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 Jul. 16-18, 2021

Weekend Box Office:

9. Cruella – $1,165,810 ($83,483,327 total) {week 8}
16. Summer of Soul – $180,985 ($1,872,351 total) {week 3}
24. Raya and the Last Dragon – $15,921 ($54,620,871 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

9. Cruella – $1,346,929 ($96,453,205 total)
16. Summer of Soul – $209,103 ($2,163,237 total)
24. Raya and the Last Dragon – $18,394 ($63,106,709 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cruella: Costume Design [O], Makeup & Hairstyling
• Raya and the Last Dragon: Animated Feature
• Summer of Soul: Documentary Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 15-17, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

16. The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $517,355 ($360,852,718 total) {week 14}
20. Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $288,888 ($417,708 total) {week 2}
29. The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $165,650 ($8,792,292 total) {week 16}
38. Zootopia (2016, 89th) – $68,610 ($341,141,156 total) {week 20}
45. Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $29,208 ($91,344 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

16. The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $702,765 ($490,175,657 total)
20. Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $392,420 ($567,407 total)
29. The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $225,016 ($11,943,287 total)
38. Zootopia (2016, 89th) – $93,199 ($463,399,836 total)
45. Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $39,676 ($124,080 total)

Oscar Details:

• Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th): Actor (Viggo Mortensen)
• The Jungle Book (2016, 89th): Visual Effects [O]
• Life, Animated (2016, 89th): Documentary Feature
• The Lobster (2016, 89th): Original Screenplay
• Zootopia (2016, 89th): Animated Feature [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 22-24, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $47,422,212 ($273,539,281 total) {week 2}
4. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $12,051,735 ($325,841,185 total) {week 4}
10. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $1,804,662 ($44,783,206 total) {week 10}
11. Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $1,325,985 ($163,832,870 total) {week 11}
16. The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $555,573 ($11,038,150 total) {week 9}
18. Beginners (2011, 84th) – $425,205 ($4,607,418 total) {week 8}
22. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $317,481 ($160,776,083 total) {week 9}
24. Rio (2011, 84th) – $304,210 ($142,579,551 total) {week 15}
28. A Better Life (2011, 84th) – $215,376 ($1,413,960 total) {week 5}
47. Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $40,361 ($1,920,382 total) {week 14}
67. In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $6,512 ($947,867 total) {week 17}
68. If a Tree Falls (2011, 84th) – $6,272 ($45,101 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $70,266,203 ($405,307,257 total)
4. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $17,857,237 ($482,803,773 total)
10. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $2,673,995 ($66,355,948 total)
11. Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $1,964,732 ($242,753,622 total)
16. The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $823,201 ($16,355,392 total)
18. Beginners (2011, 84th) – $630,033 ($6,826,880 total)
22. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $470,416 ($238,224,335 total)
24. Rio (2011, 84th) – $450,753 ($211,262,260 total)
28. A Better Life (2011, 84th) – $319,126 ($2,095,086 total)
47. Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $59,803 ($2,845,459 total)
67. In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $9,649 ($1,404,469 total)
68. If a Tree Falls (2011, 84th) – $9,293 ($66,827 total)

Oscar Details:

• Beginners (2011, 84th): Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer) [O]
• A Better Life (2011, 84th): Actor (Demian Bichir)
• Bridesmaids (2011, 84th): Supporting Actress (Melissa McCarthy), Original Screenplay
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th): Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects
• If a Tree Falls (2011, 84th): Documentary Feature
• In a Better World (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film [O]
• Incendies (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film
• Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th): Animated Feature
• Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction
• Rio (2011, 84th): Original Song (“Real in Rio”)
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th): Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
• The Tree of Life (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Cinematography

