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. 8-10, 2021

Weekend Box Office:

1. No Time to Die – $55,225,007 ($55,225,007 total) {week 1}
4. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – $4,308,807 ($212,565,572 total) {week 6}
6. Free Guy – $1,240,305 ($119,621,592 total) {week 9}
23. The Eyes of Tammy Faye – $46,000 ($2,312,421 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. No Time to Die – $63,804,703 ($63,804,703 total)
4. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – $4,978,219 ($245,589,525 total)
6. Free Guy – $1,432,997 ($138,205,871 total)
23. The Eyes of Tammy Faye – $53,147 ($2,671,676 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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. 7-9, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

3. Deepwater Horizon (2016, 89th) – $11,527,027 ($38,295,415 total) {week 2}
8. Sully (2016, 89th) – $5,010,340 ($113,225,772 total) {week 5}
12. Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $1,123,640 ($322,547,564 total) {week 10}
23. Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $242,916 ($26,207,358 total) {week 9}
25. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $231,653 ($47,125,701 total) {week 8}
34. Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $132,423 ($158,658,428 total) {week 12}
37. A Man Called Ove (2016, 89th) – $99,444 ($183,165 total) {week 2}
48. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $43,122 ($27,249,911 total) {week 9}
52. Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $22,758 ($5,809,199 total) {week 14}
99. Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $959 ($254,530 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Deepwater Horizon (2016, 89th) – $15,658,100 ($52,019,783 total)
8. Sully (2016, 89th) – $6,805,953 ($153,803,794 total)
12. Suicide Squad (2016, 89th) – $1,526,332 ($438,142,645 total)
23. Hell or High Water (2016, 89th) – $329,973 ($35,599,590 total)
25. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 89th) – $314,673 ($64,014,681 total)
34. Star Trek: Beyond (2016, 89th) – $179,881 ($215,518,674 total)
37. A Man Called Ove (2016, 89th) – $135,083 ($248,808 total)
48. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016, 89th) – $58,576 ($37,015,775 total)
52. Captain Fantastic (2016, 89th) – $30,914 ($7,891,108 total)
99. Life, Animated (2016, 89th) – $1,303 ($345,749 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. 14-16, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

1. Real Steel (2011, 84th) – $16,291,655 ($51,731,456 total) {week 2}
4. The Ides of March (2011, 84th) – $7,108,846 ($21,763,235 total) {week 2}
6. Moneyball (2011, 84th) – $5,456,730 ($57,668,988 total) {week 4}
14. The Help (2011, 84th) – $1,187,684 ($164,905,972 total) {week 10}
16. Drive (2011, 84th) – $1,116,149 ($32,113,455 total) {week 5}
19. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $284,548 ($380,235,400 total) {week 14}
22. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $238,361 ($175,306,812 total) {week 11}
30. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $129,387 ($55,107,082 total) {week 22}
38. Warrior (2011, 84th) – $68,436 ($13,572,543 total) {week 6}
88. The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $5,740 ($13,292,167 total) {week 21}
101. Hell and Back Again (2011, 84th) – $3,597 ($11,057 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Real Steel (2011, 84th) – $24,139,590 ($76,651,275 total)
4. The Ides of March (2011, 84th) – $10,533,284 ($32,246,912 total)
6. Moneyball (2011, 84th) – $8,085,319 ($85,449,005 total)
14. The Help (2011, 84th) – $1,759,809 ($244,343,653 total)
16. Drive (2011, 84th) – $1,653,815 ($47,582,988 total)
19. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, 84th) – $421,619 ($563,400,498 total)
22. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, 84th) – $353,183 ($259,754,734 total)
30. Midnight in Paris (2011, 84th) – $191,715 ($81,652,990 total)
38. Warrior (2011, 84th) – $101,403 ($20,110,641 total)
88. The Tree of Life (2011, 84th) – $8,505 ($19,695,203 total)
101. Hell and Back Again (2011, 84th) – $5,330 ($16,383 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
• The Tree of Life (2011, 84th): Picture, Directing, Cinematography
• Warrior (2011, 84th): Supporting Actor (Nick Nolte)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 13-15, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

2. The Departed (2006, 79th) – $19,034,294 ($56,985,185 total) {week 2}
11. The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $1,374,959 ($36,242,974 total) {week 9}
13. The Queen (2006, 79th) – $1,022,475 ($1,861,414 total) {week 3}
15. Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $872,422 ($56,362,905 total) {week 12}
19. The Last King of Scotland (2006, 79th) – $611,129 ($1,270,711 total) {week 3}
24. Monster House (2006, 79th) – $240,937 ($73,394,814 total) {week 13}
26. Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $216,430 ($199,732,905 total) {week 16}
29. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $187,342 ($421,060,364 total) {week 15}
34. The Black Dahlia (2006, 79th) – $137,765 ($22,412,530 total) {week 5}
36. The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $127,401 ($124,315,405 total) {week 16}
41. Jesus Camp (2006, 79th) – $99,566 ($490,017 total) {week 5}
45. Little Children (2006, 79th) – $84,551 ($230,497 total) {week 2}
46. Cars (2006, 79th) – $83,225 ($244,052,771 total) {week 19}
48. Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $75,295 ($2,506,509 total) {week 10}
65. An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $20,804 ($23,772,253 total) {week 21}
69. Deliver Us From Evil (2006, 79th) – $15,656 ($15,656 total) {week 1}
115. Water (2006, 79th) – $1,302 ($3,278,815 total) {week 25}
125. My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $626 ($31,674 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. The Departed (2006, 79th) – $34,145,489 ($102,225,332 total)
11. The Illusionist (2006, 79th) – $2,466,530 ($65,016,022 total)
13. The Queen (2006, 79th) – $1,834,211 ($3,339,178 total)
15. Little Miss Sunshine (2006, 79th) – $1,565,032 ($101,109,028 total)
19. The Last King of Scotland (2006, 79th) – $1,096,300 ($2,279,520 total)
24. Monster House (2006, 79th) – $432,215 ($131,662,453 total)
26. Superman Returns (2006, 79th) – $388,252 ($358,299,486 total)
29. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006, 79th) – $336,072 ($755,337,294 total)
34. The Black Dahlia (2006, 79th) – $247,136 ($40,205,684 total)
36. The Devil Wears Prada (2006, 79th) – $228,544 ($223,008,551 total)
41. Jesus Camp (2006, 79th) – $178,611 ($879,038 total)
45. Little Children (2006, 79th) – $151,675 ($413,487 total)
46. Cars (2006, 79th) – $149,297 ($437,804,589 total)
48. Half Nelson (2006, 79th) – $135,071 ($4,496,409 total)
65. An Inconvenient Truth (2006, 79th) – $37,320 ($42,644,881 total)
69. Deliver Us From Evil (2006, 79th) – $28,085 ($28,085 total)
115. Water (2006, 79th) – $2,336 ($5,881,844 total)
125. My Country, My Country (2006, 79th) – $1,123 ($56,820 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Black Dahlia (2006, 79th): Cinematography
• Cars (2006, 79th): Animated Feature, Original Song (“Our Town”)
• 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
• 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. 12-14, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

1. Training Day (2001, 74th) – $13,386,457 ($43,439,167 total) {week 2}
14. Mulholland Drive (2001, 74th) – $587,591 ($664,013 total) {week 1}
22. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $259,620 ($266,283,207 total) {week 22}
29. Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $183,116 ($198,066,399 total) {week 21}
30. Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $168,673 ($5,620,140 total) {week 13}
59. Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $32,196 ($1,186,221 total) {week 19}
999. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $19,412 ($56,663,217 total) {week 22}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Training Day (2001, 74th) – $27,789,906 ($90,178,483 total)
14. Mulholland Drive (2001, 74th) – $1,219,822 ($1,378,472 total)
22. Shrek (2001, 74th) – $538,964 ($552,796,410 total)
29. Pearl Harbor (2001, 74th) – $380,144 ($411,180,245 total)
30. Ghost World (2001, 74th) – $350,160 ($11,667,252 total)
59. Divided We Fall (2000, 73rd) – $66,838 ($2,462,561 total)
999. Moulin Rouge! (2001, 74th) – $40,299 ($117,631,237 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
• 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. 11-13, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Ghost and the Darkness (1996, 69th) – $9,215,063 ($9,215,063 total) {week 1}
2. First Wives Club (1996, 69th) – $9,129,015 ($72,065,363 total) {week 4}
5. That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th) – $4,929,221 ($12,651,209 total) {week 2}
9. Fly Away Home (1996, 69th) – $1,603,033 ($17,878,583 total) {week 5}
10. Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $1,296,679 ($297,433,529 total) {week 15}
999. Michael Collins (1996, 69th) – $182,221 ($182,221 total) {week 1}
999. The Rock (1996, 69th) – $136,614 ($133,600,967 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Ghost and the Darkness (1996, 69th) – $24,497,057 ($24,497,057 total)
2. First Wives Club (1996, 69th) – $24,268,309 ($191,576,474 total)
5. That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th) – $13,103,698 ($33,631,608 total)
9. Fly Away Home (1996, 69th) – $4,261,457 ($47,527,907 total)
10. Independence Day (1996, 69th) – $3,447,054 ($790,688,680 total)
999. Michael Collins (1996, 69th) – $484,411 ($484,411 total)
999. The Rock (1996, 69th) – $363,171 ($355,160,942 total)

Oscar Details:

• First Wives Club (1996, 69th): Original Comedy or Musical Score
• Fly Away Home (1996, 69th): Cinematography
• 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
• That Thing You Do! (1996, 69th): Original Song (“That Thing You Do”)

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 11-13, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Fisher King (1991, 64th) – $4,993,580 ($22,874,680 total) {week 4}
12. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $1,261,709 ($162,048,348 total) {week 18}
999. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $664,020 ($198,037,242 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Fisher King (1991, 64th) – $13,936,951 ($63,842,634 total)
12. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th) – $3,521,397 ($452,272,705 total)
999. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, 64th) – $1,853,262 ($552,716,768 total)

Oscar Details:

• The Fisher King (1991, 64th): Actor (Robin Williams), Supporting Actress (Mercedes Ruehl) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction
• Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991, 64th): Original Song (“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”)
• 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. 10-12, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

1. Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th) – $10,560,827 ($32,840,242 total) {week 3}
2. Peggy Sue Got Married (1986, 59th) – $6,942,408 ($6,942,408 total) {week 1}
6. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $2,673,978 ($154,110,655 total) {week 22}
7. Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $2,052,054 ($33,642,395 total) {week 10}
8. Children of a Lesser God (1986, 59th) – $1,928,543 ($4,507,215 total) {week 2}
9. That’s Life (1986, 59th) – $1,444,284 ($2,251,938 total) {week 3}
10. The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $940,279 ($110,722,495 total) {week 17}
12. Blue Velvet (1986, 59th) – $567,465 ($3,438,313 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th) – $33,447,363 ($104,008,853 total)
2. Peggy Sue Got Married (1986, 59th) – $21,987,411 ($21,987,411 total)
6. Top Gun (1986, 59th) – $8,468,798 ($488,086,306 total)
7. Stand By Me (1986, 59th) – $6,499,093 ($106,549,364 total)
8. Children of a Lesser God (1986, 59th) – $6,107,919 ($14,274,872 total)
9. That’s Life (1986, 59th) – $4,574,215 ($7,132,149 total)
10. The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th) – $2,977,973 ($350,670,975 total)
12. Blue Velvet (1986, 59th) – $1,797,227 ($10,889,536 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
• Crocodile Dundee (1986, 59th): Original Screenplay
• The Karate Kid Part II (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Glory of Love”)
• Peggy Sue Got Married (1986, 59th): Actress (Kathleen Turner), Cinematography, Costume Design
• Stand By Me (1986, 59th): Adapted Screenplay
• That’s Life (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Life in a Looking Glass”)
• Top Gun (1986, 59th): Original Song (“Take My Breath Away” [O]), Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects

45 Years Ago: The Weekend of Oct. 9-11, 1981

Weekend Box Office:

4. Arthur (1981, 54th) – $2,322,083 ($56,300,113 total) {week 13}
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $2,213,904 ($139,888,596 total) {week 18}
12. Chariots of Fire (1981, 54th) – $117,083 ($607,253 total) {week 3}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Arthur (1981, 54th) – $9,814,559 ($237,959,111 total)
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 54th) – $9,357,328 ($591,255,756 total)
12. Chariots of Fire (1981, 54th) – $494,865 ($2,566,627 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]