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 Oct. 22-24, 2021

Weekend Box Office:

1. Dune – $41,011,174 ($41,011,174 total) {week 1}
3. No Time to Die – $12,202,368 ($120,357,453 total) {week 3}
8. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – $2,019,505 ($220,993,337 total) {week 8}
11. Free Guy – $244,514 ($121,240,515 total) {week 11}
24. The Eyes of Tammy Faye – $9,560 ($2,388,551 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Dune – $47,382,625 ($47,382,625 total)
3. No Time to Die – $14,098,114 ($139,056,054 total)
8. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – $2,333,253 ($255,326,618 total)
11. Free Guy – $282,501 ($140,076,308 total)
24. The Eyes of Tammy Faye – $11,045 ($2,759,634 total)

Oscar Details:

• Dune: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Production Design [O], Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound [O], Visual Effects [O]
• The Eyes of Tammy Faye: Actress (Jessica Chastain) [O], Makeup & Hairstyling [O]
• Free Guy: Visual Effects
• No Time to Die: Original Song (“No Time to Die”) [O], Sound, Visual Effects
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 21-23, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

10. Deepwater Horizon (2016, 89th) – $3,399,466 ($55,045,137 total) {week 4}
13. Sully (2016, 89th) – $1,490,479 ($120,854,369 total) {week 7}
19. Moonlight (2016, 89th) – $402,075 ($402,075 total) {week 1}
20. Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $385,211 ($324,271,174 total) {week 12}
25. A Man Called Ove (2016, 89th) – $258,275 ($797,995 total) {week 4}
42. Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $87,554 ($26,652,326 total) {week 11}
47. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $69,850 ($47,447,966 total) {week 10}
64. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $20,886 ($27,370,961 total) {week 11}
70. Fire at Sea (2016, 89th) – $11,906 ($11,906 total) {week 1}
72. Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $11,795 ($5,875,006 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

10. Deepwater Horizon (2016, 89th) – $4,617,772 ($74,772,296 total)
13. Sully (2016, 89th) – $2,024,639 ($164,166,339 total)
19. Moonlight (2016, 89th) – $546,171 ($546,171 total)
20. Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $523,263 ($440,483,965 total)
25. A Man Called Ove (2016, 89th) – $350,836 ($1,083,982 total)
42. Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $118,932 ($36,204,027 total)
47. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $94,883 ($64,452,439 total)
64. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $28,371 ($37,180,207 total)
70. Fire at Sea (2016, 89th) – $16,173 ($16,173 total)
72. Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $16,022 ($7,980,499 total)

Oscar Details:

• Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th): Actor (Viggo Mortensen)
• Deepwater Horizon (2016, 89th): Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
• Fire at Sea (2016, 89th): Documentary Feature
• Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th): Actress (Meryl Streep), Costume Design
• Hell or High Water (2016, 89th): Picture, Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges), Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing
• Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th): Animated Feature, Visual Effects
• A Man Called Ove (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling, Foreign Language Film
• Moonlight (2016, 89th): Picture [O], Directing, Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali) [O], Supporting Actress (Naomie Harris), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography
• Suicide Squad (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling [O]
• Sully (2016, 89th): Sound Film Editing

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 28-30, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

1. Puss in Boots (2011, 84th) – $34,077,439 ($34,077,439 total) {week 1}
6. Real Steel (2011, 84th) – $4,783,149 ($73,941,416 total) {week 4}
8. The Ides of March (2011, 84th) – $2,804,435 ($33,600,618 total) {week 4}
9. Moneyball (2011, 84th) – $2,387,049 ($67,408,099 total) {week 6}
999. Anonymous (2011, 84th) – $1,021,768 ($1,021,768 total) {week 1}
999. Margin Call (2011, 84th) – $729,096 ($1,490,343 total) {week 2}
999. The Help (2011, 84th) – $395,658 ($166,904,059 total) {week 12}
999. Drive (2011, 84th) – $267,464 ($33,720,938 total) {week 7}
999. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $174,885 ($175,888,652 total) {week 13}
999. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $111,150 ($380,707,704 total) {week 16}
999. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $61,167 ($55,378,524 total) {week 24}
999. Warrior (2011, 84th) – $7,736 ($13,651,662 total) {week 8}
999. Hell and Back Again (2011, 84th) – $1,574 ($19,137 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Puss in Boots (2011, 84th) – $50,493,053 ($50,493,053 total)
6. Real Steel (2011, 84th) – $7,087,264 ($109,560,106 total)
8. The Ides of March (2011, 84th) – $4,155,373 ($49,786,540 total)
9. Moneyball (2011, 84th) – $3,536,926 ($99,879,592 total)
999. Anonymous (2011, 84th) – $1,513,969 ($1,513,969 total)
999. Margin Call (2011, 84th) – $1,080,312 ($2,208,264 total)
999. The Help (2011, 84th) – $586,252 ($247,304,249 total)
999. Drive (2011, 84th) – $396,305 ($49,964,820 total)
999. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $259,130 ($260,616,855 total)
999. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $164,693 ($564,100,318 total)
999. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $90,632 ($82,055,190 total)
999. Warrior (2011, 84th) – $11,463 ($20,227,872 total)
999. Hell and Back Again (2011, 84th) – $2,332 ($28,356 total)

