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

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (Wide)

Oscar Potential: Production Design, Costume Design.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 11-13, 2012

Weekend Box Office:

1. Marvel’s The Avengers – $103,052,274 ($373,071,647 total) {week 2}
7. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $3,143,442 ($23,047,000 total) {week 3}
17. Mirror Mirror – $599,617 ($60,993,886 total) {week 7}
24. The Artist – $188,841 ($44,439,470 total) {week 25}
29. Monsieur Lazhar – $127,462 ($1,130,487 total) {week 5}
38. Footnote – $65,080 ($1,788,199 total) {week 10}
71. A Separation – $11,553 ($7,048,550 total) {week 20}
89. Undefeated – $4,775 ($541,319 total) {week 13}
101. In Darkness – $2,851 ($1,038,733 total) {week 14}
121. Albert Nobbs – $675 ($3,014,541 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Marvel’s The Avengers – $105,770,990 ($382,913,989 total)
7. The Pirates! Band of Misfits – $3,226,372 ($23,655,024 total)
17. Mirror Mirror – $615,436 ($62,603,021 total)
24. The Artist – $193,823 ($45,611,868 total)
29. Monsieur Lazhar – $130,825 ($1,160,311 total)
38. Footnote – $66,797 ($1,835,375 total)
71. A Separation – $11,858 ($7,234,504 total)
89. Undefeated – $4,901 ($555,600 total)
101. In Darkness – $2,926 ($1,066,137 total)
121. Albert Nobbs – $693 ($3,094,070 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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]
• Footnote: Foreign Language Film
• In Darkness: Foreign Language Film
• Marvel’s The Avengers: Visual Effects
• Mirror Mirror: Costume Design
• Monsieur Lazhar: Foreign Language Film
• The Pirates! Band of Misfits: Animated Feature
• A Separation: Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
• Undefeated: Documentary Feature [O]

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 11-13, 2007

Weekend Box Office:

21. Away from Her – $318,277 ($491,602 total) {week 2}
28. The Lives of Others – $185,979 ($9,690,825 total) {week 14}
36. After the Wedding – $103,870 ($881,489 total) {week 7}
66. Pan’s Labyrinth – $18,360 ($37,541,055 total) {week 20}
81. The Queen – $7,477 ($56,437,947 total) {week 33}
103. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $2,366 ($33,296 total) {week 13}
105. The Last King of Scotland – $1,975 ($17,601,760 total) {week 33}
112. Notes on a Scandal – $1,108 ($17,506,860 total) {week 21}
118. Iraq in Fragments – $749 ($196,135 total) {week 27}
121. Volver – $552 ($12,899,039 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

21. Away from Her – $377,954 ($583,777 total)
28. The Lives of Others – $220,850 ($11,507,855 total)
36. After the Wedding – $123,346 ($1,046,768 total)
66. Pan’s Labyrinth – $21,803 ($44,580,003 total)
81. The Queen – $8,879 ($67,020,062 total)
103. The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $2,810 ($39,539 total)
105. The Last King of Scotland – $2,345 ($20,902,090 total)
112. Notes on a Scandal – $1,316 ($20,789,396 total)
118. Iraq in Fragments – $889 ($232,910 total)
121. Volver – $656 ($15,317,609 total)

Oscar Details:

• The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film; Live Action Short Film
• After the Wedding: Foreign Language Film
• Away from Her: Actress (Julie Christie), Adapted Screenplay
• Iraq in Fragments: Documentary Feature
• The Last King of Scotland: Actor (Forest Whitaker [O])
• The Lives of Others: Foreign Language Film
• 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 Queen: Picture, Director, Actress (Helen Mirren [O]), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Costume Design
• Volver: Actress (Penelope Cruz)

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 10-12, 2002

Weekend Box Office:

