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. 30-Sep. 1, 2019
Weekend Box Office:
- The Lion King (2019, 92nd) – $6,923,452 ($521,152,746 total) {week 7}
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019, 92nd) – $4,119,948 ($129,742,497 total) {week 6}
- Toy Story 4 (2019, 92nd) – $2,382,830 ($429,728,729 total) {week 11}
- Avengers: Endgame (2019, 92nd) – $70,775 ($858,329,776 total) {week 19}
- Rocketman (2019, 92nd) – $57,633 ($96,332,928 total) {week 14}
- Honeyland (2019, 92nd) – $53,541 ($373,062 total) {week 6}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- The Lion King (2019, 92nd) – $8,147,905 ($613,321,681 total)
- Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019, 92nd) – $4,848,585 ($152,688,222 total)
- Toy Story 4 (2019, 92nd) – $2,804,248 ($505,728,788 total)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019, 92nd) – $83,292 ($1,010,130,457 total)
- Rocketman (2019, 92nd) – $67,826 ($113,369,974 total)
- Honeyland (2019, 92nd) – $63,010 ($439,040 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. 29-31, 2014
Weekend Box Office:
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014, 87th) – $17,082,262 ($275,379,530 total) {week 5}
- Boyhood (2014, 87th) – $1,522,433 ($18,522,954 total) {week 8}
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014, 87th) – $1,176,225 ($173,506,452 total) {week 12}
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014, 87th) – $861,266 ($205,281,257 total) {week 8}
- Begin Again (2014, 87th) – $804,859 ($15,345,974 total) {week 10}
- Maleficent (2014, 87th) – $677,935 ($238,519,237 total) {week 14}
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, 87th) – $468,623 ($233,283,151 total) {week 15}
- Ida (2014, 87th) – $11,634 ($3,668,193 total) {week 18}
- The Lego Movie (2014, 87th) – $3,996 ($257,754,698 total) {week 30}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014, 87th) – $22,539,386 ($363,352,672 total)
- Boyhood (2014, 87th) – $2,008,792 ($24,440,324 total)
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014, 87th) – $1,551,984 ($228,935,074 total)
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014, 87th) – $1,136,407 ($270,860,704 total)
- Begin Again (2014, 87th) – $1,061,980 ($20,248,421 total)
- Maleficent (2014, 87th) – $894,509 ($314,716,937 total)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014, 87th) – $618,330 ($307,808,123 total)
- Ida (2014, 87th) – $15,351 ($4,840,039 total)
- The Lego Movie (2014, 87th) – $5,273 ($340,097,386 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
- 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. 28-30, 2009
Weekend Box Office:
- Inglourious Basterds (2009, 82nd) – $19,303,653 ($73,022,841 total) {week 2}
- District 9 (2009, 82nd) – $10,270,435 ($90,383,712 total) {week 3}
- Julie & Julia (2009, 82nd) – $7,035,675 ($70,628,063 total) {week 4}
- Up (2009, 82nd) – $649,188 ($289,639,811 total) {week 14}
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009, 82nd) – $575,531 ($399,416,040 total) {week 10}
- The Hurt Locker (2009, 82nd) – $280,290 ($11,595,912 total) {week 10}
- Star Trek (2009, 82nd) – $182,482 ($256,673,273 total) {week 17}
- In the Loop (2009, 82nd) – $149,041 ($1,779,340 total) {week 6}
- Food, Inc. (2009, 82nd) – $66,774 ($4,098,279 total) {week 12}
- The Cove (2009, 82nd) – $45,703 ($619,467 total) {week 5}
- The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008, 81st) – $31,685 ($59,191 total) {week 2}
- Departures (2008, 81st) – $29,438 ($1,279,245 total) {week 14}
- Il Divo (2009, 82nd) – $3,009 ($225,313 total) {week 19}
- Revanche (2008, 81st) – $3,547 ($354,259 total) {week 18}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Inglourious Basterds (2009, 82nd) – $27,745,784 ($104,958,163 total)
- District 9 (2009, 82nd) – $14,762,039 ($129,911,522 total)
- Julie & Julia (2009, 82nd) – $10,112,610 ($101,516,069 total)
- Up (2009, 82nd) – $933,100 ($416,308,955 total)
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009, 82nd) – $827,230 ($574,093,988 total)
- The Hurt Locker (2009, 82nd) – $402,870 ($16,667,191 total)
- Star Trek (2009, 82nd) – $262,287 ($368,925,051 total)
- In the Loop (2009, 82nd) – $214,222 ($2,557,505 total)
- Food, Inc. (2009, 82nd) – $95,976 ($5,890,593 total)
- The Cove (2009, 82nd) – $65,690 ($890,381 total)
