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. 1-3, 2021

Weekend Box Office:

3. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – $6,109,594 ($206,181,396 total) {week 5}
6. Free Guy – $2,262,854 ($117,612,384 total) {week 8}
16. The Eyes of Tammy Faye – $248,319 ($2,113,489 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – $7,058,774 ($238,213,511 total)
6. Free Guy – $2,614,409 ($135,884,514 total)
16. The Eyes of Tammy Faye – $286,898 ($2,441,838 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Eyes of Tammy Faye: Actress (Jessica Chastain) [O], Makeup & Hairstyling [O]
• Free Guy: Visual Effects
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Visual Effects

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 30-Oct. 2, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

2. Deepwater Horizon (2016, 89th) – $20,223,544 ($20,223,544 total) {week 1}
5. Sully (2016, 89th) – $8,272,713 ($105,260,176 total) {week 4}
11. Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $1,917,283 ($320,857,912 total) {week 9}
15. Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $501,935 ($25,764,061 total) {week 8}
17. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $469,431 ($46,743,207 total) {week 7}
25. Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $211,728 ($158,430,161 total) {week 11}
33. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $97,831 ($27,154,455 total) {week 8}
42. A Man Called Ove (2016, 89th) – $54,608 ($54,608 total) {week 1}
50. Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $37,280 ($5,763,439 total) {week 13}
107. Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $985 ($253,015 total) {week 14}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Deepwater Horizon (2016, 89th) – $27,471,288 ($27,471,288 total)
5. Sully (2016, 89th) – $11,237,500 ($142,983,476 total)
11. Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $2,604,402 ($435,847,453 total)
15. Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $681,819 ($34,997,424 total)
17. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $637,666 ($63,495,108 total)
25. Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $287,607 ($215,208,600 total)
33. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $132,892 ($36,886,109 total)
42. A Man Called Ove (2016, 89th) – $74,178 ($74,178 total)
50. Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $50,640 ($7,828,949 total)
107. Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $1,338 ($343,691 total)

Oscar Details:

• Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th): Actor (Viggo Mortensen)
• Deepwater Horizon (2016, 89th): Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
• 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
• Life, Animated (2016, 89th): Documentary Feature
• A Man Called Ove (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling, Foreign Language Film
• Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling
• Suicide Squad (2016, 89th): Makeup & Hairstyling [O]
• Sully (2016, 89th): Sound Film Editing

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 7-9, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

