#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 20
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 20 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 951 to 1,000 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 951
Apr 14, 2023 US and Canada: $326.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $326.2K - 952
Jul 17, 2024 US and Canada: $326.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $326.2K - 953
Nov 23, 2012 US and Canada: $325.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $325.7K - 954
Standard Operating Procedure (2008)Apr 25, 2008 US and Canada: $229.1K Rest of the world: $95.1K Worldwide: $324.2K
Apr 25, 2008 · English · Crime, War, Documentary $324.2K worldwide - 955
Nov 30, 2005 US and Canada: $323.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $323.9K - 956
Citizen Jane: Battle for the City (2017)Apr 21, 2017 US and Canada: $313.4K Rest of the world: $9.7K Worldwide: $323.1K Apr 21, 2017 · English · Biography, History, Documentary $323.1K worldwide - 957
May 27, 2005 US and Canada: $18.8K Rest of the world: $303.8K Worldwide: $322.6K - 958
Mar 26, 1970 US and Canada: $126.6K Rest of the world: $194.7K Worldwide: $321.3K - 959
Jun 15, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $320.9K - 960
Aug 18, 2010 US and Canada: $320.5K Rest of the world: $410 Worldwide: $320.9K - 961
May 3, 2019 US and Canada: $251.8K Rest of the world: $67.4K Worldwide: $319.2K - 962
Don't Trip... He Ain't Through with Me Yet (2006)Mar 17, 2006 US and Canada: $319K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $319K Mar 17, 2006 · English · Comedy, Documentary $319K worldwide - 963
Dec 21, 2007 US and Canada: $260.6K Rest of the world: $58.2K Worldwide: $318.8K - 964
May 9, 2008 US and Canada: $270K Rest of the world: $48.5K Worldwide: $318.5K - 965
Dec 25, 2012 US and Canada: $310.2K Rest of the world: $8.2K Worldwide: $318.3K - 966
May 10, 2019 US and Canada: $297.2K Rest of the world: $21K Worldwide: $318.2K - 967
Apr 8, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $316.8K - 968
Jun 13, 2008 US and Canada: $159.4K Rest of the world: $157.4K Worldwide: $316.7K - 969
Mar 19, 2018 US and Canada: $316.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $316.1K - 970
Apr 26, 2017 US and Canada: $315K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $315K - 971
Oct 6, 2023 US and Canada: $36.1K Rest of the world: $278.4K Worldwide: $314.5K - 972
Jul 2, 2004 US and Canada: $314.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $314.4K - 973
Oct 31, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $313.6K - 974
Oct 25, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $313.3K - 975
Jun 2, 2000 US and Canada: $313K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $313K - 976
Oct 5, 2007 US and Canada: $312.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $312.8K - 977
May 23, 2014 US and Canada: $312.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $312.7K - 978
Jun 17, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $312.7K - 979
Mar 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $312.7K - 980
Mar 31, 2017 US and Canada: $171.4K Rest of the world: $140.1K Worldwide: $311.5K - 981
Apr 11, 2014 US and Canada: $151.1K Rest of the world: $159.9K Worldwide: $311K - 982
Oct 21, 2011 US and Canada: $304.1K Rest of the world: $6.8K Worldwide: $310.8K - 983
Oct 18, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $310.3K - 984
Sep 3, 2010 US and Canada: $288.3K Rest of the world: $21.4K Worldwide: $309.7K - 985
Jul 31, 1992 US and Canada: $309.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $309.6K - 986
Black Sabbath: The End of The End (2017)Sep 10, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $309K Sep 10, 2017 · English · Music, Documentary $309K worldwide - 987
May 30, 2008 US and Canada: $308.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $308.6K - 988
Oct 18, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $308.4K - 989
Aug 7, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $308.2K - 990
Sep 3, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $308.2K - 991
Mar 6, 2015 US and Canada: $308.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $308.2K - 992
Feb 18, 1995 US and Canada: $306.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $306.7K - 993
Jul 6, 2016 US and Canada: $105K Rest of the world: $201K Worldwide: $306K - 994
It’s Hard Being Loved by Jerks (2008)Sep 17, 2008 US and Canada: $697 Rest of the world: $304.6K Worldwide: $305.3K
Sep 17, 2008 · French · Documentary, History, Crime $305.3K worldwide - 995
Nov 8, 2019 US and Canada: $122.6K Rest of the world: $182.3K Worldwide: $304.8K - 996
Aug 26, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $304.6K - 997
Apr 2, 2014 US and Canada: $276.5K Rest of the world: $25.1K Worldwide: $301.6K - 998
Mar 12, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $301.6K - 999
Jan 12, 2007 US and Canada: $301.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $301.4K - 1000
Sep 21, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $301K
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)