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Box Office History (Week 21, 2025)

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Wesley Lovell

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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: 2020

Weekend Box Office:

  1. The pandemic shut down theaters in March 2020. As such, the 2020 box office numbers won’t begin to update again until the beginning of September 2020.

    2. 10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 22-24, 2015

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015, 88th) – $24,639,262 ($88,069,541 total) {week 2}
    2. Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $413,952 ($197,856,398 total) {week 11}
    3. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2015, 88th) – $120,842 ($483,321 total) {week 19}
    4. When Marnie Was There (2015, 88th) – $27,389 ($27,389 total) {week 1}
    5. American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $185,017 ($349,894,088 total) {week 22}
    6. Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $7,901 ($222,517,413 total) {week 29}
    7. The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $47,116 ($1,059,804 total) {week 9}
    8. Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $2,907 ($857,306 total) {week 23}
    9. Tangerines (2014, 87th) – $8,100 ($95,702 total) {week 6}
    10. Timbuktu (2014, 87th) – $3,922 ($1,074,509 total) {week 17}
    11. Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $54,560 ($2,879,254 total) {week 14}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015, 88th) – $33,056,946 ($118,157,356 total)
    2. Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $555,373 ($265,451,466 total)
    3. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2015, 88th) – $162,126 ($648,441 total)
    4. When Marnie Was There (2015, 88th) – $36,746 ($36,746 total)
    5. American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $248,226 ($469,430,858 total)
    6. Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $10,600 ($298,537,597 total)
    7. The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $63,213 ($1,421,872 total)
    8. Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $3,900 ($1,150,193 total)
    9. Tangerines (2014, 87th) – $10,867 ($128,397 total)
    10. Timbuktu (2014, 87th) – $5,262 ($1,441,601 total)
    11. Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $73,200 ($3,862,914 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2015, 88th): Makeup & Hairstyling
    • American Sniper (2014, 87th): Picture, Actor (Bradley Cooper), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing [O]
    • Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th): Animated Feature [O]
    • Cinderella (2015, 88th): Costume Design
    • Mad Max: Fury Road (2015, 88th): Picture, Directing, Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Production Design [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup & Hairstyling [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Film Editing [O], Visual Effects
    • The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th): Documentary Feature
    • Song of the Sea (2014, 87th): Animated Feature
    • Tangerines (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film
    • Timbuktu (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film
    • When Marnie Was There (2015, 88th): Animated Feature
    • Wild Tales (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film

    15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 21-23, 2010

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $1,901,211 ($210,990,918 total) {week 9}
    2. Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $484,757 ($332,194,266 total) {week 12}
    3. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd) – $446,549 ($2,692,960 total) {week 6}
    4. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd) – $202,592 ($1,608,491 total) {week 6}
    5. Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $188,505 ($748,821,665 total) {week 23}
    6. The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $23,710 ($496,712 total) {week 12}
    7. A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $10,286 ($2,047,936 total) {week 13}
    8. Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $8,443 ($39,455,075 total) {week 23}
    9. The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $5,864 ($438,408 total) {week 17}
    10. The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $5,381 ($6,594,681 total) {week 19}
    11. Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $1,584 ($584,574 total) {week 16}
    12. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $653 ($7,689,458 total) {week 22}
    13. The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $249 ($2,221,763 total) {week 21}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $2,725,310 ($302,447,057 total)
    2. Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $694,880 ($476,187,218 total)
    3. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd) – $640,110 ($3,860,251 total)
    4. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd) – $290,408 ($2,305,708 total)
    5. Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $270,214 ($1,073,405,961 total)
    6. The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $33,987 ($712,017 total)
    7. A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $14,745 ($2,935,634 total)
    8. Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $12,103 ($56,557,275 total)
    9. The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $8,406 ($628,440 total)
    10. The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $7,713 ($9,453,212 total)
    11. Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $2,271 ($837,963 total)
    12. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $936 ($11,022,531 total)
    13. The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $357 ($3,184,809 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • Ajami (2009, 82nd): Foreign Language Film
    • Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd): Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Visual Effects
    • Avatar (2009, 82nd): Picture, Director, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects [O]
    • Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd): Actor (Jeff Bridges) [O], Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Original Song (“The Weary Kind”) [O]
    • Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd): Documentary Feature
    • How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd): Animated Feature, Original Score
    • The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd): Art Direction, Costume Design
    • The Last Station (2009, 82nd): Actress (Helen Mirren), Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer)
    • The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd): Documentary Feature
    • A Prophet (2009, 82nd): Foreign Language Film
    • The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd): Foreign Language Film
    • The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd): Animated Feature
    • The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd): Cinematography, Foreign Language Film

