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. 30-May 2, 2021

Weekend Box Office:

5. Raya and the Last Dragon – $1,381,155 ($41,627,102 total) {week 9}
11. Four Good Days – $298,358 ($298,358 total) {week 1}
999. The Father – $146,054 ($1,886,859 total) {week 8}
999. Minari – $80,000 ($2,850,651 total) {week 21}
999. Judas and the Black Messiah – $19,525 ($5,446,607 total) {week 12}
999. The 2020 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $4,232 ($436,079 total) {week 5}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Raya and the Last Dragon – $1,535,975 ($46,293,267 total)
11. Four Good Days – $331,802 ($331,802 total)
999. The Father – $162,426 ($2,098,365 total)
999. Minari – $88,968 ($3,170,193 total)
999. Judas and the Black Messiah – $21,714 ($6,057,141 total)
999. The 2020 Academy Award Nominated Short Films – $4,706 ($484,961 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
• Four Good Days: Original Song (“Somehow You Do”)
• 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
• Raya and the Last Dragon: Animated Feature

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Apr. 29-May 1, 2016

Weekend Box Office:

1. The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $43,714,706 ($253,371,506 total) {week 3}
6. Zootopia (2016, 89th) – $5,328,858 ($323,841,347 total) {week 9}
33. Spotlight (2015, 88th) – $95,676 ($44,988,180 total) {week 26}
37. The Revenant (2015, 88th) – $68,812 ($183,539,054 total) {week 19}
50. The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $25,485 ($346,387 total) {week 5}
54. Embrace of the Serpent (2015, 88th) – $19,081 ($1,289,393 total) {week 11}
59. Brooklyn (2015, 88th) – $13,628 ($38,273,392 total) {week 26}
95. Son of Saul (2015, 88th) – $125 ($1,774,214 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

1. The Jungle Book (2016, 89th) – $57,157,610 ($331,286,906 total)
6. Zootopia (2016, 89th) – $6,967,559 ($423,427,241 total)
33. Spotlight (2015, 88th) – $125,098 ($58,822,695 total)
37. The Revenant (2015, 88th) – $89,973 ($239,979,965 total)
50. The Lobster (2016, 89th) – $33,322 ($452,906 total)
54. Embrace of the Serpent (2015, 88th) – $24,949 ($1,685,900 total)
59. Brooklyn (2015, 88th) – $17,819 ($50,043,013 total)
95. Son of Saul (2015, 88th) – $163 ($2,319,810 total)

Oscar Details:

• Brooklyn (2015, 88th): Picture, Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Adapted Screenplay
• Embrace of the Serpent (2015, 88th): Foreign Language Film
• The Jungle Book (2016, 89th): Visual Effects [O]
• The Lobster (2016, 89th): Original Screenplay
• 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
• Zootopia (2016, 89th): Animated Feature [O]

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 6-8, 2011

Weekend Box Office:

5. Rio (2011, 84th) – $8,504,001 ($115,206,069 total) {week 4}
22. Rango (2011, 84th) – $434,354 ($120,426,213 total) {week 10}
23. Jane Eyre (2011, 84th) – $427,333 ($9,433,944 total) {week 9}
45. In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $73,975 ($512,446 total) {week 6}
47. Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $62,456 ($222,910 total) {week 3}
84. Biutiful (2010, 83rd) – $6,708 ($5,071,445 total) {week 15}
87. Tangled (2010, 83rd) – $5,343 ($199,706,314 total) {week 24}
89. Barney’s Version (2010, 83rd) – $4,731 ($4,401,936 total) {week 17}
92. The Illusionist (2010, 83rd) – $3,289 ($2,227,548 total) {week 19}
118. Another Year (2010, 83rd) – $609 ($3,201,432 total) {week 19}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. Rio (2011, 84th) – $12,128,657 ($164,310,295 total)
22. Rango (2011, 84th) – $619,488 ($171,755,419 total)
23. Jane Eyre (2011, 84th) – $609,475 ($13,454,969 total)
45. In a Better World (2010, 83rd) – $105,505 ($730,866 total)
47. Incendies (2010, 83rd) – $89,077 ($317,921 total)
84. Biutiful (2010, 83rd) – $9,567 ($7,233,045 total)
87. Tangled (2010, 83rd) – $7,620 ($284,827,038 total)
89. Barney’s Version (2010, 83rd) – $6,747 ($6,278,171 total)
92. The Illusionist (2010, 83rd) – $4,691 ($3,176,995 total)
118. Another Year (2010, 83rd) – $869 ($4,565,977 total)

Oscar Details:

• Another Year (2010, 83rd): Original Screenplay
• Barney’s Version (2010, 83rd): Makeup
• Biutiful (2010, 83rd): Actor (Javier Bardem), Foreign Language Film
• The Illusionist (2010, 83rd): Animated Feature
• In a Better World (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film [O]
• Incendies (2010, 83rd): Foreign Language Film
• 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”)

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 5-7, 2006

Weekend Box Office:

5. United 93 (2006, 79th) – $5,347,860 ($20,192,305 total) {week 2}
24. Water (2006, 79th) – $174,727 ($256,790 total) {week 2}
41. Tsotsi (2005, 78th) – $54,296 ($2,753,840 total) {week 11}
54. Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005, 78th) – $23,043 ($10,965,943 total) {week 22}
55. Transamerica (2005, 78th) – $23,030 ($8,933,583 total) {week 23}
61. Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $16,569 ($532,840 total) {week 12}
67. Joyeux Noel (2005, 78th) – $11,106 ($964,863 total) {week 21}
102. Darwin’s Nightmare (2005, 78th) – $1,900 ($198,792 total) {week 40}
104. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005, 78th) – $1,791 ($291,709,845 total) {week 22}
105. The 2005 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2005, 78th) – $1,641 ($143,095 total) {week 11}
123. Evil (2003, 76th) – $453 ($15,280 total) {week 9}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

5. United 93 (2006, 79th) – $9,234,244 ($34,866,408 total)
24. Water (2006, 79th) – $301,704 ($443,404 total)
41. Tsotsi (2005, 78th) – $93,754 ($4,755,104 total)
54. Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005, 78th) – $39,789 ($18,935,086 total)
55. Transamerica (2005, 78th) – $39,766 ($15,425,775 total)
61. Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th) – $28,610 ($920,064 total)
67. Joyeux Noel (2005, 78th) – $19,177 ($1,666,046 total)
102. Darwin’s Nightmare (2005, 78th) – $3,281 ($343,258 total)
104. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005, 78th) – $3,093 ($503,700,511 total)
105. The 2005 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2005, 78th) – $2,834 ($247,085 total)
123. Evil (2003, 76th) – $782 ($26,384 total)

Oscar Details:

• The 2005 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2005, 78th): Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Documentary Short Film
• 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
• Evil (2003, 76th): Foreign Language Film
• Joyeux Noel (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film
• Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005, 78th): Actress (Judi Dench), Costume Design
• Sophie Scholl (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film
• Transamerica (2005, 78th): Actress (Felicity Huffman), Original Song (“Travelin’ Thru”)
• Tsotsi (2005, 78th): Foreign Language Film [O]
• United 93 (2006, 79th): Directing, Film Editing
• Water (2006, 79th): Foreign Language Film

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 4-6, 2001

Weekend Box Office:

3. Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th) – $5,730,131 ($44,465,598 total) {week 4}
12. Memento (2001, 74th) – $1,238,595 ($8,713,669 total) {week 8}
17. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, 73rd) – $584,302 ($124,729,749 total) {week 22}
21. Amores Perros (2000, 73rd) – $362,533 ($3,493,520 total) {week 6}
22. Traffic (2000, 73rd) – $361,828 ($122,019,141 total) {week 19}
23. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, 73rd) – $329,913 ($42,600,526 total) {week 20}
27. Cast Away (2000, 73rd) – $226,980 ($232,386,686 total) {week 20}
29. Chocolat (2000, 73rd) – $186,467 ($69,110,451 total) {week 21}
36. Pollock (2000, 73rd) – $108,329 ($8,111,420 total) {week 21}
39. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000, 73rd) – $86,897 ($89,070,801 total) {week 21}
60. You Can Count on Me (2000, 73rd) – $24,022 ($9,294,133 total) {week 26}
999. Gladiator (2000, 73rd) – $376 ($187,705,261 total) {week 53}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

3. Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001, 74th) – $11,450,138 ($88,852,635 total)
12. Memento (2001, 74th) – $2,475,002 ($17,411,943 total)
17. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, 73rd) – $1,167,572 ($249,239,127 total)
21. Amores Perros (2000, 73rd) – $724,425 ($6,980,868 total)
22. Traffic (2000, 73rd) – $723,017 ($243,822,700 total)
23. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, 73rd) – $659,243 ($85,125,786 total)
27. Cast Away (2000, 73rd) – $453,559 ($464,362,795 total)
29. Chocolat (2000, 73rd) – $372,605 ($138,098,799 total)
36. Pollock (2000, 73rd) – $216,467 ($16,208,509 total)
39. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000, 73rd) – $173,640 ($177,984,233 total)
60. You Can Count on Me (2000, 73rd) – $48,002 ($18,571,845 total)
999. Gladiator (2000, 73rd) – $751 ($375,078,887 total)

Oscar Details:

• Amores Perros (2000, 73rd): Foreign Language Film
• 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 May 3-5, 1996

Weekend Box Office:

4. Primal Fear (1996, 69th) – $3,606,158 ($44,875,034 total) {week 5}
7. The Birdcage (1996, 69th) – $2,503,872 ($112,845,066 total) {week 9}
8. James and the Giant Peach (1996, 69th) – $2,361,159 ($22,826,314 total) {week 4}
999. Braveheart (1995, 68th) – $21,519 ($75,583,279 total) {week 50}
999. The Other Side of Sunday (1996, 69th) – $2,621 ($2,621 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Primal Fear (1996, 69th) – $9,227,522 ($114,827,293 total)
7. The Birdcage (1996, 69th) – $6,406,967 ($288,750,610 total)
8. James and the Giant Peach (1996, 69th) – $6,041,789 ($58,408,509 total)
999. Braveheart (1995, 68th) – $55,063 ($193,404,273 total)
999. The Other Side of Sunday (1996, 69th) – $6,707 ($6,707 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]
• James and the Giant Peach (1996, 69th): Original Musical or Comedy Score
• The Other Side of Sunday (1996, 69th): Foreign Language Film
• Primal Fear (1996, 69th): Supporting Actor (Edward Norton)

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 3-5, 1991

Weekend Box Office:

6. The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $2,540,581 ($112,193,973 total) {week 12}
9. Dances With Wolves (1990, 63rd) – $1,838,329 ($165,361,941 total) {week 26}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

6. The Silence of the Lambs (1991, 64th) – $6,825,171 ($301,404,711 total)
9. Dances With Wolves (1990, 63rd) – $4,938,599 ($444,238,374 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]
• 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 May 2-4, 1986

Weekend Box Office:

4. Legend (1986, 59th) – $1,764,900 ($10,857,565 total) {week 3}
12. The Color Purple (1985, 58th) – $728,794 ($90,962,021 total) {week 20}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

4. Legend (1986, 59th) – $5,380,329 ($33,099,477 total)
12. The Color Purple (1985, 58th) – $2,221,741 ($277,299,315 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)”)
• Legend (1986, 59th): Makeup