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Box Office History (Week 38, 2023)

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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.

5 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 21-23, 2018

Weekend Box Office:

  1. Christopher Robin (2018, 91st) – $1,070,226 ($96,906,023 total) {week 8}
  2. The Wife (2018, 91st) – $890,350 ($4,891,527 total) {week 6}
  3. BlacKkKlansman (2018, 91st) – $647,905 ($47,128,255 total) {week 7}
  4. Incredibles 2 (2018, 91st) – $533,570 ($606,357,928 total) {week 15}
  5. RBG (2018, 91st) – $5,151 ($14,004,815 total) {week 21}
  6. Hale County This Morning, This Evening (2018, 91st) – $3,661 ($17,584 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

  1. Christopher Robin (2018, 91st) – $1,227,647 ($111,160,037 total)
  2. The Wife (2018, 91st) – $1,021,313 ($5,611,027 total)
  3. BlacKkKlansman (2018, 91st) – $743,206 ($54,060,402 total)
  4. Incredibles 2 (2018, 91st) – $612,053 ($695,547,788 total)
  5. RBG (2018, 91st) – $5,909 ($16,064,799 total)
  6. Hale County This Morning, This Evening (2018, 91st) – $4,200 ($20,170 total)

Oscar Details:

  • BlacKkKlansman (2018, 91st): Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor (Adam Driver), Adapted Screenplay [O], Original Score, Film Editing
  • Christopher Robin (2018, 91st): Visual Effects
  • Hale County This Morning, This Evening (2018, 91st): Documentary Feature
  • Incredibles 2 (2018, 91st): Animated Feature
  • RBG (2018, 91st): Original Song (“I’ll Fight”), Documentary Feature
  • The Wife (2018, 91st): Actress (Glenn Close)

10 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 20-22, 2013

Weekend Box Office:

  1. Prisoners (2013, 86th) – $20,817,053 ($20,817,053 total) {week 1}
  2. Despicable Me 2 (2013, 86th) – $1,360,420 ($360,730,820 total) {week 12}
  3. Blue Jasmine (2013, 86th) – $1,212,206 ($29,605,701 total) {week 9}
  4. The Grandmaster (2013, 86th) – $240,136 ($6,296,553 total) {week 5}
  5. The Lone Ranger (2013, 86th) – $94,751 ($89,146,110 total) {week 12}
  6. Before Midnight (2013, 86th) – $5,644 ($8,095,928 total) {week 18}
  7. The Hunt (2013, 86th) – $3,056 ($602,585 total) {week 11}
  8. The Act of Killing (2013, 86th) – $2,185 ($431,835 total) {week 10}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

  1. Prisoners (2013, 86th) – $26,757,467 ($26,757,467 total)
  2. Despicable Me 2 (2013, 86th) – $1,748,633 ($463,669,996 total)
  3. Blue Jasmine (2013, 86th) – $1,558,125 ($38,054,068 total)
  4. The Grandmaster (2013, 86th) – $308,662 ($8,093,355 total)
  5. The Lone Ranger (2013, 86th) – $121,789 ($114,585,098 total)
  6. Before Midnight (2013, 86th) – $7,255 ($10,406,205 total)
  7. The Hunt (2013, 86th) – $3,928 ($774,540 total)
  8. The Act of Killing (2013, 86th) – $2,809 ($555,065 total)

Oscar Details:

  • The Act of Killing (2013, 86th): Documentary Feature
  • Before Midnight (2013, 86th): Adapted Screenplay
  • Blue Jasmine (2013, 86th): Actress (Cate Blanchett) [O], Supporting Actress (Sally Hawkins), Original Screenplay
  • Despicable Me 2 (2013, 86th): Animated Feature, Original Song (“Happy”)
  • The Grandmaster (2013, 86th): Cinematography, Costume Design
  • The Hunt (2013, 86th): Foreign Language Film
  • The Lone Ranger (2013, 86th): Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects
  • Prisoners (2013, 86th): Cinematography

15 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 19-21, 2008

Weekend Box Office:

  1. The Dark Knight (2008, 81st) – $2,915,174 ($521,890,027 total) {week 10}
  2. Tropic Thunder (2008, 81st) – $2,556,241 ($106,805,722 total) {week 6}
  3. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008, 81st) – $951,512 ($19,394,888 total) {week 6}
  4. WALL-E (2008, 81st) – $310,469 ($220,503,606 total) {week 13}
  5. Kung Fu Panda (2008, 81st) – $248,524 ($214,949,523 total) {week 16}
  6. The Duchess (2008, 81st) – $190,426 ($190,426 total) {week 1}
  7. Frozen River (2008, 81st) – $133,494 ($1,760,310 total) {week 8}
  8. Man on Wire (2008, 81st) – $119,484 ($2,232,828 total) {week 9}
  9. Iron Man (2008, 81st) – $59,037 ($318,219,154 total) {week 21}
  10. Trouble the Water (2008, 81st) – $37,375 ($238,591 total) {week 5}
  11. The Visitor (2008, 81st) – $9,166 ($9,402,630 total) {week 24}
  12. Encounters at the End of the World (2008, 81st) – $6,983 ($900,034 total) {week 15}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

  1. The Dark Knight (2008, 81st) – $4,242,837 ($759,575,318 total)
  2. Tropic Thunder (2008, 81st) – $3,720,434 ($155,448,439 total)
  3. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008, 81st) – $1,384,861 ($28,227,936 total)
  4. WALL-E (2008, 81st) – $451,866 ($320,927,950 total)
  5. Kung Fu Panda (2008, 81st) – $361,710 ($312,844,361 total)
  6. The Duchess (2008, 81st) – $277,152 ($277,152 total)
  7. Frozen River (2008, 81st) – $194,291 ($2,562,011 total)
  8. Man on Wire (2008, 81st) – $173,901 ($3,249,729 total)
  9. Iron Man (2008, 81st) – $85,924 ($463,146,262 total)
  10. Trouble the Water (2008, 81st) – $54,397 ($347,253 total)
  11. The Visitor (2008, 81st) – $13,340 ($13,684,886 total)
  12. Encounters at the End of the World (2008, 81st) – $10,163 ($1,309,938 total)

Oscar Details:

  • The Dark Knight (2008, 81st): Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger) [O], Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing [O], Visual Effects
  • The Duchess (2008, 81st): Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
  • Encounters at the End of the World (2008, 81st): Documentary Feature
  • Frozen River (2008, 81st): Actress (Melissa Leo), Original Screenplay
  • Iron Man (2008, 81st): Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
  • Kung Fu Panda (2008, 81st): Animated Feature
  • Man on Wire (2008, 81st): Documentary Feature [O]
  • Tropic Thunder (2008, 81st): Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.)
  • Trouble the Water (2008, 81st): Documentary Feature
  • Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008, 81st): Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz) [O]
  • The Visitor (2008, 81st): Actor (Richard Jenkins)
  • WALL-E (2008, 81st): Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Song (“Down to Earth”), Original Score, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing

20 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 19-21, 2003

Weekend Box Office:

  1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003, 76th) – $3,480,968 ($292,495,912 total) {week 11}
  2. Lost in Translation (2003, 76th) – $2,622,737 ($3,957,028 total) {week 2}
  3. Seabiscuit (2003, 76th) – $1,622,465 ($116,026,970 total) {week 9}
  4. American Splendor (2003, 76th) – $510,330 ($4,640,236 total) {week 6}
  5. Thirteen (2003, 76th) – $467,086 ($3,212,979 total) {week 5}
  6. Finding Nemo (2003, 76th) – $419,862 ($335,258,448 total) {week 17}
  7. Whale Rider (2003, 76th) – $390,728 ($19,696,877 total) {week 16}
  8. Dirty Pretty Things (2003, 76th) – $297,813 ($6,994,938 total) {week 10}
  9. Winged Migration (2002, 75th) – $117,218 ($10,036,406 total) {week 23}
  10. Spellbound (2002, 75th) – $32,439 ($5,580,404 total) {week 21}
  11. The Barbarian Invasions (2003, 76th) – $21,352 ($4,958,643 total) {week 20}
  12. Capturing the Friedmans (2003, 76th) – $16,122 ($3,082,536 total) {week 17}
  13. The Weather Underground (2003, 76th) – $15,538 ($375,676 total) {week 16}
  14. City of God (2003, 76th) – $13,798 ($4,640,944 total) {week 36}
  15. Nowhere in Africa (2002, 75th) – $7,341 ($6,146,263 total) {week 29}
  16. The Man Without a Past (2002, 75th) – $266 ($921,547 total) {week 25}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

  1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003, 76th) – $6,032,523 ($506,895,901 total)
  2. Lost in Translation (2003, 76th) – $4,545,208 ($6,857,536 total)
  3. Seabiscuit (2003, 76th) – $2,811,735 ($201,074,931 total)
  4. American Splendor (2003, 76th) – $884,403 ($8,041,537 total)
  5. Thirteen (2003, 76th) – $809,461 ($5,568,098 total)
  6. Finding Nemo (2003, 76th) – $727,622 ($581,003,446 total)
  7. Whale Rider (2003, 76th) – $677,132 ($34,134,721 total)
  8. Dirty Pretty Things (2003, 76th) – $516,110 ($12,122,239 total)
  9. Winged Migration (2002, 75th) – $203,139 ($17,393,108 total)
  10. Spellbound (2002, 75th) – $56,217 ($9,670,849 total)
  11. The Barbarian Invasions (2003, 76th) – $37,003 ($8,593,337 total)
  12. Capturing the Friedmans (2003, 76th) – $27,939 ($5,342,040 total)
  13. The Weather Underground (2003, 76th) – $26,927 ($651,047 total)
  14. City of God (2003, 76th) – $23,912 ($8,042,764 total)
  15. Nowhere in Africa (2002, 75th) – $12,722 ($10,651,484 total)
  16. The Man Without a Past (2002, 75th) – $461 ($1,597,042 total)

