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 Jun. 7-9, 2019
Weekend Box Office:
- Rocketman (2019, 92nd) – $13,816,016 ($50,314,772 total) {week 2}
- Avengers: Endgame (2019, 92nd) – $4,870,963 ($824,436,903 total) {week 7}
- Breakthrough (2019, 92nd) – $81,448 ($40,458,283 total) {week 9}
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019, 92nd) – $70,770 ($160,769,475 total) {week 16}
- Missing Link (2019, 92nd) – $4,405 ($16,617,064 total) {week 9}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Rocketman (2019, 92nd) – $16,259,460 ($59,213,236 total)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019, 92nd) – $5,732,422 ($970,243,430 total)
- Breakthrough (2019, 92nd) – $95,853 ($47,613,569 total)
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019, 92nd) – $83,286 ($189,202,504 total)
- Missing Link (2019, 92nd) – $5,184 ($19,555,890 total)
Oscar Details:
- Avengers: Endgame (2019, 92nd): Visual Effects
- Breakthrough (2019, 92nd): Original Song (“I’m Standing with You”)
- How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019, 92nd): Animated Feature
- Missing Link (2019, 92nd): Animated Feature
- Rocketman (2019, 92nd): Original Song (“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again”) [O]
10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 6-8, 2014
Weekend Box Office:
- Maleficent (2014, 87th) – $34,328,264 ($128,175,232 total) {week 2}
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, 87th) – $15,154,814 ($189,556,080 total) {week 3}
- 20 Feet from Stardom (2013, 86th) – $250 ($4,946,160 total) {week 52}
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014, 87th) – $416,892 ($255,863,996 total) {week 10}
- The Lego Movie (2014, 87th) – $288,052 ($255,878,392 total) {week 18}
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, 87th) – $243,079 ($57,777,522 total) {week 14}
- Ida (2014, 87th) – $225,130 ($1,284,714 total) {week 6}
- Frozen (2013, 86th) – $26,902 ($400,654,227 total) {week 29}
- Finding Vivian Maier (2014, 87th) – $13,707 ($1,393,075 total) {week 11}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Maleficent (2014, 87th) – $45,294,821 ($169,122,277 total)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, 87th) – $19,996,193 ($250,111,939 total)
- 20 Feet from Stardom (2013, 86th) – $330 ($6,526,267 total)
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014, 87th) – $550,073 ($337,602,678 total)
- The Lego Movie (2014, 87th) – $380,074 ($337,621,673 total)
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, 87th) – $320,733 ($76,235,213 total)
- Ida (2014, 87th) – $297,050 ($1,695,131 total)
- Frozen (2013, 86th) – $35,496 ($528,647,805 total)
- Finding Vivian Maier (2014, 87th) – $18,086 ($1,838,109 total)
Oscar Details:
- 20 Feet from Stardom (2013, 86th): Documentary Feature [O]
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014, 87th): Visual Effects
- Finding Vivian Maier (2014, 87th): Documentary Feature
- Frozen (2013, 86th): Animated Feature [O], Original Song (“Let It Go”) [O]
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, 87th): Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup and Hairstyling [O]
- Ida (2014, 87th): Cinematography, Foreign Language Film [O]
- The Lego Movie (2014, 87th): Original Song (“Everything Is Awesome”)
- Maleficent (2014, 87th): Costume Design
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, 87th): Visual Effects
15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 5-7, 2009
Weekend Box Office:
- Up (2009, 82nd) – $44,138,266 ($137,210,701 total) {week 2}
- Star Trek (2009, 82nd) – $8,310,480 ($222,712,175 total) {week 5}
- Departures (2008, 81st) – $86,214 ($191,153 total) {week 2}
- Revanche (2008, 81st) – $25,033 ($129,214 total) {week 6}
- Coraline (2009, 82nd) – $13,694 ($75,218,093 total) {week 18}
- Il Divo (2009, 82nd) – $12,296 ($161,213 total) {week 7}
- Paris 36 (2009, 82nd) – $9,134 ($831,421 total) {week 10}
- Burma VJ (2009, 82nd) – $3,974 ($26,309 total) {week 3}
- The Class (2008, 81st) – $941 ($3,766,595 total) {week 25}
- 12 (2007, 80th) – $643 ($122,439 total) {week 14}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Up (2009, 82nd) – $63,441,401 ($197,217,514 total)
- Star Trek (2009, 82nd) – $11,944,930 ($320,111,633 total)
- Departures (2008, 81st) – $123,918 ($274,751 total)
- Revanche (2008, 81st) – $35,981 ($185,724 total)
- Coraline (2009, 82nd) – $19,683 ($108,113,472 total)
- Il Divo (2009, 82nd) – $17,673 ($231,717 total)
- Paris 36 (2009, 82nd) – $13,129 ($1,195,029 total)
- Burma VJ (2009, 82nd) – $5,712 ($37,815 total)
- The Class (2008, 81st) – $1,353 ($5,413,853 total)
- 12 (2007, 80th) – $924 ($175,986 total)
Oscar Details:
- 12 (2007, 80th): Foreign Language Film
- Burma VJ (2009, 82nd): Documentary Feature
