Documentary box office · All time

Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies of All Time, Page 14

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

Highest-grossing documentary movie ever

This Is It (2009)

2009 · Music, Documentary

$268M worldwide

$72.1M US & Canada · 27% $195.9M elsewhere · 73%

Page 14 of 81

All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 651 to 700 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.

651
Dust to Glory (2005) Apr 1, 2005 · English · Action, Adventure, Documentary $640K worldwide

Apr 1, 2005 US and Canada: $640K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $640K
652
Tarnation (2004) Oct 6, 2004 · English · Documentary, Biography $638.5K worldwide

Oct 6, 2004 US and Canada: $592K Rest of the world: $46.5K Worldwide: $638.5K
653
Dinosaurs Alive (2007) Mar 30, 2007 · English · Documentary $638.5K worldwide

Mar 30, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $638.5K
654
Luther: Never Too Much (2024) Nov 1, 2024 · English · Documentary, Biography, Music $637.4K worldwide

Nov 1, 2024 US and Canada: $390K Rest of the world: $247.4K Worldwide: $637.4K
655
The Last Lions (2011) Feb 18, 2011 · English · Documentary $635.3K worldwide

Feb 18, 2011 US and Canada: $635.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $635.3K
656
Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (2018) Apr 13, 2018 · English · Documentary $632.4K worldwide

Apr 13, 2018 US and Canada: $375.2K Rest of the world: $257.2K Worldwide: $632.4K
657
Bambi: A Life in the Woods (2024) Sep 25, 2024 · French · Family, Documentary, Adventure $629.2K worldwide

Sep 25, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $629.2K
658
Shut Up and Play the Hits (2012) Jul 18, 2012 · English · Music, Documentary $629.1K worldwide

Jul 18, 2012 US and Canada: $510.3K Rest of the world: $118.8K Worldwide: $629.1K
659
Pumping Iron II: The Women (1985) May 3, 1985 · English · Documentary $628.1K worldwide

May 3, 1985 US and Canada: $628.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $628.1K
660
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020) Oct 4, 2020 · English · Biography, Documentary $627.2K worldwide

Oct 4, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $627.2K
661
I'm Still Here (2010) Sep 10, 2010 · English · Comedy, Music, Documentary $626.4K worldwide

Sep 10, 2010 US and Canada: $409K Rest of the world: $217.4K Worldwide: $626.4K
662
Love, Gilda (2018) Sep 21, 2018 · English · Documentary $626.3K worldwide

Sep 21, 2018 US and Canada: $626.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $626.3K
663
Expedition Happiness (2017) May 4, 2017 · German · Documentary $624.7K worldwide

May 4, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $624.7K
664
Feeling It (2022) Sep 16, 2022 · Spanish · Documentary $620.4K worldwide

Sep 16, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $620.4K
665
Nowitzki: The Perfect Shot (2015) Jul 10, 2015 · English · Biography, Sport, Documentary $619.5K worldwide

Jul 10, 2015 US and Canada: $41.3K Rest of the world: $578.2K Worldwide: $619.5K
666
Dancing Pina (2022) May 6, 2022 · German · Documentary, Music $618.1K worldwide

May 6, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $618.1K
667
Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry (2004) Oct 1, 2004 · English · Biography, History, Documentary $614.1K worldwide

Oct 1, 2004 US and Canada: $614.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $614.1K
668
Project Nim (2011) Jul 8, 2011 · English · Documentary $612.8K worldwide

Jul 8, 2011 US and Canada: $411.2K Rest of the world: $201.7K Worldwide: $612.8K
669
The Filth and the Fury (2000) Apr 7, 2000 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $612.4K worldwide

Apr 7, 2000 US and Canada: $612.2K Rest of the world: $241 Worldwide: $612.4K
670
River (2023) Apr 21, 2023 · Documentary $610.2K worldwide

Apr 21, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $610.2K
671
American Doctor (2026) Aug 14, 2026 · English · Documentary, War $608.9K worldwide

Aug 14, 2026 US and Canada: $608.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $608.9K
672
Life in a Day (2011) Jul 29, 2011 · English · Documentary $607.2K worldwide

Jul 29, 2011 US and Canada: $252.8K Rest of the world: $354.4K Worldwide: $607.2K
673
Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie (2003) Mar 28, 2003 · English · Comedy, Documentary $604.9K worldwide

Mar 28, 2003 US and Canada: $604.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $604.9K
674
Mr. Nobody Against Putin (2026) Jan 21, 2026 · Russian · Documentary $604.1K worldwide

Jan 21, 2026 US and Canada: $270.1K Rest of the world: $334K Worldwide: $604.1K
675
The Armstrong Lie (2013) Nov 8, 2013 · English · Documentary $594.4K worldwide

