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 Aug. 23-25, 2019
Weekend Box Office:
- The Lion King (2019, 92nd) – $8,065,231 ($510,550,966 total) {week 6}
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019, 92nd) – $5,005,400 ($123,192,867 total) {week 5}
- Toy Story 4 (2019, 92nd) – $1,230,836 ($426,734,092 total) {week 10}
- Rocketman (2019, 92nd) – $71,468 ($96,227,407 total) {week 13}
- Avengers: Endgame (2019, 92nd) – $50,268 ($858,238,683 total) {week 18}
- Honeyland (2019, 92nd) – $46,621 ($290,447 total) {week 5}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- The Lion King (2019, 92nd) – $9,491,615 ($600,844,914 total)
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019, 92nd) – $5,890,634 ($144,980,252 total)
- Toy Story 4 (2019, 92nd) – $1,448,517 ($502,204,532 total)
- Rocketman (2019, 92nd) – $84,108 ($113,245,791 total)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019, 92nd) – $59,158 ($1,010,023,254 total)
- Honeyland (2019, 92nd) – $54,866 ($341,814 total)
Oscar Details:
- Avengers: Endgame (2019, 92nd): Visual Effects
- Honeyland (2019, 92nd): International Film, Documentary Feature
- The Lion King (2019, 92nd): Visual Effects
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019, 92nd): Picture, Directing, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt) [O], Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing
- Rocketman (2019, 92nd): Original Song (“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again”) [O]
- Toy Story 4 (2019, 92nd): Animated Feature [O], Original Song (“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away”)
10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 22-24, 2014
Weekend Box Office:
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014, 87th) – $17,202,212 ($251,456,069 total) {week 4}
- Boyhood (2014, 87th) – $1,663,411 ($16,325,459 total) {week 7}
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014, 87th) – $1,076,581 ($203,937,551 total) {week 7}
- Maleficent (2014, 87th) – $591,073 ($237,602,294 total) {week 13}
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014, 87th) – $500,324 ($172,107,286 total) {week 11}
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, 87th) – $146,406 ($232,749,987 total) {week 14}
- Begin Again (2014, 87th) – $35,727 ($14,521,859 total) {week 9}
- Ida (2014, 87th) – $10,658 ($3,648,921 total) {week 17}
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, 87th) – $6,424 ($59,073,773 total) {week 25}
- The Lego Movie (2014, 87th) – $377 ($257,749,647 total) {week 29}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014, 87th) – $22,697,655 ($331,786,588 total)
- Boyhood (2014, 87th) – $2,194,807 ($21,540,814 total)
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014, 87th) – $1,420,507 ($269,087,736 total)
- Maleficent (2014, 87th) – $779,898 ($313,507,066 total)
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014, 87th) – $660,158 ($227,088,928 total)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, 87th) – $193,177 ($307,104,634 total)
- Begin Again (2014, 87th) – $47,140 ($19,161,033 total)
- Ida (2014, 87th) – $14,063 ($4,814,611 total)
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, 87th) – $8,476 ($77,945,566 total)
- The Lego Movie (2014, 87th) – $497 ($340,090,722 total)
Oscar Details:
- Begin Again (2014, 87th): Original Song (“Lost Stars”)
- Boyhood (2014, 87th): Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Ethan Hawke), Supporting Actress (Patricia Arquette) [O], Original Screenplay, Film Editing
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014, 87th): Visual Effects
- 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]
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014, 87th): Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014, 87th): Animated Feature
- 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 Aug. 21-23, 2009
Weekend Box Office:
- Inglourious Basterds (2009, 82nd) – $38,054,676 ($38,070,437 total) {week 1}
- District 9 (2009, 82nd) – $18,213,546 ($72,804,317 total) {week 2}
- Julie & Julia (2009, 82nd) – $8,800,674 ($59,088,965 total) {week 3}
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009, 82nd) – $970,360 ($398,441,218 total) {week 9}
- The Hurt Locker (2009, 82nd) – $383,017 ($11,124,222 total) {week 9}
- Up (2009, 82nd) – $317,602 ($288,827,973 total) {week 13}
- Star Trek (2009, 82nd) – $240,311 ($256,374,154 total) {week 16}