1. Spider-Man – $71,417,527 ($223,040,031 total) {week 2}
2. Unfaithful – $14,065,277 ($14,118,338 total) {week 1}
8. Ice Age – $1,576,006 ($171,020,941 total) {week 9}
11. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $1,262,562 ($4,112,413 total) {week 4}
16. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $615,059 ($9,328,400 total) {week 9}
19. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $502,487 ($309,471,992 total) {week 21}
26. Monster’s Ball – $308,354 ($30,649,211 total) {week 20}
28. A Beautiful Mind – $268,515 ($170,240,036 total) {week 21}
34. The Time Machine – $117,814 ($56,566,172 total) {week 10}
40. Amelie – $80,518 ($32,806,020 total) {week 28}
50. Gosford Park – $54,176 ($41,102,012 total) {week 20}
53. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $48,679 ($317,503,512 total) {week 26}
58. The Royal Tenenbaums – $32,174 ($52,143,649 total) {week 22}
59. Monsters, Inc. – $29,970 ($253,114,764 total) {week 28}
61. In the Bedroom – $28,041 ($35,918,429 total) {week 25}
63. Iris – $26,694 ($5,580,479 total) {week 22}
67. Son of the Bride – $24,058 ($334,048 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Spider-Man – $100,427,056 ($313,638,047 total)
2. Unfaithful – $19,778,539 ($19,853,153 total)
8. Ice Age – $2,216,174 ($240,489,000 total)
11. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – $1,775,410 ($5,782,860 total)
16. Y Tu Mama Tambien – $864,894 ($13,117,561 total)
19. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – $706,595 ($435,178,343 total)
26. Monster’s Ball – $433,606 ($43,098,804 total)
28. A Beautiful Mind – $377,585 ($239,390,894 total)
34. The Time Machine – $165,670 ($79,543,137 total)
40. Amelie – $113,224 ($46,131,701 total)
50. Gosford Park – $76,182 ($57,797,494 total)
53. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $68,452 ($446,472,236 total)
58. The Royal Tenenbaums – $45,243 ($73,324,202 total)
59. Monsters, Inc. – $42,144 ($355,929,023 total)
61. In the Bedroom – $39,431 ($50,508,359 total)
63. Iris – $37,537 ($7,847,248 total)
67. Son of the Bride – $33,830 ($469,737 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
• 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
• Ice Age: Animated Feature
• 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)
• 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]
• 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
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Original Screenplay
• The Royal Tenenbaums: Original Screenplay
• Son of the Bride: Foreign Language Film
• Spider-Man: Sound, Visual Effects
• The Time Machine: Makeup
• Unfaithful: Actress (Diane Lane)
• Y Tu Mama Tambien: Original Screenplay

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 9-11, 1997

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Fifth Element – $210,744 ($17,031,345 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Fifth Element – $375,115 ($30,315,052 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Fifth Element: Sound Editing

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 8-10, 1992

Weekend Box Office:

1. Basic Instinct – $4,012,920 ($89,148,498 total) {week 8}
4. The Player – $2,177,801 ($7,478,244 total) {week 5}
8. My Cousin Vinny – $1,354,199 ($44,457,217 total) {week 9}
999. Hook – $111,870 ($118,738,527 total) {week 22}
999. Howards End – $372,576 ($2,139,155 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Basic Instinct – $7,900,134 ($175,504,392 total)
4. The Player – $4,287,382 ($14,722,230 total)
8. My Cousin Vinny – $2,665,977 ($87,521,798 total)
999. Hook – $220,236 ($233,757,534 total)
999. Howards End – $733,481 ($4,211,300 total)

Oscar Details:

• Basic Instinct: Original Score, Editing
• Hook: Original Song (“When You’re Alone”), Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup, Visual Effects
• Howards End: Picture, Director, Actress (Emma Thompson) [O], Supporting Actress (Vanessa Redgrave), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
• My Cousin Vinny: Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei) [O]
• The Player: Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 8-10, 1987

Weekend Box Office:

7. Lethal Weapon – $1,374,328 ($55,172,363 total) {week 10}
8. Platoon – $1,289,247 ($125,826,736 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. Lethal Weapon – $2,871,678 ($115,283,429 total)
8. Platoon – $2,693,900 ($262,916,735 total)

Oscar Details:

• Lethal Weapon: Sound
• Platoon: Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe), Original Screenplay, Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound [O]

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 7-9, 1982

Weekend Box Office:

4. Chariots of Fire – $1,751,755 ($47,069,237 total) {week 33}
5. Victor/Victoria – $1,369,148 ($14,231,463 total) {week 8}
8. On Golden Pond – $1,114,026 ($101,830,453 total) {week 23}
10. Quest for Fire – $590,751 ($19,425,528 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Chariots of Fire – $4,867,972 ($130,801,247 total)
5. Victor/Victoria – $3,804,741 ($39,547,977 total)
8. On Golden Pond – $3,095,780 ($282,977,823 total)
10. Quest for Fire – $1,641,645 ($53,981,824 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• Quest for Fire: Makeup [O]
• Victor/Victoria: Actress (Julie Andrews), Supporting Actor (Robert Preston), Supporting Actress (Lesley Ann Warren), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song Score [O], Art Direction, Costume Design