#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 18
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 18 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 851 to 900 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 851
Feb 8, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $399.5K - 852
Sep 15, 2022 US and Canada: $399.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $399.4K - 853
Sep 22, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $399.1K - 854
A Complete History of My Sexual Failures (2008)Jan 19, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $398K
Jan 19, 2008 · English · Romance, Documentary $398K worldwide - 855
Mar 3, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $397.5K - 856
Still We Believe: The Boston Red Sox Movie (2004)May 9, 2004 US and Canada: $396.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $396.8K May 9, 2004 · English · Drama, Documentary $396.8K worldwide - 857
Nov 10, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $395.7K - 858
Sep 24, 2004 US and Canada: $255.4K Rest of the world: $138.8K Worldwide: $394.2K - 859
Nov 11, 2011 US and Canada: $223.9K Rest of the world: $169.8K Worldwide: $393.7K - 860
Aug 20, 2004 US and Canada: $392K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $392K - 861
End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones (2003)Jan 19, 2003 US and Canada: $392K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $392K Jan 19, 2003 · English · Documentary, Music $392K worldwide - 862
Aug 25, 2000 US and Canada: $391.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $391.7K - 863
Sep 7, 2012 US and Canada: $390K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $390K - 864
Apr 21, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $389.2K - 865
Sep 14, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $387.4K - 866
Jun 1, 2005 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $386.9K - 867
Dec 2, 2015 US and Canada: $260.4K Rest of the world: $126K Worldwide: $386.5K - 868
Jul 22, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $385.5K - 869
Jul 22, 2022 US and Canada: $104K Rest of the world: $281K Worldwide: $385K - 870
Sep 4, 2023 US and Canada: $103.4K Rest of the world: $280.6K Worldwide: $384K - 871
May 24, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $383.5K - 872
Dec 11, 2020 US and Canada: $115.7K Rest of the world: $267.4K Worldwide: $383.1K - 873
Nov 28, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $382.9K - 874
Blind Spot. Hitler's Secretary (2003)Jan 24, 2003 US and Canada: $378.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $378.4K
Jan 24, 2003 · German · Biography, War, Documentary $378.4K worldwide - 875
Jun 18, 2004 US and Canada: $376.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $376.6K - 876
Aug 12, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $376.1K - 877
Sep 22, 2006 US and Canada: $279.7K Rest of the world: $96.4K Worldwide: $376.1K - 878
Feb 10, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $374.8K - 879
Jul 19, 1999 US and Canada: $374.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $374.6K - 880
The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)Jun 17, 1988 US and Canada: $373.7K Rest of the world: $16 Worldwide: $373.8K Jun 17, 1988 · English · Documentary, Music $373.8K worldwide - 881
2007 US and Canada: $87.4K Rest of the world: $286.4K Worldwide: $373.7K - 882
Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale (2001)Mar 16, 2001 US and Canada: $373.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $373.4K Mar 16, 2001 · English · Adventure, Documentary $373.4K worldwide - 883
Nov 12, 2021 US and Canada: $373K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $373K - 884
Jul 28, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $370K - 885
Jun 3, 2009 US and Canada: $306.1K Rest of the world: $63.6K Worldwide: $369.7K - 886
Dec 13, 2017 US and Canada: $9.4K Rest of the world: $360.2K Worldwide: $369.6K - 887
When Comedy Went to School (2013)Jul 31, 2013 US and Canada: $369.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $369.1K Jul 31, 2013 · English · Drama, Comedy, Documentary $369.1K worldwide - 888
Apr 29, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $368.4K - 889
Dec 13, 2019 US and Canada: $265.1K Rest of the world: $102.7K Worldwide: $367.8K - 890
Mar 29, 2013 US and Canada: $296.4K Rest of the world: $71K Worldwide: $367.4K - 891
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words (2016)Jan 25, 2016 US and Canada: $355.1K Rest of the world: $10.5K Worldwide: $365.5K Jan 25, 2016 · English · Documentary, Music $365.5K worldwide - 892
Oct 24, 2014 US and Canada: $365.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $365.4K - 893
Aug 5, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $365.4K - 894
Aug 24, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $364K - 895
Apr 26, 1978 US and Canada: $322.3K Rest of the world: $41.2K Worldwide: $363.5K - 896
Jun 17, 2011 US and Canada: $183.8K Rest of the world: $179.5K Worldwide: $363.3K - 897
Jun 26, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $363.2K - 898
Nov 13, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $363.1K - 899
Oct 15, 1999 US and Canada: $362.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $362.6K - 900
Sep 25, 2019 US and Canada: $104.8K Rest of the world: $255.8K Worldwide: $360.6K
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)