Box Office History (Week 34, 2026)

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 Aug. 20-22, 2021

Weekend Box Office:

Free Guy – $18,504,022 ($58,526,997 total) {week 2}
Cruella – $59,739 ($85,941,310 total) {week 13}
Summer of Soul – $8,435 ($2,304,732 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Free Guy – $21,378,786 ($67,619,687 total)
Cruella – $69,020 ($99,293,057 total)
Summer of Soul – $9,745 ($2,662,793 total)

Oscar Details:

Cruella: Costume Design [O], Makeup & Hairstyling
Free Guy: Visual Effects
Summer of Soul: Documentary Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 19-21, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $20,855,401 ($262,428,736 total) {week 3}
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $12,608,372 ($12,608,372 total) {week 1}
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $4,384,511 ($14,490,254 total) {week 2}
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $3,946,356 ($146,877,726 total) {week 5}
Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $2,692,811 ($3,570,498 total) {week 2}
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $238,207 ($4,692,462 total) {week 7}
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $129,143 ($363,221,166 total) {week 19}
The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $10,589 ($9,183,720 total) {week 21}
Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $4,753 ($218,630 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $28,329,591 ($356,478,341 total)
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $17,126,979 ($17,126,979 total)
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $5,955,839 ($19,683,293 total)
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $5,360,657 ($199,515,986 total)
Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $3,657,865 ($4,850,098 total)
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $323,576 ($6,374,154 total)
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $175,425 ($493,392,913 total)
The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $14,384 ($12,474,995 total)
Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $6,456 ($296,983 total)

Oscar Details:

Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th): Actor (Viggo Mortensen)
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
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th): Visual Effects [O]
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th): Animated Feature, Visual Effects
Life, Animated (2016, 89th): Documentary Feature
The Lobster (2016, 89th): Original Screenplay
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling
Suicide Squad (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 26-28, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

The Help (2011, 84th) – $14,536,118 ($96,833,423 total) {week 3}
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $8,867,741 ($148,674,018 total) {week 4}
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $2,564,370 ($370,805,062 total) {week 7}
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $743,597 ($51,643,081 total) {week 15}
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $640,253 ($349,457,208 total) {week 9}
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $227,555 ($168,048,760 total) {week 16}
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $209,698 ($164,277,256 total) {week 14}
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $82,015 ($12,852,427 total) {week 14}
Beginners (2011, 84th) – $31,144 ($5,707,600 total) {week 13}
Rio (2011, 84th) – $22,988 ($143,597,199 total) {week 20}
Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $11,971 ($2,040,931 total) {week 19}
A Better Life (2011, 84th) – $10,735 ($1,754,319 total) {week 10}
In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $277 ($1,006,526 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Help (2011, 84th) – $21,538,384 ($143,479,536 total)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $13,139,465 ($220,292,524 total)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $3,799,666 ($549,427,425 total)
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $1,101,799 ($76,520,328 total)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $948,672 ($517,795,989 total)
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $337,172 ($249,000,369 total)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $310,713 ($243,412,075 total)
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $121,523 ($19,043,634 total)
Beginners (2011, 84th) – $46,147 ($8,457,037 total)
Rio (2011, 84th) – $34,062 ($212,770,125 total)
Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $17,738 ($3,024,078 total)
A Better Life (2011, 84th) – $15,906 ($2,599,401 total)
In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $410 ($1,491,385 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
The Help (2011, 84th): Picture, Actress (Viola Davis), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer [O])
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”)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th): Visual Effects
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 Aug. 25-27, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $7,371,263 ($22,895,257 total) {week 5}
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $3,979,260 ($407,544,616 total) {week 8}
The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $1,835,240 ($3,198,319 total) {week 2}
Monster House (2006, 79th) – $1,141,933 ($69,368,839 total) {week 6}
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $880,462 ($120,598,743 total) {week 9}
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $780,405 ($195,388,237 total) {week 9}
Cars (2006, 79th) – $734,162 ($240,555,222 total) {week 12}
Click (2006, 79th) – $384,517 ($135,935,073 total) {week 10}
Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $210,762 ($389,972 total) {week 3}
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $194,472 ($22,770,454 total) {week 14}
Water (2006, 79th) – $7,314 ($3,216,985 total) {week 18}
My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $1,317 ($9,872 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $13,223,258 ($41,071,644 total)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $7,138,367 ($731,091,487 total)
The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $3,292,224 ($5,737,442 total)
Monster House (2006, 79th) – $2,048,506 ($124,440,284 total)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $1,579,455 ($216,341,257 total)
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $1,399,963 ($350,505,616 total)
Cars (2006, 79th) – $1,317,008 ($431,530,360 total)
Click (2006, 79th) – $689,782 ($243,852,994 total)
Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $378,085 ($699,568 total)
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $348,862 ($40,847,761 total)
Water (2006, 79th) – $13,121 ($5,770,927 total)
My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $2,363 ($17,709 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
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]
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th): Picture, Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin [O]), Supporting Actress (Abigail Breslin), Original Screenplay [O]
Monster House (2006, 79th): Animated Feature
My Country, My Country (2006, 79th): Documentary Feature
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th): Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects [O]
Superman Returns (2006, 79th): Visual Effects
Water (2006, 79th): Foreign Language Film

