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 Sep. 25-27, 2020
Weekend Box Office:
- Tenet – $3,348,340 ($41,201,766 total) {week 4}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Tenet – $4,125,242 ($50,761,653 total)
Oscar Details:
- Tenet: Production Design, Visual Effects [O]
10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 25-27, 2015
Weekend Box Office:
- Sicario (2015, 88th) – $1,717,301 ($2,297,895 total) {week 2}
- Straight Outta Compton (2015, 88th) – $679,085 ($160,227,215 total) {week 7}
- Inside Out (2015, 88th) – $365,399 ($353,495,492 total) {week 15}
- Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015, 88th) – $80,516 ($19,132,766 total) {week 8}
- Amy (2015, 88th) – $19,638 ($8,283,005 total) {week 13}
- The Look of Silence (2015, 88th) – $633 ($104,739 total) {week 11}
- Cartel Land (2015, 88th) – $582 ($695,448 total) {week 12}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Sicario (2015, 88th) – $2,303,995 ($3,082,941 total)
- Straight Outta Compton (2015, 88th) – $911,086 ($214,966,762 total)
- Inside Out (2015, 88th) – $490,233 ($474,262,635 total)
- Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015, 88th) – $108,023 ($25,669,227 total)
- Amy (2015, 88th) – $26,347 ($11,112,786 total)
- The Look of Silence (2015, 88th) – $849 ($140,522 total)
- Cartel Land (2015, 88th) – $781 ($933,039 total)
Oscar Details:
- Amy (2015, 88th): Documentary Feature [O]
- Cartel Land (2015, 88th): Documentary Feature
- Inside Out (2015, 88th): Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay
- The Look of Silence (2015, 88th): Documentary Feature
- Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015, 88th): Animated Feature
- Sicario (2015, 88th): Original Score, Cinematography, Sound Film Editing
- Straight Outta Compton (2015, 88th): Original Screenplay
15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 24-26, 2010
Weekend Box Office:
- The Town (2010, 83rd) – $15,605,171 ($48,692,072 total) {week 2}
- Inception (2010, 83rd) – $1,247,006 ($287,053,292 total) {week 11}
- Toy Story 3 (2010, 83rd) – $313,847 ($411,086,067 total) {week 15}
- Salt (2010, 83rd) – $143,697 ($117,223,003 total) {week 10}
- The Kids Are All Right (2010, 83rd) – $84,025 ($20,654,031 total) {week 12}
- Winter’s Bone (2010, 83rd) – $56,558 ($6,049,871 total) {week 16}
- Animal Kingdom (2010, 83rd) – $28,195 ($8,706,969 total) {week 7}
- I Am Love (2010, 83rd) – $26,202 ($4,886,968 total) {week 15}
- Restrepo (2010, 83rd) – $9,848 ($1,279,951 total) {week 14}
- Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd) – $6,707 ($3,260,663 total) {week 24}
- Gasland (2010, 83rd) – $5,528 ($21,184 total) {week 2}
- The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd) – $4,260 ($6,381,946 total) {week 24}
- The Milk of Sorrow (2009, 82nd) – $392 ($10,376 total) {week 5}
- Dogtooth (2010, 83rd) – $231 ($56,471 total) {week 14}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- The Town (2010, 83rd) – $22,369,390 ($69,798,141 total)
- Inception (2010, 83rd) – $1,787,533 ($411,479,434 total)
- Toy Story 3 (2010, 83rd) – $449,887 ($589,275,465 total)
- Salt (2010, 83rd) – $205,984 ($168,034,495 total)
- The Kids Are All Right (2010, 83rd) – $120,446 ($29,606,729 total)
- Winter’s Bone (2010, 83rd) – $81,074 ($8,672,249 total)
- Animal Kingdom (2010, 83rd) – $40,416 ($12,481,092 total)
- I Am Love (2010, 83rd) – $37,560 ($7,005,274 total)
- Restrepo (2010, 83rd) – $14,117 ($1,834,759 total)
- Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd) – $9,614 ($4,674,030 total)
- Gasland (2010, 83rd) – $7,924 ($30,366 total)
- The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd) – $6,107 ($9,148,265 total)