1. Real Steel (2011, 84th) – $27,319,677 ($27,319,677 total) {week 1}
2. The Ides of March (2011, 84th) – $10,470,143 ($10,470,143 total) {week 1}
4. Moneyball (2011, 84th) – $7,453,989 ($49,207,167 total) {week 3}
13. The Help (2011, 84th) – $1,945,048 ($162,652,363 total) {week 9}
14. Drive (2011, 84th) – $1,842,563 ($30,107,885 total) {week 4}
17. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $405,861 ($379,750,747 total) {week 13}
19. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $295,891 ($174,937,803 total) {week 10}
24. Warrior (2011, 84th) – $170,753 ($13,427,854 total) {week 5}
29. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $130,882 ($54,905,643 total) {week 21}
37. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $82,901 ($352,358,779 total) {week 15}
75. The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $9,872 ($13,279,566 total) {week 20}
94. Hell and Back Again (2011, 84th) – $3,413 ($4,809 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Real Steel (2011, 84th) – $40,479,975 ($40,479,975 total)
2. The Ides of March (2011, 84th) – $15,513,768 ($15,513,768 total)
4. Moneyball (2011, 84th) – $11,044,687 ($72,910,998 total)
13. The Help (2011, 84th) – $2,882,007 ($241,004,447 total)
14. Drive (2011, 84th) – $2,730,153 ($44,611,305 total)
17. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $601,370 ($562,682,380 total)
19. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $438,426 ($259,207,968 total)
24. Warrior (2011, 84th) – $253,007 ($19,896,253 total)
29. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $193,930 ($81,354,515 total)
37. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 84th) – $122,836 ($522,095,290 total)
75. The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $14,627 ($19,676,532 total)
94. Hell and Back Again (2011, 84th) – $5,057 ($7,126 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• 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
• Real Steel (2011, 84th): Visual Effects
• 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 Oct. 6-8, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Departed (2006, 79th) – $26,887,467 ($26,887,467 total) {week 1}
10. The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $1,906,510 ($34,148,522 total) {week 8}
11. Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $1,278,904 ($55,010,203 total) {week 11}
16. The Black Dahlia (2006, 79th) – $553,115 ($22,028,485 total) {week 4}
18. The Queen (2006, 79th) – $401,978 ($634,788 total) {week 2}
19. Monster House (2006, 79th) – $395,758 ($73,034,593 total) {week 12}
24. Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $296,502 ($199,394,532 total) {week 15}
25. The Last King of Scotland (2006, 79th) – $292,730 ($533,737 total) {week 2}
26. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $288,531 ($420,758,665 total) {week 14}
31. The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $157,393 ($124,111,041 total) {week 15}
35. Cars (2006, 79th) – $134,870 ($243,921,502 total) {week 18}
38. Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $122,180 ($2,378,723 total) {week 9}
39. Jesus Camp (2006, 79th) – $120,944 ($338,707 total) {week 4}
42. Little Children (2006, 79th) – $97,953 ($97,953 total) {week 1}
53. An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $34,133 ($23,727,472 total) {week 20}
78. Water (2006, 79th) – $7,312 ($3,271,047 total) {week 24}
110. My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $1,617 ($30,815 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Departed (2006, 79th) – $48,233,242 ($48,233,242 total)
10. The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $3,420,075 ($61,258,799 total)
11. Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $2,294,217 ($98,682,425 total)
16. The Black Dahlia (2006, 79th) – $992,229 ($39,516,748 total)
18. The Queen (2006, 79th) – $721,106 ($1,138,742 total)
19. Monster House (2006, 79th) – $709,948 ($131,016,255 total)
24. Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $531,893 ($357,692,481 total)
25. The Last King of Scotland (2006, 79th) – $525,126 ($957,467 total)
26. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $517,594 ($754,796,078 total)
31. The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $282,346 ($222,641,944 total)
35. Cars (2006, 79th) – $241,942 ($437,569,107 total)
38. Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $219,178 ($4,267,175 total)
39. Jesus Camp (2006, 79th) – $216,961 ($607,604 total)
42. Little Children (2006, 79th) – $175,717 ($175,717 total)
53. An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $61,231 ($42,564,549 total)
78. Water (2006, 79th) – $13,117 ($5,867,909 total)
110. My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $2,901 ($55,279 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Black Dahlia (2006, 79th): Cinematography
• Cars (2006, 79th): Animated Feature, Original Song (“Our Town”)
• 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
• 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]
• 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]
• The Queen (2006, 79th): Picture, Director, Actress (Helen Mirren [O]), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Costume Design
• Superman Returns (2006, 79th): Visual Effects
• Water (2006, 79th): Foreign Language Film

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 5-7, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

1. Training Day (2001, 74th) – $22,550,788 ($22,550,788 total) {week 1}
20. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $332,543 ($265,883,866 total) {week 21}
23. Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $226,733 ($197,761,540 total) {week 20}
26. Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $196,757 ($5,376,744 total) {week 12}
60. Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $33,117 ($1,135,735 total) {week 18}
999. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $27,875 ($56,628,845 total) {week 21}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Training Day (2001, 74th) – $46,814,798 ($46,814,798 total)
20. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $690,350 ($551,967,390 total)
23. Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $470,691 ($410,547,367 total)
26. Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $408,462 ($11,161,969 total)
60. Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $68,750 ($2,357,754 total)
999. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $57,868 ($117,559,881 total)

Oscar Details:

• Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd): Foreign Language Film
• 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
• 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. 4-6, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

1. First Wives Club (1996, 69th) – $11,017,356 ($58,491,416 total) {week 3}
3. That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th) – $6,208,595 ($6,208,595 total) {week 1}
8. Fly Away Home (1996, 69th) – $2,014,882 ($15,850,522 total) {week 4}
9. Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $1,480,901 ($295,730,534 total) {week 14}
999. The Rock (1996, 69th) – $194,616 ($133,406,846 total) {week 18}
999. Secrets & Lies (1996, 69th) – $189,050 ($294,677 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. First Wives Club (1996, 69th) – $29,288,220 ($155,491,886 total)
3. That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th) – $16,504,749 ($16,504,749 total)
8. Fly Away Home (1996, 69th) – $5,356,304 ($42,136,569 total)
9. Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $3,936,784 ($786,161,487 total)
999. The Rock (1996, 69th) – $517,362 ($354,644,896 total)
999. Secrets & Lies (1996, 69th) – $502,565 ($783,361 total)

