Skip to content
What's After the Movie?

Jump to
What's After the Movie?
Documentary box office · All time

Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies of All Time, Page 25

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%
This Is It (2009) movie poster #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 25 of 81

All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 1,201 to 1,250 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.

  1. 1201 Deep Sky (2023) movie poster
    Deep Sky (2023) Dec 12, 2023 · English · Documentary $205.9K worldwide
    Dec 12, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $205.9K
  2. 1202 The Bridge (2006) movie poster
    The Bridge (2006) Oct 27, 2006 · English · Documentary $205.7K worldwide
    Oct 27, 2006 US and Canada: $179.8K Rest of the world: $25.9K Worldwide: $205.7K
  3. 1203 Blue Planet II (2017) movie poster
    Blue Planet II (2017) 2017 · English · Documentary, Family $205.5K worldwide
    2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $205.5K
  4. 1204 The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till (2005) movie poster
    The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till (2005) Aug 17, 2005 · English · Biography, Documentary $205K worldwide
    Aug 17, 2005 US and Canada: $205K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $205K
  5. 1205 Natchez (2026) movie poster
    Natchez (2026) Jan 30, 2026 · English · Documentary $204.9K worldwide
    Jan 30, 2026 US and Canada: $204.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $204.9K
  6. 1206 Hesburgh (2019) movie poster
    Hesburgh (2019) Apr 26, 2019 · English · Documentary $204.7K worldwide
    Apr 26, 2019 US and Canada: $204.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $204.7K
  7. 1207 I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal (2006) movie poster
    I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal (2006) Dec 8, 2006 · English · Biography, Documentary $204.2K worldwide
    Dec 8, 2006 US and Canada: $30K Rest of the world: $174.2K Worldwide: $204.2K
  8. 1208 It Was Fifty Years Ago Today! The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper & Beyond (2017) movie poster
    It Was Fifty Years Ago Today! The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper & Beyond (2017) May 26, 2017 · English · Music, Documentary $203.7K worldwide
    May 26, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $203.7K
  9. 1209 Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality (2025) movie poster
    Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality (2025) Apr 27, 2025 · English · Documentary $203.2K worldwide
    Apr 27, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $203.2K
  10. 1210 Billie (2020) movie poster
    Billie (2020) Dec 4, 2020 · English · Music, Documentary $202.9K worldwide
    Dec 4, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $202.9K
  11. 1211 Billie (2019) movie poster
    Billie (2019) Sep 5, 2019 · English · Music, Documentary $202.9K worldwide
    Sep 5, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $202.9K
  12. 1212 The Ballad of Shirley Collins (2017) movie poster
    The Ballad of Shirley Collins (2017) Oct 16, 2017 · English · Documentary $202.9K worldwide
    Oct 16, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $202.9K
  13. 1213 Renoir: Reviled and Revered (2016) movie poster
    Renoir: Reviled and Revered (2016) Dec 10, 2016 · English · Documentary $202.7K worldwide
    Dec 10, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $202.7K
  14. 1214 Glastonbury (2007) movie poster
    Glastonbury (2007) Feb 23, 2007 · English · Music, Documentary $202K worldwide
    Feb 23, 2007 US and Canada: $8.4K Rest of the world: $193.6K Worldwide: $202K
  15. 1215 Finke: There & Back (2018) movie poster
    Finke: There & Back (2018) Jun 30, 2018 · English · Documentary $201.9K worldwide
    Jun 30, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $201.9K
  16. 1216 Hieronymus Bosch, Touched by the Devil (2016) movie poster
