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:
- 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.
- Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $7,137,814 ($180,686,540 total) {week 5}
- American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $595,041 ($347,211,277 total) {week 16}
- Ex Machina (2015, 88th) – $237,264 ($237,264 total) {week 1}
- Fifty Shades of Grey (2015, 88th) – $178,920 ($165,788,595 total) {week 9}
- Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $174,000 ($2,216,000 total) {week 8}
- Still Alice (2014, 87th) – $104,000 ($18,451,000 total) {week 13}
- The Imitation Game (2014, 87th) – $83,225 ($90,944,741 total) {week 20}
- The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $82,000 ($259,600 total) {week 3}
- Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $53,125 ($222,366,600 total) {week 23}
- Selma (2014, 87th) – $21,271 ($52,065,634 total) {week 16}
- Into the Woods (2014, 87th) – $18,568 ($127,997,349 total) {week 16}
- The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th) – $16,549 ($194,495 total) {week 7}
- Wild (2014, 87th) – $11,476 ($37,849,583 total) {week 19}
- Birdman (2014, 87th) – $11,473 ($42,335,698 total) {week 26}
- Timbuktu (2014, 87th) – $11,205 ($1,040,427 total) {week 11}
- The Theory of Everything (2014, 87th) – $8,921 ($35,887,263 total) {week 23}
- CitizenFour (2014, 87th) – $2,735 ($2,783,296 total) {week 25}
- Ida (2014, 87th) – $461 ($3,823,505 total) {week 50}
- Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $8,442 ($829,924 total) {week 17}
- Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $9,576,355 ($242,415,749 total)
- American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $798,329 ($465,831,500 total)
- Ex Machina (2015, 88th) – $318,322 ($318,322 total)
- Fifty Shades of Grey (2015, 88th) – $240,046 ($222,428,115 total)
- Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $233,445 ($2,973,068 total)
- Still Alice (2014, 87th) – $139,530 ($24,754,544 total)
- The Imitation Game (2014, 87th) – $111,658 ($122,014,830 total)
- The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $110,014 ($348,289 total)
- Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $71,274 ($298,335,260 total)
- Selma (2014, 87th) – $28,538 ($69,853,182 total)
- Into the Woods (2014, 87th) – $24,912 ($171,725,981 total)
- The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th) – $22,203 ($260,942 total)
- Wild (2014, 87th) – $15,397 ($50,780,401 total)
- Birdman (2014, 87th) – $15,393 ($56,799,139 total)
- Timbuktu (2014, 87th) – $15,033 ($1,395,875 total)
- The Theory of Everything (2014, 87th) – $11,969 ($48,147,680 total)
- CitizenFour (2014, 87th) – $3,669 ($3,734,173 total)
- Ida (2014, 87th) – $618 ($5,129,756 total)
- Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $11,326 ($1,113,457 total)
- 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]
- Birdman (2014, 87th): Picture [O], Directing [O], Actor (Michael Keaton), Supporting Actor (Edward Norton), Supporting Actress (Emma Stone), Origianl Screenplay [O], Cinematography [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing
- Cinderella (2015, 88th): Costume Design
- CitizenFour (2014, 87th): Documentary Feature [O]
- Ex Machina (2015, 88th): Original Screenplay, Visual Effects [O]
- Fifty Shades of Grey (2015, 88th): Original Song (“Earned It”)
- The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th): Original Song (“Til It Happens to You”)
- Ida (2014, 87th): Cinematography, Foreign Language Film [O]
- The Imitation Game (2014, 87th): Picture, Directing, Actor (Benedict Cumberbatch), Supporting Actress (Keira Knightley), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing, Production Design
- Into the Woods (2014, 87th): Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Production Design, Costume Design
- The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th): Documentary Feature
- Selma (2014, 87th): Picture, Original Song (“Glory”) [O]
- Song of the Sea (2014, 87th): Animated Feature
- Still Alice (2014, 87th): Actress (Julianne Moore) [O]
- The Theory of Everything (2014, 87th): Picture, Actor (Eddie Redmayne) [O], Actress (Felicity Jones), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
- Timbuktu (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film
- Wild (2014, 87th): Actress (Reese Witherspoon), Supporting Actress (Laura Dern)
- Wild Tales (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $24,863,535 ($133,404,438 total) {week 3}
- Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $5,301,730 ($319,009,518 total) {week 6}
- Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $844,651 ($743,688,973 total) {week 17}
- Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $277,319 ($38,774,548 total) {week 17}
- The Blind Side (2009, 82nd) – $136,403 ($255,740,350 total) {week 21}
- A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $104,671 ($1,684,489 total) {week 7}
- Sherlock Holmes (2009, 82nd) – $99,362 ($208,897,390 total) {week 16}
- The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $71,086 ($6,331,254 total) {week 13}
- The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $46,067 ($262,213 total) {week 6}
- The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $29,623 ($2,116,924 total) {week 15}
- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $26,598 ($7,638,319 total) {week 16}
- The Young Victoria (2009, 82nd) – $23,070 ($10,913,190 total) {week 17}
- A Single Man (2009, 82nd) – $21,064 ($9,138,153 total) {week 18}
- The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $18,582 ($351,577 total) {week 11}
- Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $14,384 ($489,499 total) {week 10}
- An Education (2009, 82nd) – $8,758 ($12,555,564 total) {week 27}
- The Messenger (2009, 82nd) – $4,973 ($1,081,412 total) {week 22}
- The 2009 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2009, 82nd) – $2,698 ($1,007,234 total) {week 8}
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $35,640,885 ($191,229,936 total)
- Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $7,599,818 ($457,287,408 total)
- Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $1,210,773 ($1,066,048,452 total)
- Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $397,526 ($55,581,767 total)
- The Blind Side (2009, 82nd) – $195,528 ($366,593,582 total)
- A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $150,042 ($2,414,648 total)
- Sherlock Holmes (2009, 82nd) – $142,431 ($299,446,069 total)
- The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $101,899 ($9,075,600 total)
- The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $66,035 ($375,872 total)
- The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $42,463 ($3,034,526 total)
- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $38,127 ($10,949,225 total)
- The Young Victoria (2009, 82nd) – $33,070 ($15,643,622 total)
- A Single Man (2009, 82nd) – $30,194 ($13,099,177 total)
- The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $26,637 ($503,972 total)
- Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $20,619 ($701,677 total)
- An Education (2009, 82nd) – $12,554 ($17,997,900 total)
- The Messenger (2009, 82nd) – $7,129 ($1,550,161 total)
- The 2009 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2009, 82nd) – $3,867 ($1,443,830 total)
- The 2009 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2009, 82nd): Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Documentary Short Film
- 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]
- The Blind Side (2009, 82nd): Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock) [O]
- Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd): Actor (Jeff Bridges) [O], Supporting Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Original Song (“The Weary Kind”) [O]
- An Education (2009, 82nd): Picture, Actress (Carey Mulligan), Adapted Screenplay
- 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 Messenger (2009, 82nd): Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson), Original Screenplay
- The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd): Documentary Feature
- A Prophet (2009, 82nd): Foreign Language Film
- The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd): Animated Feature
- Sherlock Holmes (2009, 82nd): Original Score, Art Direction
- A Single Man (2009, 82nd): Actor (Colin Firth)
- The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd): Cinematography, Foreign Language Film
- The Young Victoria (2009, 82nd): Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup
- Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $628,184 ($98,708,641 total) {week 18}
- Downfall (2004, 77th) – $327,930 ($4,159,168 total) {week 9}
- The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $105,301 ($102,065,459 total) {week 18}
- Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $96,657 ($3,051,994 total) {week 15}
- The Phantom of the Opera (2004, 77th) – $94,142 ($50,988,470 total) {week 17}
- Sideways (2004, 77th) – $93,530 ($71,370,131 total) {week 26}
