Box Office History (Week 36, 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 Sep. 3-5, 2021

Weekend Box Office:

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – $75,388,688 ($75,388,688 total) {week 1}
Free Guy – $8,885,466 ($92,059,447 total) {week 4}
Cruella – $39,903 ($86,078,693 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – $87,100,992 ($87,100,992 total)
Free Guy – $10,265,902 ($106,361,701 total)
Cruella – $46,102 ($99,451,784 total)

Oscar Details:

Cruella: Costume Design [O], Makeup & Hairstyling
Free Guy: Visual Effects
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 2-4, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $9,910,256 ($297,327,572 total) {week 5}
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $6,375,278 ($34,236,714 total) {week 3}
Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $4,440,573 ($14,592,206 total) {week 4}
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $2,477,309 ($154,320,631 total) {week 7}
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $2,109,083 ($23,490,002 total) {week 4}
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $153,373 ($5,302,494 total) {week 9}
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $114,548 ($363,809,990 total) {week 21}
Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $974 ($227,250 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $13,461,908 ($403,884,274 total)
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $8,660,060 ($46,506,519 total)
Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $6,031,992 ($19,821,783 total)
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $3,365,131 ($209,626,291 total)
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $2,864,939 ($31,908,384 total)
Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $208,339 ($7,202,810 total)
The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $155,600 ($494,192,761 total)
Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $1,323 ($308,692 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
Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling
Suicide Squad (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 9-11, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

The Help (2011, 84th) – $8,926,142 ($137,327,800 total) {week 5}
Warrior (2011, 84th) – $5,242,107 ($5,242,107 total) {week 1}
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $3,886,285 ($167,847,116 total) {week 6}
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $1,001,583 ($377,104,684 total) {week 9}
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $415,831 ($53,531,714 total) {week 17}
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $174,938 ($350,800,077 total) {week 11}
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $158,585 ($168,748,585 total) {week 18}
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $122,857 ($165,001,609 total) {week 16}
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $47,109 ($13,090,521 total) {week 16}
Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $5,652 ($2,064,985 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Help (2011, 84th) – $13,225,999 ($203,480,662 total)
Warrior (2011, 84th) – $7,767,309 ($7,767,309 total)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $5,758,367 ($248,701,591 total)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $1,484,061 ($558,761,669 total)
Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $616,143 ($79,318,744 total)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $259,208 ($519,785,738 total)
Bridesmaids (2011, 84th) – $234,978 ($250,037,311 total)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011, 84th) – $182,039 ($244,485,360 total)
The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $69,802 ($19,396,421 total)
Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $8,375 ($3,059,719 total)

Oscar Details:

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])
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
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
Warrior (2011, 84th): Supporting Actor (Nick Nolte)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 8-10, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $4,514,306 ($17,963,845 total) {week 4}
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $4,273,545 ($41,494,873 total) {week 7}
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $1,994,611 ($416,591,183 total) {week 10}
Cars (2006, 79th) – $478,322 ($242,618,740 total) {week 14}
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $474,500 ($122,676,388 total) {week 11}
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $453,273 ($197,430,626 total) {week 11}
Monster House (2006, 79th) – $451,667 ($71,423,510 total) {week 8}
Click (2006, 79th) – $250,552 ($136,812,330 total) {week 12}
Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $226,840 ($1,070,302 total) {week 5}
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $108,061 ($23,353,499 total) {week 16}
Water (2006, 79th) – $4,356 ($3,228,780 total) {week 20}
My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $2,602 ($18,658 total) {week 6}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $8,098,183 ($32,225,218 total)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $7,666,283 ($74,437,368 total)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $3,578,119 ($747,320,061 total)
Cars (2006, 79th) – $858,059 ($435,232,091 total)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $851,202 ($220,068,330 total)
Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $813,123 ($354,169,444 total)
Monster House (2006, 79th) – $810,242 ($128,126,144 total)
Click (2006, 79th) – $449,464 ($245,426,699 total)
Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $406,927 ($1,920,007 total)
An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $193,850 ($41,893,681 total)
Water (2006, 79th) – $7,814 ($5,792,086 total)
My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $4,668 ($33,470 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 Sep. 7-9, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

Shrek (2001, 74th) – $435,565 ($263,482,327 total) {week 17}
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $374,998 ($3,710,186 total) {week 8}
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $183,145 ($197,017,228 total) {week 16}
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $110,782 ($56,256,886 total) {week 17}
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $94,750 ($78,474,311 total) {week 11}
Memento (2001, 74th) – $63,315 ($25,342,252 total) {week 26}
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $50,674 ($6,582,367 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Shrek (2001, 74th) – $904,221 ($546,981,863 total)
Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $778,485 ($7,702,241 total)
Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $380,204 ($409,002,196 total)
Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $229,980 ($116,787,705 total)
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001, 74th) – $196,698 ($162,910,451 total)
Memento (2001, 74th) – $131,440 ($52,609,799 total)
Sexy Beast (2001, 74th) – $105,198 ($13,664,808 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 Sep. 6-8, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $2,848,204 ($285,620,448 total) {week 10}
Emma (1996, 69th) – $1,771,736 ($15,865,192 total) {week 6}
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $646,124 ($131,559,405 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $7,571,583 ($759,285,128 total)
Emma (1996, 69th) – $4,709,932 ($42,175,567 total)
The Rock (1996, 69th) – $1,717,637 ($349,733,712 total)

Oscar Details:

Emma (1996, 69th): Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Costume Design
Independence Day (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects [O]
The Rock (1996, 69th): Sound

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 6-8, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $3,106,995 ($187,253,083 total) {week 10}
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $2,104,058 ($153,118,105 total) {week 13}
City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $1,477,541 ($114,387,110 total) {week 14}
Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $1,272,219 ($50,977,803 total) {week 9}
The Commitments (1991, 64th) – $910,129 ($3,522,617 total) {week 4}
Barton Fink (1991, 64th) – $184,613 ($1,122,920 total) {week 3}
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $92,765 ($130,280,726 total) {week 30}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $8,671,542 ($522,618,462 total)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $5,872,371 ($427,348,630 total)
City Slickers (1991, 64th) – $4,123,778 ($319,251,435 total)
Boyz N the Hood (1991, 64th) – $3,550,730 ($142,277,716 total)
The Commitments (1991, 64th) – $2,540,146 ($9,831,532 total)
Barton Fink (1991, 64th) – $515,250 ($3,134,040 total)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $258,905 ($363,610,102 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 Sep. 5-7, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $3,426,615 ($16,681,881 total) {week 5}
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $3,285,555 ($135,636,648 total) {week 17}
The Fly (1986, 59th) – $2,501,186 ($26,138,982 total) {week 4}
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $2,285,141 ($101,718,904 total) {week 12}
Aliens (1986, 59th) – $2,114,578 ($69,274,605 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $10,852,487 ($52,833,451 total)
Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $10,405,733 ($429,576,985 total)
The Fly (1986, 59th) – $7,921,546 ($82,785,186 total)
The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $7,237,306 ($322,155,558 total)
Aliens (1986, 59th) – $6,697,114 ($219,400,703 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 Sep. 4-6, 1981

Weekend Box Office:

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $5,406,403 ($125,254,773 total) {week 13}
Arthur (1981, 54th) – $5,001,805 ($38,663,847 total) {week 8}
Endless Love (1981, 54th) – $689,000 ($23,315,700 total) {week 8}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $22,850,804 ($529,404,166 total)
Arthur (1981, 54th) – $21,140,723 ($163,417,339 total)
Endless Love (1981, 54th) – $2,912,140 ($98,546,574 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”)
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]
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”)
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]