Documentary box office · All time

Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies of All Time, Page 26

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 26 of 81

All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 1,251 to 1,300 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.

1251
Calle 54 (2000) Oct 20, 2000 · Spanish · Music, Documentary $187.3K worldwide

Oct 20, 2000 US and Canada: $187.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $187.3K
1252
Halston (2019) May 24, 2019 · English · Documentary $187.1K worldwide

May 24, 2019 US and Canada: $152K Rest of the world: $35.1K Worldwide: $187.1K
1253
Twiceland (2018) Dec 7, 2018 · Korean · Documentary, Music $186.1K worldwide

Dec 7, 2018 US and Canada: $52.9K Rest of the world: $133.2K Worldwide: $186.1K
1254
In the Basement (2015) Nov 6, 2015 · German · Documentary $186K worldwide

Nov 6, 2015 US and Canada: $3.6K Rest of the world: $182.4K Worldwide: $186K
1255
White Riot (2020) Oct 16, 2020 · English · Music, Documentary $186K worldwide

Oct 16, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $186K
1256
Crude (2009) Sep 9, 2009 · English · Documentary $185.9K worldwide

Sep 9, 2009 US and Canada: $170.3K Rest of the world: $15.6K Worldwide: $185.9K
1257
We Want Roses Too (2008) Mar 7, 2008 · Italian · Documentary $184.8K worldwide

Mar 7, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $184.8K
1258
My Body (2002) Aug 30, 2002 · Norwegian · Documentary $184.3K worldwide

Aug 30, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $184.3K
1259
Score: A Film Music Documentary (2017) Jun 16, 2017 · English · Music, Documentary $184K worldwide

Jun 16, 2017 US and Canada: $101.4K Rest of the world: $82.6K Worldwide: $184K
1260
The River and the Wall (2019) May 3, 2019 · English · Adventure, Documentary $183.6K worldwide

May 3, 2019 US and Canada: $183.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $183.6K
1261
Chop Suey (2001) Oct 5, 2001 · English · Biography, Documentary $183.5K worldwide

Oct 5, 2001 US and Canada: $179.9K Rest of the world: $3.6K Worldwide: $183.5K
1262
Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love (2009) Jun 12, 2009 · Music, Musical, Documentary $183.5K worldwide

Jun 12, 2009 US and Canada: $172.2K Rest of the world: $11.3K Worldwide: $183.5K
1263
The Man Nobody Knew: In Search of My Father, CIA Spymaster William Colby (2011) Sep 23, 2011 · English · Biography, History, War $183.3K worldwide

Sep 23, 2011 US and Canada: $183.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $183.3K
1264
Lambert & Stamp (2015) Apr 3, 2015 · English · Biography, History, Music $183.3K worldwide

Apr 3, 2015 US and Canada: $183.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $183.3K
1265
Asier ETA biok (2014) Jan 17, 2014 · Spanish · Documentary, History $183.2K worldwide

Jan 17, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $183.2K
1266
Whose Streets? (2017) Jan 19, 2017 · English · Documentary $182.8K worldwide

Jan 19, 2017 US and Canada: $182.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $182.8K
1267
Winnebago Man (2010) Jul 9, 2010 · English · Comedy, Documentary $181K worldwide

Jul 9, 2010 US and Canada: $181K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $181K
1268
Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2009) Jul 31, 2009 · English · Documentary $181K worldwide

Jul 31, 2009 US and Canada: $21.2K Rest of the world: $159.8K Worldwide: $181K
1269
An Honest Liar (2015) Mar 6, 2015 · English · Biography, History, Comedy $180.6K worldwide

Mar 6, 2015 US and Canada: $180.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $180.6K
1270
Facing Monsters (2021) Oct 24, 2021 · English · Documentary $179.4K worldwide

Oct 24, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $179.4K
1271
The Mouth of the Wolf (2009) Nov 15, 2009 · Italian · Drama, Documentary $179.4K worldwide

Nov 15, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $179.4K
1272
Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story (2022) May 13, 2022 · English · Music, Documentary $179K worldwide

May 13, 2022 US and Canada: $179K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $179K
1273
Protocols of Zion (2005) Oct 21, 2005 · English · Documentary $178.9K worldwide

Oct 21, 2005 US and Canada: $178.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $178.9K
1274
Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above (2013) Nov 1, 2013 · Chinese · Documentary $178.6K worldwide