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 24-26, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

Shrek (2001, 74th) – $583,262 ($261,398,217 total) {week 15}
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $350,125 ($2,495,064 total) {week 6}
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $128,480 ($55,771,542 total) {week 15}
Memento (2001, 74th) – $97,592 ($25,042,545 total) {week 24}
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $87,492 ($6,357,797 total) {week 11}
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $75,852 ($195,456,759 total) {week 14}
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $27,241 ($78,340,174 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Shrek (2001, 74th) – $1,210,835 ($542,655,309 total)
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $726,850 ($5,179,682 total)
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $266,721 ($115,780,145 total)
Memento (2001, 74th) – $202,598 ($51,987,616 total)
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $181,631 ($13,198,607 total)
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $157,467 ($405,762,706 total)
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $56,552 ($162,631,987 total)

Oscar Details:

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th): Original Score, Visual Effects
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 Aug. 23-25, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $4,739,170 ($274,504,698 total) {week 8}
Emma (1996, 69th) – $2,467,231 ($9,191,949 total) {week 4}
Eraser (1996, 69th) – $1,355,613 ($96,808,807 total) {week 10}
Twister (1996, 69th) – $1,023,005 ($237,477,230 total) {week 16}
Trainspotting (1996, 69th) – $911,586 ($9,277,145 total) {week 6}
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $270,066 ($129,469,600 total) {week 12}
Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $18,351 ($191,739,566 total) {week 40}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $12,598,472 ($729,735,340 total)
Emma (1996, 69th) – $6,558,815 ($24,435,611 total)
Eraser (1996, 69th) – $3,603,722 ($257,353,729 total)
Twister (1996, 69th) – $2,719,527 ($631,302,591 total)
Trainspotting (1996, 69th) – $2,423,334 ($24,662,094 total)
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $717,936 ($344,178,235 total)
Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $48,784 ($509,714,910 total)

Oscar Details:

Emma (1996, 69th): Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Costume Design
Eraser (1996, 69th): Sound Effects Film Editing
Independence Day (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects [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
Twister (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 23-25, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $4,089,720 ($175,583,219 total) {week 8}
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $2,066,880 ($146,225,133 total) {week 11}
Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $1,535,180 ($46,885,158 total) {week 7}
City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $1,423,623 ($110,045,131 total) {week 12}
The Commitments (1991, 64th) – $268,653 ($775,824 total) {week 2}
Barton Fink (1991, 64th) – $268,561 ($268,561 total) {week 1}
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $105,523 ($129,953,413 total) {week 28}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $11,414,302 ($490,048,177 total)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $5,768,608 ($408,110,526 total)
Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $4,284,647 ($130,855,251 total)
City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $3,973,295 ($307,133,085 total)
The Commitments (1991, 64th) – $749,804 ($2,165,305 total)
Barton Fink (1991, 64th) – $749,547 ($749,547 total)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $294,512 ($362,696,580 total)

Oscar Details:

Barton Fink (1991, 64th): Supporting Actor (Michael Lerner), Art Direction, Costume Design
Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th): Directing, Original Screenplay
City Slickers (1991, 64th): Supporting Actor (Jack Palance) [O]
The Commitments (1991, 64th): Film Editing
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]

40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 22-24, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

The Fly (1986, 59th) – $4,725,970 ($15,681,173 total) {week 2}
Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $3,812,093 ($4,684,502 total) {week 3}
Aliens (1986, 59th) – $3,371,670 ($60,977,693 total) {week 6}
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $3,326,355 ($124,440,927 total) {week 15}
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $52,807,701 ($93,653,926 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Fly (1986, 59th) – $14,967,695 ($49,664,092 total)
Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $12,073,340 ($14,836,361 total)
Aliens (1986, 59th) – $10,678,470 ($193,123,421 total)
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $10,534,952 ($394,118,839 total)
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $167,248,110 ($296,612,838 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 Fly (1986, 59th): Makeup [O]
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Glory of Love”)
Stand By Me (1986, 59th): Adapted Screenplay
Top Gun (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects

45 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 21-23, 1981

Weekend Box Office:

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $4,183,784 ($110,733,608 total) {week 11}
An American Werewolf in London (1981, 54th) – $3,786,512 ($3,786,512 total) {week 1}
Arthur (1981, 54th) – $3,088,798 ($26,724,137 total) {week 6}
Prince of the City (1981, 54th) – $64,713 ($64,713 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $17,683,260 ($468,028,739 total)
An American Werewolf in London (1981, 54th) – $16,004,142 ($16,004,142 total)
Arthur (1981, 54th) – $13,055,171 ($112,952,737 total)
Prince of the City (1981, 54th) – $273,517 ($273,517 total)

Oscar Details:

An American Werewolf in London (1981, 54th): Makeup [O]
Arthur (1981, 54th): Actor (Dudley Moore), Supporting Actor (John Gielgud) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”) [O]
Prince of the City (1981, 54th): Adapted Screenplay
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]