Documentary box office · All time

Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies of All Time, Page 2

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 2 of 81

All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 51 to 100 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.

51
The Other Side of the Ice (2013) Mar 8, 2013 · English · Adventure, Drama, Family $25.1M worldwide

Mar 8, 2013 US and Canada: $9.6K Rest of the world: $25.1M Worldwide: $25.1M
52
Born in China (2017) Apr 21, 2017 · English · Adventure, Family, Documentary $25.1M worldwide

Apr 21, 2017 US and Canada: $13.9M Rest of the world: $11.2M Worldwide: $25.1M
53
Amy (2015) Jul 3, 2015 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $23.7M worldwide

Jul 3, 2015 US and Canada: $8.4M Rest of the world: $15.3M Worldwide: $23.7M
54
To the Arctic (2012) Apr 20, 2012 · English · Documentary $23.7M worldwide

Apr 20, 2012 US and Canada: $14.6M Rest of the world: $9.1M Worldwide: $23.7M
55
Kevin Hart: What Now? (2016) Oct 14, 2016 · English · Comedy, Documentary $23.6M worldwide

Oct 14, 2016 US and Canada: $23.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.6M
56
Buena Vista Social Club (1999) Jun 4, 1999 · English · Music, Documentary $23.1M worldwide

Jun 4, 1999 US and Canada: $7M Rest of the world: $16.1M Worldwide: $23.1M
57
Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018) Jun 8, 2018 · English · Biography, Documentary $22.8M worldwide

Jun 8, 2018 US and Canada: $22.8M Rest of the world: $9K Worldwide: $22.8M
58
U2 3D (2008) Jan 23, 2008 · English · Music, Documentary $22.7M worldwide

Jan 23, 2008 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: $12.4M Worldwide: $22.7M
59
They Shall Not Grow Old (2018) Dec 17, 2018 · English · History, War, Documentary $21.7M worldwide

Dec 17, 2018 US and Canada: $18M Rest of the world: $3.7M Worldwide: $21.7M
60
Michael Jordan to the Max (2000) May 5, 2000 · English · Sport, Documentary $21.5M worldwide

May 5, 2000 US and Canada: $18.7M Rest of the world: $2.9M Worldwide: $21.5M
61
Bears (2014) Apr 18, 2014 · English · Documentary $21.3M worldwide

Apr 18, 2014 US and Canada: $17.8M Rest of the world: $3.5M Worldwide: $21.3M
62
What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? (2004) Jun 18, 2004 · English · Drama, Comedy, Documentary $21.1M worldwide

Jun 18, 2004 US and Canada: $10.9M Rest of the world: $10.1M Worldwide: $21.1M
63
Super Size Me (2004) May 7, 2004 · English · Drama, Comedy, Documentary $20.6M worldwide

May 7, 2004 US and Canada: $11.5M Rest of the world: $9.1M Worldwide: $20.6M
64
Lyd (2024) Apr 26, 2024 · Arabic · Documentary, Sci-Fi $20.6M worldwide

Apr 26, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $20.6M
65
Burn the Stage: The Movie (2018) Nov 15, 2018 · Korean · Documentary, Music $20.3M worldwide

Nov 15, 2018 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: $16.1M Worldwide: $20.3M
66
Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure (2001) Feb 5, 2001 · Documentary $19.6M worldwide

Feb 5, 2001 US and Canada: $15.6M Rest of the world: $4.1M Worldwide: $19.6M
67
Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat (2002) Aug 2, 2002 · English · Biography, Comedy, Documentary $19.2M worldwide

Aug 2, 2002 US and Canada: $19.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.2M
68
Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun (1997) Jul 11, 1997 · English · Adventure, Documentary $18.8M worldwide

Jul 11, 1997 US and Canada: $18.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.8M
69
Pina (2011) Dec 23, 2011 · German · Musical, Documentary $18.7M worldwide

Dec 23, 2011 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: $15.2M Worldwide: $18.7M
70
Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) Sep 23, 2009 · English · Documentary $17.4M worldwide

Sep 23, 2009 US and Canada: $14.4M Rest of the world: $3.1M Worldwide: $17.4M
71
Island of Lemurs: Madagascar (2014) Apr 4, 2014 · English · Adventure, Biography, Family $16.9M worldwide

Apr 4, 2014 US and Canada: $11.3M Rest of the world: $5.6M Worldwide: $16.9M
72
Monkey Kingdom (2015) Apr 17, 2015 · English · Documentary $16.8M worldwide

Apr 17, 2015 US and Canada: $16.4M Rest of the world: $407.3K Worldwide: $16.8M
73
Melania (2026) Jan 30, 2026 · English · Documentary $16.7M worldwide

Jan 30, 2026 US and Canada: $16.4M Rest of the world: $304K Worldwide: $16.7M
74
Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983) Oct 28, 1983 · English · Documentary, Comedy $16.2M worldwide