- The Class (2008, 81st): Foreign Language Film
- Coraline (2009, 82nd): Animated Feature
- Departures (2008, 81st): Foreign Language Film [O]
- Il Divo (2009, 82nd): Makeup
- Paris 36 (2009, 82nd): Original Song (“Loin de Paname”)
- Revanche (2008, 81st): Foreign Language Film
- Star Trek (2009, 82nd): Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
- Up (2009, 82nd): Picture, Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Sound Film Editing
20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 4-6, 2004
Weekend Box Office:
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, 77th) – $93,687,367 ($93,687,367 total) {week 1}
- Shrek 2 (2004, 77th) – $37,931,716 ($314,523,202 total) {week 3}
- Troy (2004, 77th) – $5,977,491 ($119,290,098 total) {week 4}
- Super Size Me (2004, 77th) – $842,684 ($6,208,445 total) {week 5}
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, 77th) – $185,156 ($33,745,508 total) {week 12}
- The Passion of the Christ (2004, 77th) – $98,010 ($369,895,388 total) {week 15}
- Cold Mountain (2003, 76th) – $42,758 ($95,535,250 total) {week 24}
- The Twilight Samurai (2003, 76th) – $36,790 ($275,664 total) {week 7}
- My Architect (2003, 76th) – $25,434 ($2,672,377 total) {week 30}
- Story of the Weeping Camel (2004, 77th) – $21,767 ($21,767 total) {week 1}
- The Triplets of Belleville (2003, 76th) – $8,333 ($6,968,579 total) {week 28}
- City of God (2003, 76th) – $6,860 ($7,549,982 total) {week 73}
- In America (2003, 76th) – $1,741 ($15,539,266 total) {week 28}
- The Weather Underground (2003, 76th) – $319 ($563,881 total) {week 53}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, 77th) – $162,632,821 ($162,632,821 total)
- Shrek 2 (2004, 77th) – $65,846,038 ($545,983,916 total)
- Troy (2004, 77th) – $10,376,385 ($207,076,853 total)
- Super Size Me (2004, 77th) – $1,462,823 ($10,777,301 total)
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, 77th) – $321,414 ($58,579,159 total)
- The Passion of the Christ (2004, 77th) – $170,137 ($642,105,037 total)
- Cold Mountain (2003, 76th) – $74,224 ($165,840,579 total)
- The Twilight Samurai (2003, 76th) – $63,864 ($478,528 total)
- My Architect (2003, 76th) – $44,151 ($4,639,005 total)
- Story of the Weeping Camel (2004, 77th) – $37,786 ($37,786 total)
- The Triplets of Belleville (2003, 76th) – $14,465 ($12,096,825 total)
- City of God (2003, 76th) – $11,908 ($13,106,088 total)
- In America (2003, 76th) – $3,022 ($26,974,764 total)
- The Weather Underground (2003, 76th) – $554 ($978,847 total)
Oscar Details:
- City of God (2003, 76th): Director, Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Cinematography
- Cold Mountain (2003, 76th): Actor (Jude Law), Supporting Actress (Renee Zellweger) [O], Original Song (“Scarlet Tide”), Original Song (“You Will Be My Ain True Love”), Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, 77th): Actress (Kate Winslet), Original Screenplay [O]
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, 77th): Original Score, Visual Effects
- In America (2003, 76th): Actress (Samantha Morton), Supporting Actor (Djimon Hounsou), Original Screenplay
- My Architect (2003, 76th): Documentary Feature
- The Passion of the Christ (2004, 77th): Original Score, Cinematography, Makeup
- Shrek 2 (2004, 77th): Animated Feature, Original Song (“Accidentally in Love”)
- Story of the Weeping Camel (2004, 77th): Documentary Feature
- Super Size Me (2004, 77th): Documentary Feature
- The Triplets of Belleville (2003, 76th): Animated Feature, Original Song (“Belleville Rendez-vous”)
- Troy (2004, 77th): Costume Design
- The Twilight Samurai (2003, 76th): Foreign Language Film
- The Weather Underground (2003, 76th): Documentary Feature
25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 4-6, 1999
Weekend Box Office:
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999, 72nd) – $32,891,653 ($255,758,124 total) {week 3}
- The Mummy (1999, 72nd) – $7,418,925 ($127,523,525 total) {week 5}
- The Matrix (1999, 72nd) – $2,453,642 ($158,260,745 total) {week 10}
- Election (1999, 72nd) – $854,684 ($12,260,203 total) {week 7}
- Life (1999, 72nd) – $845,645 ($60,598,139 total) {week 8}
- Shakespeare in Love (1998, 71st) – $263,017 ($97,167,485 total) {week 26}
- Life Is Beautiful (1998, 71st) – $214,067 ($56,692,964 total) {week 33}
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999, 72nd) – $127,370 ($127,370 total) {week 1}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999, 72nd) – $69,797,642 ($542,730,822 total)
- The Mummy (1999, 72nd) – $15,743,309 ($270,610,945 total)
- The Matrix (1999, 72nd) – $5,206,744 ($335,836,778 total)
- Election (1999, 72nd) – $1,813,680 ($26,016,730 total)
- Life (1999, 72nd) – $1,794,499 ($128,592,114 total)