- The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008, 81st) – $45,542 ($85,077 total)
- Departures (2008, 81st) – $42,312 ($1,838,701 total)
- Il Divo (2009, 82nd) – $4,325 ($323,850 total)
- Revanche (2008, 81st) – $5,098 ($509,188 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. 27-29, 2004
Weekend Box Office:
- Hero (2002, 75th) – $18,004,319 ($18,004,319 total) {week 1}
- Collateral (2004, 77th) – $6,470,109 ($80,158,380 total) {week 4}
- The Village (2004, 77th) – $1,889,981 ($110,507,857 total) {week 5}
- Spider-Man 2 (2004, 77th) – $1,574,837 ($367,816,575 total) {week 9}
- I, Robot (2004, 77th) – $1,256,914 ($140,549,286 total) {week 7}
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, 77th) – $485,683 ($247,598,604 total) {week 13}
- Maria Full of Grace (2004, 77th) – $384,635 ($3,923,157 total) {week 7}
- Before Sunset (2004, 77th) – $129,394 ($4,779,731 total) {week 9}
- Story of the Weeping Camel (2004, 77th) – $50,585 ($1,510,891 total) {week 13}
- Super Size Me (2004, 77th) – $26,072 ($11,327,782 total) {week 17}
- The Twilight Samurai (2003, 76th) – $7,308 ($503,015 total) {week 19}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Hero (2002, 75th) – $31,253,874 ($31,253,874 total)
- Collateral (2004, 77th) – $11,231,526 ($139,147,719 total)
- The Village (2004, 77th) – $3,280,837 ($191,831,674 total)
- Spider-Man 2 (2004, 77th) – $2,733,775 ($638,496,406 total)
- I, Robot (2004, 77th) – $2,181,889 ($243,980,886 total)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, 77th) – $843,102 ($429,808,849 total)
- Maria Full of Grace (2004, 77th) – $667,692 ($6,810,247 total)
- Before Sunset (2004, 77th) – $224,616 ($8,297,182 total)
- Story of the Weeping Camel (2004, 77th) – $87,811 ($2,622,771 total)
- Super Size Me (2004, 77th) – $45,259 ($19,664,008 total)
- The Twilight Samurai (2003, 76th) – $12,686 ($873,189 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
- Hero (2002, 75th): Foreign Language Film
- I, Robot (2004, 77th): Visual Effects
- Maria Full of Grace (2004, 77th): Actress (Catalina Sandino Moreno)
- 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
- The Twilight Samurai (2003, 76th): Foreign Language Film
- The Village (2004, 77th): Original Score
25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 27-29, 1999
Weekend Box Office:
- The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $20,099,149 ($138,853,903 total) {week 4}
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999, 72nd) – $910,246 ($419,423,967 total) {week 15}
- Tarzan (1999, 72nd) – $591,192 ($166,496,093 total) {week 11}
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999, 72nd) – $561,089 ($204,213,909 total) {week 12}
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999, 72nd) – $184,776 ($4,060,940 total) {week 13}
- The Mummy (1999, 72nd) – $1,430,405 ($154,964,260 total) {week 17}
- The Red Violin (1999, 72nd) – $114,683 ($7,926,723 total) {week 33}
- The Matrix (1999, 72nd) – $112,756 ($171,051,684 total) {week 22}
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999, 72nd) – $59,902 ($51,247,370 total) {week 9}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- The Sixth Sense (1999, 72nd) – $42,651,344 ($294,654,542 total)
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999, 72nd) – $1,931,585 ($890,037,473 total)
- Tarzan (1999, 72nd) – $1,254,537 ($353,312,575 total)
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999, 72nd) – $1,190,657 ($433,351,563 total)
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999, 72nd) – $392,103 ($8,617,507 total)
- The Mummy (1999, 72nd) – $3,035,387 ($328,841,481 total)
- The Red Violin (1999, 72nd) – $243,363 ($16,820,881 total)
- The Matrix (1999, 72nd) – $239,274 ($362,979,755 total)
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999, 72nd) – $127,115 ($108,749,340 total)
Oscar Details:
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999, 72nd): Makeup
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999, 72nd): Documentary Feature
- The Matrix (1999, 72nd): Film Editing [O], Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
- The Mummy (1999, 72nd): Sound
- 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 Sep. 2-4, 1994
Weekend Box Office:
- Forrest Gump (1994, 67th) – $12,221,147 ($238,771,095 total) {week 9}
- Clear and Present Danger (1994, 67th) – $9,271,153 ($98,735,989 total) {week 5}
