The visual effects Oscar is one of the few categories that correlates with box office success. The vfx winner is almost always a smash that outdraws the best picture winner � except when it is the best picture winner.
	VISUAL F/X OSCAR		BEST PICTURE OSCAR
Year	Winner	Global B.O.	Winner	Global B.O.
1996	Independence Day	$817,000,000	The English Patient	$232,000,000
1997	Titanic	1,850,800,000	Titanic	1,850,800,000
1998	What Dreams May Come	106,600,000	Shakespeare In Love	289,000,000
1999	The Matrix	462,500,000	American Beauty	348,700,000
2000	Gladiator	458,700,000	Gladiator	458,700,000
2001	The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship ...	871,400,000	A Beautiful Mind	317,800,000
2002	The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers	926,400,000	Chicago	307,700,000
2003	The Lord of the Rings: The Return ...	1,118,700,000	The Lord of the Rings: The Return ...	1,118,700,000
2004	Spider-Man 2	783,800,000	Million Dollar Baby	221,000,000
2005	King Kong	549,400,000	Crash	99,600,000
2006	Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man�s ...	1,064,300,000	The Departed	236,000,000