#1 of 38 #1 biography movie of 2011
2011 · Biography, Drama
$115.9M worldwide · 36% of the chart's total
$30M US & Canada · 26% $85.9M elsewhere · 74%
Biography box office · 2011
Biography Box Office 2011: Highest-Grossing Biography Movies
The Iron Lady (2011) is the highest-grossing biography movie released in 2011, with $115.9M worldwide, ahead of J. Edgar (2011) at $84.9M and The Broken Tower (2011) at $36.5M. 38 biography films released in 2011 report a worldwide gross, $319.8M in all, 24% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 6% on 2010, whose releases took $341.2M. By language, English leads with $284.3M across 31 biography releases.
- 2011 releases with a gross
- 38
- combined worldwide
- $319.8M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 2010
- −6%
#1 of 38 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Biography Hits of 2011?
The Iron Lady (2011) leads with $115.9M, 36% of the total. The top 5 together took $266.3M, 83% of what all 38 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Biography Release of 2011, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2011.
- 1 Dec 30, 2011 US and Canada: $30M Rest of the world: $85.9M Worldwide: $115.9M
- 2 Nov 9, 2011 US and Canada: $37.3M Rest of the world: $47.6M Worldwide: $84.9M
- 3 Jun 20, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $36.5M
- 4 Jan 28, 2011 US and Canada: $205.7K Rest of the world: $14.9M Worldwide: $15.1M
- 5 Apr 8, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.9M
- 6
Aug 31, 2011 US and Canada: $233K Rest of the world: $12M Worldwide: $12.2M - 7
Aug 12, 2011 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: $8.6M Worldwide: $10.2M - 8
Nov 11, 2011 US and Canada: $74.5K Rest of the world: $6.6M Worldwide: $6.6M - 9
Jul 29, 2011 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: $4.4M Worldwide: $5.7M - 10
Jun 17, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.4M - 11
May 6, 2011 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $3.3M Worldwide: $4.4M - 12
Sep 23, 2011 US and Canada: $538.7K Rest of the world: $2.8M Worldwide: $3.3M - 13
Mar 16, 2011 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: $498K Worldwide: $2M - 14
May 13, 2011 US and Canada: $332K Rest of the world: $905.5K Worldwide: $1.2M - 15
Oct 21, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $706.5K - 16
Nov 30, 2011 US and Canada: $39.5K Rest of the world: $255.1K Worldwide: $294.6K - 17
Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune (2011)Jan 5, 2011 US and Canada: $263.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $263.7K
Jan 5, 2011 · English · Biography, History, Music $263.7K worldwide - 18
Apr 29, 2011 US and Canada: $83.5K Rest of the world: $171K Worldwide: $254.5K - 19
Mar 23, 2011 US and Canada: $242.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $242.7K - 20
Sep 16, 2011 US and Canada: $27.3K Rest of the world: $190.4K Worldwide: $217.6K - 21
The Man Nobody Knew: In Search of My Father, CIA Spymaster William Colby (2011)Sep 23, 2011 US and Canada: $183.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $183.3K Sep 23, 2011 · English · Biography, History, War $183.3K worldwide - 22
Eames: The Architect & The Painter (2011)Nov 18, 2011 US and Canada: $153.1K Rest of the world: $10.3K Worldwide: $163.4K Nov 18, 2011 · English · Biography, Documentary $163.4K worldwide - 23
The Desert of Forbidden Art (2011)Mar 11, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $158.5K Mar 11, 2011 · English · Adventure, Biography, Drama $158.5K worldwide - 24
Jul 8, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $141.8K - 25
Apr 27, 2011 US and Canada: $21.6K Rest of the world: $104.6K Worldwide: $126.2K - 26
Jul 15, 2011 US and Canada: $116.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $116.4K - 27
Oct 28, 2011 US and Canada: $92.8K Rest of the world: $3.3K Worldwide: $96.1K - 28
Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011)Sep 9, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $90.5K Sep 9, 2011 · English · Biography, Sport, Documentary $90.5K worldwide - 29
Jul 1, 2011 US and Canada: $60.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $60.3K - 30
Jan 19, 2011 US and Canada: $46.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $46.6K - 31
Dec 14, 2011 US and Canada: $40.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.1K - 32
Paul Goodman Changed My Life (2011)Oct 19, 2011 US and Canada: $35.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.7K Oct 19, 2011 · English · Biography, Drama, History $35.7K worldwide - 33
Sep 30, 2011 US and Canada: $33.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $33.1K - 34
Hey, Boo: Harper Lee and 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (2011)May 13, 2011 US and Canada: $31.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.1K May 13, 2011 · English · Biography, History, Documentary $31.1K worldwide - 35
Dec 2, 2011 US and Canada: $2.6K Rest of the world: $22K Worldwide: $24.7K - 36
The Weird World of Blowfly (2011)Sep 16, 2011 US and Canada: $3.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.1K Sep 16, 2011 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $3.1K worldwide - 37
Jan 28, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $131 - 38
Aug 12, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $114
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2011?
