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 Apr. 9-11, 2021
Weekend Box Office:
- Raya and the Last Dragon – $2,201,918 ($35,302,329 total) {week 6}
- Minari – $118,000 ($2,260,000 total) {week 18}
- The 2020 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $76,008 ($206,272 total) {week 2}
- The Father – $62,034 ($1,401,904 total) {week 5}
- Promising Young Woman – $53,455 ($6,194,580 total) {week 16}
- Judas and the Black Messiah – $25,887 ($5,284,392 total) {week 9}
- News of the World – $16,460 ($12,621,890 total) {week 16}
- Tenet – $2,443 ($58,454,822 total) {week 32}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Raya and the Last Dragon – $2,448,741 ($39,259,522 total)
- Minari – $131,227 ($2,513,333 total)
- The 2020 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $84,528 ($229,394 total)
- The Father – $68,988 ($1,559,050 total)
- Promising Young Woman – $59,447 ($6,888,958 total)
- Judas and the Black Messiah – $28,789 ($5,876,743 total)
- News of the World – $18,305 ($14,036,733 total)
- Tenet – $2,717 ($65,007,280 total)
Oscar Details:
- The 2020 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Documentary Short Film
- The Father: Picture, Actor (Anthony Hopkins) [O], Supporting Actress (Olivia Colman), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Production Design
- Judas and the Black Messiah: Picture, Supporting Actor (Daniel Kaluuya) [O], Supporting Actor (LaKeith Stanfield), Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Fight for You”) [O], Cinematography
- Minari: Picture, Directing, Actor (Steven Yeun), Supporting Actress (Yuh-jung Youn) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score
- News of the World: Original Score, Cinematography, Production Design, Sound
- Promising Young Woman: Picture, Directing, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing
- Raya and the Last Dragon: Animated Feature
- Tenet: Production Design, Visual Effects [O]
10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 8-10, 2016
Weekend Box Office:
- Zootopia (2016, 89th) – $14,345,422 ($296,004,904 total) {week 6}
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015, 88th) – $378,923 ($935,528,312 total) {week 17}
- The Revenant (2015, 88th) – $245,043 ($182,970,493 total) {week 16}
- Spotlight (2015, 88th) – $79,473 ($44,726,885 total) {week 23}
- Embrace of the Serpent (2015, 88th) – $50,868 ($1,169,246 total) {week 8}
- The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $40,000 ($185,492 total) {week 3}
- Brooklyn (2015, 88th) – $31,406 ($38,202,442 total) {week 23}
- The Hateful Eight (2015, 88th) – $23,653 ($54,045,655 total) {week 16}
- Son of Saul (2015, 88th) – $2,630 ($1,763,677 total) {week 17}
- Mustang (2015, 88th) – $2,078 ($835,318 total) {week 21}
- A War (2015, 88th) – $755 ($118,960 total) {week 9}
- Theeb (2015, 88th) – $491 ($282,152 total) {week 22}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Zootopia (2016, 89th) – $18,756,847 ($387,030,690 total)
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015, 88th) – $495,447 ($1,223,216,787 total)
- The Revenant (2015, 88th) – $320,397 ($239,236,564 total)
- Spotlight (2015, 88th) – $103,912 ($58,481,048 total)
- Embrace of the Serpent (2015, 88th) – $66,511 ($1,528,806 total)
- The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $52,301 ($242,533 total)
- Brooklyn (2015, 88th) – $41,064 ($49,950,245 total)
- The Hateful Eight (2015, 88th) – $30,927 ($70,665,475 total)
- Son of Saul (2015, 88th) – $3,439 ($2,306,033 total)
- Mustang (2015, 88th) – $2,717 ($1,092,190 total)
- A War (2015, 88th) – $987 ($155,542 total)
- Theeb (2015, 88th) – $642 ($368,918 total)
Oscar Details:
- Brooklyn (2015, 88th): Picture, Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Adapted Screenplay
- Embrace of the Serpent (2015, 88th): Foreign Language Film
- The Hateful Eight (2015, 88th): Supporting Actress (Jennifer Jason Leigh), Original Score [O], Cinematography
- The Lobster (2016, 89th): Original Screenplay
- Mustang (2015, 88th): Foreign Language Film
- The Revenant (2015, 88th): Picture, Directing [O], Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) [O], Supporting Actor (Tom Hardy), Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
- Son of Saul (2015, 88th): Foreign Language Film [O]
- Spotlight (2015, 88th): Picture [O], Directing, Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Supporting Actress (Rachel McAdams), Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015, 88th): Original Score, Film Editing, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