    20 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 27-29, 2005

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005, 78th) – $55,205,972 ($255,648,711 total) {week 2}
    2. Crash (2005, 78th) – $4,658,473 ($34,796,250 total) {week 4}
    3. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005, 78th) – $326,411 ($2,554,817 total) {week 6}
    4. Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $49,447 ($100,368,397 total) {week 24}
    5. Downfall (2004, 77th) – $35,685 ($5,427,093 total) {week 15}
    6. Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $16,911 ($3,447,028 total) {week 21}
    7. The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $4,406 ($102,607,592 total) {week 24}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005, 78th) – $97,407,105 ($451,074,403 total)
    2. Crash (2005, 78th) – $8,219,552 ($61,395,567 total)
    3. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005, 78th) – $575,930 ($4,507,797 total)
    4. Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $87,246 ($177,093,069 total)
    5. Downfall (2004, 77th) – $62,964 ($9,575,729 total)
    6. Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $29,838 ($6,082,042 total)
    7. The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $7,774 ($181,043,973 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • The Aviator (2004, 77th): Picture, Director, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Alan Alda), Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Original Screenplay, Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound Mixing
    • Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th): Documentary Feature
    • Crash (2005, 78th): Picture [O], Directing, Supporting Actor (Matt Dillon), Original Screenplay [O], Original Song (“In the Deep”), Film Editing [O]
    • Downfall (2004, 77th): Foreign Language Film
    • Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005, 78th): Documentary Feature
    • Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Clint Eastwood), Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing
    • Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005, 78th): Makeup

    25 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 26-28, 2000

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Gladiator (2000, 73rd) – $13,430,378 ($123,362,264 total) {week 4}
    2. U-571 (2000, 73rd) – $2,595,880 ($68,287,895 total) {week 6}
    3. Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $861,845 ($121,333,595 total) {week 11}
    4. The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $233,338 ($57,159,449 total) {week 25}
    5. Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $185,008 ($245,277,760 total) {week 28}
    6. American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $170,293 ($129,948,281 total) {week 37}
    7. East-West (1999, 72nd) – $137,461 ($1,187,307 total) {week 8}
    8. All About My Mother (1999, 72nd) – $45,481 ($8,012,562 total) {week 30}
    9. Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd) – $13,653 ($58,220,776 total) {week 24}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Gladiator (2000, 73rd) – $28,181,368 ($258,854,769 total)
    2. U-571 (2000, 73rd) – $5,447,014 ($143,290,555 total)
    3. Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $1,808,435 ($254,597,952 total)
    4. The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $489,620 ($119,939,400 total)
    5. Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $388,208 ($514,673,741 total)
    6. American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $357,331 ($272,674,408 total)
    7. East-West (1999, 72nd) – $288,439 ($2,491,362 total)
    8. All About My Mother (1999, 72nd) – $95,434 ($16,813,001 total)
    9. Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd) – $28,649 ($122,166,415 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • All About My Mother (1999, 72nd): Foreign Language Film [O]
    • American Beauty (1999, 72nd): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography
    • Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd): Makeup
    • The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd): Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing, Art Direction
    • East-West (1999, 72nd): Foreign Language Film
    • Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd): Picture, Directing, Actress (Julia Roberts) [O], Supporting Actor (Albert Finney), Original Screenplay
    • Gladiator (2000, 73rd): Picture [O], Directing, Actor (Russell Crowe) [O], Supporting Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Sound [O], Visual Effects [O]
    • Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd): Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)
    • U-571 (2000, 73rd): Sound, Sound Film Editing [O]

