Documentary box office · All time

Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies of All Time, Page 22

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 22 of 81

All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 1,051 to 1,100 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.

1051
Riefenstahl (2025) Jan 9, 2025 · German · Documentary $275.1K worldwide

Jan 9, 2025 US and Canada: $133.4K Rest of the world: $141.7K Worldwide: $275.1K
1052
The Rescuers (2014) May 9, 2014 · English · Documentary $274.3K worldwide

May 9, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $274.3K
1053
Liam Gallagher: Knebworth 22 (2022) Nov 17, 2022 · English · Documentary, Music $274K worldwide

Nov 17, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $274K
1054
Vulva 3.0 (2014) Feb 11, 2014 · German · Documentary $273.3K worldwide

Feb 11, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $273.3K
1055
Becoming Who I Was (2018) May 1, 2018 · Hindi · Documentary $273.3K worldwide

May 1, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $273.3K
1056
Chavela (2017) Oct 4, 2017 · Spanish · Biography, History, Music $272.8K worldwide

Oct 4, 2017 US and Canada: $148.7K Rest of the world: $124.2K Worldwide: $272.8K
1057
Heavy Petting (1989) Sep 22, 1989 · English · Documentary $272.4K worldwide

Sep 22, 1989 US and Canada: $272.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $272.4K
1058
A Special Day (2012) May 16, 2012 · French · Documentary $272.2K worldwide

May 16, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $272.2K
1059
One Child Nation (2019) Aug 9, 2019 · English · History, Documentary $271.8K worldwide

Aug 9, 2019 US and Canada: $270.1K Rest of the world: $1.7K Worldwide: $271.8K
1060
Celia (2018) Aug 5, 2018 · English · Documentary $271.7K worldwide

Aug 5, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $271.7K
1061
This Old Cub (2004) Jul 23, 2004 · English · Sport, Documentary $270K worldwide

Jul 23, 2004 US and Canada: $270K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $270K
1062
The World Before Your Feet (2018) Nov 21, 2018 · English · Documentary $268.6K worldwide

Nov 21, 2018 US and Canada: $268.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $268.6K
1063
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 (2008) Nov 19, 2008 · English · Biography, Sport, War $268.4K worldwide

Nov 19, 2008 US and Canada: $268.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $268.4K
1064
Conan O'Brien Can't Stop (2011) Jun 24, 2011 · English · Documentary $268K worldwide

Jun 24, 2011 US and Canada: $268K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $268K
1065
Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption (2013) Nov 10, 2013 · English · Documentary $267.5K worldwide

Nov 10, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $267.5K
1066
Common Ground (2023) Jun 8, 2023 · English · Documentary $266K worldwide

Jun 8, 2023 US and Canada: $260K Rest of the world: $6K Worldwide: $266K
1067
Asbury Park: Riot, Redemption, Rock & Roll (2019) Apr 28, 2019 · English · Documentary $265K worldwide

Apr 28, 2019 US and Canada: $167.7K Rest of the world: $97.3K Worldwide: $265K
1068
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It (2021) Jun 18, 2021 · English · Documentary $264.6K worldwide

Jun 18, 2021 US and Canada: $264.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $264.6K
1069
Dan Carter: A Perfect 10 (2019) Aug 26, 2019 · English · Documentary $264.6K worldwide

Aug 26, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $264.6K
1070
Beyond, ode to the Earth (2024) Oct 4, 2024 · Dutch · Documentary, Music $264.4K worldwide

Oct 4, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $264.4K
1071
Good Luck (2018) Apr 6, 2018 · English · Documentary $263.8K worldwide

Apr 6, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $263.8K
1072
Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune (2011) Jan 5, 2011 · English · Biography, History, Music $263.7K worldwide

Jan 5, 2011 US and Canada: $263.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $263.7K
1073
Life and Debt (2001) Jun 16, 2001 · English · Documentary $263.1K worldwide

Jun 16, 2001 US and Canada: $263.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $263.1K
1074
My Date with Drew (2005) Aug 5, 2005 · English · Documentary $262.8K worldwide

Aug 5, 2005 US and Canada: $181K Rest of the world: $81.7K Worldwide: $262.8K
1075
The Final Year (2018) Jan 19, 2018 · English · Documentary $262.3K worldwide