- The Milk of Sorrow (2009, 82nd) – $562 ($14,874 total)
- Dogtooth (2010, 83rd) – $331 ($80,949 total)
Oscar Details:
- Animal Kingdom (2010, 83rd): Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver)
- Dogtooth (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film
- Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd): Documentary Feature
- Gasland (2010, 83rd): Documentary Feature
- I Am Love (2010, 83rd): Costume Design
- Inception (2010, 83rd): Picture, Original Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Film Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]
- The Kids Are All Right (2010, 83rd): Picture, Actress (Annette Bening), Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Original Screenplay
- The Milk of Sorrow (2009, 82nd): Foreign Language Film
- Restrepo (2010, 83rd): Documentary Feature
- Salt (2010, 83rd): Sound Mixing
- The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd): Foreign Language Film
- The Town (2010, 83rd): Supporting Actor (Jeremy Renner)
- Toy Story 3 (2010, 83rd): Picture, Animated Feature [O], Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“We Belong Together”) [O], Sound Film Editing
- Winter’s Bone (2010, 83rd): Picture, Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Adapted Screenplay
20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 30-Oct. 2, 2005
Weekend Box Office:
- Corpse Bride (2005, 78th) – $10,033,257 ($33,188,109 total) {week 3}
- A History of Violence (2005, 78th) – $8,103,077 ($8,871,781 total) {week 2}
- The Constant Gardener (2005, 78th) – $1,419,745 ($29,869,811 total) {week 5}
- March of the Penguins (2005, 78th) – $1,114,959 ($74,515,363 total) {week 15}
- Capote (2005, 78th) – $324,857 ($324,857 total) {week 1}
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005, 78th) – $292,093 ($204,482,131 total) {week 12}
- Junebug (2005, 78th) – $143,990 ($2,267,595 total) {week 9}
- Batman Begins (2005, 78th) – $115,230 ($205,085,404 total) {week 16}
- War of the Worlds (2005, 78th) – $55,744 ($233,331,057 total) {week 14}
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005, 78th) – $21,109 ($380,209,351 total) {week 20}
- Hustle & Flow (2005, 78th) – $10,553 ($22,182,800 total) {week 11}
- Murderball (2005, 78th) – $7,046 ($1,523,883 total) {week 13}
- Darwin’s Nightmare (2005, 78th) – $3,048 ($58,830 total) {week 9}
- Cinderella Man (2005, 78th) – $2,545 ($61,607,475 total) {week 18}
- Howl’s Moving Castle (2005, 78th) – $2,014 ($4,710,455 total) {week 17}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Corpse Bride (2005, 78th) – $17,702,985 ($58,558,114 total)
- A History of Violence (2005, 78th) – $14,297,317 ($15,653,642 total)
- The Constant Gardener (2005, 78th) – $2,505,041 ($52,703,208 total)
- March of the Penguins (2005, 78th) – $1,967,268 ($131,477,185 total)
- Capote (2005, 78th) – $573,188 ($573,188 total)
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005, 78th) – $515,378 ($360,794,524 total)
- Junebug (2005, 78th) – $254,060 ($4,001,014 total)
- Batman Begins (2005, 78th) – $203,315 ($361,858,958 total)
- War of the Worlds (2005, 78th) – $98,356 ($411,696,452 total)
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005, 78th) – $37,245 ($670,853,005 total)
- Hustle & Flow (2005, 78th) – $18,620 ($39,140,011 total)
- Murderball (2005, 78th) – $12,432 ($2,688,786 total)
- Darwin’s Nightmare (2005, 78th) – $5,378 ($103,801 total)
- Cinderella Man (2005, 78th) – $4,490 ($108,702,113 total)
- Howl’s Moving Castle (2005, 78th) – $3,554 ($8,311,271 total)
Oscar Details:
- Batman Begins (2005, 78th): Cinematography
- Capote (2005, 78th): Picture, Directing, Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman) [O], Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Adapted Screenplay