Nov 8, 2013 US and Canada: $383.3K Rest of the world: $211.1K Worldwide: $594.4K
676
Dahomey (2024) Oct 25, 2024 · French · Documentary $593.1K worldwide

Oct 25, 2024 US and Canada: $101K Rest of the world: $492.1K Worldwide: $593.1K
677
The Soul of a Man (2003) May 16, 2003 · English · Documentary, Music $592.9K worldwide

May 16, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $592.9K
678
Powaqqatsi (1988) Feb 20, 1988 · English · Documentary $592.6K worldwide

Feb 20, 1988 US and Canada: $589.2K Rest of the world: $3.3K Worldwide: $592.6K
679
Storm Surfers 3D (2013) Jun 14, 2013 · English · Adventure, Documentary $589.9K worldwide

Jun 14, 2013 US and Canada: $117.1K Rest of the world: $472.9K Worldwide: $589.9K
680
Elvis on Tour (1972) Nov 1, 1972 · English · Documentary, Music $587.8K worldwide

Nov 1, 1972 US and Canada: $587.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $587.8K
681
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (2015) Sep 2, 2015 · English · Documentary $584.1K worldwide

Sep 2, 2015 US and Canada: $516.9K Rest of the world: $67.2K Worldwide: $584.1K
682
Undefeated (2012) Feb 10, 2012 · English · Documentary $583.8K worldwide

Feb 10, 2012 US and Canada: $562.2K Rest of the world: $21.6K Worldwide: $583.8K
683
Gleason (2016) Jul 29, 2016 · English · Documentary $583.7K worldwide

Jul 29, 2016 US and Canada: $583.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $583.7K
684
The Flat (2012) Oct 12, 2012 · Hebrew · Documentary $583.4K worldwide

Oct 12, 2012 US and Canada: $471.8K Rest of the world: $111.6K Worldwide: $583.4K
685
Harry & Snowman (2016) Sep 30, 2016 · English · Biography, Drama, Sport $578.8K worldwide

Sep 30, 2016 US and Canada: $561.5K Rest of the world: $17.4K Worldwide: $578.8K
686
Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion (2003) Sep 19, 2003 · English · History, Documentary $578.2K worldwide

Sep 19, 2003 US and Canada: $578.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $578.2K
687
Let's Get Lost (1989) Apr 21, 1989 · Music, Documentary $576.2K worldwide

Apr 21, 1989 US and Canada: $37.4K Rest of the world: $538.7K Worldwide: $576.2K
688
Children of the Enemy (2021) Nov 17, 2021 · Swedish · Documentary $575.2K worldwide

Nov 17, 2021 US and Canada: $325.6K Rest of the world: $249.6K Worldwide: $575.2K
689
Time (2020) Oct 9, 2020 · English · Documentary $574.4K worldwide

Oct 9, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $574.4K
690
The Unbelievable (2009) Mar 9, 2009 · Cantonese · Documentary, Mystery, Horror $568.7K worldwide

Mar 9, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $568.7K
691
The Last Breath of Sam Yan (2023) Jun 13, 2023 · Thai · Documentary $564.9K worldwide

Jun 13, 2023 US and Canada: $3.2K Rest of the world: $561.7K Worldwide: $564.9K
692
The Weather Underground (2003) Jun 4, 2003 · English · Documentary $564.6K worldwide

Jun 4, 2003 US and Canada: $564.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $564.6K
693
Goodbye! (2021) Sep 26, 2021 · Japanese · Documentary, Music $563.6K worldwide

Sep 26, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $563.6K
694
Wildcat (2022) Dec 21, 2022 · English · Documentary $563.6K worldwide

Dec 21, 2022 US and Canada: $563.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $563.6K
695
Hands on a Hardbody: The Documentary (1998) Jul 10, 1998 · English · Documentary $563.5K worldwide

Jul 10, 1998 US and Canada: $563.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $563.5K
696
Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles (2019) Aug 23, 2019 · English · Documentary $558.8K worldwide

Aug 23, 2019 US and Canada: $549.4K Rest of the world: $9.4K Worldwide: $558.8K
697
The Encampments (2025) Mar 28, 2025 · English · Documentary $555.9K worldwide

Mar 28, 2025 US and Canada: $533.4K Rest of the world: $22.5K Worldwide: $555.9K
698
Dolores (2017) Sep 1, 2017 · English · Biography, History, Documentary $555.3K worldwide

Sep 1, 2017 US and Canada: $555.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $555.3K
699
Alaska: Spirit of the Wild (1998) Sep 3, 1998 · English · Documentary $553.5K worldwide

Sep 3, 1998 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $553.5K
700
Aksel (2021) Oct 2, 2021 · Norwegian · Documentary $553.1K worldwide

Oct 2, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $553.1K