    30 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 26-28, 1995

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Braveheart (1995, 68th) – $9,938,276 ($12,580,736 total) {week 1}
    2. Crimson Tide (1995, 68th) – $12,808,429 ($53,954,238 total) {week 3}
    3. A Little Princess (1995, 68th) – $2,610,583 ($5,384,329 total) {week 3}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Braveheart (1995, 68th) – $25,839,518 ($32,709,914 total)
    2. Crimson Tide (1995, 68th) – $33,301,915 ($140,281,019 total)
    3. A Little Princess (1995, 68th) – $6,787,516 ($13,999,255 total)
    • Braveheart (1995, 68th): Picture [O], Directing [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Costume Design, Makeup [O], Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing [O]
    • Crimson Tide (1995, 68th): Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing
    • A Little Princess (1995, 68th): Cinematography, Art Direction

    35 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 25-27, 1990

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $8,189,423 ($120,230,612 total) {week 10}
    2. The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $2,127,888 ($110,804,473 total) {week 13}
    3. Jesus of Montreal (1989, 62nd) – $20,388 ($20,388 total) {week 1}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $21,896,542 ($321,467,665 total)
    2. The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $5,689,459 ($296,264,442 total)
    3. Jesus of Montreal (1989, 62nd) – $54,513 ($54,513 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd): Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing [O]
    • Jesus of Montreal (1989, 62nd): Foreign Language Film
    • Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd): Actress (Julia Roberts)

    40 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 24-26, 1985

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985, 58th) – $20,176,217 ($27,251,854 total) {week 1}
    2. Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $2,928,179 ($218,007,750 total) {week 25}
    3. Mask (1985, 58th) – $1,321,657 ($41,257,723 total) {week 12}
    4. Witness (1985, 58th) – $1,066,676 ($61,815,744 total) {week 16}
    5. Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $819,943 ($16,990,361 total) {week 7}
    6. Amadeus (1984, 57th) – $626,770 ($49,146,743 total) {week 36}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985, 58th) – $64,279,722 ($86,822,104 total)
    2. Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $9,328,931 ($694,554,268 total)
    3. Mask (1985, 58th) – $4,210,688 ($131,443,619 total)
    4. Witness (1985, 58th) – $3,398,340 ($196,939,737 total)
    5. Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $2,612,269 ($54,129,854 total)
    6. Amadeus (1984, 57th) – $1,996,836 ($156,577,370 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • Amadeus (1984, 57th): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (F. Murray Abraham [O], Tom Hulce), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup [O], Sound [O]
    • Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th): Original Screenplay
    • Ladyhawke (1985, 58th): Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing
    • Mask (1985, 58th): Makeup [O]
    • Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985, 58th): Sound Effects Film Editing
    • Witness (1985, 58th): Picture, Directing, Actor (Harrison Ford), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Art Direction

    45 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 23-25, 1980

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. The Empire Strikes Back (1980, 53rd) – $4,910,483 ($7,244,308 total) {week 1}
    2. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $800,000 ($98,982,763 total) {week 23}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. The Empire Strikes Back (1980, 53rd) – $20,645,934 ($30,458,410 total)
    2. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $3,363,569 ($416,169,163 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • The Empire Strikes Back (1980, 53rd): Original Score, Art Direction, Sound [O], Special Achievement Award (Visual Effects) [O]
    • Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Dustin Hoffman) [O], Supporting Actor (Justin Henry), Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep) [O], Supporting Actress (Jane Alexander), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Cinematography

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