Oscar Details:

• First Wives Club (1996, 69th): Original Comedy or Musical Score
• Fly Away Home (1996, 69th): Cinematography
• Independence Day (1996, 69th): Sound, Visual Effects [O]
• The Rock (1996, 69th): Sound
• Secrets & Lies (1996, 69th): Picture, Director, Actress (Brenda Blethyn), Supporting Actress (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), Original Screenplay
• That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th): Original Song (“That Thing You Do”)

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 4-6, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Fisher King (1991, 64th) – $6,103,250 ($16,089,470 total) {week 3}
11. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $1,009,981 ($197,063,519 total) {week 14}
13. Rambling Rose (1991, 64th) – $876,147 ($2,798,439 total) {week 3}
14. The Commitments (1991, 64th) – $781,664 ($11,872,424 total) {week 8}
999. Barton Fink (1991, 64th) – $569,869 ($4,133,142 total) {week 7}
999. The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $57,285 ($130,719,208 total) {week 34}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Fisher King (1991, 64th) – $17,034,011 ($44,905,290 total)
11. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $2,818,831 ($549,999,133 total)
13. Rambling Rose (1991, 64th) – $2,445,303 ($7,810,370 total)
14. The Commitments (1991, 64th) – $2,181,604 ($33,135,625 total)
999. Barton Fink (1991, 64th) – $1,590,489 ($11,535,491 total)
999. The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $159,881 ($364,833,894 total)

Oscar Details:

• Barton Fink (1991, 64th): Supporting Actor (Michael Lerner), Art Direction, Costume Design
• The Commitments (1991, 64th): Film Editing
• The Fisher King (1991, 64th): Actor (Robin Williams), Supporting Actress (Mercedes Ruehl) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction
• Rambling Rose (1991, 64th): Actress (Laura Dern), Supporting Actress (Diane Ladd)
• 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 Oct. 3-5, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th) – $8,207,503 ($19,544,717 total) {week 2}
3. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $2,405,090 ($150,727,739 total) {week 21}
4. Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $2,396,982 ($31,074,139 total) {week 9}
5. Children of a Lesser God (1986, 59th) – $1,909,084 ($1,909,084 total) {week 1}
7. The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $1,157,805 ($109,535,433 total) {week 16}
10. The Fly (1986, 59th) – $812,422 ($33,815,680 total) {week 8}
12. Aliens (1986, 59th) – $744,462 ($76,308,441 total) {week 12}
999. Blue Velvet (1986, 59th) – $597,584 ($2,623,882 total) {week 3}
999. Round Midnight (1986, 59th) – $25,384 ($25,384 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th) – $25,994,113 ($61,900,384 total)
3. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $7,617,199 ($477,372,219 total)
4. Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $7,591,520 ($98,415,400 total)
5. Children of a Lesser God (1986, 59th) – $6,046,290 ($6,046,290 total)
7. The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $3,666,903 ($346,911,412 total)
10. The Fly (1986, 59th) – $2,573,035 ($107,098,178 total)
12. Aliens (1986, 59th) – $2,357,797 ($241,677,677 total)
999. Blue Velvet (1986, 59th) – $1,892,618 ($8,310,138 total)
999. Round Midnight (1986, 59th) – $80,394 ($80,394 total)

Oscar Details:

• Aliens (1986, 59th): Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Original Score, Film Editing, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
• 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
• Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th): Original Screenplay
• The Fly (1986, 59th): Makeup [O]
• The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Glory of Love”)
• Round Midnight (1986, 59th):
• 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 Oct. 2-4, 1981

Weekend Box Office:

4. Arthur (1981, 54th) – $2,111,572 ($52,922,322 total) {week 12}
6. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $1,959,650 ($136,885,717 total) {week 17}
14. Chariots of Fire (1981, 54th) – $92,639 ($198,650 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Arthur (1981, 54th) – $8,924,810 ($223,682,476 total)
6. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $8,282,693 ($578,563,732 total)
14. Chariots of Fire (1981, 54th) – $391,550 ($839,618 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]
• Chariots of Fire (1981, 54th): Picture [O], Director, Supporting Actor (Ian Holm), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Film Editing, Costume Design [O]
• 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]