    Hieronymus Bosch, Touched by the Devil (2016) Jul 27, 2016 · Dutch · Documentary $201.9K worldwide
    Jul 27, 2016 US and Canada: $172.5K Rest of the world: $29.4K Worldwide: $201.9K
  17. 1217 Blink of an Eye (2019) movie poster
    Blink of an Eye (2019) Sep 6, 2019 · English · Documentary $201.9K worldwide
    Sep 6, 2019 US and Canada: $201.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $201.9K
  18. 1218 Lightning in a Bottle (2004) movie poster
    Lightning in a Bottle (2004) Oct 22, 2004 · English · Music, Documentary $201.7K worldwide
    Oct 22, 2004 US and Canada: $201.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $201.7K
  19. 1219 Imelda (2004) movie poster
    Imelda (2004) Jun 9, 2004 · English · Biography, Documentary $201K worldwide
    Jun 9, 2004 US and Canada: $201K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $201K
  20. 1220 No Place on Earth (2013) movie poster
    No Place on Earth (2013) Mar 22, 2013 · English · War, Documentary $200.2K worldwide
    Mar 22, 2013 US and Canada: $200.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $200.2K
  21. 1221 Collective (2020) movie poster
    Collective (2020) Nov 20, 2020 · Romanian · Documentary $200K worldwide
    Nov 20, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $200K
  22. 1222 Collective (2019) movie poster
    Collective (2019) Feb 13, 2019 · Romanian · Documentary $200K worldwide
    Feb 13, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $200K
  23. 1223 Cutie and the Boxer (2013) movie poster
    Cutie and the Boxer (2013) Aug 16, 2013 · English · Documentary $200K worldwide
    Aug 16, 2013 US and Canada: $200K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $200K
  24. 1224 What Would Jesus Buy? (2007) movie poster
    What Would Jesus Buy? (2007) Nov 16, 2007 · English · Comedy, Documentary $200K worldwide
    Nov 16, 2007 US and Canada: $200K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $200K
  25. 1225 My Year with Helen (2017) movie poster
    My Year with Helen (2017) Jun 10, 2017 · English · Documentary $199.1K worldwide
    Jun 10, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $199.1K
  26. 1226 Super 8 Stories (2001) movie poster
    Super 8 Stories (2001) Oct 10, 2001 · Serbo-Croatian · Documentary, Music $199.1K worldwide
    Oct 10, 2001 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $199.1K
  27. 1227 My Enemy’s Enemy (2007) movie poster
    My Enemy’s Enemy (2007) Aug 31, 2007 · English · Documentary, History, War $198K worldwide
    Aug 31, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $198K
  28. 1228 Good Girl (2014) movie poster
    Good Girl (2014) Oct 10, 2014 · Norwegian · Documentary $197.9K worldwide
    Oct 10, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $197.9K
  29. 1229 Whores' Glory (2012) movie poster
    Whores' Glory (2012) Apr 20, 2012 · German · Documentary $197.9K worldwide
    Apr 20, 2012 US and Canada: $31.4K Rest of the world: $166.5K Worldwide: $197.9K
  30. 1230 Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat (2018) movie poster
    Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat (2018) May 11, 2018 · English · Documentary $197.2K worldwide
    May 11, 2018 US and Canada: $166.6K Rest of the world: $30.6K Worldwide: $197.2K
  31. 1231 Copa 71 (2024) movie poster
    Copa 71 (2024) Jun 21, 2024 · English · Documentary, Sport $197.1K worldwide
    Jun 21, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $197.1K
  32. 1232 The Mystery of Padre Pio (2018) movie poster
    The Mystery of Padre Pio (2018) Nov 23, 2018 · Spanish · Thriller, Documentary $197K worldwide
    Nov 23, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $197K
  33. 1233 Free Angela & All Political Prisoners (2013) movie poster
    Free Angela & All Political Prisoners (2013) Apr 5, 2013 · English · Documentary $195K worldwide
    Apr 5, 2013 US and Canada: $194.1K Rest of the world: $903 Worldwide: $195K
  34. 1234 Herb & Dorothy (2009) movie poster
    Herb & Dorothy (2009) Jun 5, 2009 · English · Biography, Documentary $194.7K worldwide
