Oscar buzz really helped FOTR (less so TTT and Shriekapoo) because it was the first in the series and sceptics where intrigued by the buzz saying it was phenomenal movie, one of the year`s best. Oscar helps in those cases, when something isn`t expected to be that good but it is. Moreover, FOTR wasn`t just "lucky-to-be-nominated blockbuster spot without relevancy". It was the runner-up in the Oscar race so it was getting tons of coverage. TTT and Shriekapoo were more business as usual in that department once FOTR broke the ice but media spotlight kept them in public memory so legs extended.