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.

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 24-26, 2015

Weekend Box Office:

6. Ex Machina (2015, 88th) – $5,349,499 ($6,827,931 total) {week 3}
12. Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $2,765,566 ($190,559,996 total) {week 7}
19. American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $374,599 ($348,295,276 total) {week 18}
30. Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $111,000 ($2,546,000 total) {week 10}
34. The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $97,100 ($522,900 total) {week 5}
38. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015, 88th) – $67,795 ($166,074,900 total) {week 11}
40. Still Alice (2014, 87th) – $59,387 ($18,656,400 total) {week 15}
46. The Imitation Game (2014, 87th) – $34,496 ($91,074,486 total) {week 22}
50. The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th) – $29,281 ($300,358 total) {week 9}
57. Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $19,579 ($222,431,643 total) {week 25}
71. Tangerines (2014, 87th) – $8,806 ($17,060 total) {week 2}
80. Wild (2014, 87th) – $5,050 ($37,872,084 total) {week 21}
84. Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $3,994 ($841,366 total) {week 19}
86. CitizenFour (2014, 87th) – $3,837 ($2,798,808 total) {week 27}
93. Timbuktu (2014, 87th) – $2,461 ($1,058,060 total) {week 13}
101. Ida (2014, 87th) – $796 ($3,825,354 total) {week 52}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. Ex Machina (2015, 88th) – $7,177,086 ($9,160,605 total)
12. Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $3,710,386 ($255,662,343 total)
19. American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $502,576 ($467,285,833 total)
30. Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $148,922 ($3,415,808 total)
34. The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $130,273 ($701,542 total)
38. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015, 88th) – $90,956 ($222,812,232 total)
40. Still Alice (2014, 87th) – $79,676 ($25,030,117 total)
46. The Imitation Game (2014, 87th) – $46,281 ($122,188,901 total)
50. The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th) – $39,284 ($402,971 total)
57. Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $26,268 ($298,422,525 total)
71. Tangerines (2014, 87th) – $11,814 ($22,888 total)
80. Wild (2014, 87th) – $6,775 ($50,810,590 total)
84. Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $5,358 ($1,128,808 total)
86. CitizenFour (2014, 87th) – $5,148 ($3,754,984 total)
93. Timbuktu (2014, 87th) – $3,302 ($1,419,532 total)
101. Ida (2014, 87th) – $1,068 ($5,132,237 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• 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
• The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th): Documentary Feature
• Song of the Sea (2014, 87th): Animated Feature
• Still Alice (2014, 87th): Actress (Julianne Moore) [O]
• Tangerines (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film
• Timbuktu (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film
• Wild (2014, 87th): Actress (Reese Witherspoon), Supporting Actress (Laura Dern)
• Wild Tales (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 23-25, 2010

Weekend Box Office:

1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $15,350,213 ($178,345,927 total) {week 5}
10. Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $2,264,097 ($327,537,023 total) {week 8}
15. Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $920,204 ($746,365,137 total) {week 19}
19. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd) – $360,056 ($592,864 total) {week 2}
29. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd) – $146,919 ($389,226 total) {week 2}
34. Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $104,305 ($39,225,262 total) {week 19}
43. A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $56,139 ($1,896,780 total) {week 9}
48. The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $39,273 ($6,497,569 total) {week 15}
49. The Blind Side (2009, 82nd) – $31,948 ($255,899,261 total) {week 23}
50. The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $30,056 ($364,836 total) {week 8}
53. Sherlock Holmes (2009, 82nd) – $23,660 ($209,019,489 total) {week 18}
59. The Young Victoria (2009, 82nd) – $17,975 ($10,991,381 total) {week 19}
61. The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $17,378 ($2,186,486 total) {week 17}
63. Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $16,232 ($533,959 total) {week 12}
65. The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $13,916 ($392,749 total) {week 13}
79. The Messenger (2009, 82nd) – $6,489 ($1,093,047 total) {week 24}
80. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $5,914 ($7,673,525 total) {week 18}
91. A Single Man (2009, 82nd) – $3,700 ($9,176,000 total) {week 20}
104. The 2009 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2009, 82nd) – $1,336 ($1,017,617 total) {week 10}
110. An Education (2009, 82nd) – $583 ($12,571,643 total) {week 29}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $22,003,917 ($255,651,766 total)
10. Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $3,245,493 ($469,511,246 total)
15. Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $1,319,076 ($1,069,884,626 total)
19. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd) – $516,126 ($849,847 total)
29. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd) – $210,603 ($557,940 total)
34. Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $149,517 ($56,227,847 total)
43. A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $80,473 ($2,718,958 total)
48. The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $56,296 ($9,314,006 total)
49. The Blind Side (2009, 82nd) – $45,796 ($366,821,374 total)
50. The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $43,084 ($522,978 total)
53. Sherlock Holmes (2009, 82nd) – $33,916 ($299,621,093 total)
59. The Young Victoria (2009, 82nd) – $25,766 ($15,755,706 total)
61. The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $24,911 ($3,134,240 total)
63. Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $23,268 ($765,409 total)
65. The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $19,948 ($562,990 total)
79. The Messenger (2009, 82nd) – $9,302 ($1,566,839 total)
80. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $8,477 ($10,999,692 total)
91. A Single Man (2009, 82nd) – $5,304 ($13,153,430 total)
104. The 2009 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2009, 82nd) – $1,915 ($1,458,713 total)
110. An Education (2009, 82nd) – $836 ($18,020,948 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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
• 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 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 in Their Eyes (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

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 29-May 2, 2005

Weekend Box Office:

19. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005, 78th) – $411,960 ($523,774 total) {week 2}
23. Downfall (2004, 77th) – $208,462 ($4,874,303 total) {week 11}
26. Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $174,793 ($99,527,252 total) {week 20}
36. The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $107,418 ($102,432,141 total) {week 20}
49. Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $44,823 ($3,263,046 total) {week 17}
50. The Phantom of the Opera (2004, 77th) – $43,712 ($51,193,556 total) {week 19}
66. Sideways (2004, 77th) – $18,381 ($71,483,535 total) {week 28}
74. The Sea Inside (2004, 77th) – $13,182 ($2,021,101 total) {week 20}
76. The Chorus (2004, 77th) – $12,616 ($1,502,827 total) {week 16}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

19. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005, 78th) – $726,875 ($924,163 total)
23. Downfall (2004, 77th) – $367,817 ($8,600,369 total)
26. Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $308,410 ($175,608,927 total)
36. The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $189,532 ($180,734,402 total)
49. Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $79,087 ($5,757,418 total)
50. The Phantom of the Opera (2004, 77th) – $77,127 ($90,327,476 total)
66. Sideways (2004, 77th) – $32,432 ($126,127,735 total)
74. The Sea Inside (2004, 77th) – $23,259 ($3,566,092 total)
76. The Chorus (2004, 77th) – $22,260 ($2,651,634 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
• The Chorus (2004, 77th): Original Song (“Look To Your Path”), Foreign Language Film
• 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
• 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]

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 28-30, 2000

Weekend Box Office:

1. U-571 (2000, 73rd) – $12,203,655 ($38,111,145 total) {week 2}
9. Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $3,622,105 ($112,873,260 total) {week 7}
19. American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $670,739 ($128,144,856 total) {week 33}
24. Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $256,826 ($244,350,833 total) {week 24}
30. The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $159,164 ($56,580,273 total) {week 21}
31. The Green Mile (1999, 72nd) – $149,748 ($136,641,745 total) {week 21}
33. Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd) – $129,346 ($57,989,529 total) {week 20}
37. East-West (1999, 72nd) – $116,790 ($438,053 total) {week 4}
42. The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $84,118 ($293,414,160 total) {week 39}
45. Boys Don’t Cry (1999, 72nd) – $68,053 ($11,425,402 total) {week 30}
47. All About My Mother (1999, 72nd) – $63,943 ($7,766,964 total) {week 26}
49. Angela’s Ashes (1999, 72nd) – $58,658 ($12,951,080 total) {week 19}
51. Girl, Interrupted (1999, 72nd) – $57,144 ($28,871,190 total) {week 19}
53. Stuart Little (1999, 72nd) – $52,587 ($140,015,224 total) {week 20}
60. Titus (1999, 72nd) – $40,453 ($1,824,612 total) {week 19}
64. Sleepy Hollow (1999, 72nd) – $29,226 ($101,042,661 total) {week 24}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. U-571 (2000, 73rd) – $25,607,298 ($79,969,768 total)
9. Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $7,600,372 ($236,845,375 total)
19. American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $1,407,432 ($268,890,227 total)
24. Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $538,906 ($512,728,742 total)
30. The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $333,979 ($118,724,098 total)
31. The Green Mile (1999, 72nd) – $314,221 ($286,719,506 total)
33. Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd) – $271,411 ($121,681,182 total)
37. East-West (1999, 72nd) – $245,064 ($919,180 total)
42. The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $176,507 ($615,679,805 total)
45. Boys Don’t Cry (1999, 72nd) – $142,798 ($23,974,267 total)
47. All About My Mother (1999, 72nd) – $134,174 ($16,297,655 total)
49. Angela’s Ashes (1999, 72nd) – $123,084 ($27,175,643 total)
51. Girl, Interrupted (1999, 72nd) – $119,907 ($60,581,291 total)
53. Stuart Little (1999, 72nd) – $110,345 ($293,798,179 total)
60. Titus (1999, 72nd) – $84,884 ($3,828,639 total)
64. Sleepy Hollow (1999, 72nd) – $61,326 ($212,020,871 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
• Angela’s Ashes (1999, 72nd): Original Score
• Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd): Makeup
• 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
• Girl, Interrupted (1999, 72nd): Supporting Actress (Angelina Jolie)
• The Green Mile (1999, 72nd): Picture, Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan), Adapted Screenplay, Sound
• 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
• Titus (1999, 72nd): Costume Design
• 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 Apr. 28-30, 1995

Weekend Box Office:

4. Rob Roy (1995, 68th) – $3,362,373 ($23,596,208 total) {week 4}
9. Don Juan DeMarco (1995, 68th) – $1,729,748 ($16,529,906 total) {week 4}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Rob Roy (1995, 68th) – $8,742,170 ($61,350,141 total)
9. Don Juan DeMarco (1995, 68th) – $4,497,345 ($42,977,756 total)

Oscar Details:

• Don Juan DeMarco (1995, 68th): Original Song (“Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman”)
• Rob Roy (1995, 68th): Supporting Actor (Tim Roth)

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 27-29, 1990

Weekend Box Office:

1. Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $7,150,551 ($81,325,487 total) {week 6}
5. The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $2,983,934 ($99,097,627 total) {week 9}
8. Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd) – $1,630,821 ($96,111,623 total) {week 20}
999. Cinema Paradiso (1989, 62nd) – $322,018 ($3,163,969 total) {week 13}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $19,118,849 ($217,444,742 total)
5. The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $7,978,320 ($264,963,159 total)
8. Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd) – $4,360,422 ($256,979,304 total)
999. Cinema Paradiso (1989, 62nd) – $860,998 ($8,459,690 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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)

40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 26-28, 1985

Weekend Box Office:

5. Mask (1985, 58th) – $2,121,280 ($32,873,263 total) {week 8}
6. Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $2,077,075 ($10,643,055 total) {week 3}
8. Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $1,789,313 ($208,309,025 total) {week 21}
10. Witness (1985, 58th) – $1,170,790 ($56,143,219 total) {week 12}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Mask (1985, 58th) – $6,758,219 ($104,731,438 total)
6. Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $6,617,385 ($33,907,874 total)
8. Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $5,700,600 ($663,654,950 total)
10. Witness (1985, 58th) – $3,730,038 ($178,867,551 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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

45 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 25-27, 1980

Weekend Box Office:

2. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $1,400,000 ($90,013,206 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

2. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $5,886,245 ($378,457,011 total)

Oscar Details:

• 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