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005, 78th): Costume Design
- Cinderella Man (2005, 78th): Supporting Actor (Paul Giamatti), Film Editing, Makeup
- The Constant Gardener (2005, 78th): Supporting Actress (Rachel Weisz) [O], Adapted Screenplay, Origianl Score, Film Editing
- Corpse Bride (2005, 78th): Animated Feature
- Darwin’s Nightmare (2005, 78th): Documentary Feature
- A History of Violence (2005, 78th): Supporting Actor (William Hurt), Adapted Screenplay
- Howl’s Moving Castle (2005, 78th): Animated Feature
- Hustle & Flow (2005, 78th): Actor (Terrence Howard), Original Song (“It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”) [O]
- Junebug (2005, 78th): Supporting Actress (Amy Adams)
- March of the Penguins (2005, 78th): Documentary Feature [O]
- Murderball (2005, 78th): Documentary Feature
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005, 78th): Makeup
- War of the Worlds (2005, 78th): Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 29-Oct. 1, 2000
Weekend Box Office:
- Almost Famous (2000, 73rd) – $5,570,441 ($17,833,970 total) {week 3}
- Space Cowboys (2000, 73rd) – $1,402,641 ($86,975,047 total) {week 9}
- The Cell (2000, 73rd) – $1,040,830 ($59,084,146 total) {week 7}
- The Perfect Storm (2000, 73rd) – $372,285 ($180,631,498 total) {week 14}
- Gladiator (2000, 73rd) – $273,392 ($186,089,136 total) {week 22}
- The Patriot (2000, 73rd) – $210,110 ($113,053,954 total) {week 14}
- Hollow Man (2000, 73rd) – $176,389 ($72,713,763 total) {week 9}
- Dancer in the Dark (2000, 73rd) – $106,463 ($271,246 total) {week 2}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Almost Famous (2000, 73rd) – $11,688,625 ($37,421,559 total)
- Space Cowboys (2000, 73rd) – $2,943,204 ($182,502,371 total)
- The Cell (2000, 73rd) – $2,184,005 ($123,978,050 total)
- The Perfect Storm (2000, 73rd) – $781,177 ($379,024,535 total)
- Gladiator (2000, 73rd) – $573,667 ($390,476,462 total)
- The Patriot (2000, 73rd) – $440,880 ($237,224,531 total)
- Hollow Man (2000, 73rd) – $370,122 ($152,577,488 total)
- Dancer in the Dark (2000, 73rd) – $223,395 ($569,164 total)
Oscar Details:
- Almost Famous (2000, 73rd): Supporting Actress (Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand), Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing
- The Cell (2000, 73rd): Makeup
- Dancer in the Dark (2000, 73rd): Original Song (“I’ve Seen It All”)
- 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]
- Hollow Man (2000, 73rd): Visual Effects
- The Patriot (2000, 73rd): Original Score, Cinematography, Sound
- The Perfect Storm (2000, 73rd): Sound, Visual Effects
- Space Cowboys (2000, 73rd): Sound Film Editing
30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 29-Oct. 1, 1995
Weekend Box Office:
- Seven (1995, 68th) – $12,378,647 ($30,805,661 total) {week 2}
- Unstrung Heroes (1995, 68th) – $1,585,220 ($4,968,996 total) {week 3}
- The Usual Suspects (1995, 68th) – $1,508,426 ($17,626,795 total) {week 7}
- Apollo 13 (1995, 68th) – $552,955 ($167,319,430 total) {week 14}
- Batman Forever (1995, 68th) – $184,593 ($183,197,567 total) {week 16}
- Braveheart (1995, 68th) – $681,641 ($65,921,954 total) {week 19}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Seven (1995, 68th) – $32,184,482 ($80,094,719 total)
- Unstrung Heroes (1995, 68th) – $4,121,572 ($12,919,390 total)
- The Usual Suspects (1995, 68th) – $3,921,908 ($45,829,667 total)
- Apollo 13 (1995, 68th) – $1,437,683 ($435,030,518 total)
- Batman Forever (1995, 68th) – $479,942 ($476,313,674 total)
- Braveheart (1995, 68th) – $1,772,267 ($171,397,080 total)
Oscar Details:
- Apollo 13 (1995, 68th): Picture, Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Kathleen Quinlan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Film Editing [O], Art Direction, Sound [O], Visual Effects
- Batman Forever (1995, 68th): Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing
- 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]
- Seven (1995, 68th): Film Editing
- Unstrung Heroes (1995, 68th): Original Musical or Comedy Score
- The Usual Suspects (1995, 68th): Supporting Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Original Screenplay [O]
35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 28-30, 1990
Weekend Box Office:
- Good Fellas (1990, 63rd) – $5,881,427 ($14,852,528 total) {week 2}
- Ghost (1990, 63rd) – $5,435,657 ($155,272,432 total) {week 12}
- Postcards from the Edge (1990, 63rd) – $4,101,237 ($23,225,598 total) {week 3}
- Flatliners (1990, 63rd) – $1,674,686 ($53,653,737 total) {week 8}
- Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $883,765 ($165,026,231 total) {week 28}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Good Fellas (1990, 63rd) – $15,725,518 ($39,712,078 total)
- Ghost (1990, 63rd) – $14,533,636 ($415,161,042 total)
- Postcards from the Edge (1990, 63rd) – $10,965,719 ($62,099,649 total)
- Flatliners (1990, 63rd) – $4,477,707 ($143,457,155 total)
- Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $2,362,975 ($441,240,348 total)
Oscar Details:
- Flatliners (1990, 63rd): Sound Effects Film Editing
- Ghost (1990, 63rd): Picture, Supporting Actress (Whoopi Goldberg) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing
- Good Fellas (1990, 63rd): Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci), Supporting Actres (Lorraine Bracco), Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing
- Postcards from the Edge (1990, 63rd): Actress (Meryl Streep), Original Song (“I’m Checkin’ Out”)
- Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd): Actress (Julia Roberts)
40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 27-29, 1985
Weekend Box Office:
- Agnes of God (1985, 58th) – $4,210,065 ($6,629,673 total) {week 3}
- Back to the Future (1985, 58th) – $3,971,640 ($155,159,200 total) {week 13}
- Cocoon (1985, 58th) – $702,295 ($75,011,861 total) {week 15}
- The Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985, 58th) – $628,147 ($5,363,358 total) {week 10}
- The Journey of Natty Gann (1985, 58th) – $490,318 ($490,318 total) {week 1}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Agnes of God (1985, 58th) – $13,412,911 ($21,121,578 total)
- Back to the Future (1985, 58th) – $12,653,309 ($494,324,099 total)
- Cocoon (1985, 58th) – $2,237,453 ($238,981,450 total)
- The Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985, 58th) – $2,001,223 ($17,087,205 total)
- The Journey of Natty Gann (1985, 58th) – $1,562,112 ($1,562,112 total)
Oscar Details:
- Agnes of God (1985, 58th): Actress (Anne Bancroft), Supporting Actress (Meg Tilly), Original Score
- Back to the Future (1985, 58th): Original Screenplay, Original Song (“The Power of Love’), Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing [O]
- Cocoon (1985, 58th): Supporting Actor (Don Ameche) [O], Visual Effects [O]
- The Journey of Natty Gann (1985, 58th): Costume Design
- The Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985, 58th): Picture, Directing, Actor (William Hurt) [O], Adapted Screenplay
45 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 26-28, 1980
Weekend Box Office:
- Resurrection (1980, 53rd) – $308,068 ($308,068 total) {week 1}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Resurrection (1980, 53rd) – $1,295,260 ($1,295,260 total)
Oscar Details:
- Resurrection (1980, 53rd): Actress (Ellen Burstyn), Supporting Actress (Eva Le Gallienne)