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 21-23, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $35,215,201 ($321,899,233 total) {week 3}
2. Monster House (2006, 79th) – $22,217,226 ($22,217,226 total) {week 1}
8. Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $7,375,213 ($178,342,711 total) {week 4}
9. The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $7,361,991 ($97,508,460 total) {week 4}
10. Cars (2006, 79th) – $4,947,198 ($229,485,636 total) {week 7}
11. Click (2006, 79th) – $4,035,847 ($128,224,427 total) {week 5}
12. An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $1,000,372 ($18,790,273 total) {week 9}
31. Poseidon (2006, 79th) – $133,447 ($60,418,110 total) {week 11}
39. Water (2006, 79th) – $54,094 ($3,049,535 total) {week 13}
106. Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $1,120 ($672,330 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $63,172,307 ($577,452,823 total)
2. Monster House (2006, 79th) – $39,855,329 ($39,855,329 total)
8. Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $13,230,344 ($319,927,764 total)
9. The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $13,206,625 ($174,919,756 total)
10. Cars (2006, 79th) – $8,874,745 ($411,672,706 total)
11. Click (2006, 79th) – $7,239,878 ($230,020,919 total)
12. An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $1,794,560 ($33,707,742 total)
31. Poseidon (2006, 79th) – $239,390 ($108,383,632 total)
39. Water (2006, 79th) – $97,039 ($5,470,540 total)
106. Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $2,009 ($1,206,088 total)

Oscar Details:

• Cars (2006, 79th): Animated Feature, Original Song (“Our Town”)
• Click (2006, 79th): Makeup
• The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th): Actress (Meryl Streep), Costume Design
• An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th): Original Song (“I Need to Wake Up” [O]), Documentary Feature [O]
• Monster House (2006, 79th): Animated Feature
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th): Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• Poseidon (2006, 79th): Visual Effects
• Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film
• Superman Returns (2006, 79th): Visual Effects
• Water (2006, 79th): Foreign Language Film

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 20-22, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

11. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $2,275,232 ($251,922,192 total) {week 10}
12. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $2,168,939 ($74,522,517 total) {week 4}
16. Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $1,077,223 ($192,166,709 total) {week 9}
17. Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $414,441 ($4,564,612 total) {week 6}
18. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $410,387 ($53,345,164 total) {week 10}
23. Memento (2001, 74th) – $257,254 ($23,436,057 total) {week 19}
30. Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $98,791 ($98,791 total) {week 1}
34. Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th) – $77,366 ($71,278,859 total) {week 15}
36. Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $70,635 ($490,449 total) {week 7}
50. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, 73rd) – $37,233 ($128,026,803 total) {week 33}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

11. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $4,723,317 ($522,983,349 total)
12. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $4,502,656 ($154,706,639 total)
16. Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $2,236,284 ($398,932,656 total)
17. Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $860,368 ($9,476,005 total)
18. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $851,952 ($110,743,052 total)
23. Memento (2001, 74th) – $534,052 ($48,652,592 total)
30. Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $205,087 ($205,087 total)
34. Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th) – $160,610 ($147,972,896 total)
36. Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $146,636 ($1,018,158 total)
50. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, 73rd) – $77,295 ($265,780,024 total)

Oscar Details:

• A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th): Original Score, Visual Effects
• Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th): Actress (Renee Zellweger)
• 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]
• Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd): Foreign Language Film
• Ghost World (2001, 74th): Adapted Screenplay
• 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
• Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th): Original Song (“There You’ll Be”), Sound, Sound Film Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Sexy Beast (2001, 74th): Supporting Actor (Ben Kingsley)
• Shrek (2001, 74th): Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 19-21, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

1. Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $21,274,817 ($199,004,369 total) {week 3}
4. The Nutty Professor (1996, 69th) – $7,567,820 ($93,653,015 total) {week 4}
9. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996, 69th) – $3,647,673 ($84,424,055 total) {week 5}
10. Eraser (1996, 69th) – $3,438,931 ($87,124,392 total) {week 5}
12. The Rock (1996, 69th) – $2,546,228 ($122,120,233 total) {week 7}
999. Lone Star (1996, 69th) – $672,650 ($3,598,520 total) {week 5}
999. Trainspotting (1996, 69th) – $262,673 ($262,673 total) {week 1}
999. Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $86,776 ($191,374,075 total) {week 35}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $56,556,357 ($529,027,452 total)
4. The Nutty Professor (1996, 69th) – $20,118,074 ($248,964,463 total)
9. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996, 69th) – $9,696,868 ($224,430,463 total)
10. Eraser (1996, 69th) – $9,141,955 ($231,608,961 total)
12. The Rock (1996, 69th) – $6,768,819 ($324,640,891 total)
999. Lone Star (1996, 69th) – $1,788,153 ($9,566,201 total)
999. Trainspotting (1996, 69th) – $698,282 ($698,282 total)
999. Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $230,683 ($508,743,299 total)