- In the Loop (2009, 82nd) – $187,652 ($1,550,473 total) {week 5}
- Food, Inc. (2009, 82nd) – $84,774 ($3,977,797 total) {week 11}
- The Cove (2009, 82nd) – $53,107 ($537,247 total) {week 4}
- Departures (2008, 81st) – $29,765 ($1,232,944 total) {week 13}
- The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008, 81st) – $17,348 ($17,348 total) {week 1}
- Revanche (2008, 81st) – $3,496 ($248,372 total) {week 17}
- Il Divo (2009, 82nd) – $1,143 ($221,189 total) {week 18}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Inglourious Basterds (2009, 82nd) – $54,697,254 ($54,719,908 total)
- District 9 (2009, 82nd) – $26,178,937 ($104,644,072 total)
- Julie & Julia (2009, 82nd) – $12,649,502 ($84,930,539 total)
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009, 82nd) – $1,394,731 ($572,692,844 total)
- The Hurt Locker (2009, 82nd) – $550,523 ($15,989,215 total)
- Up (2009, 82nd) – $456,500 ($415,142,073 total)
- Star Trek (2009, 82nd) – $345,407 ($368,495,117 total)
- In the Loop (2009, 82nd) – $269,718 ($2,228,547 total)
- Food, Inc. (2009, 82nd) – $121,848 ($5,717,420 total)
- The Cove (2009, 82nd) – $76,332 ($772,203 total)
- Departures (2008, 81st) – $42,782 ($1,772,152 total)
- The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008, 81st) – $24,935 ($24,935 total)
- Revanche (2008, 81st) – $5,025 ($356,993 total)
- Il Divo (2009, 82nd) – $1,643 ($317,922 total)
Oscar Details:
- The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008, 81st): Foreign Language Film
- The Cove (2009, 82nd): Documentary Feature
- Departures (2008, 81st): Foreign Language Film [O]
- District 9 (2009, 82nd): Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Visual Effects
- Il Divo (2009, 82nd): Makeup
- Food, Inc. (2009, 82nd): Documentary Feature
- The Hurt Locker (2009, 82nd): Picture [O], Director [O], Actor (Jeremy Renner), Original Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Sound Mixing [O], Sound Film Editing [O]
- In the Loop (2009, 82nd): Adapted Screenplay
- Inglourious Basterds (2009, 82nd): Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) [O], Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing
- Julie & Julia (2009, 82nd): Actress (Meryl Streep)
- Revanche (2008, 81st): Foreign Language Film
- Star Trek (2009, 82nd): Makeup [O], Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009, 82nd): Sound Mixing
- Up (2009, 82nd): Picture, Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score [O], Sound Film Editing
20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 20-22, 2004
Weekend Box Office:
- Collateral (2004, 77th) – $10,156,357 ($69,721,408 total) {week 3}
- The Village (2004, 77th) – $3,722,806 ($107,049,072 total) {week 4}
- Spider-Man 2 (2004, 77th) – $2,421,434 ($365,173,462 total) {week 8}
- I, Robot (2004, 77th) – $2,408,877 ($138,292,990 total) {week 6}
- Maria Full of Grace (2004, 77th) – $458,426 ($3,315,918 total) {week 6}
- Shrek 2 (2004, 77th) – $422,786 ($436,471,036 total) {week 14}
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, 77th) – $353,507 ($246,900,818 total) {week 12}
- Before Sunset (2004, 77th) – $171,309 ($4,560,080 total) {week 8}
- Super Size Me (2004, 77th) – $39,253 ($11,269,350 total) {week 16}
- Troy (2004, 77th) – $39,236 ($133,298,577 total) {week 15}
- Story of the Weeping Camel (2004, 77th) – $35,412 ($1,434,170 total) {week 12}
- The Twilight Samurai (2003, 76th) – $2,288 ($492,575 total) {week 18}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Collateral (2004, 77th) – $17,630,520 ($121,030,077 total)
- The Village (2004, 77th) – $6,462,456 ($185,827,536 total)
- Spider-Man 2 (2004, 77th) – $4,203,391 ($633,908,200 total)
- I, Robot (2004, 77th) – $4,181,593 ($240,064,160 total)
- Maria Full of Grace (2004, 77th) – $795,786 ($5,756,135 total)
- Shrek 2 (2004, 77th) – $733,918 ($757,674,359 total)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, 77th) – $613,656 ($428,597,555 total)
- Before Sunset (2004, 77th) – $297,377 ($7,915,888 total)
- Super Size Me (2004, 77th) – $68,140 ($19,562,575 total)
- Troy (2004, 77th) – $68,110 ($231,394,309 total)
- Story of the Weeping Camel (2004, 77th) – $61,472 ($2,489,590 total)
- The Twilight Samurai (2003, 76th) – $3,972 ($855,066 total)
Oscar Details:
- Before Sunset (2004, 77th): Adapted Screenplay
- Collateral (2004, 77th): Supporting Actor (Jamie Foxx), Film Editing
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, 77th): Original Score, Visual Effects