- Theeb (2015, 88th): Foreign Language Film
- A War (2015, 88th): Foreign Language Film
- Zootopia (2016, 89th): Animated Feature [O]
15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 15-17, 2011
Weekend Box Office:
- Rio (2011, 84th) – $39,225,962 ($39,225,962 total) {week 1}
- Jane Eyre (2011, 84th) – $993,232 ($6,605,035 total) {week 6}
- Rango (2011, 84th) – $715,526 ($118,775,731 total) {week 7}
- True Grit (2010, 83rd) – $104,950 ($170,938,575 total) {week 17}
- Tangled (2010, 83rd) – $85,574 ($199,584,484 total) {week 21}
- In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $72,127 ($182,904 total) {week 3}
- Barney’s Version (2010, 83rd) – $30,271 ($4,337,300 total) {week 14}
- Biutiful (2010, 83rd) – $22,586 ($5,012,583 total) {week 12}
- Black Swan (2010, 83rd) – $19,584 ($106,928,998 total) {week 20}
- The Illusionist (2010, 83rd) – $14,540 ($2,189,699 total) {week 16}
- Another Year (2010, 83rd) – $5,806 ($3,191,237 total) {week 16}
- Blue Valentine (2010, 83rd) – $4,955 ($9,701,559 total) {week 16}
- Inside Job (2010, 83rd) – $2,177 ($4,306,237 total) {week 28}
- Winter’s Bone (2010, 83rd) – $174 ($6,531,491 total) {week 45}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Rio (2011, 84th) – $55,945,224 ($55,945,224 total)
- Jane Eyre (2011, 84th) – $1,416,577 ($9,420,296 total)
- Rango (2011, 84th) – $1,020,504 ($169,401,452 total)
- True Grit (2010, 83rd) – $149,683 ($243,797,640 total)
- Tangled (2010, 83rd) – $122,048 ($284,653,280 total)
- In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $102,870 ($260,863 total)
- Barney’s Version (2010, 83rd) – $43,173 ($6,185,985 total)
- Biutiful (2010, 83rd) – $32,213 ($7,149,094 total)
- Black Swan (2010, 83rd) – $27,931 ($152,505,292 total)
- The Illusionist (2010, 83rd) – $20,737 ($3,123,013 total)
- Another Year (2010, 83rd) – $8,281 ($4,551,436 total)
- Blue Valentine (2010, 83rd) – $7,067 ($13,836,650 total)
- Inside Job (2010, 83rd) – $3,105 ($6,141,682 total)
- Winter’s Bone (2010, 83rd) – $248 ($9,315,405 total)
Oscar Details:
- Another Year (2010, 83rd): Original Screenplay
- Barney’s Version (2010, 83rd): Makeup
- Biutiful (2010, 83rd): Actor (Javier Bardem), Foreign Language Film
- Black Swan (2010, 83rd): Picture, Direcing, Actress (Natalie Portman) [O], Film Editing, Cinematography
- Blue Valentine (2010, 83rd): Actress (Michelle Williams)
- The Illusionist (2010, 83rd): Animated Feature
- In a Better World (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film [O]
- Inside Job (2010, 83rd): Documentary Feature
- Jane Eyre (2011, 84th): Costume Design
- Rango (2011, 84th): Animated Feature [O]
- Rio (2011, 84th): Original Song (“Real in Rio”)
- Tangled (2010, 83rd): Original Song (“I See the Light”)
- True Grit (2010, 83rd): Picture, Directing, Actor (Jeff Bridges), Supporting Actress (Hailee Steinfeld), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing
- Winter’s Bone (2010, 83rd): Picture, Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Adapted Screenplay
20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 14-16, 2006
Weekend Box Office:
- Tsotsi (2005, 78th) – $207,903 ($2,286,496 total) {week 8}
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005, 78th) – $74,464 ($291,615,165 total) {week 19}
- Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005, 78th) – $53,076 ($10,842,360 total) {week 19}
- Joyeux Noel (2005, 78th) – $47,547 ($850,144 total) {week 18}
- Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $38,437 ($419,609 total) {week 9}
- Transamerica (2005, 78th) – $33,482 ($8,829,823 total) {week 20}
- Brokeback Mountain (2005, 78th) – $30,396 ($83,025,853 total) {week 19}
- Syriana (2005, 78th) – $27,104 ($50,815,288 total) {week 21}
- Walk the Line (2005, 78th) – $18,060 ($119,487,675 total) {week 22}
- Capote (2005, 78th) – $14,356 ($28,733,527 total) {week 29}
- The 2005 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2005, 78th) – $1,563 ($134,258 total) {week 8}
- Darwin’s Nightmare (2005, 78th) – $1,029 ($192,484 total) {week 37}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Tsotsi (2005, 78th) – $358,990 ($3,948,133 total)
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005, 78th) – $128,578 ($503,537,025 total)
- Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005, 78th) – $91,647 ($18,721,693 total)
- Joyeux Noel (2005, 78th) – $82,100 ($1,467,959 total)
- Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $66,370 ($724,546 total)
- Transamerica (2005, 78th) – $57,814 ($15,246,610 total)
- Brokeback Mountain (2005, 78th) – $52,485 ($143,362,198 total)