Oct 28, 1983 US and Canada: $16.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.2M
75
To Be and to Have (2003) Sep 19, 2003 · French · Family, Documentary $16.1M worldwide

Sep 19, 2003 US and Canada: $777.1K Rest of the world: $15.3M Worldwide: $16.1M
76
Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World (2010) May 14, 2010 · English · Documentary $16M worldwide

May 14, 2010 US and Canada: $6.1M Rest of the world: $9.9M Worldwide: $16M
77
Shine a Light (2008) Apr 4, 2008 · English · Music, Documentary $15.8M worldwide

Apr 4, 2008 US and Canada: $5.5M Rest of the world: $10.3M Worldwide: $15.8M
78
Apollo 11 (2019) Mar 1, 2019 · English · History, Documentary $15.3M worldwide

Mar 1, 2019 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: $6.3M Worldwide: $15.3M
79
Old Partner (2008) Oct 4, 2008 · Korean · Documentary $15.3M worldwide

Oct 4, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.3M
80
The Last Trapper (2004) Dec 12, 2004 · French · Drama, Documentary, Adventure $15.3M worldwide

Dec 12, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.3M
81
Journey to the South Pacific (2013) Nov 27, 2013 · English · Documentary $15M worldwide

Nov 27, 2013 US and Canada: $7.7M Rest of the world: $7.3M Worldwide: $15M
82
Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025) Feb 7, 2025 · English · Documentary, Music $14.7M worldwide

Feb 7, 2025 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: $4.3M Worldwide: $14.7M
83
RBG (2018) May 4, 2018 · English · Biography, Documentary $14.5M worldwide

May 4, 2018 US and Canada: $14.1M Rest of the world: $423.9K Worldwide: $14.5M
84
America: Imagine a World Without Her (2014) Jul 2, 2014 · English · Documentary $14.4M worldwide

Jul 2, 2014 US and Canada: $14.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $14.4M
85
The Next Guardian (2017) Nov 22, 2017 · Dzongkha · Drama, Documentary $14.4M worldwide

Nov 22, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.4M
86
Rebirth (2011) Sep 2, 2011 · English · Documentary $14.1M worldwide

Sep 2, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.1M
87
Touching the Void (2004) Jan 23, 2004 · English · Adventure, Drama, Sport $13.9M worldwide

Jan 23, 2004 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: $9.3M Worldwide: $13.9M
88
The Family Jams (2011) Apr 8, 2011 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $13.9M worldwide

Apr 8, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.9M
89
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years (2016) Sep 16, 2016 · English · Music, Documentary $13.7M worldwide

Sep 16, 2016 US and Canada: $2.9M Rest of the world: $10.8M Worldwide: $13.7M
90
Religulous (2008) Oct 3, 2008 · English · Comedy, Documentary $13.6M worldwide

Oct 3, 2008 US and Canada: $13M Rest of the world: $628K Worldwide: $13.6M
91
Africa’s Elephant Kingdom (1998) May 8, 1998 · English · Documentary $13.5M worldwide

May 8, 1998 US and Canada: $13.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.5M
92
Three Identical Strangers (2018) Jun 29, 2018 · English · Documentary $13.4M worldwide

Jun 29, 2018 US and Canada: $12.3M Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $13.4M
93
Solarmax (2000) Jul 1, 2000 · English · Documentary $13.4M worldwide

Jul 1, 2000 US and Canada: $13.4M Rest of the world: $3.3K Worldwide: $13.4M
94
Our President (2017) Apr 29, 2017 · Korean · Documentary $13.4M worldwide

Apr 29, 2017 US and Canada: $507.3K Rest of the world: $12.9M Worldwide: $13.4M
95
Stop Making Sense (1984) Oct 18, 1984 · English · Music, Documentary $13.1M worldwide

Oct 18, 1984 US and Canada: $10.3M Rest of the world: $2.8M Worldwide: $13.1M
96
Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party (2016) Jul 15, 2016 · English · Documentary $13.1M worldwide

Jul 15, 2016 US and Canada: $13.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.1M
97
Moonage Daydream (2022) Sep 16, 2022 · English · Music, Documentary $13.1M worldwide

Sep 16, 2022 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: $8.9M Worldwide: $13.1M
98
Metamorphosis (2019) Apr 19, 2019 · English · Documentary $12.9M worldwide

Apr 19, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.9M
99
Earth: One Amazing Day (2017) Oct 6, 2017 · English · Family, Documentary $12.9M worldwide

Oct 6, 2017 US and Canada: $81.3K Rest of the world: $12.8M Worldwide: $12.9M
100
Aliens of the Deep (2005) Jan 28, 2005 · English · Documentary $12.8M worldwide

Jan 28, 2005 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: $3.8M Worldwide: $12.8M