#1 of 4,018 Highest-grossing documentary movie ever
2009 · Music, Documentary
$268M worldwide
$72.1M US & Canada · 27% $195.9M elsewhere · 73%
Documentary box office · All time
Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies of All Time, Page 13
This Is It (2009) is the highest-grossing documentary movie in our database, with $268M worldwide, ahead of Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) at $222.4M and Jackass 3-D (2010) at $178.1M. 4,018 documentary films in our database report a worldwide gross, $5.8B in all, 52% of it from the US & Canada. 7 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. By language, English leads with $4.7B across 2,792 documentary releases.
- films with a reported gross
- 4,018
- combined worldwide
- $5.8B
- films crossed $100M
- 7
- earned in the US & Canada
- 52%
#1 of 4,018 Page 13 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 601 to 650 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 601
Mar 16, 2018 US and Canada: $5.2K Rest of the world: $716.8K Worldwide: $722K - 602
Sep 6, 1997 US and Canada: $720.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $720.1K - 603
Chuck Berry - Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll (1987)Oct 9, 1987 US and Canada: $719.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $719.3K
Oct 9, 1987 · English · Documentary, Music $719.3K worldwide - 604
Mar 14, 2012 US and Canada: $242.6K Rest of the world: $474.9K Worldwide: $717.5K - 605
Oct 18, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $714K - 606
Jun 9, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $713.6K - 607
Sep 27, 2002 US and Canada: $712.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $712.4K - 608
Dec 3, 2021 US and Canada: $339.8K Rest of the world: $371.9K Worldwide: $711.7K - 609
Feb 11, 2005 US and Canada: $691.9K Rest of the world: $18K Worldwide: $709.8K - 610
Sep 27, 2013 US and Canada: $696.2K Rest of the world: $13.2K Worldwide: $709.4K - 611
Oct 21, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $706.5K - 612
May 12, 2023 US and Canada: $705.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $705.4K - 613
Ed Sheeran: Jumpers for Goalposts (2015)Aug 16, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $705.1K Aug 16, 2015 · English · Music, Documentary $705.1K worldwide - 614
Oct 5, 2017 US and Canada: $607.3K Rest of the world: $97.7K Worldwide: $705K - 615
Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul (2006)Jun 9, 2006 US and Canada: $70.7K Rest of the world: $633.4K Worldwide: $704.1K Jun 9, 2006 · English · Music, Documentary $704.1K worldwide - 616
May 26, 2017 US and Canada: $123.4K Rest of the world: $578.1K Worldwide: $701.6K - 617
Jan 4, 2013 US and Canada: $701.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $701.3K - 618
Oct 8, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $701.3K - 619
POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011)Apr 22, 2011 US and Canada: $638.5K Rest of the world: $59.8K Worldwide: $698.2K Apr 22, 2011 · English · Comedy, Documentary $698.2K worldwide - 620
Oct 6, 2006 US and Canada: $241.8K Rest of the world: $455.2K Worldwide: $697K - 621
Oct 9, 2026 US and Canada: $696.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $696.3K - 622
Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins (2019)Aug 30, 2019 US and Canada: $694.4K Rest of the world: $917 Worldwide: $695.3K Aug 30, 2019 · English · Documentary $695.3K worldwide - 623
Jun 8, 2017 US and Canada: $694K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $694K - 624
Klimt & Schiele: Eros and Psyche (2018)Oct 22, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $690.1K
Oct 22, 2018 · Italian · Documentary, History $690.1K worldwide - 625
Sep 18, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $689.6K - 626
May 23, 2006 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $689.1K - 627
Mar 4, 2005 US and Canada: $607.8K Rest of the world: $80.8K Worldwide: $688.7K - 628
Jun 3, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $687.1K - 629
Aug 7, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $687.1K - 630
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015)Apr 24, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $686.4K Apr 24, 2015 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $686.4K worldwide - 631
Jan 24, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $686.4K - 632
Jan 20, 1995 US and Canada: $686.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $686.2K - 633