Nov 1, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $178.6K
1275
Time and Water (2026) May 29, 2026 · Icelandic · Documentary, Family $178.6K worldwide

May 29, 2026 US and Canada: $95.8K Rest of the world: $82.8K Worldwide: $178.6K
1276
Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023) Apr 21, 2023 · English · Music, Documentary $178.5K worldwide

Apr 21, 2023 US and Canada: $131.5K Rest of the world: $47K Worldwide: $178.5K
1277
American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (2026) Jul 17, 2026 · English · Documentary $178.3K worldwide

Jul 17, 2026 US and Canada: $178.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $178.3K
1278
Walking on Water (2019) May 17, 2019 · English · Adventure, History, Comedy $178.1K worldwide

May 17, 2019 US and Canada: $102.1K Rest of the world: $76K Worldwide: $178.1K
1279
Monumental: In Search of America’s National Treasure (2012) Mar 30, 2012 · English · Documentary $177.7K worldwide

Mar 30, 2012 US and Canada: $177.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $177.7K
1280
Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! (2006) Mar 31, 2006 · English · Music, Documentary $177.7K worldwide

Mar 31, 2006 US and Canada: $162.5K Rest of the world: $15.1K Worldwide: $177.7K
1281
Chicago 10 (2008) Feb 29, 2008 · English · History, War, Animation $177.5K worldwide

Feb 29, 2008 US and Canada: $177.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $177.5K
1282
Bush's Brain (2004) Aug 27, 2004 · English · Documentary $177.5K worldwide

Aug 27, 2004 US and Canada: $177.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $177.5K
1283
The Booksellers (2020) Mar 6, 2020 · English · Documentary $177.3K worldwide

Mar 6, 2020 US and Canada: $25.7K Rest of the world: $151.6K Worldwide: $177.3K
1284
The Booksellers (2019) Oct 7, 2019 · English · Documentary $177.3K worldwide

Oct 7, 2019 US and Canada: $25.7K Rest of the world: $151.6K Worldwide: $177.3K
1285
Anita (2014) Mar 21, 2014 · English · Drama, History, Documentary $177K worldwide

Mar 21, 2014 US and Canada: $177K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $177K
1286
Casino Jack and the United States of Money (2010) May 7, 2010 · English · Documentary $176.9K worldwide

May 7, 2010 US and Canada: $176.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $176.9K
1287
Touch the Sound: A Sound Journey with Evelyn Glennie (2005) Sep 7, 2005 · English · Documentary $176.8K worldwide

Sep 7, 2005 US and Canada: $176.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $176.8K
1288
An Unreasonable Man (2007) Jan 31, 2007 · English · Biography, Documentary $176.6K worldwide

Jan 31, 2007 US and Canada: $176.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $176.6K
1289
Simona (2022) May 14, 2022 · Polish · Documentary $175.7K worldwide

May 14, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $175.7K
1290
Riverboom (2023) Oct 4, 2023 · French · Comedy, Documentary $175.4K worldwide

Oct 4, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $175.4K
1291
Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe (2024) Sep 6, 2024 · English · Documentary $175.2K worldwide

Sep 6, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $175.2K
1292
Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe (2025) Sep 21, 2025 · Italian · Documentary $175.2K worldwide

Sep 21, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $175.2K
1293
Vedette (2022) Jun 24, 2022 · French · Documentary $175.2K worldwide

Jun 24, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $175.2K
1294
Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story (2024) Nov 7, 2024 · English · Documentary $174.9K worldwide

Nov 7, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $174.9K
1295
Bravehearts (2012) Aug 31, 2012 · Norwegian · Documentary $174.9K worldwide

Aug 31, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $174.9K
1296
Always at The Carlyle (2018) May 11, 2018 · English · Documentary $174.3K worldwide

May 11, 2018 US and Canada: $174.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $174.3K
1297
Blind Ambition (2022) Sep 2, 2022 · English · Documentary $173.5K worldwide

Sep 2, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $173.5K
1298
Corners of the Earth: Kamchatka (2023) Jul 29, 2023 · English · Documentary $173.4K worldwide

Jul 29, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $173.4K
1299
Arvydas Sabonis 11 (2014) Dec 19, 2014 · Lithuanian · Documentary $173.3K worldwide

Dec 19, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $173.3K
1300
My Name Is Albert Ayler (2007) Nov 8, 2007 · English · Music, Documentary $173.1K worldwide

Nov 8, 2007 US and Canada: $173.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $173.1K