Oscar Details:

• Anonymous (2011, 84th): Costume Design
• Drive (2011, 84th): Sound Film Editing
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th): Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects
• Hell and Back Again (2011, 84th): Documentary Feature
• The Help (2011, 84th): Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer [O])
• The Ides of March (2011, 84th): Adapted Screenplay
• Margin Call (2011, 84th): Original Screenplay
• Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay [O], Art Direction
• Moneyball (2011, 84th): Picture, Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Sound Mixing
• Puss in Boots (2011, 84th): Animated Feature
• Real Steel (2011, 84th): Visual Effects
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th): Visual Effects
• Warrior (2011, 84th): Supporting Actor (Nick Nolte)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 27-29, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Departed (2006, 79th) – $9,848,258 ($91,098,431 total) {week 4}
3. The Prestige (2006, 79th) – $9,573,215 ($28,780,742 total) {week 2}
4. Flags of Our Fathers (2006, 79th) – $6,346,856 ($19,923,069 total) {week 2}
9. Marie Antoinette (2006, 79th) – $2,845,815 ($9,752,091 total) {week 2}
14. The Queen (2006, 79th) – $1,909,139 ($6,289,941 total) {week 5}
20. The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $505,971 ($38,218,510 total) {week 11}
23. Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $404,453 ($57,803,486 total) {week 14}
24. Babel (2006, 79th) – $389,351 ($389,351 total) {week 1}
25. The Last King of Scotland (2006, 79th) – $337,618 ($2,419,935 total) {week 5}
27. Little Children (2006, 79th) – $199,947 ($803,508 total) {week 4}
39. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $108,375 ($421,392,843 total) {week 17}
48. The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $52,473 ($124,541,866 total) {week 18}
55. Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $40,505 ($200,069,408 total) {week 18}
57. Deliver Us From Evil (2006, 79th) – $32,942 ($70,818 total) {week 3}
58. Jesus Camp (2006, 79th) – $31,887 ($654,802 total) {week 7}
64. Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $20,515 ($2,639,124 total) {week 12}
92. An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $5,905 ($23,808,111 total) {week 23}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Departed (2006, 79th) – $17,666,722 ($163,420,850 total)
3. The Prestige (2006, 79th) – $17,173,325 ($51,629,575 total)
4. Flags of Our Fathers (2006, 79th) – $11,385,581 ($35,739,857 total)
9. Marie Antoinette (2006, 79th) – $5,105,088 ($17,494,209 total)
14. The Queen (2006, 79th) – $3,424,791 ($11,283,482 total)
20. The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $907,658 ($68,559,923 total)
23. Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $725,545 ($103,693,276 total)
24. Babel (2006, 79th) – $698,454 ($698,454 total)
25. The Last King of Scotland (2006, 79th) – $605,651 ($4,341,105 total)
27. Little Children (2006, 79th) – $358,684 ($1,441,407 total)
39. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $194,413 ($755,933,726 total)
48. The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $94,131 ($223,414,798 total)
55. Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $72,662 ($358,903,136 total)
57. Deliver Us From Evil (2006, 79th) – $59,094 ($127,040 total)
58. Jesus Camp (2006, 79th) – $57,202 ($1,174,645 total)
64. Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $36,802 ($4,734,306 total)
92. An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $10,593 ($42,709,207 total)

Oscar Details:

• Babel (2006, 79th): Picture, Supporting Actress (Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi), Director, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing
• Deliver Us From Evil (2006, 79th): Documentary Feature
• The Departed (2006, 79th): Picture [O], Director [O], Supporting Actor (Mark Wahlberg), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing
• The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th): Actress (Meryl Streep), Costume Design
• Flags of Our Fathers (2006, 79th): Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing
• Half Nelson (2006, 79th): Actor (Ryan Gosling)
• The Illusionist (2006, 79th): Cinematography
• An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th): Original Song (“I Need to Wake Up” [O]), Documentary Feature [O]
• Jesus Camp (2006, 79th): Documentary Feature
• The Last King of Scotland (2006, 79th): Actor (Forest Whitaker [O])
• Little Children (2006, 79th): Actress (Kate Winslet), Supporting Actor (Jackie Earle Haley), Adapted Screenplay
• Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th): Picture, Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin [O]), Supporting Actress (Abigail Breslin), Original Screenplay [O]
• Marie Antoinette (2006, 79th): Costume Design [O]
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th): Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects [O]
• The Prestige (2006, 79th): Cinematography, Art Direction
• The Queen (2006, 79th): Picture, Director, Actress (Helen Mirren [O]), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Costume Design
• Superman Returns (2006, 79th): Visual Effects

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 26-28, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