- Hotel Rwanda (2004, 77th) – $51,181 ($23,472,901 total) {week 17}
- The Chorus (2004, 77th) – $35,352 ($1,426,479 total) {week 14}
- Finding Neverland (2004, 77th) – $24,451 ($51,654,487 total) {week 23}
- The Sea Inside (2004, 77th) – $19,970 ($1,961,865 total) {week 18}
- Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004, 77th) – $19,515 ($118,604,722 total) {week 1}
- Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $1,108,387 ($174,164,544 total)
- Downfall (2004, 77th) – $578,610 ($7,338,563 total)
- The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $185,796 ($180,087,417 total)
- Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $170,545 ($5,385,032 total)
- The Phantom of the Opera (2004, 77th) – $166,107 ($89,965,616 total)
- Sideways (2004, 77th) – $165,027 ($125,927,641 total)
- Hotel Rwanda (2004, 77th) – $90,305 ($41,416,304 total)
- The Chorus (2004, 77th) – $62,376 ($2,516,923 total)
- Finding Neverland (2004, 77th) – $43,142 ($91,140,756 total)
- The Sea Inside (2004, 77th) – $35,236 ($3,461,575 total)
- Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004, 77th) – $34,433 ($209,269,798 total)
- 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
- The Chorus (2004, 77th): Original Song (“Look To Your Path”), Foreign Language Film
- Downfall (2004, 77th): Foreign Language Film
- Finding Neverland (2004, 77th): Picture, Actor (Johnny Depp), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design
- Hotel Rwanda (2004, 77th): Actor (Don Cheadle), Supporting Actress (Sophie Okonedo), Original Screenplay
- Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004, 77th): Original Score, Makeup [O], Art Direction, Costume Design
- 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
- The Phantom of the Opera (2004, 77th): Original Song (“Learn To Be Lonely”), Cinematography, Art Direction
- The Sea Inside (2004, 77th): Makeup, Foreign Language Film [O]
- Sideways (2004, 77th): Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Thomas Haden Church), Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen), Adapted Screenplay [O]
- Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $7,030,315 ($99,321,020 total) {week 5}
- American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $1,966,874 ($124,714,413 total) {week 31}
- The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $547,058 ($55,688,841 total) {week 19}
- Boys Don’t Cry (1999, 72nd) – $344,404 ($10,968,569 total) {week 28}
- Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $331,858 ($243,343,550 total) {week 22}
- The Green Mile (1999, 72nd) – $279,531 ($136,107,855 total) {week 19}
- The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $272,251 ($292,933,724 total) {week 37}
- Stuart Little (1999, 72nd) – $157,697 ($139,716,014 total) {week 18}
- All About My Mother (1999, 72nd) – $99,947 ($7,532,474 total) {week 24}
- East-West (1999, 72nd) – $80,289 ($160,899 total) {week 2}
- Sleepy Hollow (1999, 72nd) – $80,023 ($100,911,959 total) {week 22}
- The Hurricane (1999, 72nd) – $74,520 ($50,668,906 total) {week 16}
- Topsy-Turvy (1999, 72nd) – $69,655 ($6,021,834 total) {week 18}
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999, 72nd) – $35,717 ($81,254,871 total) {week 17}
- Titus (1999, 72nd) – $31,797 ($1,709,304 total) {week 17}
- Being John Malkovich (1999, 72nd) – $29,509 ($22,752,683 total) {week 25}
- Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $14,751,923 ($208,408,300 total)
- American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $4,127,151 ($261,692,024 total)
- The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $1,147,908 ($116,853,579 total)
- Boys Don’t Cry (1999, 72nd) – $722,673 ($23,015,680 total)
- Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $696,348 ($510,615,130 total)
- The Green Mile (1999, 72nd) – $586,548 ($285,599,228 total)
- The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $571,273 ($614,671,692 total)
- Stuart Little (1999, 72nd) – $330,900 ($293,170,337 total)
- All About My Mother (1999, 72nd) – $209,722 ($15,805,618 total)
- East-West (1999, 72nd) – $168,473 ($337,619 total)
- Sleepy Hollow (1999, 72nd) – $167,915 ($211,746,615 total)
- The Hurricane (1999, 72nd) – $156,368 ($106,320,098 total)
- Topsy-Turvy (1999, 72nd) – $146,159 ($12,635,796 total)
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999, 72nd) – $74,946 ($170,499,553 total)
- Titus (1999, 72nd) – $66,721 ($3,586,684 total)
- Being John Malkovich (1999, 72nd) – $61,920 ($47,742,643 total)
- 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
- Being John Malkovich (1999, 72nd): Director, Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), Original Screenplay
- Boys Don’t Cry (1999, 72nd): Actress (Hilary Swank) [O], Supporting Actress (Chloe Sevigny)
- 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
- The Green Mile (1999, 72nd): Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
- The Hurricane (1999, 72nd): Actor (Denzel Washington)
- The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd): Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Film Editing
- Sleepy Hollow (1999, 72nd): Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design
- Stuart Little (1999, 72nd): Visual Effects
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999, 72nd): Supporting Actor (Jude Law), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design
- Titus (1999, 72nd): Costume Design
- Topsy-Turvy (1999, 72nd): Original Screenplay, Art Direction, Costume Design [O], Makeup [O]
- Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd): Original Song (“When She Loved Me”)
- Rob Roy (1995, 68th) – $7,190,047 ($11,193,191 total) {week 2}
- Don Juan DeMarco (1995, 68th) – $3,704,804 ($9,785,985 total) {week 2}
- Forrest Gump (1994, 67th) – $1,301,882 ($325,572,841 total) {week 41}
- Pulp Fiction (1994, 67th) – $978,690 ($101,843,291 total) {week 27}
- Rob Roy (1995, 68th) – $18,694,122 ($29,102,297 total)
- Don Juan DeMarco (1995, 68th) – $9,632,490 ($25,443,561 total)
- Forrest Gump (1994, 67th) – $3,384,893 ($846,489,387 total)
- Pulp Fiction (1994, 67th) – $2,544,594 ($264,792,557 total)
- Don Juan DeMarco (1995, 68th): Original Song (“Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman”)
- Forrest Gump (1994, 67th): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks) [O], Supporting Actor (Gary Sinise), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
- Pulp Fiction (1994, 67th): Picture, Director, Actor (John Travolta), Supporting Actor (Samuel L. Jackson), Supporting Actress (Uma Thurman), Original Screenplay [O], Film Editing
- Rob Roy (1995, 68th): Supporting Actor (Tim Roth)
- Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $10,117,891 ($59,293,180 total) {week 4}
- The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $4,261,262 ($89,834,734 total) {week 7}
- Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd) – $2,243,724 ($90,455,663 total) {week 18}
- Cinema Paradiso (1989, 62nd) – $279,095 ($2,374,624 total) {week 11}
- Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $27,052,801 ($158,535,666 total)
- The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $11,393,587 ($240,196,416 total)
- Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd) – $5,999,177 ($241,856,631 total)
- Cinema Paradiso (1989, 62nd) – $746,233 ($6,349,172 total)
- Cinema Paradiso (1989, 62nd): Foreign Language Film
- Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd): Picture [O], Actor (Morgan Freeman), Actress (Jessica Tandy) [O], Supporting Actor (Dan Aykroyd), Adapted Screenplay [O], Film Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design, Makeup [O]
- The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd): Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing [O]
- Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd): Actress (Julia Roberts)
- Mask (1985, 58th) – $3,718,551 ($25,814,068 total) {week 6}
- Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $3,450,536 ($3,450,536 total) {week 1}
- Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $2,395,749 ($203,286,068 total) {week 19}
- Witness (1985, 58th) – $1,835,932 ($52,570,366 total) {week 10}
- Amadeus (1984, 57th) – $1,446,212 ($42,850,556 total) {week 30}
- Mask (1985, 58th) – $11,846,989 ($82,241,439 total)
- Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $10,993,116 ($10,993,116 total)
- Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $7,632,654 ($647,652,234 total)
- Witness (1985, 58th) – $5,849,124 ($167,484,744 total)
- Amadeus (1984, 57th) – $4,607,509 ($136,518,250 total)
- 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]
- Witness (1985, 58th): Picture, Directing, Actor (Harrison Ford), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Art Direction
- Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $1,600,000 ($81,600,000 total) {week 17}
- Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $6,727,138 ($343,084,015 total)
- 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
Leave a Reply