828 total)
Munich – $560,805 ($58,290,025 total)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – $487,463 ($360,223,224 total)
King Kong – $258,278 ($270,619,519 total)
Syriana – $209,504 ($61,893,258 total)
The New World – $122,645 ($15,548,653 total)
Memoirs of a Geisha – $111,546 ($70,881,191 total)
Days of Glory – $63,362 ($223,410 total)
Tsotsi – $81,426 ($210,655 total)
The Squid and the Whale – $75,164 ($9,070,408 total)
Joyeux Noel – $53,301 ($347,786 total)
Paradise Now – $48,393 ($1,738,234 total)
Sophie Scholl – $46,256 ($150,908 total)
Darwin’s Nightmare – $10,559 ($214,481 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
Joyeux Noel: Foreign Language Film
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
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”)
Tsotsi: Foreign Language Film [O]
Walk the Line: Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Actress (Reese Witherspoon) [O], Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 2-4, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $4,906,007 ($88,655,907 total) {week 13}
Traffic – $4,475,069 ($92,267,376 total) {week 10}
Chocolat – $4,200,052 ($45,737,220 total) {week 12}
Cast Away – $2,073,578 ($223,776,964 total) {week 11}
O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $1,940,193 ($30,823,163 total) {week 11}
Pollock – $667,160 ($1,735,842 total) {week 12}
Shadow of the Vampire – $313,568 ($7,518,962 total) {week 10}
Before Night Falls – $300,005 ($2,768,814 total) {week 11}
102 Dalmatians – $282,855 ($65,777,561 total) {week 15}
The Emperor’s New Groove – $281,160 ($86,066,905 total) {week 12}
You Can Count on Me – $275,589 ($7,640,185 total) {week 17}
Billy Elliot – $213,295 ($20,625,790 total) {week 21}
Meet the Parents – $205,310 ($165,761,735 total) {week 22}
Malena – $151,859 ($2,966,074 total) {week 11}
Quills – $87,231 ($6,631,285 total) {week 15}
Almost Famous – $66,632 ($32,336,646 total) {week 25}
Requiem for a Dream – $50,199 ($3,609,278 total) {week 22}
The Taste of Others – $45,140 ($506,400 total) {week 25}
Gladiator – $22,477 ($186,750,876 total) {week 44}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – $7,081,639 ($127,971,512 total)
Traffic – $6,459,596 ($133,184,534 total)
Chocolat – $6,062,619 ($66,019,980 total)
Cast Away – $2,993,133 ($323,013,745 total)
O Brother, Where Art Thou? – $2,800,597 ($44,492,092 total)
Pollock – $963,021 ($2,505,624 total)
Shadow of the Vampire – $452,624 ($10,853,343 total)
Before Night Falls – $433,046 ($3,996,680 total)
102 Dalmatians – $408,291 ($94,947,469 total)
The Emperor’s New Groove – $405,844 ($124,234,384 total)
You Can Count on Me – $397,802 ($11,028,324 total)
Billy Elliot – $307,883 ($29,772,563 total)
Meet the Parents – $296,357 ($239,270,914 total)
Malena – $219,203 ($4,281,418 total)
Quills – $125,915 ($9,572,014 total)
Almost Famous – $96,181 ($46,676,749 total)
Requiem for a Dream – $72,460 ($5,209,859 total)
The Taste of Others – $65,158 ($730,970 total)
Gladiator – $32,445 ($269,567,961 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]
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
The Taste of Others: Foreign Language Film
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 Mar. 1-3, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

Up Close and Personal – $11,101,955 ($11,101,955 total) {week 1}
Mr. Holland’s Opus – $4,205,418 ($62,328,933 total) {week 10}
Dead Man Walking – $2,138,434 ($24,057,992 total) {week 10}
Sense and Sensibility – $1,603,174 ($34,634,466 total) {week 12}
Leaving Las Vegas – $1,313,740 ($25,151,748 total) {week 19}
Braveheart – $925,003 ($71,529,642 total) {week 41}
Toy Story – $359,433 ($183,849,377 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Up Close and Personal – $20,521,034 ($20,521,034 total)
Mr. Holland’s Opus – $7,773,363 ($115,209,815 total)
Dead Man Walking – $3,952,716 ($44,469,184 total)
Sense and Sensibility – $2,963,333 ($64,018,911 total)
Leaving Las Vegas – $2,428,338 ($46,490,901 total)
Braveheart – $1,709,791 ($132,216,555 total)
Toy Story – $664,382 ($339,830,183 total)

Oscar Details:

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)
Sense and Sensibility: Picture, Actress (Emma Thompson), Supporting Actress (Kate Winslet), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Dramatic Score, Cinematography, Costume Design
Toy Story: Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
Up Close and Personal: Original Song (“Because You Loved Me”)

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Mar. 1-3, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

The Silence of the Lambs – $10,616,383 ($45,454,175 total) {week 3}
Home Alone – $4,221,896 ($241,658,036 total) {week 16}
Dances With Wolves – $3,942,518 ($122,601,476 total) {week 17}
Awakenings – $1,352,249 ($44,323,860 total) {week 11}
Green Card – $1,067,851 ($25,155,841 total) {week 11}
Mr. & Mrs. Bridge – $822,372 ($7,698,010 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Silence of the Lambs – $20,602,339 ($88,209,171 total)
Home Alone – $8,193,086 ($468,965,832 total)
Dances With Wolves – $7,650,920 ($237,922,579 total)
Awakenings – $2,624,198 ($86,015,662 total)
Green Card – $2,072,290 ($48,817,867 total)
Mr. & Mrs. Bridge – $1,595,910 ($14,938,894 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]
Green Card: Original Screenplay
Home Alone: Original Song (“Somewhere in My Memory”), Original Score
Mr. & Mrs. Bridge: Actress (Joanne Woodward)
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. 28-Mar. 2, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

The Color Purple – $3,557,053 ($64,382,796 total) {week 11}
Hannah and Her Sisters – $3,479,769 ($8,946,747 total) {week 4}
Murphy’s Romance – $1,898,210 ($20,346,285 total) {week 10}
Out of Africa – $1,786,185 ($65,522,379 total) {week 11}
Back to the Future – $457,975 ($201,193,040 total) {week 35}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Color Purple – $7,833,187 ($141,780,982 total)
Hannah and Her Sisters – $7,662,995 ($19,702,136 total)
Murphy’s Romance – $4,180,155 ($44,805,700 total)
Out of Africa – $3,933,459 ($144,290,522 total)
Back to the Future – $1,008,533 ($443,058,527 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]