Oscar nominations 2015: Box office breakdown for best picture nods

Box office numbers don’t always reflect the success of a film during awards season. In fact, many awards front-runners are often distributed in limited release at art house theaters across the U.S. before they ever hit the megaplex.

This year is no different. Here’s a breakdown of the box office figures for the eight best picture nominees. Some of the films are only starting to be in wider release; others opened earlier this year.

“American Sniper�

In its limited release over the Christmas holiday weekend, “American Sniper� debuted to a stellar $240,212 from just four theaters in Los Angeles, New York and Dallas.

The Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow film, which cost about $58 million to make, has now made about $3.3 million in the U.S. and Canada. The film could add a whopping $50 million over the four-day weekend, according to people who have seen pre-release audience surveys.

Adapted from the autobiography of the same name, the Clint Eastwood-directed film is the real-life story of Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), the Navy SEAL who was known as the most lethal sniper in American history.

“Boyhood�

Distributed by IFC Films, the Richard Linklater coming-of-age film was shot in a 12-year span. Since its July launch, the indie film has made about $24.3 million in the U.S. and Canada.

“The Imitation Game�

The Weinstein Co. film, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, has pulled in $42.8 million since opening in limited release in November.

In its first weekend, the four-day Thanksgiving break, it made $482,000 in just four theaters in New York and Los Angeles.

“Selma�

The Paramount Pictures-distributed film, which cost about $20 million to make, has pulled in $16.5 million since its limited release on Christmas Day.

The Ava DuVernay-directed drama follows the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) in 1965 as he organizes and leads a march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.

“The Theory of Everything�

Following its limited release, the Focus Features film continued to move up in the box office. To date, it’s made about $26.2 million in the U.S. and Canada.

The film is based on Jane Hawking’s memoir, “Travelling to Infinity: My Life With Stephen.� It stars Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking and Felicity Jones as Hawking’s wife, Jane Wilde.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel�

Wes Anderson’s film, which nabbed best motion picture, musical or comedy at the Golden Globes, has had a strong box office run since its March release. In its first week, it brought in $800,000 from four theaters for a per-screen average of $200,000.

To date, it has made $59.1 million in the U.S. and Canada. It’s the highest total for any Anderson film.

“Birdman�

Alejandro G. Inarritu’s comedy stars Michael Keaton as a washed-up superhero actor trying to get his mojo back with a Broadway play.

Released by Fox Searchlight, the film has made $26.6 million to date in the U.S. and Canada.

“Whiplash�

Sony Classics’ “Whiplash,� starring Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons, has made about $6.1 million in the U.S. and Canada. The film follows a domineering teacher (Simmons) as he drives aspiring jazz drummer (Teller) to the edge of sanity.

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