- The Mask (1994, 67th) – $660,654 ($100,251,076 total) {week 6}
- True Lies (1994, 67th) – $4,130,340 ($132,204,043 total) {week 8}
- The Lion King (1994, 67th) – $3,919,074 ($262,317,184 total) {week 12}
- The Client (1994, 67th) – $3,010,045 ($82,469,691 total) {week 7}
- Maverick (1994, 67th) – $1,714,088 ($98,456,702 total) {week 16}
- Speed (1994, 67th) – $1,427,292 ($111,798,221 total) {week 13}
- The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994, 67th) – $1,037,094 ($2,821,185 total) {week 4}
- Jurassic Park (1993, 66th) – $537,615 ($353,929,000 total) {week 65}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Forrest Gump (1994, 67th) – $31,517,695 ($615,778,087 total)
- Clear and Present Danger (1994, 67th) – $23,909,816 ($254,634,919 total)
- The Mask (1994, 67th) – $1,703,792 ($258,542,249 total)
- True Lies (1994, 67th) – $10,651,929 ($340,947,269 total)
- The Lion King (1994, 67th) – $10,107,086 ($676,502,211 total)
- The Client (1994, 67th) – $7,762,748 ($212,684,993 total)
- Maverick (1994, 67th) – $4,420,543 ($253,914,653 total)
- Speed (1994, 67th) – $3,680,911 ($288,321,728 total)
- The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994, 67th) – $2,674,611 ($7,275,688 total)
- Jurassic Park (1993, 66th) – $1,386,481 ($912,764,263 total)
Oscar Details:
- The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994, 67th): Costume Design [O]
- 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
- Speed (1994, 67th): Film Editing, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
- True Lies (1994, 67th): Visual Effects
35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 1-3, 1989
Weekend Box Office:
- Parenthood (1989, 62nd) – $6,074,333 ($62,682,519 total) {week 5}
- The Abyss (1989, 62nd) – $5,532,135 ($40,726,991 total) {week 4}
- When Harry Met Sally… (1989, 62nd) – $4,849,364 ($67,515,438 total) {week 8}
- Lethal Weapon 2 (1989, 62nd) – $4,659,654 ($131,302,932 total) {week 9}
- Batman (1989, 62nd) – $2,866,560 ($237,866,300 total) {week 11}
- sex, lies and videotape (1989, 62nd) – $3,416,823 ($8,064,653 total) {week 5}
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, 62nd) – $2,701,555 ($189,539,802 total) {week 15}
- Dead Poets Society (1989, 62nd) – $1,370,827 ($86,402,887 total) {week 14}
- Shirley Valentine (1989, 62nd) – $245,422 ($245,422 total) {week 1}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Parenthood (1989, 62nd) – $16,494,033 ($170,205,933 total)
- The Abyss (1989, 62nd) – $15,021,767 ($110,588,656 total)
- When Harry Met Sally… (1989, 62nd) – $13,167,794 ($183,329,073 total)
- Lethal Weapon 2 (1989, 62nd) – $12,652,662 ($356,535,417 total)
- Batman (1989, 62nd) – $7,783,757 ($645,893,883 total)
- sex, lies and videotape (1989, 62nd) – $9,277,922 ($21,898,478 total)
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, 62nd) – $7,335,709 ($514,669,790 total)
- Dead Poets Society (1989, 62nd) – $3,722,296 ($234,615,396 total)
- Shirley Valentine (1989, 62nd) – $666,410 ($666,410 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
- Shirley Valentine (1989, 62nd):
- When Harry Met Sally… (1989, 62nd): Original Screenplay
40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Aug. 31-Sep. 2, 1984
Weekend Box Office:
- Ghostbusters (1984, 57th) – $5,004,808 ($186,704,084 total) {week 13}
- The Karate Kid (1984, 57th) – $4,155,645 ($69,959,648 total) {week 11}
- Purple Rain (1984, 57th) – $4,068,212 ($45,660,272 total) {week 6}
- The Woman in Red (1984, 57th) – $3,577,644 ($13,683,901 total) {week 3}
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984, 57th) – $2,175,460 ($167,334,648 total) {week 15}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Ghostbusters (1984, 57th) – $16,057,092 ($599,008,936 total)
- The Karate Kid (1984, 57th) – $13,332,694 ($224,453,871 total)
- Purple Rain (1984, 57th) – $13,052,180 ($146,493,373 total)
- The Woman in Red (1984, 57th) – $11,478,275 ($43,902,516 total)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984, 57th) – $6,979,601 ($536,865,329 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. 31-Sep. 2, 1979
Weekend Box Office:
- Alien (1979, 52nd) – $1,049,075 ($56,863,418 total) {week 15}
Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):
- Alien (1979, 52nd) – $4,505,589 ($244,218,186 total)
Oscar Details:
- Alien (1979, 52nd): Art Direction, Visual Effects [O]