Every week, we’ll take a look back at how Oscar-nominated films performed at the box office. Due to the lack of data prior to 1980, some of these early years may have minimal information. From the mid-1990s back to 1980, the data exists, but is sometimes spotty. Everything after that should be accurate. We’ll look back at 5 years ago and then go back further in 5-year increments. We also include an inflation adjustment so you can see how ticket prices have changed and how films released today compare to those of yesteryear. Sometimes, it takes a few months for the prior year’s average ticket price to be formally set, so these numbers may vary until that point. The first section under each year is the positioning of all Oscar nominees during that weekend at the box office followed by 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.

Every week, we’ll take a look back at how Oscar-nominated films performed at the box office. Due to the lack of data prior to 1980, some of these early years may have minimal information. From the mid-1990s back to 1980, the data exists, but is sometimes spotty. Everything after that should be accurate. We’ll look back at 5 years ago and then go back further in 5-year increments. We also include an inflation adjustment so you can see how ticket prices have changed and how films released today compare to those of yesteryear. Sometimes, it takes a few months for the prior year’s average ticket price to be formally set, so these numbers may vary until that point. The first section under each year is the positioning of all Oscar nominees during that weekend at the box office followed by 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.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 14-16, 2021

Weekend Box Office:

5. Raya and the Last Dragon – $1,701,516 ($46,107,330 total) {week 11}
999. Four Good Days – $69,946 ($772,669 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Raya and the Last Dragon – $1,892,246 ($51,275,703 total)
999. Four Good Days – $77,787 ($859,281 total)

Oscar Details:

• Four Good Days: Original Song (“Somehow You Do”)
• Raya and the Last Dragon: Animated Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 13-15, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $17,115,708 ($311,111,818 total) {week 5}
6. Zootopia (2016, 89th) – $2,825,734 ($331,840,173 total) {week 11}
21. The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $205,776 ($590,872 total) {week 7}
34. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015, 88th) – $102,490 ($936,519,683 total) {week 21}
55. The Revenant (2015, 88th) – $14,323 ($183,623,813 total) {week 21}
64. Brooklyn (2015, 88th) – $7,966 ($38,304,491 total) {week 28}
70. Embrace of the Serpent (2015, 88th) – $6,500 ($1,320,005 total) {week 13}
95. Son of Saul (2015, 88th) – $636 ($1,776,814 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $22,379,036 ($406,783,198 total)
6. Zootopia (2016, 89th) – $3,694,688 ($433,885,822 total)
21. The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $269,055 ($772,574 total)
34. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015, 88th) – $134,007 ($1,224,513,019 total)
55. The Revenant (2015, 88th) – $18,728 ($240,090,789 total)
64. Brooklyn (2015, 88th) – $10,416 ($50,083,676 total)
70. Embrace of the Serpent (2015, 88th) – $8,499 ($1,725,926 total)
95. Son of Saul (2015, 88th) – $832 ($2,323,210 total)

Oscar Details:

• Brooklyn (2015, 88th): Picture, Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Adapted Screenplay
• Embrace of the Serpent (2015, 88th): Foreign Language Film
• The Jungle Book (2016, 89th): Visual Effects [O]
• The Lobster (2016, 89th): Original Screenplay
• The Revenant (2015, 88th): Picture, Directing [O], Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) [O], Supporting Actor (Tom Hardy), Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
• Son of Saul (2015, 88th): Foreign Language Film [O]
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015, 88th): Original Score, Film Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
• Zootopia (2016, 89th): Animated Feature [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 20-22, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

2. Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $20,882,070 ($59,341,310 total) {week 2}
6. Rio (2011, 84th) – $4,687,714 ($131,684,365 total) {week 6}
12. Tangled (2010, 83rd) – $910,502 ($200,627,301 total) {week 26}
13. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $599,003 ($599,003 total) {week 1}
19. Rango (2011, 84th) – $395,085 ($121,211,948 total) {week 12}
29. Jane Eyre (2011, 84th) – $215,031 ($10,370,860 total) {week 11}
31. Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $186,834 ($619,508 total) {week 5}
54. In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $34,676 ($688,246 total) {week 8}
85. Biutiful (2010, 83rd) – $4,065 ($5,094,444 total) {week 17}
87. Barney’s Version (2010, 83rd) – $3,773 ($4,412,674 total) {week 19}
111. Another Year (2010, 83rd) – $518 ($3,205,244 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $29,782,624 ($84,634,327 total)
6. Rio (2011, 84th) – $6,685,756 ($187,812,127 total)
12. Tangled (2010, 83rd) – $1,298,585 ($286,140,577 total)
13. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $854,316 ($854,316 total)
19. Rango (2011, 84th) – $563,482 ($172,876,057 total)
29. Jane Eyre (2011, 84th) – $306,684 ($14,791,227 total)
31. Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $266,468 ($883,561 total)
54. In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $49,456 ($981,597 total)
85. Biutiful (2010, 83rd) – $5,798 ($7,265,846 total)
87. Barney’s Version (2010, 83rd) – $5,381 ($6,293,486 total)
111. Another Year (2010, 83rd) – $739 ($4,571,414 total)

Oscar Details:

• Another Year (2010, 83rd): Original Screenplay
• Barney’s Version (2010, 83rd): Makeup
• Biutiful (2010, 83rd): Actor (Javier Bardem), Foreign Language Film
• Bridesmaids (2011, 84th): Supporting Actress (Melissa McCarthy), Original Screenplay
• In a Better World (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film [O]
• Incendies (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film
• Jane Eyre (2011, 84th): Costume Design
• Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction
• Rango (2011, 84th): Animated Feature [O]
• Rio (2011, 84th): Original Song (“Real in Rio”)
• Tangled (2010, 83rd): Original Song (“I See the Light”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 19-21, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

4. Poseidon (2006, 79th) – $9,224,340 ($36,801,887 total) {week 2}
9. United 93 (2006, 79th) – $1,400,200 ($28,256,480 total) {week 4}
25. Water (2006, 79th) – $256,317 ($965,995 total) {week 4}
61. Transamerica (2005, 78th) – $14,274 ($9,001,037 total) {week 25}
62. Tsotsi (2005, 78th) – $14,007 ($2,846,825 total) {week 13}
68. Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005, 78th) – $10,138 ($11,024,163 total) {week 24}
69. Joyeux Noel (2005, 78th) – $9,911 ($999,850 total) {week 23}
71. Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $9,134 ($572,850 total) {week 14}
100. The 2005 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2005, 78th) – $3,125 ($151,363 total) {week 13}
125. Darwin’s Nightmare (2005, 78th) – $500 ($200,936 total) {week 42}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Poseidon (2006, 79th) – $15,927,830 ($63,546,464 total)
9. United 93 (2006, 79th) – $2,417,750 ($48,790,960 total)
25. Water (2006, 79th) – $442,587 ($1,668,001 total)
61. Transamerica (2005, 78th) – $24,647 ($15,542,249 total)
62. Tsotsi (2005, 78th) – $24,186 ($4,915,663 total)
68. Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005, 78th) – $17,505 ($19,035,616 total)
69. Joyeux Noel (2005, 78th) – $17,113 ($1,726,459 total)
71. Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $15,772 ($989,150 total)
100. The 2005 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2005, 78th) – $5,396 ($261,361 total)
125. Darwin’s Nightmare (2005, 78th) – $863 ($346,960 total)

Oscar Details:

• The 2005 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2005, 78th): Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Documentary Short Film
• Darwin’s Nightmare (2005, 78th): Documentary Feature
• Joyeux Noel (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film
• Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005, 78th): Actress (Judi Dench), Costume Design
• Poseidon (2006, 79th): Visual Effects
• Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film
• Transamerica (2005, 78th): Actress (Felicity Huffman), Original Song (“Travelin’ Thru”)
• Tsotsi (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film [O]
• United 93 (2006, 79th): Directing, Film Editing
• Water (2006, 79th): Foreign Language Film

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 18-20, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

1. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $42,347,760 ($42,387,348 total) {week 1}
5. Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th) – $3,730,451 ($56,534,427 total) {week 6}
10. Memento (2001, 74th) – $1,280,291 ($12,187,565 total) {week 10}
15. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, 73rd) – $395,399 ($126,071,283 total) {week 24}
16. Traffic (2000, 73rd) – $323,878 ($123,083,548 total) {week 21}
19. Chocolat (2000, 73rd) – $264,134 ($70,527,706 total) {week 23}
20. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, 73rd) – $256,179 ($43,410,848 total) {week 22}
23. Amores Perros (2000, 73rd) – $224,857 ($4,314,019 total) {week 8}
26. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $167,540 ($167,540 total) {week 1}
27. Cast Away (2000, 73rd) – $147,364 ($232,844,706 total) {week 22}
45. Pollock (2000, 73rd) – $61,017 ($8,336,700 total) {week 23}
49. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000, 73rd) – $42,679 ($89,233,484 total) {week 23}
57. You Can Count on Me (2000, 73rd) – $30,310 ($9,416,804 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $84,620,701 ($84,699,807 total)
5. Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th) – $7,454,311 ($112,968,970 total)
10. Memento (2001, 74th) – $2,558,320 ($24,353,597 total)
15. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, 73rd) – $790,099 ($251,919,825 total)
16. Traffic (2000, 73rd) – $647,184 ($245,949,634 total)
19. Chocolat (2000, 73rd) – $527,801 ($140,930,805 total)
20. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, 73rd) – $511,905 ($86,744,998 total)
23. Amores Perros (2000, 73rd) – $449,317 ($8,620,416 total)
26. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $334,784 ($334,784 total)
27. Cast Away (2000, 73rd) – $294,468 ($465,278,026 total)
45. Pollock (2000, 73rd) – $121,926 ($16,658,671 total)
49. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000, 73rd) – $85,283 ($178,309,312 total)
57. You Can Count on Me (2000, 73rd) – $60,566 ($18,816,971 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amores Perros (2000, 73rd): Foreign Language Film
• Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th): Actress (Renee Zellweger)
• Cast Away (2000, 73rd): Actor (Tom Hanks), Sound
• Chocolat (2000, 73rd): Picture, Actress (Juliette Binoche), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, 73rd): Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“A Love Before Time”), Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Foreign Language Film [O]
• The Emperor’s New Groove (2000, 73rd): Original Song (“My Funny Friend and Me”)
• Memento (2001, 74th): Original Screenplay, Film Editing
• Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th): Picture, Actress (Nicole Kidman), Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, 73rd): Cinematography
• Pollock (2000, 73rd): Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden) [O]
• Shrek (2001, 74th): Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Traffic (2000, 73rd): Picture, Directing [O], Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing [O]
• You Can Count on Me (2000, 73rd): Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 17-19, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

1. Twister (1996, 69th) – $37,093,440 ($95,075,524 total) {week 2}
6. Primal Fear (1996, 69th) – $1,955,768 ($51,091,793 total) {week 7}
8. The Birdcage (1996, 69th) – $1,274,938 ($117,095,599 total) {week 11}
11. James and the Giant Peach (1996, 69th) – $766,605 ($25,795,708 total) {week 6}
999. Braveheart (1995, 68th) – $1,952 ($75,604,871 total) {week 52}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Twister (1996, 69th) – $94,915,567 ($243,281,488 total)
6. Primal Fear (1996, 69th) – $5,004,465 ($130,734,882 total)
8. The Birdcage (1996, 69th) – $3,262,341 ($299,626,974 total)
11. James and the Giant Peach (1996, 69th) – $1,961,607 ($66,006,665 total)
999. Braveheart (1995, 68th) – $4,995 ($193,459,523 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Birdcage (1996, 69th): Art Direction
• Braveheart (1995, 68th): Picture [O], Directing [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing [O]
• James and the Giant Peach (1996, 69th): Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Primal Fear (1996, 69th): Supporting Actor (Edward Norton)
• Twister (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 17-19, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

7. The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $1,871,178 ($117,814,717 total) {week 14}
11. Dances With Wolves (1990, 63rd) – $1,396,192 ($168,770,575 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

7. The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $5,026,846 ($316,504,620 total)
11. Dances With Wolves (1990, 63rd) – $3,750,815 ($453,395,535 total)

Oscar Details:

• Dances With Wolves (1990, 63rd): Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Kevin Costner), Supporting Actor (Graham Greene), Supporting Actress (Mary McDonnell), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound [O]
• The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th): Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Anthony Hopkins) [O], Actress (Jodie Foster) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Sound

40 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 16-18, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $8,193,052 ($8,193,052 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $24,976,663 ($24,976,663 total)

Oscar Details:

• Top Gun (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects