#1 of 1,149 Highest-grossing biography movie ever
2026 · Biography, Drama
$1B worldwide
$372.3M US & Canada · 36% $656.4M elsewhere · 64%
Biography box office
Biography Box Office: Highest-Grossing Biography Movies of All Time & 2026 So Far
Michael (2026) is the highest-grossing biography movie in our database, with $1B worldwide, ahead of Oppenheimer (2023) ($975.8M) and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) ($910.8M). 1,149 biography films report a worldwide gross, $28.5B in all, 48% of it from the US & Canada. 1 film crossed $1 billion and 70 crossed $100 million. In 2026 so far, Michael (2026) leads with $1B; 32 releases took $1.3B, up 640% on the same days of 2025 ($174.6M).
- biography films with a gross
- 1,149
- combined worldwide, all time
- $28.5B
- from 2026 releases so far
- $1.3B
- vs the same days of 2025
- ×7.4
#1 of 1,149 All-time records
What Are the 10 Highest-Grossing Biography Movies Ever?
Michael (2026) leads with $1B, $52.9M ahead of Oppenheimer (2023). The top 10 took $5.7B together, 20% of what all 1,149 films earned. 5 of them came out in 2016 or later.
- 1 Apr 24, 2026 US and Canada: $372.3M Rest of the world: $656.4M Worldwide: $1B
- 2
Jul 21, 2023 US and Canada: $330.1M Rest of the world: $645.7M Worldwide: $975.8M - 3
Nov 2, 2018 US and Canada: $216.7M Rest of the world: $694.1M Worldwide: $910.8M - 4
Dec 25, 2014 US and Canada: $350.2M Rest of the world: $197.5M Worldwide: $547.7M - 5
Dec 20, 2017 US and Canada: $174.3M Rest of the world: $294.7M Worldwide: $469.1M - 6
Dec 25, 2013 US and Canada: $116.9M Rest of the world: $290.1M Worldwide: $407M - 7
Dec 25, 2002 US and Canada: $164.6M Rest of the world: $187.5M Worldwide: $352.1M - 8
Dec 15, 1993 US and Canada: $96.9M Rest of the world: $225.3M Worldwide: $322.2M - 9
Nov 16, 2018 US and Canada: $85.1M Rest of the world: $236.7M Worldwide: $321.8M - 10
Jul 19, 2013 US and Canada: $137.4M Rest of the world: $183M Worldwide: $320.4M
2026 so far
What Are the Biggest Biography Hits of 2026 So Far?
Michael (2026) leads with $1B, 80% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.2B, 94% of what all 32 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
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Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
By release month
Which Month of 2026 Was Best for Biography Movies?
April releases took the most, $1B from 3 films, led by Michael (2026). March was the quietest month ($2.5M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Dead Man's Wire (2026) $6M Dead Man's Wire (2026)
- February Feb Palestine 36 (2026) $3M Palestine 36 (2026)
- March Mar Saipan (2026) $2.5M Saipan (2026)
- April Apr Michael (2026) $1B Michael (2026)
- May May Giant (2026) $37.3M Giant (2026)
- June Jun Romería (2026) $3.4M Romería (2026)
- July Jul Young Washington (2026) $47.2M Young Washington (2026)
- August Aug Tony (2026) $19.3M Tony (2026)
- September Sep Primetime (2026) $52.9M Primetime (2026)
- October Oct You Can See Everything (2026) $75.3M You Can See Everything (2026)
- November Nov No reported grosses – so far No reported grosses
Biggest years
Which Years Had the Highest-Grossing Biography Movies?
2018 releases earned the most: $2.3B from 68 films, led by Bohemian Rhapsody (2018). The 10 biggest years, each linking to its chart.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 68 films | 68 | $2.3B | Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) $910.8M |
| 2013 42 films | 42 | $2.1B | The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) $407M |
| 2023 39 films | 39 | $1.7B | Oppenheimer (2023) $975.8M |
| 2014 64 films | 64 | $1.7B | American Sniper (2014) $547.7M |
| 2016 75 films | 75 | $1.6B | Dangal (2016) $303.7M |
| 2017 80 films | 80 | $1.6B | The Greatest Showman (2017) $469.1M |
| 2015 71 films | 71 | $1.6B | Everest (2015) $203.4M |
| 2026 32 films | 32 | $1.3B so far | Michael (2026) $1B |
| 2019 69 films | 69 | $1.3B | Ford v Ferrari (2019) $226.3M |
| 2009 24 films | 24 | $1B | The Blind Side (2009) $309.2M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Biography Movies Speak?
English-language biography films took $23.6B across 914 films, 83% of the total, ahead of Chinese-language biography films ($589M) and Hindi-language biography films ($559.5M).
-
English $23.6B914 films · #1 Michael (2026) -
Chinese $589M14 films · #1 Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019) -
Hindi $559.5M15 films · #1 Dangal (2016) -
French $383.7M43 films · #1 La Vie en Rose (2007) -
Korean $206.6M6 films · #1 The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014) -
Spanish $162.7M19 films · #1 The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) -
Japanese $137.5M3 films · #1 The Wind Rises (2013) -
German $126.8M20 films · #1 Downfall (2005) -
Portuguese $58.7M9 films · #1 I'm Still Here (2025) -
Swedish $50.9M6 films · #1 The Last Sentence (2014)
Archive
Biography Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1929 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $2.3B, led by Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).
2020s 7 years · $4.7B
2010s 10 years · $13.3B
- 2019 $1.3B #1 Ford v Ferrari (2019)
- 2018 $2.3B #1 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
- 2017 $1.6B #1 The Greatest Showman (2017)
- 2016 $1.6B #1 Dangal (2016)
- 2015 $1.6B #1 Everest (2015)
- 2014 $1.7B #1 American Sniper (2014)
- 2013 $2.1B #1 The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
- 2012 $511.3M #1 Lincoln (2012)
- 2011 $319.8M #1 The Iron Lady (2011)
- 2010 $341.2M #1 The Social Network (2010)
2000s 10 years · $5.9B
- 2009 $1B #1 The Blind Side (2009)
- 2008 $330.9M #1 The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
- 2007 $638.4M #1 Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
- 2006 $775.2M #1 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
- 2005 $671M #1 Walk the Line (2005)
- 2004 $683.8M #1 The Aviator (2004)
- 2003 $165.3M #1 Monster (2003)
- 2002 $674.3M #1 Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- 2001 $541.6M #1 A Beautiful Mind (2001)
- 2000 $385.6M #1 Erin Brockovich (2000)
1990s 10 years · $2.7B
- 1999 $347.4M #1 The Hurricane (1999)
- 1998 $301.1M #1 Patch Adams (1998)
- 1997 $214.7M #1 Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
- 1996 $219.4M #1 Evita (1996)
- 1995 $385.1M #1 Braveheart (1995)
- 1994 $52.6M #1 Wyatt Earp (1994)
- 1993 $652.9M #1 Schindler's List (1993)
- 1992 $106.3M #1 Malcolm X (1992)
- 1991 $291.7M #1 JFK (1991)
- 1990 $102.9M #1 Goodfellas (1990)
1980s 10 years · $1.2B
- 1989 $212.2M #1 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
- 1988 $172.8M #1 Good Morning, Vietnam (1988)
- 1987 $105.8M #1 La Bamba (1987)
- 1986 $3.5M #1 Sid and Nancy (1986)
- 1985 $254.3M #1 Out of Africa (1985)
- 1984 $2.9M #1 Phar Lap (1984)
- 1983 $129.6M #1 Gandhi (1983)
- 1982 $73.3M #1 Chariots of Fire (1982)
- 1981 $61.5M #1 Reds (1981)
- 1980 $135.5M #1 Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
1970s 8 years · $358M
1960s 7 years · $271.4M
1950s 2 years · $21.4M
1940s 1 year · $3K
1930s 1 year · $4.9K
1920s 1 year · $22.7K
Other genres
Compare Biography With Another Genre
Biography has 1,149 films with a gross and $28.5B in all; each of these 20 genres has the same all-time and yearly charts to compare with.
FAQ
Biography Box Office: Questions & Answers
The Biography charts in short: the all-time #1, 2026's leader, the billion-dollar hits and the biggest year, answered from the same 1,149 films as the charts.
What is the highest-grossing biography movie of all time?
Michael (2026) leads with $1B worldwide, $372.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Oppenheimer (2023) ($975.8M) and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) ($910.8M).
All-time chart What is the highest-grossing biography movie of 2026 so far?
Michael (2026) leads 2026 with $1B worldwide, 80% of the $1.3B that its 32 releases report. Films of this year are still earning, so the order can change.
2026 chart How much have biography movies earned at the box office?
1,149 biography films report a worldwide gross, $28.5B in all, or $24.8M per film on average. $13.8B (48%) came from the US & Canada.
How many biography movies have made $1 billion?
1 film crossed $1 billion worldwide, among them Michael (2026). 70 crossed $100 million.
Which year was the biggest for biography movies?
2018 releases earned the most: $2.3B from 68 films, led by Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).
2018 chart How are biography box office numbers counted?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films, is left out rather than shown as a fact, and so are records that list seven or more genres.