5. Training Day (2001, 74th) – $5,137,712 ($65,029,281 total) {week 4}
18. Mulholland Drive (2001, 74th) – $685,448 ($2,926,493 total) {week 3}
25. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $261,875 ($266,982,666 total) {week 24}
44. Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $66,734 ($5,902,567 total) {week 15}
45. Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $63,749 ($198,356,396 total) {week 23}
999. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $7,464 ($56,705,791 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Training Day (2001, 74th) – $10,665,745 ($134,998,949 total)
18. Mulholland Drive (2001, 74th) – $1,422,971 ($6,075,317 total)
25. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $543,645 ($554,248,467 total)
44. Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $138,538 ($12,253,562 total)
45. Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $132,341 ($411,782,271 total)
999. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $15,495 ($117,719,619 total)

Oscar Details:

• Ghost World (2001, 74th): Adapted Screenplay
• Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th): Picture, Actress (Nicole Kidman), Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
• Mulholland Drive (2001, 74th): Director
• Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th): Original Song (“There You’ll Be”), Sound, Sound Film Editing [O], Visual Effects
• Shrek (2001, 74th): Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay
• Training Day (2001, 74th): Actor (Denzel Washington [O]), Supporting Actor (Ethan Hawke)

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 25-27, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

1. Sleepers (1996, 69th) – $9,605,059 ($26,351,436 total) {week 2}
4. The Ghost and the Darkness (1996, 69th) – $439,078 ($26,792,125 total) {week 3}
5. First Wives Club (1996, 69th) – $4,380,111 ($88,693,006 total) {week 6}
8. Michael Collins (1996, 69th) – $2,409,761 ($2,941,151 total) {week 3}
9. That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th) – $2,050,606 ($20,554,737 total) {week 4}
13. Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $1,217,504 ($30,880,790 total) {week 17}
999. The Rock (1996, 69th) – $66,101 ($133,881,431 total) {week 21}
999. When We Were Kings (1996, 69th) – $12,479 ($12,479 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Sleepers (1996, 69th) – $25,533,811 ($70,051,894 total)
4. The Ghost and the Darkness (1996, 69th) – $1,167,232 ($71,223,409 total)
5. First Wives Club (1996, 69th) – $11,643,960 ($235,778,919 total)
8. Michael Collins (1996, 69th) – $6,406,039 ($7,818,671 total)
9. That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th) – $5,451,272 ($54,642,118 total)
13. Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $3,236,577 ($82,092,598 total)
999. The Rock (1996, 69th) – $175,721 ($355,906,519 total)
999. When We Were Kings (1996, 69th) – $33,174 ($33,174 total)

Oscar Details:

• First Wives Club (1996, 69th): Original Comedy or Musical Score
• The Ghost and the Darkness (1996, 69th): Sound Effects [O]
• Independence Day (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• Michael Collins (1996, 69th): Original Score, Cinematography
• The Rock (1996, 69th): Sound
• Sleepers (1996, 69th): Original Dramatic Score
• That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th): Original Song (“That Thing You Do”)
• When We Were Kings (1996, 69th): Documentary Feature

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 25-27, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

4. The Fisher King (1991, 64th) – $2,507,041 ($30,907,426 total) {week 6}
16. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $650,170 ($199,698,204 total) {week 17}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. The Fisher King (1991, 64th) – $6,997,086 ($86,261,818 total)
16. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $1,814,607 ($557,352,470 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Fisher King (1991, 64th): Actor (Robin Williams), Supporting Actress (Mercedes Ruehl) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th): Film Editing, Cinematography, Makeup [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]

40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 24-26, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th) – $6,745,249 ($51,846,699 total) {week 5}
2. The Color of Money (1986, 59th) – $5,256,823 ($13,742,233 total) {week 2}
4. Peggy Sue Got Married (1986, 59th) – $4,169,418 ($17,534,696 total) {week 3}
8. Children of a Lesser God (1986, 59th) – $1,810,811 ($9,546,141 total) {week 4}
9. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $1,576,139 ($158,722,140 total) {week 24}
10. Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $1,356,734 ($37,118,886 total) {week 12}
999. Blue Velvet (1986, 59th) – $357,699 ($4,528,216 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th) – $21,362,985 ($164,204,505 total)
2. The Color of Money (1986, 59th) – $16,648,968 ($43,523,245 total)
4. Peggy Sue Got Married (1986, 59th) – $13,205,030 ($55,534,415 total)
8. Children of a Lesser God (1986, 59th) – $5,735,048 ($30,233,735 total)
9. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $4,991,815 ($502,691,414 total)
10. Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $4,296,934 ($117,559,814 total)
999. Blue Velvet (1986, 59th) – $1,132,874 ($14,341,385 total)

Oscar Details:

• Blue Velvet (1986, 59th): Director
• Children of a Lesser God (1986, 59th): Picture, Actor (William Hurt), Actress (Marlee Matlin [O]), Supporting Actress (Piper Laurie), Adapted Screenplay
• The Color of Money (1986, 59th): Actor (Paul Newman [O]), Supporting Actress (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction
• Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th): Original Screenplay
• Peggy Sue Got Married (1986, 59th): Actress (Kathleen Turner), Cinematography, Costume Design
• Stand By Me (1986, 59th): Adapted Screenplay
• Top Gun (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects