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Box Office History (Week 20, 2025)

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Wesley Lovell

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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.

    2. 10 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 15-17, 2015

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015, 88th) – $45,428,128 ($45,428,128 total) {week 1}
    2. Ex Machina (2015, 88th) – $2,093,669 ($19,556,131 total) {week 6}
    3. Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $631,608 ($197,231,159 total) {week 10}
    4. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2015, 88th) – $52,707 ($344,156 total) {week 18}
    5. The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th) – $2,183 ($366,108 total) {week 12}
    6. American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $188,981 ($349,640,908 total) {week 21}
    7. Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $14,802 ($222,505,443 total) {week 28}
    8. The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $68,000 ($967,000 total) {week 8}
    9. Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $2,036 ($853,927 total) {week 22}
    10. Tangerines (2014, 87th) – $14,877 ($81,666 total) {week 5}
    11. Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $55,000 ($2,794,000 total) {week 13}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015, 88th) – $60,948,058 ($60,948,058 total)
    2. Ex Machina (2015, 88th) – $2,808,944 ($26,237,229 total)
    3. Cinderella (2015, 88th) – $847,389 ($264,612,623 total)
    4. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2015, 88th) – $70,714 ($461,732 total)
    5. The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th) – $2,929 ($491,184 total)
    6. American Sniper (2014, 87th) – $253,544 ($469,091,183 total)
    7. Big Hero 6 (2014, 87th) – $19,859 ($298,521,537 total)
    8. The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th) – $91,231 ($1,297,363 total)
    9. Song of the Sea (2014, 87th) – $2,732 ($1,145,660 total)
    10. Tangerines (2014, 87th) – $19,960 ($109,566 total)
    11. Wild Tales (2014, 87th) – $73,790 ($3,748,534 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2015, 88th): Makeup & Hairstyling
    • 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
    • Ex Machina (2015, 88th): Original Screenplay, Visual Effects [O]
    • The Hunting Ground (2015, 88th): Original Song (“Til It Happens to You”)
    • Mad Max: Fury Road (2015, 88th): Picture, Directing, Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Production Design [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup & Hairstyling [O], Sound Mixing [O], Sound Film Editing [O], Visual Effects
    • The Salt of the Earth (2014, 87th): Documentary Feature
    • Song of the Sea (2014, 87th): Animated Feature
    • Tangerines (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film
    • Wild Tales (2014, 87th): Foreign Language Film

    15 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 14-16, 2010

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $5,003,536 ($207,647,696 total) {week 8}
    2. Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $440,202 ($331,533,915 total) {week 11}
    3. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd) – $368,338 ($2,092,199 total) {week 5}
    4. Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $335,174 ($748,468,373 total) {week 22}
    5. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd) – $215,334 ($1,269,786 total) {week 5}
    6. The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $23,879 ($460,924 total) {week 11}
    7. Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $18,882 ($39,436,623 total) {week 22}
    8. A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $15,437 ($2,029,661 total) {week 12}
    9. Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $8,678 ($580,453 total) {week 15}
    10. The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $8,196 ($6,585,853 total) {week 18}
    11. The Blind Side (2009, 82nd) – $2,385 ($255,950,375 total) {week 26}
    12. The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $2,334 ($430,826 total) {week 16}
    13. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $588 ($7,686,818 total) {week 21}
    14. The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $1,389 ($2,219,139 total) {week 20}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 83rd) – $7,172,369 ($297,654,682 total)
    2. Alice in Wonderland (2010, 83rd) – $631,012 ($475,240,631 total)
    3. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, 82nd) – $527,998 ($2,999,084 total)
    4. Avatar (2009, 82nd) – $480,459 ($1,072,899,531 total)
    5. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, 83rd) – $308,673 ($1,820,188 total)
    6. The Secret of Kells (2009, 82nd) – $34,230 ($660,716 total)
    7. Crazy Heart (2009, 82nd) – $27,067 ($56,530,825 total)
    8. A Prophet (2009, 82nd) – $22,128 ($2,909,438 total)
    9. Ajami (2009, 82nd) – $12,440 ($832,056 total)
    10. The Last Station (2009, 82nd) – $11,749 ($9,440,557 total)
    11. The Blind Side (2009, 82nd) – $3,419 ($366,894,644 total)
    12. The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009, 82nd) – $3,346 ($617,572 total)
    13. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009, 82nd) – $843 ($11,018,747 total)
    14. The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd) – $1,991 ($3,181,047 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • 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]
    • 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 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
    • The White Ribbon (2009, 82nd): Cinematography, Foreign Language Film

    20 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 20-22, 2005

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005, 78th) – $108,435,841 ($158,449,700 total) {week 1}
    2. Crash (2005, 78th) – $5,546,006 ($27,648,811 total) {week 3}
    3. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005, 78th) – $331,007 ($2,072,419 total) {week 5}
    4. Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $80,427 ($100,283,719 total) {week 23}
    5. Downfall (2004, 77th) – $59,542 ($5,355,525 total) {week 14}
    6. Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $21,375 ($3,410,863 total) {week 20}
    7. The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $16,406 ($102,593,534 total) {week 23}
    8. The Chorus (2004, 77th) – $4,800 ($1,542,630 total) {week 19}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005, 78th) – $191,327,514 ($279,573,496 total)
    2. Crash (2005, 78th) – $9,785,543 ($48,784,408 total)
    3. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005, 78th) – $584,039 ($3,656,639 total)
    4. Million Dollar Baby (2004, 77th) – $141,908 ($176,943,660 total)
    5. Downfall (2004, 77th) – $105,058 ($9,449,452 total)
    6. Born Into Brothels (2004, 77th) – $37,715 ($6,018,231 total)
    7. The Aviator (2004, 77th) – $28,947 ($181,019,168 total)
    8. The Chorus (2004, 77th) – $8,469 ($2,721,864 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
    • Crash (2005, 78th): Picture [O], Directing, Supporting Actor (Matt Dillon), Original Screenplay [O], Original Song (“In the Deep”), Film Editing [O]
    • 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
    • Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005, 78th): Makeup

    25 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 19-21, 2000

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Gladiator (2000, 73rd) – $19,749,273 ($103,140,065 total) {week 3}
    2. U-571 (2000, 73rd) – $4,637,520 ($64,397,750 total) {week 5}
    3. Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $1,104,330 ($120,150,735 total) {week 10}
    4. American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $193,216 ($129,688,710 total) {week 36}
    5. Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $180,640 ($245,024,222 total) {week 27}
    6. East-West (1999, 72nd) – $104,953 ($1,007,546 total) {week 7}
    7. The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $53,498 ($56,901,886 total) {week 24}
    8. Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd) – $34,047 ($58,194,132 total) {week 23}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Gladiator (2000, 73rd) – $41,440,497 ($216,421,917 total)
    2. U-571 (2000, 73rd) – $9,731,048 ($135,127,746 total)
    3. Erin Brockovich (2000, 73rd) – $2,317,249 ($252,115,921 total)
    4. American Beauty (1999, 72nd) – $405,431 ($272,129,742 total)
    5. Toy Story 2 (1999, 72nd) – $379,042 ($514,141,735 total)
    6. East-West (1999, 72nd) – $220,226 ($2,114,164 total)
    7. The Cider House Rules (1999, 72nd) – $112,256 ($119,398,948 total)
    8. Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd) – $71,442 ($122,110,507 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • American Beauty (1999, 72nd): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Kevin Spacey) [O], Actress (Annette Bening), Original Screenplay, Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography
    • Bicentennial Man (1999, 72nd): Makeup
    • 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
    • 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]
    • 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 May 19-21, 1995

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Crimson Tide (1995, 68th) – $11,547,996 ($37,092,511 total) {week 2}
    2. A Little Princess (1995, 68th) – $2,038,782 ($2,087,495 total) {week 2}
    3. My Family, Mi Familia (1995, 68th) – $1,042,546 ($6,582,094 total) {week 3}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Crimson Tide (1995, 68th) – $30,024,790 ($96,440,529 total)
    2. A Little Princess (1995, 68th) – $5,300,833 ($5,427,487 total)
    3. My Family, Mi Familia (1995, 68th) – $2,710,620 ($17,113,444 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • Crimson Tide (1995, 68th): Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects Film Editing
    • A Little Princess (1995, 68th): Cinematography, Art Direction
    • My Family, Mi Familia (1995, 68th): Makeup

    35 Years Ago: The Weekend of May 18-20, 1990

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $6,253,391 ($109,624,898 total) {week 9}
    2. The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $1,754,000 ($108,032,102 total) {week 12}
    3. Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd) – $515,297 ($100,861,228 total) {week 23}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Pretty Woman (1990, 63rd) – $16,720,060 ($293,110,543 total)
    2. The Hunt for Red October (1990, 63rd) – $4,689,773 ($288,851,790 total)
    3. Driving Miss Daisy (1989, 62nd) – $1,377,780 ($269,678,603 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • 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 May 17-19, 1985

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $1,881,899 ($214,556,950 total) {week 24}
    2. Mask (1985, 58th) – $1,586,467 ($39,437,533 total) {week 11}
    3. Witness (1985, 58th) – $1,113,057 ($60,357,368 total) {week 15}
    4. Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $1,023,193 ($15,833,415 total) {week 6}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Beverly Hills Cop (1984, 57th) – $5,995,571 ($683,560,311 total)
    2. Mask (1985, 58th) – $5,054,350 ($125,644,647 total)
    3. Witness (1985, 58th) – $3,546,106 ($192,293,474 total)
    4. Ladyhawke (1985, 58th) – $3,259,806 ($50,443,922 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 May 16-18, 1980

    Weekend Box Office:

    1. Fame (1980, 53rd) – $118,160 ($118,160 total) {week 1}
    2. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $800,000 ($96,982,763 total) {week 22}

    Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

    1. Fame (1980, 53rd) – $496,799 ($496,799 total)
    2. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, 52nd) – $3,363,569 ($407,760,241 total)

    Oscar Details:

    • Fame (1980, 53rd): Original Song (“Fame” [O], “Out Here On My Own”), Original Score [O], Film Editing, Sound
    • 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

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