- Syriana (2005, 78th) – $46,801 ($87,743,650 total)
- Walk the Line (2005, 78th) – $31,185 ($206,321,466 total)
- Capote (2005, 78th) – $24,789 ($49,614,686 total)
- The 2005 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2005, 78th) – $2,699 ($231,826 total)
- Darwin’s Nightmare (2005, 78th) – $1,777 ($332,366 total)
Oscar Details:
- The 2005 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2005, 78th): Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Documentary Short Film
- Brokeback Mountain (2005, 78th): Picture, Directing [O], Actor (Heath Ledger), Supporting Actor (Jake Gyllenhaal), Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Cinematography
- Capote (2005, 78th): Picture, Directing, Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman) [O], Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Adapted Screenplay
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005, 78th): Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Visual Effects
- Darwin’s Nightmare (2005, 78th): Documentary Feature
- Joyeux Noel (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film
- Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005, 78th): Actress (Judi Dench), Costume Design
- Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film
- Syriana (2005, 78th): Supporting Actor (George Clooney) [O], Original Screenplay
- Transamerica (2005, 78th): Actress (Felicity Huffman), Original Song (“Travelin’ Thru”)
- Tsotsi (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film [O]
- Walk the Line (2005, 78th): Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Actress (Reese Witherspoon) [O], Film Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 13-15, 2001
Weekend Box Office:
- Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th) – $10,733,933 ($10,733,933 total) {week 1}
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, 73rd) – $1,884,519 ($120,507,372 total) {week 19}
- Traffic (2000, 73rd) – $1,374,555 ($119,008,346 total) {week 16}
- Memento (2001, 74th) – $932,174 ($3,849,507 total) {week 5}
- Amores Perros (2000, 73rd) – $880,371 ($1,059,010 total) {week 3}
- Chocolat (2000, 73rd) – $622,707 ($67,221,761 total) {week 18}
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, 73rd) – $608,337 ($40,824,018 total) {week 17}
- Cast Away (2000, 73rd) – $332,249 ($231,088,363 total) {week 17}
- Pollock (2000, 73rd) – $310,798 ($7,280,174 total) {week 18}
- The Emperor’s New Groove (2000, 73rd) – $175,920 ($88,369,287 total) {week 18}
- Billy Elliot (2000, 73rd) – $55,735 ($21,858,820 total) {week 27}
- You Can Count on Me (2000, 73rd) – $47,587 ($9,165,635 total) {week 23}
- Before Night Falls (2000, 73rd) – $36,185 ($4,221,817 total) {week 17}
- Gladiator (2000, 73rd) – $25,803 ($187,670,866 total) {week 50}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th) – $21,448,901 ($21,448,901 total)
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, 73rd) – $3,765,708 ($240,801,833 total)
- Traffic (2000, 73rd) – $2,746,681 ($237,806,430 total)
- Memento (2001, 74th) – $1,862,701 ($7,692,213 total)
- Amores Perros (2000, 73rd) – $1,759,187 ($2,116,149 total)
- Chocolat (2000, 73rd) – $1,244,314 ($134,324,756 total)
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, 73rd) – $1,215,599 ($81,575,909 total)
- Cast Away (2000, 73rd) – $663,911 ($461,768,443 total)
- Pollock (2000, 73rd) – $621,047 ($14,547,486 total)
- The Emperor’s New Groove (2000, 73rd) – $351,529 ($176,582,445 total)
- Billy Elliot (2000, 73rd) – $111,372 ($43,679,020 total)
- You Can Count on Me (2000, 73rd) – $95,090 ($18,315,076 total)
- Before Night Falls (2000, 73rd) – $72,306 ($8,436,175 total)
- Gladiator (2000, 73rd) – $51,560 ($375,010,158 total)
Oscar Details:
- Amores Perros (2000, 73rd): Foreign Language Film
- Before Night Falls (2000, 73rd): Actor (Javier Bardem)
- Billy Elliot (2000, 73rd): Directing, Supporting Actress (Julie Walters), Original Screenplay
- Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th): Actress (Renee Zellweger)
- Cast Away (2000, 73rd): Actor (Tom Hanks), Sound
- Chocolat (2000, 73rd): Picture, Actress (Juliette Binoche), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, 73rd): Picture, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“A Love Before Time”), Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Foreign Language Film [O]
- The Emperor’s New Groove (2000, 73rd): Original Song (“My Funny Friend and Me”)
- 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]
- Memento (2001, 74th): Original Screenplay, Film Editing
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, 73rd): Cinematography