Of the top 10, J. Edgar (2011) earned the biggest share at home (44% in the US & Canada), while The Conquest (2011) made 99% of its gross abroad. Across all 38 films, $75.7M (24%) came from the US & Canada. 3 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Iron Lady (2011) $115.9M $30M US & Canada · 26% $85.9M elsewhere · 74%
- 2 J. Edgar (2011) $84.9M $37.3M US & Canada · 44% $47.6M elsewhere · 56%
- 3 The Broken Tower (2011) $36.5M No US & Canada figure reported
- 4 Ip Man 2 (2011) $15.1M $205.7K US & Canada · 1% $14.9M elsewhere · 99%
- 5 The Family Jams (2011) $13.9M No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life (2011) $12.2M $233K US & Canada · 2% $12M elsewhere · 98%
- 7 Senna (2011) $10.2M $1.6M US & Canada · 16% $8.6M elsewhere · 84%
- 8 The Conquest (2011) $6.6M $74.5K US & Canada · 1% $6.6M elsewhere · 99%
- 9 The Devil's Double (2011) $5.7M $1.4M US & Canada · 24% $4.4M elsewhere · 76%
- 10 Angel of Evil (2011) $4.4M No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 2011 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 38 films crossed $100M and took $115.9M between them, 36% of the total. 31 films, 82% of the list, earned under $10M.
36% 54% 10%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 1 film, 3% of the list $115.9M · 36% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 6 films, 16% of the list $172.8M · 54% of the gross
- Under $10M 31 films, 82% of the list $31M · 10% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2011 Earned the Most?
December releases took the most, $116M from 3 films, led by The Iron Lady (2011). October was the quietest month ($838.3K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Ip Man 2 (2011) $15.4M Ip Man 2 (2011)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Bill Cunningham New York (2011) $2.4M Bill Cunningham New York (2011)
- April Apr The Family Jams (2011) $14.2M The Family Jams (2011)
- May May There Be Dragons (2011) $5.6M There Be Dragons (2011)
- June Jun The Broken Tower (2011) $40.9M The Broken Tower (2011)
- July Jul The Devil's Double (2011) $6M The Devil's Double (2011)
- August Aug Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life (2011) $22.4M Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life (2011)
- September Sep Machine Gun Preacher (2011) $3.9M Machine Gun Preacher (2011)
- October Oct Klitschko (2011) $838.3K Klitschko (2011)
- November Nov J. Edgar (2011) $92M J. Edgar (2011)
- December Dec The Iron Lady (2011) $116M The Iron Lady (2011)
Last 10 years
How Does 2011 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2009 earned the most: $1B from 24 films, led by The Blind Side (2009). 2011 took $319.8M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 20 films | 20 | $674.3M | – | Catch Me If You Can (2002) $352.1M |
| 2003 15 films · −75% | 15 | $165.3M | −75% | Monster (2003) $58.5M |
| 2004 26 films · +314% | 26 | $683.8M | +314% | The Aviator (2004) $213.7M |
| 2005 21 films · −2% | 21 | $671M | −2% | Walk the Line (2005) $186.8M |
| 2006 26 films · +16% | 26 | $775.2M | +16% | The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) $307.1M |
| 2007 31 films · −18% | 31 | $638.4M | −18% | Charlie Wilson's War (2007) $119.5M |
| 2008 23 films · −48% | 23 | $330.9M | −48% | The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) $78.2M |
| 2009 24 films · +217% | 24 | $1B | +217% | The Blind Side (2009) $309.2M |
| 2010 14 films · −67% | 14 | $341.2M | −67% | The Social Network (2010) $224.9M |
| 2011 38 films · −6% | 38 | $319.8M | −6% | The Iron Lady (2011) $115.9M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Biography Movies Speak in 2011?
English-language biography films took $284.3M across 31 films, 89% of the total, ahead of French-language biography films ($18.9M) and Chinese-language biography films ($15.1M).
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
FAQ
Biography Box Office 2011: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 38 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing biography movie in 2011?
The Iron Lady (2011) leads with $115.9M worldwide, $30M of it in the US & Canada. Next come J. Edgar (2011) at $84.9M and The Broken Tower (2011) at $36.5M.
How much did biography movies released in 2011 earn?
38 biography films released in 2011 report a worldwide gross, $319.8M in all, or $8.4M per film on average. 2010 releases took $341.2M.
How many biography movies released in 2011 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by The Iron Lady (2011) with $115.9M.
How is the 2011 biography box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in 2011. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.
How often is the 2011 biography box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.