Oscar Details:

• Eraser (1996, 69th): Sound Effects Film Editing
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996, 69th): Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Independence Day (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• Lone Star (1996, 69th): Original Screenplay
• The Nutty Professor (1996, 69th): Makeup [O]
• The Rock (1996, 69th): Sound
• Toy Story (1995, 68th): Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
• Trainspotting (1996, 69th): Adapted Screenplay

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 19-21, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $14,895,425 ($115,314,239 total) {week 3}
4. Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $7,305,965 ($22,535,245 total) {week 2}
6. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $5,861,817 ($119,857,597 total) {week 6}
9. City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $4,811,722 ($91,425,378 total) {week 7}
13. Backdraft (1991, 64th) – $1,229,760 ($69,454,535 total) {week 9}
14. Thelma & Louise (1991, 64th) – $1,096,648 ($36,617,724 total) {week 9}
999. The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $313,280 ($127,911,450 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $41,572,742 ($321,839,028 total)
4. Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $20,390,757 ($62,895,280 total)
6. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $16,360,178 ($334,519,422 total)
9. City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $13,429,390 ($255,165,841 total)
13. Backdraft (1991, 64th) – $3,432,228 ($193,845,792 total)
14. Thelma & Louise (1991, 64th) – $3,060,716 ($102,199,111 total)
999. The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $874,356 ($356,997,515 total)

Oscar Details:

• Backdraft (1991, 64th): Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing, Visual Effects
• Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th): Directing, Original Screenplay
• City Slickers (1991, 64th): Supporting Actor (Jack Palance) [O]
• Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th): Original Song (“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”)
• 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
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th): Film Editing, Cinematography, Makeup [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
• Thelma & Louise (1991, 64th): Directing, Actor (Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon), Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Cinematography

40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 18-20, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Aliens (1986, 59th) – $10,052,042 ($10,052,042 total) {week 1}
2. The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $5,561,854 ($61,087,962 total) {week 5}
5. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $4,048,254 ($95,348,936 total) {week 10}
14. Pirates (1986, 59th) – $1,035,447 ($1,035,447 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Aliens (1986, 59th) – $31,835,982 ($31,835,982 total)
2. The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $17,615,036 ($193,472,656 total)
5. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $12,821,290 ($301,981,132 total)
14. Pirates (1986, 59th) – $3,279,381 ($3,279,381 total)

Oscar Details:

• Aliens (1986, 59th): Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Original Score, Film Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Glory of Love”)
• Pirates (1986, 59th):
• Top Gun (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects

45 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jul. 17-19, 1981

Weekend Box Office:

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $6,450,189 ($68,431,268 total) {week 6}
4. Endless Love (1981, 54th) – $4,162,921 ($4,162,921 total) {week 1}
6. For Your Eyes Only (1981, 54th) – $3,200,000 ($30,000,000 total) {week 4}
9. Arthur (1981, 54th) – $2,719,534 ($2,719,534 total) {week 1}
10. The Great Muppet Caper (1981, 54th) – $1,593,954 ($17,840,777 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $27,262,489 ($289,232,877 total)
4. Endless Love (1981, 54th) – $17,595,080 ($17,595,080 total)
6. For Your Eyes Only (1981, 54th) – $13,525,180 ($126,798,561 total)
9. Arthur (1981, 54th) – $11,494,433 ($11,494,433 total)
10. The Great Muppet Caper (1981, 54th) – $6,737,036 ($75,406,162 total)

Oscar Details:

• Arthur (1981, 54th): Actor (Dudley Moore), Supporting Actor (John Gielgud) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”) [O]
• Endless Love (1981, 54th): Original Song (“Endless Love”)
• For Your Eyes Only (1981, 54th): Original Song (“For Your Eyes Only”)
• The Great Muppet Caper (1981, 54th): Original Song (“The First Time It Happens”)
• Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th): Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Sound [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Sound Effects Film Editing) [O]