#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 23
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 23 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1,101 to 1,150 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 1101
Oct 14, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $250.2K - 1102
Nov 4, 2005 US and Canada: $249.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $249.6K - 1103
David Byrne's American Utopia (2020)Oct 17, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $248.6K
Oct 17, 2020 · English · Music, Musical, Documentary $248.6K worldwide - 1104
David Byrne’s American Utopia (2020)Oct 17, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $248.6K Oct 17, 2020 · English · Documentary, Music, Musical $248.6K worldwide - 1105
The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration (2019)Nov 14, 2019 US and Canada: $248.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $248.5K Nov 14, 2019 · English · Documentary, Thriller, Drama $248.5K worldwide - 1106
Jan 10, 2025 US and Canada: $200.7K Rest of the world: $47.4K Worldwide: $248.1K - 1107
The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden (2014)Apr 4, 2014 US and Canada: $247.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $247.2K Apr 4, 2014 · English · Biography, History, Mystery $247.2K worldwide - 1108
Jun 25, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $247K - 1109
Aug 18, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $246.8K - 1110
Jan 21, 2005 US and Canada: $246.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $246.1K - 1111
Shusenjo: The Main Battleground of the Comfort Women Issue (2018)Oct 7, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $245.9K Oct 7, 2018 · English · Documentary, History $245.9K worldwide - 1112
Sep 28, 2012 US and Canada: $245K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $245K - 1113
Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful (2020)Jul 24, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $244.6K Jul 24, 2020 · English · Documentary $244.6K worldwide - 1114
Oct 27, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $243.1K - 1115
Mar 23, 2011 US and Canada: $242.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $242.7K - 1116
Oct 7, 2009 US and Canada: $194.5K Rest of the world: $47.3K Worldwide: $241.9K - 1117
Jun 11, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $241.7K - 1118
Jun 23, 2023 US and Canada: $148K Rest of the world: $92.9K Worldwide: $240.9K - 1119
Nov 10, 2006 US and Canada: $204.5K Rest of the world: $36.4K Worldwide: $240.9K - 1120
Sep 4, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $240.2K - 1121
Oct 5, 2018 US and Canada: $199.8K Rest of the world: $40K Worldwide: $239.8K - 1122
Oct 13, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $239.8K - 1123
May 21, 2001 US and Canada: $238.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $238.3K - 1124
Feb 13, 2013 US and Canada: $13.2K Rest of the world: $225K Worldwide: $238.2K - 1125
Jul 25, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $238K - 1126
Oct 28, 2005 US and Canada: $219.7K Rest of the world: $17.5K Worldwide: $237.1K - 1127
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (2025)Jan 24, 2025 US and Canada: $222.8K Rest of the world: $14K Worldwide: $236.8K Jan 24, 2025 · English · Documentary $236.8K worldwide - 1128
Nov 22, 2019 US and Canada: $160.8K Rest of the world: $74.6K Worldwide: $235.4K - 1129
May 1, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $235.2K - 1130
Sep 19, 2014 US and Canada: $235K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $235K - 1131
Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America (2022)Jan 14, 2022 US and Canada: $234.3K Rest of the world: $73 Worldwide: $234.4K Jan 14, 2022 · English · Documentary $234.4K worldwide - 1132
Feb 27, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $234K - 1133
Oct 25, 2024 US and Canada: $26.9K Rest of the world: $207.1K Worldwide: $234K - 1134
Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After All (2024)Apr 10, 2024 US and Canada: $232.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $232.8K Apr 10, 2024 · English · Documentary, Music $232.8K worldwide - 1135
Jul 25, 2008 US and Canada: $65K Rest of the world: $167.2K Worldwide: $232.3K - 1136
Mar 1, 2013 US and Canada: $231.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $231.4K - 1137
Mar 6, 2026 US and Canada: $99.7K Rest of the world: $131.7K Worldwide: $231.3K - 1138
Mar 18, 2022 US and Canada: $41.1K Rest of the world: $189.4K Worldwide: $230.5K - 1139
May 7, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $230.3K - 1140
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015)Mar 13, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $230.2K Mar 13, 2015 · English · Documentary $230.2K worldwide - 1141
Oct 14, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $229.1K - 1142
Oct 1, 2004 US and Canada: $127.1K Rest of the world: $101.8K Worldwide: $228.8K - 1143
Sep 27, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $228.8K - 1144
May 22, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $228.6K - 1145
Jul 7, 2017 US and Canada: $128K Rest of the world: $100.2K Worldwide: $228.2K - 1146
Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent (2017)Apr 21, 2017 US and Canada: $228.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $228.2K Apr 21, 2017 · English · Biography, Documentary $228.2K worldwide - 1147
Oct 6, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $227.3K - 1148
Oct 6, 2006 US and Canada: $93.5K Rest of the world: $133.6K Worldwide: $227.1K - 1149
Nov 9, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $226.8K - 1150
This So-Called Disaster: Sam Shepard Directs the Late Henry Moss (2004)Apr 21, 2004 US and Canada: $226.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $226.7K Apr 21, 2004 · English · Documentary $226.7K worldwide
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)