- Pollock (2000, 73rd): Actor (Ed Harris), Supporting Actress (Marcia Gay Harden) [O]
- Traffic (2000, 73rd): Picture, Directing [O], Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro) [O], Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing [O]
- You Can Count on Me (2000, 73rd): Actress (Laura Linney), Original Screenplay
30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 12-14, 1996
Weekend Box Office:
- Primal Fear (1996, 69th) – $8,108,561 ($23,820,908 total) {week 2}
- James and the Giant Peach (1996, 69th) – $7,539,098 ($7,539,098 total) {week 1}
- The Birdcage (1996, 69th) – $6,772,210 ($97,752,823 total) {week 6}
- Fargo (1996, 69th) – $1,881,347 ($14,900,107 total) {week 6}
- Up Close and Personal (1996, 69th) – $1,565,385 ($45,435,194 total) {week 7}
- Braveheart (1995, 68th) – $242,429 ($75,244,954 total) {week 47}
- Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $34,992 ($184,849,036 total) {week 21}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Primal Fear (1996, 69th) – $20,748,377 ($60,953,500 total)
- James and the Giant Peach (1996, 69th) – $19,291,221 ($19,291,221 total)
- The Birdcage (1996, 69th) – $17,328,890 ($250,132,224 total)
- Fargo (1996, 69th) – $4,814,035 ($38,126,744 total)
- Up Close and Personal (1996, 69th) – $4,005,544 ($116,260,643 total)
- Braveheart (1995, 68th) – $620,333 ($192,538,559 total)
- Toy Story (1995, 68th) – $89,538 ($472,996,063 total)
Oscar Details:
- The Birdcage (1996, 69th): Art Direction
- 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]
- Fargo (1996, 69th): Picture, Director, Actress (Frances McDormand) [O], Supporting Actor (William H Macy), Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Cinematography
- James and the Giant Peach (1996, 69th): Original Musical or Comedy Score
- Primal Fear (1996, 69th): Supporting Actor (Edward Norton)
- Toy Story (1995, 68th): Original Screenplay, Original Song (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”), Original Musical or Comedy Score
- Up Close and Personal (1996, 69th): Original Song (“Because You Loved Me”)
35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 12-14, 1991
Weekend Box Office:
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $4,146,846 ($100,088,453 total) {week 9}
- Dances With Wolves (1990, 63rd) – $3,467,181 ($155,729,101 total) {week 23}
- Home Alone (1990, 63rd) – $1,835,299 ($262,461,999 total) {week 22}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $11,140,339 ($268,883,706 total)
- Dances With Wolves (1990, 63rd) – $9,314,446 ($418,360,126 total)
- Home Alone (1990, 63rd) – $4,930,459 ($705,093,874 total)
Oscar Details:
- Dances With Wolves (1990, 63rd): Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Kevin Costner), Supporting Actor (Graham Greene), Supporting Actress (Mary McDonnell), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound [O]
- Home Alone (1990, 63rd): Original Song (“Somewhere in My Memory”), Original Score
- 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
40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 11-13, 1986
Weekend Box Office:
- The Color Purple (1985, 58th) – $1,527,233 ($86,407,017 total) {week 17}
- Out of Africa (1985, 58th) – $1,314,300 ($79,096,868 total) {week 17}
- Hannah and Her Sisters (1986, 59th) – $1,172,253 ($26,634,510 total) {week 10}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- The Color Purple (1985, 58th) – $4,655,797 ($263,413,305 total)
- Out of Africa (1985, 58th) – $4,006,667 ($241,128,188 total)
- Hannah and Her Sisters (1986, 59th) – $3,573,634 ($81,195,770 total)
Oscar Details:
- The Color Purple (1985, 58th): Picture, Actress (Whoopi Goldberg), Supporting Actress (Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey), Adapted Screenplay, Original Song (“Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)”)
- Hannah and Her Sisters (1986, 59th): Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) [O], Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Art Direction
- Out of Africa (1985, 58th): Picture [O], Directing [O], Actress (Meryl Streep), Supporting Actor (Klaus Maria Brandauer), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Sound [O]
45 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 10-12, 1981
Weekend Box Office:
- Excalibur (1981, 54th) – $4,519,706 ($4,519,706 total) {week 1}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Excalibur (1981, 54th) – $18,387,725 ($18,387,725 total)
Oscar Details:
- Excalibur (1981, 54th): Cinematography














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