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Academy Awards: Which Best Picture nominee won at the box office?

7. 'The Tree of Life'

Merie Wallace/AP/Fox Searchlight/File
In this publicity image released by Fox Searchlight films, Brad Pitt and Laramie Eppler are shown in a scene from 'The Tree of Life.' The Best Picture nominee was more popular overseas than in the United States, where it made just over $13 million at the box office.

  • By Schuyler Velasco Correspondent

Budget: $32 million

Release date: May 27, 2011

Box office gross:  $54,303,319  

Profit:  $20,303,319

"The Tree of Life" made over 75 percent of its money outside of the United States, pulling in $41 million from foreign moviegoers. That leaves just over $13 million from US audiences, who were sharply divided over the dreamy, abstract film. "The Tree of Life" was both booed and applauded during its premiere at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival before ultimately winning the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or.

Fun fact: Colin Farrell, Mel Gibson, and the late Heath Ledger were all tapped to play the role of the family patriarch, Mr. O'Brien, before it ultimately went to Brad Pitt.

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