May 28, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $684.2K - 634
Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? (2008)Apr 18, 2008 US and Canada: $385K Rest of the world: $296.8K Worldwide: $681.7K Apr 18, 2008 · English · Comedy, War, Documentary $681.7K worldwide - 635
Mar 11, 2016 US and Canada: $641K Rest of the world: $39.6K Worldwide: $680.6K - 636
Mar 20, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $673.2K - 637
Aug 3, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $671.7K - 638
Aug 16, 2019 US and Canada: $307.3K Rest of the world: $364.3K Worldwide: $671.6K - 639
Feb 17, 1994 US and Canada: $669.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $669.6K - 640
Mar 21, 2014 US and Canada: $647.3K Rest of the world: $15.5K Worldwide: $662.7K - 641
Standout: The Ben Kjar Story (2026)Jan 23, 2026 US and Canada: $658.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $658.8K Jan 23, 2026 · English · Documentary, Biography, Drama $658.8K worldwide - 642
Jul 12, 2019 US and Canada: $590.7K Rest of the world: $67.2K Worldwide: $657.8K - 643
May 24, 2024 US and Canada: $657.7K Rest of the world: $57 Worldwide: $657.7K - 644
Jun 8, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $655K - 645
Aug 19, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $653.8K - 646
Aug 18, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $652.5K - 647
Sep 6, 2013 US and Canada: $583.6K Rest of the world: $67K Worldwide: $650.7K - 648
Jul 12, 2024 US and Canada: $421.7K Rest of the world: $224.6K Worldwide: $646.2K - 649
Aug 7, 2026 US and Canada: $643.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $643.5K - 650
Feb 14, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $642.1K
Archive
Documentary Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1918 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2013 leads with $696.2M, led by Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013).
2020s 7 years · $644.6M
2010s 10 years · $2.7B
- 2019 $145.4M #1 Apollo 11 (2019)
- 2018 $257.3M #1 Believer (2018)
- 2017 $172.8M #1 Reset (2017)
- 2016 $149.8M #1 A Beautiful Planet (2016)
- 2015 $203.5M #1 Northern Limit Line (2015)
- 2014 $126.7M #1 Bears (2014)
- 2013 $696.2M #1 Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013)
- 2012 $288M #1 Switch (2012)
- 2011 $288.8M #1 Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011)
- 2010 $338.6M #1 Jackass 3-D (2010)
2000s 10 years · $2.1B
- 2009 $401.6M #1 This Is It (2009)
- 2008 $118.2M #1 U2 3D (2008)
- 2007 $137.8M #1 Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure (2007)
- 2006 $286.9M #1 Deep Sea (2006)
- 2005 $284.9M #1 March of the Penguins (2005)
- 2004 $339.9M #1 Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
- 2003 $123.3M #1 Bugs! (2003)
- 2002 $239M #1 Space Station 3D (2002)
- 2001 $39.4M #1 Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure (2001)
- 2000 $81.4M #1 The Original Kings of Comedy (2000)
1990s 10 years · $226.1M
- 1999 $50.2M #1 Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
- 1998 $60.8M #1 Mysteries of Egypt (1998)
- 1997 $22M #1 Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun (1997)
- 1996 $5.9M #1 When We Were Kings (1996)
- 1995 $13.9M #1 Born to Be Wild (1995)
- 1994 $26.8M #1 Hoop Dreams (1994)
- 1993 $733.8K #1 The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl (1993)
- 1992 $7.2M #1 My Crasy Life (1992)
- 1991 $37.7M #1 Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)
- 1990 $785.7K #1 Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones (1990)
1980s 10 years · $174.2M
- 1989 $9.3M #1 Roger & Me (1989)
- 1988 $15.3M #1 U2: Rattle and Hum (1988)
- 1987 $54.3M #1 Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987)
- 1986 $1.4M #1 Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson (1986)
- 1985 $1.8M #1 The Dream Is Alive (1985)
- 1984 $24.1M #1 Stop Making Sense (1984)
- 1983 $16.2M #1 Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983)
- 1982 $44.4M #1 Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
- 1981 $2.1M #1 This Is Elvis (1981)
- 1980 $5.3M #1 Divine Madness (1980)
1970s 9 years · $33.9M
- 1978 $363.8K #1 The Last Waltz (1978)
- 1977 $298.5K #1 ABBA: The Movie (1977)
- 1976 $5M #1 That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)
- 1975 $40.9K #1 Grey Gardens (1975)
- 1974 $27.2M #1 That's Entertainment! (1974)
- 1973 $16.7K #1 Wattstax (1973)
- 1972 $676.7K #1 Elvis on Tour (1972)
- 1971 $31.4K #1 Bushman (1971)
- 1970 $357.4K #1 Woodstock (1970)