- Shakespeare in Love (1998, 71st) – $558,135 ($206,193,994 total)
- Life Is Beautiful (1998, 71st) – $454,260 ($120,305,148 total)
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999, 72nd) – $270,285 ($270,285 total)
Oscar Details:
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999, 72nd): Documentary Feature
- Election (1999, 72nd): Adapted Screenplay
- Life (1999, 72nd): Makeup
- Life Is Beautiful (1998, 71st): Picture, Director, Actor (Roberto Benigni) [O], Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score [O], Film Editing, Foreign Language Film [O]
- The Matrix (1999, 72nd): Film Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
- The Mummy (1999, 72nd): Sound
- Shakespeare in Love (1998, 71st): Picture [O], Director, Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow) [O], Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench) [O], Original Screenplay [O], Original Musical or Comedy Score [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999, 72nd): Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 10-12, 1994
Weekend Box Office:
- Speed (1994, 67th) – $14,456,194 ($14,456,194 total) {week 1}
- Maverick (1994, 67th) – $6,842,888 ($66,461,152 total) {week 4}
- Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994, 67th) – $1,138,098 ($44,803,861 total) {week 14}
- The Paper (1994, 67th) – $502,610 ($34,284,735 total) {week 13}
- Schindler’s List (1993, 66th) – $206,460 ($93,667,963 total) {week 26}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Speed (1994, 67th) – $37,281,763 ($37,281,763 total)
- Maverick (1994, 67th) – $17,647,448 ($171,399,813 total)
- Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994, 67th) – $2,935,095 ($115,546,799 total)
- The Paper (1994, 67th) – $1,296,205 ($88,418,527 total)
- Schindler’s List (1993, 66th) – $532,449 ($241,564,747 total)
Oscar Details:
- Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994, 67th): Picture, Original Screenplay
- Maverick (1994, 67th): Costume Design
- The Paper (1994, 67th): Original Song (“Make Up Your Mind”)
- Schindler’s List (1993, 66th): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Liam Neeson), Supporting Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score [O], Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design, Makeup, Sound
- Speed (1994, 67th): Film Editing, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 9-11, 1989
Weekend Box Office:
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, 62nd) – $16,044,349 ($102,810,678 total) {week 3}
- Dead Poets Society (1989, 62nd) – $7,540,464 ($8,147,863 total) {week 2}
- Field of Dreams (1989, 62nd) – $3,107,500 ($40,238,061 total) {week 8}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, 62nd) – $43,566,268 ($279,168,541 total)
- Dead Poets Society (1989, 62nd) – $20,475,114 ($22,124,424 total)
- Field of Dreams (1989, 62nd) – $8,437,997 ($109,261,032 total)
Oscar Details:
- Dead Poets Society (1989, 62nd): Picture, Director, Actor (Robin Williams), Original Screenplay [O]
- Field of Dreams (1989, 62nd): Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, 62nd): Original Score, Sound, Sound Effects [O]
40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 8-10, 1984
Weekend Box Office:
- Ghostbusters (1984, 57th) – $13,578,151 ($13,578,151 total) {week 1}
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984, 57th) – $12,016,144 ($88,772,018 total) {week 3}
- The Natural (1984, 57th) – $2,482,504 ($30,162,643 total) {week 5}
- Romancing the Stone (1984, 57th) – $1,567,492 ($59,850,799 total) {week 11}
- Footloose (1984, 57th) – $748,909 ($74,688,368 total) {week 17}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Ghostbusters (1984, 57th) – $43,563,234 ($43,563,234 total)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984, 57th) – $38,551,795 ($284,810,224 total)
- The Natural (1984, 57th) – $7,964,700 ($96,771,813 total)
- Romancing the Stone (1984, 57th) – $5,029,037 ($192,021,313 total)
- Footloose (1984, 57th) – $2,402,750 ($239,625,181 total)
Oscar Details:
- Footloose (1984, 57th): Original Song (“Footloose”, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy”)
- Ghostbusters (1984, 57th): Original Song (“Ghostbusters”), Visual Effects
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984, 57th): Original Score, Visual Effects [O]
- The Natural (1984, 57th): Supporting Actress (Glenn Close), Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction
- Romancing the Stone (1984, 57th): Film Editing
45 Years Ago: The Weekend of Jun. 8-10, 1979
Weekend Box Office:
- Alien (1979, 52nd) – $2,669,177 ($11,051,322 total) {week 3}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Alien (1979, 52nd) – $11,463,637 ($47,463,447 total)
Oscar Details:
- Alien (1979, 52nd): Art Direction, Visual Effects [O]