- I, Robot (2004, 77th): Visual Effects
- Maria Full of Grace (2004, 77th): Actress (Catalina Sandino Moreno)
- Shrek 2 (2004, 77th): Animated Feature, Original Song (“Accidentally in Love”)
- Spider-Man 2 (2004, 77th): Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects [O]
- Story of the Weeping Camel (2004, 77th): Documentary Feature
- Super Size Me (2004, 77th): Documentary Feature
- Troy (2004, 77th): Costume Design
- The Twilight Samurai (2003, 76th): Foreign Language Film
- The Village (2004, 77th): Original Score
25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 20-22, 1999
Weekend Box Office:
- The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $23,950,008 ($107,506,281 total) {week 3}
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999, 72nd) – $1,221,405 ($417,800,897 total) {week 14}
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999, 72nd) – $929,717 ($203,100,498 total) {week 11}
- Tarzan (1999, 72nd) – $740,036 ($165,477,219 total) {week 10}
- The Mummy (1999, 72nd) – $226,395 ($154,703,255 total) {week 16}
- The Matrix (1999, 72nd) – $211,862 ($170,817,779 total) {week 21}
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999, 72nd) – $183,047 ($3,769,173 total) {week 12}
- The Red Violin (1999, 72nd) – $143,106 ($7,735,416 total) {week 32}
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999, 72nd) – $120,747 ($51,118,648 total) {week 8}
- Life (1999, 72nd) – $45,997 ($64,016,268 total) {week 19}
- On the Ropes (1999, 72nd) – $7,431 ($11,293 total) {week 1}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $50,823,048 ($228,133,407 total)
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999, 72nd) – $2,591,879 ($886,593,242 total)
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999, 72nd) – $1,972,903 ($430,988,852 total)
- Tarzan (1999, 72nd) – $1,570,391 ($351,150,477 total)
- The Mummy (1999, 72nd) – $480,421 ($328,287,616 total)
- The Matrix (1999, 72nd) – $449,581 ($362,483,397 total)
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999, 72nd) – $388,434 ($7,998,363 total)
- The Red Violin (1999, 72nd) – $303,678 ($16,414,918 total)
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999, 72nd) – $256,231 ($108,476,186 total)
- Life (1999, 72nd) – $97,608 ($135,845,545 total)
- On the Ropes (1999, 72nd) – $15,769 ($23,964 total)
Oscar Details:
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999, 72nd): Makeup
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999, 72nd): Documentary Feature
- Life (1999, 72nd): Makeup
- The Matrix (1999, 72nd): Film Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
- The Mummy (1999, 72nd): Sound
- On the Ropes (1999, 72nd): Documentary Feature
- The Red Violin (1999, 72nd): Original Score [O]
- The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd): Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment), Supporting Actress (Toni Collette), Original Screenplay, Film Editing
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999, 72nd): Original Song (“Blame Canada”)
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999, 72nd): Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
- Tarzan (1999, 72nd): Original Song (“You’ll Be In My Heart”)
30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 26-28, 1994
Weekend Box Office:
- Forrest Gump (1994, 67th) – $9,897,242 ($222,309,062 total) {week 8}
- Clear and Present Danger (1994, 67th) – $8,164,186 ($86,328,858 total) {week 4}
- The Mask (1994, 67th) – $5,338,698 ($91,930,697 total) {week 5}
- True Lies (1994, 67th) – $3,425,095 ($126,696,780 total) {week 7}
- The Lion King (1994, 67th) – $3,013,759 ($256,945,953 total) {week 11}
- The Client (1994, 67th) – $2,724,911 ($78,528,872 total) {week 6}
- Maverick (1994, 67th) – $1,745,118 ($96,345,264 total) {week 15}
- Jurassic Park (1993, 66th) – $604,435 ($353,079,435 total) {week 64}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Forrest Gump (1994, 67th) – $25,524,466 ($573,323,370 total)
- Clear and Present Danger (1994, 67th) – $21,055,006 ($222,637,581 total)
- The Mask (1994, 67th) – $13,768,221 ($237,084,429 total)
- True Lies (1994, 67th) – $8,833,140 ($326,744,327 total)
- The Lion King (1994, 67th) – $7,772,326 ($662,650,089 total)
- The Client (1994, 67th) – $7,027,402 ($202,521,828 total)
- Maverick (1994, 67th) – $4,500,567 ($248,469,365 total)
- Jurassic Park (1993, 66th) – $1,558,806 ($910,573,280 total)
Oscar Details:
- Clear and Present Danger (1994, 67th): Sound, Sound Effects
- The Client (1994, 67th): Actress (Susan Sarandon)
- 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]
- Jurassic Park (1993, 66th): Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
- The Lion King (1994, 67th): Original Song (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” [O], “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”), Original Score [O]
- The Mask (1994, 67th): Visual Effects
- Maverick (1994, 67th): Costume Design
- True Lies (1994, 67th): Visual Effects
35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 25-27, 1989
Weekend Box Office:
- Parenthood (1989, 62nd) – $6,380,240 ($53,704,836 total) {week 4}
- The Abyss (1989, 62nd) – $4,734,287 ($32,963,185 total) {week 3}
- When Harry Met Sally… (1989, 62nd) – $4,056,399 ($60,655,531 total) {week 7}
- Lethal Weapon 2 (1989, 62nd) – $3,335,582 ($125,055,875 total) {week 8}
- Batman (1989, 62nd) – $2,597,560 ($233,653,196 total) {week 10}
- sex, lies and videotape (1989, 62nd) – $1,210,540 ($3,798,540 total) {week 4}
- Dead Poets Society (1989, 62nd) – $963,442 ($84,547,818 total) {week 13}
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, 62nd) – $726,388 ($186,475,287 total) {week 14}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Parenthood (1989, 62nd) – $17,324,682 ($145,828,245 total)
- The Abyss (1989, 62nd) – $12,855,318 ($89,507,087 total)
- When Harry Met Sally… (1989, 62nd) – $11,014,605 ($164,701,920 total)
- Lethal Weapon 2 (1989, 62nd) – $9,057,323 ($339,572,376 total)
- Batman (1989, 62nd) – $7,053,324 ($634,453,766 total)
- sex, lies and videotape (1989, 62nd) – $3,287,058 ($10,314,423 total)
- Dead Poets Society (1989, 62nd) – $2,616,097 ($229,578,206 total)
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, 62nd) – $1,972,409 ($506,348,512 total)
Oscar Details:
- The Abyss (1989, 62nd): Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Visual Effects [O]
- Batman (1989, 62nd): Art Direction [O]
- Dead Poets Society (1989, 62nd): Picture, Director, Actor (Robin Williams), Original Screenplay [O]
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, 62nd): Original Score, Sound, Sound Effects [O]
- Lethal Weapon 2 (1989, 62nd): Sound Effects
- Parenthood (1989, 62nd): Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest), Original Song (“I Love To See You Smile”)
- sex, lies and videotape (1989, 62nd): Original Screenplay
- When Harry Met Sally… (1989, 62nd): Original Screenplay
40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 24-26, 1984
Weekend Box Office:
- Ghostbusters (1984, 57th) – $4,682,210 ($179,381,173 total) {week 12}
- Purple Rain (1984, 57th) – $3,241,452 ($39,906,368 total) {week 5}
- The Woman in Red (1984, 57th) – $2,941,215 ($8,731,371 total) {week 2}
- The Karate Kid (1984, 57th) – $2,870,497 ($64,356,939 total) {week 10}
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984, 57th) – $1,426,994 ($164,297,966 total) {week 14}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Ghostbusters (1984, 57th) – $15,022,090 ($575,514,597 total)
- Purple Rain (1984, 57th) – $10,399,659 ($128,032,931 total)
- The Woman in Red (1984, 57th) – $9,436,398 ($28,013,149 total)
- The Karate Kid (1984, 57th) – $9,209,511 ($206,478,513 total)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984, 57th) – $4,578,272 ($527,122,641 total)
Oscar Details:
- Ghostbusters (1984, 57th): Original Song (“Ghostbusters”), Visual Effects
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984, 57th): Original Score, Visual Effects [O]
- The Karate Kid (1984, 57th): Supporting Actor (Noriyuki ‘Pat’ Morita)
- Purple Rain (1984, 57th): Original Song Score [O]
- The Woman in Red (1984, 57th): Original Song (“I Just Called to Say I Love You”) [O]
45 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 24-26, 1979
Weekend Box Office:
- Star Wars (1977, 50th) – $3,585,492 ($236,049,325 total) {week 118}
- Alien (1979, 52nd) – $957,284 ($55,309,035 total) {week 14}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Star Wars (1977, 50th) – $15,399,045 ($1,013,789,531 total)
- Alien (1979, 52nd) – $4,111,363 ($237,542,389 total)
Oscar Details:
- Alien (1979, 52nd): Art Direction, Visual Effects [O]
- Star Wars (1977, 50th): Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness), Orginal Screenplay, Original Score [O], Film Editing [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Sound [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Sound Effects) [O]