Oscar Details:

  • American Splendor (2003, 76th): Adapted Screenplay
  • The Barbarian Invasions (2003, 76th): Original Screenplay, Foreign Language Film [O]
  • Capturing the Friedmans (2003, 76th): Documentary Feature
  • City of God (2003, 76th): Director, Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Cinematography
  • Dirty Pretty Things (2003, 76th): Original Screenplay
  • Finding Nemo (2003, 76th): Animated Feature [O], Original Screenplay, Original Score, Sound Film Editing
  • Lost in Translation (2003, 76th): Picture, Director, Actor (Bill Murray), Original Screenplay [O]
  • The Man Without a Past (2002, 75th): Foreign Language Film
  • Nowhere in Africa (2002, 75th): Foreign Language Film [O]
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003, 76th): Actor (Johnny Depp), Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Film Editing, Visual Effects
  • Seabiscuit (2003, 76th): Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Mixing
  • Spellbound (2002, 75th): Documentary Feature
  • Thirteen (2003, 76th): Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter)
  • The Weather Underground (2003, 76th): Documentary Feature
  • Whale Rider (2003, 76th): Actress (Keisha Castle-Hughes)
  • Winged Migration (2002, 75th): Documentary Feature

25 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 18-20, 1998

Weekend Box Office:

  1. One True Thing (1998, 71st) – $6,606,455 ($6,606,455 total) {week 1}
  2. Saving Private Ryan (1998, 71st) – $3,405,161 ($178,091,556 total) {week 9}
  3. Armageddon (1998, 71st) – $1,254,927 ($195,835,936 total) {week 12}
  4. Titanic (1997, 70th) – $14,003 ($600,674,693 total) {week 40}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

  1. One True Thing (1998, 71st) – $14,720,140 ($14,720,140 total)
  2. Saving Private Ryan (1998, 71st) – $7,587,192 ($396,813,808 total)
  3. Armageddon (1998, 71st) – $2,796,159 ($436,350,860 total)
  4. Titanic (1997, 70th) – $31,201 ($1,338,390,307 total)

Oscar Details:

  • Armageddon (1998, 71st): Original Song (“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”), Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
  • One True Thing (1998, 71st): Actress (Meryl Streep)
  • Saving Private Ryan (1998, 71st): Picture, Director [O], Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay, Original Dramatic Score, Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction, Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Effects [O]
  • Titanic (1997, 70th): Picture [O], Director [O], Actress (Kate Winslet), Supporting Actress (Gloria Stuart), Original Dramatic Score [O], Original Song (“My Heart Will Go On”) [O], Film Editing [O], Cinematography [O], Art Direction [O], Costume Design [O], Makeup, Sound [O], Sound Film Editing [O], Visual Effects [O]

30 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 17-19, 1993

Weekend Box Office:

  1. The Fugitive (1993, 66th) – $7,141,890 ($154,293,908 total) {week 7}
  2. The Age of Innocence (1993, 66th) – $2,317,289 ($2,317,289 total) {week 1}
  3. Jurassic Park (1993, 66th) – $2,070,255 ($322,104,145 total) {week 15}
  4. Sleepless in Seattle (1993, 66th) – $1,428,228 ($116,856,908 total) {week 13}
  5. The Firm (1993, 66th) – $1,011,099 ($153,000,724 total) {week 12}
  6. In the Line of Fire (1993, 66th) – $975,678 ($101,315,728 total) {week 11}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

  1. The Fugitive (1993, 66th) – $18,027,234 ($389,461,676 total)
  2. The Age of Innocence (1993, 66th) – $5,849,196 ($5,849,196 total)
  3. Jurassic Park (1993, 66th) – $5,225,644 ($813,040,656 total)
  4. Sleepless in Seattle (1993, 66th) – $3,605,068 ($294,964,901 total)
  5. The Firm (1993, 66th) – $2,552,170 ($386,197,480 total)
  6. In the Line of Fire (1993, 66th) – $2,462,762 ($255,736,560 total)

Oscar Details:

  • The Age of Innocence (1993, 66th): Supporting Actress (Winona Ryder), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Art Direction, Costume Design [O]
  • The Firm (1993, 66th): Supporting Actress (Holly Hunter), Original Score
  • The Fugitive (1993, 66th): Picture, Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones) [O], Original Score, Film Editing, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects
  • In the Line of Fire (1993, 66th): Supporting Actor (John Malkovich), Original Screenplay, Film Editing
  • Jurassic Park (1993, 66th): Sound [O], Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O]
  • Sleepless in Seattle (1993, 66th): Original Screenplay, Original Song (“A Wink and a Smile”)

35 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 16-18, 1988

Weekend Box Office:

  1. A Fish Called Wanda (1988, 61st) – $2,555,291 ($45,132,409 total) {week 10}
  2. Die Hard (1988, 61st) – $2,544,486 ($65,388,311 total) {week 10}
  3. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988, 61st) – $2,087,303 ($135,939,312 total) {week 13}
  4. Married to the Mob (1988, 61st) – $1,398,630 ($16,254,627 total) {week 5}
  5. Coming to America (1988, 61st) – $1,304,208 ($120,794,325 total) {week 12}
  6. Big (1988, 61st) – $1,302,410 ($101,278,722 total) {week 16}
  7. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988, 61st) – $523,568 ($5,401,802 total) {week 6}
  8. Running on Empty (1988, 61st) – $203,998 ($514,878 total) {week 2}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

  1. A Fish Called Wanda (1988, 61st) – $6,497,029 ($114,752,719 total)
  2. Die Hard (1988, 61st) – $6,469,557 ($166,254,951 total)
  3. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988, 61st) – $5,307,133 ($345,636,450 total)
  4. Married to the Mob (1988, 61st) – $3,556,127 ($41,328,674 total)
  5. Coming to America (1988, 61st) – $3,316,052 ($307,129,123 total)
  6. Big (1988, 61st) – $3,311,480 ($257,509,159 total)
  7. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988, 61st) – $1,331,213 ($13,734,509 total)
  8. Running on Empty (1988, 61st) – $518,681 ($1,309,118 total)

Oscar Details:

  • Big (1988, 61st): Actor (Tom Hanks), Original Screenplay
  • Coming to America (1988, 61st): Costume Design, Makeup
  • Die Hard (1988, 61st): Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects
  • A Fish Called Wanda (1988, 61st): Director, Supporting Actor (Kevin Kline) [O], Original Screenplay
  • The Last Temptation of Christ (1988, 61st): Director
  • Married to the Mob (1988, 61st): Supporting Actor (Dean Stockwell)
  • Running on Empty (1988, 61st): Supporting Actor (River Phoenix), Original Screenplay
  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988, 61st): Film Editing [O], Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects [O], Visual Effects [O], Special Achievement Award (Animation Direction, Richard Williams)

40 Years Ago: The Weekend of Sep. 23-25, 1983

Weekend Box Office:

  1. Flashdance (1983, 56th) – $1,186,594 ($87,014,585 total) {week 24}
  2. Zelig (1983, 56th) – $1,148,576 ($6,763,952 total) {week 11}
  3. Return of the Jedi (1983, 56th) – $1,093,199 ($237,883,852 total) {week 18}
  4. Trading Places (1983, 56th) – $1,038,479 ($85,285,760 total) {week 16}
  5. WarGames (1983, 56th) – $710,786 ($71,654,691 total) {week 17}
  6. Educating Rita (1983, 56th) – $73,518 ($73,518 total) {week 1}

Weekend Box Office (Adjusted for Inflation):

  1. Flashdance (1983, 56th) – $3,936,479 ($288,667,433 total)
  2. Zelig (1983, 56th) – $3,810,355 ($22,439,142 total)
  3. Return of the Jedi (1983, 56th) – $3,626,644 ($789,170,239 total)
  4. Trading Places (1983, 56th) – $3,445,113 ($282,932,124 total)
  5. WarGames (1983, 56th) – $2,358,004 ($237,711,594 total)
  6. Educating Rita (1983, 56th) – $243,893 ($243,893 total)

Oscar Details:

  • Educating Rita (1983, 56th): Actor (Michael Caine), Actress (Julie Walters), Adapted Screenplay
  • Flashdance (1983, 56th): Original Song (“Flashdance…What a Feeling”) [O], Original Song (“Maniac”), Film Editing, Cinematography
  • Return of the Jedi (1983, 56th): Original Score, Art Direction, Sound, Sound Effects, Visual Effects [O]
  • Trading Places (1983, 56th): Original Song Score
  • WarGames (1983, 56th): Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound
  • Zelig (1983, 56th): Cinematography, Costume Design

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