    Jun 5, 2009 US and Canada: $194.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $194.7K
  35. 1235 Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles (2020) movie poster
    Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles (2020) Sep 25, 2020 · English · Documentary $194.3K worldwide
    Sep 25, 2020 US and Canada: $5K Rest of the world: $189.4K Worldwide: $194.3K
  36. 1236 The Woman with the 5 Elephants (2011) movie poster
    The Woman with the 5 Elephants (2011) Jul 22, 2011 · German · Documentary $194.3K worldwide
    Jul 22, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $194.3K
  37. 1237 In the Pit (2007) movie poster
    In the Pit (2007) Feb 2, 2007 · Spanish · Documentary $194.3K worldwide
    Feb 2, 2007 US and Canada: $10.4K Rest of the world: $183.8K Worldwide: $194.3K
  38. 1238 Oliver Sacks: His Own Life (2020) movie poster
    Oliver Sacks: His Own Life (2020) Sep 23, 2020 · English · Documentary $193.7K worldwide
    Sep 23, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $193.7K
  39. 1239 Oliver Sacks: His Own Life (2019) movie poster
    Oliver Sacks: His Own Life (2019) Aug 31, 2019 · English · Documentary $193.7K worldwide
    Aug 31, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $193.7K
  40. 1240 Lygon Street - Si parla Italiano (2013) movie poster
    Lygon Street - Si parla Italiano (2013) Aug 3, 2013 · English · Documentary $193.5K worldwide
    Aug 3, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $193.5K
  41. 1241 Mondo New York (1988) movie poster
    Mondo New York (1988) Apr 22, 1988 · English · Documentary $193.2K worldwide
    Apr 22, 1988 US and Canada: $193.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $193.2K
  42. 1242 Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer (2010) movie poster
    Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer (2010) Nov 5, 2010 · English · Documentary $192.9K worldwide
    Nov 5, 2010 US and Canada: $189.4K Rest of the world: $3.5K Worldwide: $192.9K
  43. 1243 Meky (2020) movie poster
    Meky (2020) Jul 9, 2020 · Slovak · Documentary $192.4K worldwide
    Jul 9, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $192.4K
  44. 1244 You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way) (2026) movie poster
    You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way) (2026) Sep 25, 2026 · English · Documentary, Comedy, Music $191.8K worldwide
    Sep 25, 2026 US and Canada: $191.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $191.8K
  45. 1245 Code Black (2014) movie poster
    Code Black (2014) Jun 20, 2014 · English · Drama, Documentary $190.2K worldwide
    Jun 20, 2014 US and Canada: $190.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $190.2K
  46. 1246 Guadalupe: Mother of Humanity (2024) movie poster
    Guadalupe: Mother of Humanity (2024) Mar 1, 2024 · Spanish · Documentary $189.9K worldwide
    Mar 1, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $189.9K
  47. 1247 The Woman Who Loves Giraffes (2020) movie poster
    The Woman Who Loves Giraffes (2020) Jan 10, 2020 · English · Documentary $189.9K worldwide
    Jan 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $189.9K
  48. 1248 This Is Life (2016) movie poster
    This Is Life (2016) Dec 16, 2016 · Chinese · Documentary $188.6K worldwide
    Dec 16, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $188.6K
  49. 1249 Lost Boys of Sudan (2004) movie poster
    Lost Boys of Sudan (2004) Feb 18, 2004 · English · Documentary $188.5K worldwide
    Feb 18, 2004 US and Canada: $188.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $188.5K
  50. 1250 Bustin' Down the Door (2008) movie poster
    Bustin' Down the Door (2008) Jul 25, 2008 · English · Sport, Documentary $187.8K worldwide
    Jul 25, 2008 US and Canada: $109.4K Rest of the world: $78.4K Worldwide: $187.8K
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
2000s 10 years · $2.1B
1990s 10 years · $226.1M
1980s 10 years · $174.2M
1970s 9 years · $33.9M
1960s 6 years · $143K
1950s 5 years · $233.2K
1920s 2 years · $201.5K
1910s 1 year · $9.7K