Jan 19, 2018 US and Canada: $191.9K Rest of the world: $70.4K Worldwide: $262.3K
1076
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2015) Sep 26, 2015 · English · Documentary $261.9K worldwide

Sep 26, 2015 US and Canada: $261.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $261.9K
1077
Stone Reader (2003) Feb 12, 2003 · English · Drama, Documentary $260.5K worldwide

Feb 12, 2003 US and Canada: $260.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $260.5K
1078
June (2024) Jan 16, 2024 · English · Documentary, Music $259K worldwide

Jan 16, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $259K
1079
My Kid Could Paint That (2007) Oct 5, 2007 · English · Mystery, Documentary $258.3K worldwide

Oct 5, 2007 US and Canada: $231.6K Rest of the world: $26.7K Worldwide: $258.3K
1080
Vegg Vegg Vegg (2022) Jun 17, 2022 · Norwegian · Documentary, Music $257.4K worldwide

Jun 17, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $257.4K
1081
The Automat (2021) Sep 2, 2021 · English · History, Documentary $257.4K worldwide

Sep 2, 2021 US and Canada: $257.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $257.4K
1082
Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2004) Mar 26, 2004 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $257.3K worldwide

Mar 26, 2004 US and Canada: $257.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $257.3K
1083
Louis (2022) Apr 11, 2022 · Dutch · Documentary $257.2K worldwide

Apr 11, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $257.2K
1084
Katka (2010) Feb 25, 2010 · Czech · Documentary $257K worldwide

Feb 25, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $257K
1085
Arctic: Our Frozen Planet (2023) Dec 1, 2023 · English · Documentary $256.6K worldwide

Dec 1, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $256.6K
1086
Wild Inside (2026) Jul 29, 2026 · Documentary $256.2K worldwide

Jul 29, 2026 US and Canada: $256.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $256.2K
1087
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (2010) Jul 21, 2010 · English · Documentary $256.2K worldwide

Jul 21, 2010 US and Canada: $256.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $256.2K
1088
Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis) (2023) Jun 7, 2023 · English · Documentary $255.9K worldwide

Jun 7, 2023 US and Canada: $111.6K Rest of the world: $144.4K Worldwide: $255.9K
1089
j-hope Tour 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' THE MOVIE (2025) Nov 12, 2025 · Documentary, Music $255.8K worldwide

Nov 12, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $255.8K
1090
Sex with Strangers (2002) Apr 26, 2002 · English · Drama, Documentary $254.9K worldwide

Apr 26, 2002 US and Canada: $254.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $254.9K
1091
Soul Power (2009) Jul 10, 2009 · English · Music, Documentary $254.6K worldwide

Jul 10, 2009 US and Canada: $207.1K Rest of the world: $47.5K Worldwide: $254.6K
1092
Women with Cows (2011) Feb 18, 2011 · Swedish · Documentary $254.5K worldwide

Feb 18, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $254.5K
1093
The Lost City of Melbourne (2022) Aug 9, 2022 · English · Documentary $254.3K worldwide

Aug 9, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $254.3K
1094
The War Tapes (2006) Jun 2, 2006 · English · War, Documentary $254.2K worldwide

Jun 2, 2006 US and Canada: $254.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $254.2K
1095
In My Blood It Runs (2020) Jun 12, 2020 · English · Biography, History, Documentary $253.4K worldwide

Jun 12, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $253.4K
1096
In My Blood It Runs (2019) Jun 9, 2019 · English · Documentary $253.4K worldwide

Jun 9, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $253.4K
1097
Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey (1993) Nov 2, 1993 · English · Music, Documentary $253.3K worldwide

Nov 2, 1993 US and Canada: $253.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $253.3K
1098
Mistaken for Strangers (2014) Mar 28, 2014 · English · Comedy, Music, Documentary $253.3K worldwide

Mar 28, 2014 US and Canada: $139K Rest of the world: $114.3K Worldwide: $253.3K
1099
Crazy Horse (2012) Jan 18, 2012 · French · Documentary $252.9K worldwide

Jan 18, 2012 US and Canada: $157.8K Rest of the world: $95.1K Worldwide: $252.9K
1100
Purgatory (2020) Oct 23, 2020 · Polish · Documentary, Drama $250.7K worldwide

Oct 23, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $250.7K