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Documentary box office · All time

Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies of All Time, Page 27

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 27 of 81

All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 1,301 to 1,350 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.

  1. 1301 Whiteley (2017) movie poster
    Whiteley (2017) May 11, 2017 · English · Documentary $172.6K worldwide
    May 11, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $172.6K
  2. 1302 Foo Fighters: Back and Forth (2011) movie poster
    Foo Fighters: Back and Forth (2011) Apr 5, 2011 · English · Documentary, Music $172.6K worldwide
    Apr 5, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $172.6K
  3. 1303 The Jump (2019) movie poster
    The Jump (2019) Aug 16, 2019 · Spanish · Documentary, Family $172.5K worldwide
    Aug 16, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $172.5K
  4. 1304 The Jump (2019) movie poster
    The Jump (2019) May 24, 2019 · French · Documentary $172.5K worldwide
    May 24, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $172.5K
  5. 1305 Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq (2014) movie poster
    Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq (2014) Feb 5, 2014 · English · Biography, Drama, Music $172.5K worldwide
    Feb 5, 2014 US and Canada: $172.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $172.5K
  6. 1306 All Things Must Pass (2015) movie poster
    All Things Must Pass (2015) Oct 16, 2015 · English · History, Music, Documentary $172.4K worldwide
    Oct 16, 2015 US and Canada: $172.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $172.4K
  7. 1307 Salute (2008) movie poster
    Salute (2008) Jul 17, 2008 · English · Documentary $172.4K worldwide
    Jul 17, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $172.4K
  8. 1308 Franco Battiato - La voce del padrone (2022) movie poster
    Franco Battiato - La voce del padrone (2022) Nov 28, 2022 · Italian · Documentary $172.4K worldwide
    Nov 28, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $172.4K
  9. 1309 Leonardo: The Works (2019) movie poster
    Leonardo: The Works (2019) Oct 29, 2019 · English · Documentary, History $171.1K worldwide
    Oct 29, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $171.1K
  10. 1310 Tornado Alley (2011) movie poster
    Tornado Alley (2011) Mar 18, 2011 · English · Documentary $170.2K worldwide
    Mar 18, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $170.2K
  11. 1311 Free the Mind (2013) movie poster
    Free the Mind (2013) May 3, 2013 · English · Adventure, Documentary $168.9K worldwide
    May 3, 2013 US and Canada: $157.2K Rest of the world: $11.7K Worldwide: $168.9K
  12. 1312 Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery (2015) movie poster
    Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery (2015) Aug 19, 2015 · German · Biography, Crime, Documentary $168.2K worldwide
    Aug 19, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $168.2K
  13. 1313 TeenAngels: El Adios 3D (2013) movie poster
    TeenAngels: El Adios 3D (2013) May 30, 2013 · Spanish · Music, Documentary $168.2K worldwide
    May 30, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $168.2K
  14. 1314 De Palma (2016) movie poster
    De Palma (2016) Jun 10, 2016 · English · Biography, Documentary $168K worldwide
    Jun 10, 2016 US and Canada: $165.2K Rest of the world: $2.8K Worldwide: $168K
  15. 1315 No Stone Unturned (2017) movie poster
    No Stone Unturned (2017) Nov 10, 2017 · English · Documentary $167.7K worldwide
    Nov 10, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $167.7K
  16. 1316 Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (2010) movie poster
    Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (2010) Sep 10, 2010 · English · Documentary $167.5K worldwide
    Sep 10, 2010 US and Canada: $167.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $167.5K
  17. 1317 Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (2009) movie poster
    Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (2009) Sep 13, 2009 · English · Documentary, Music $167.5K worldwide
    Sep 13, 2009 US and Canada: $167.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $167.5K
  18. 1318 Cocaine Cowboys (2006) movie poster
    Cocaine Cowboys (2006) Oct 27, 2006 · English · Crime, Documentary $167.1K worldwide
    Oct 27, 2006 US and Canada: $150.1K Rest of the world: $17K Worldwide: $167.1K
  19. 1319 Our Brand Is Crisis (2006) movie poster
    Our Brand Is Crisis (2006) Mar 1, 2006 · English · Documentary $166.8K worldwide
    Mar 1, 2006 US and Canada: $166.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $166.8K
  20. 1320 The Cordillera of Dreams (2020) movie poster
    The Cordillera of Dreams (2020) Feb 12, 2020 · Spanish · Documentary $166.6K worldwide
    Feb 12, 2020 US and Canada: $20.9K Rest of the world: $145.6K Worldwide: $166.6K
  21. 1321 The Cordillera of Dreams (2019) movie poster
    The Cordillera of Dreams (2019) May 17, 2019 · Spanish · Documentary $166.6K worldwide
    May 17, 2019 US and Canada: $20.9K Rest of the world: $145.6K Worldwide: $166.6K
  22. 1322 Far from the Tree (2018) movie poster
    Far from the Tree (2018) Jul 20, 2018 · English · Documentary $166K worldwide
    Jul 20, 2018 US and Canada: $166K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $166K
  23. 1323 The Punk Syndrome (2012) movie poster
    The Punk Syndrome (2012) May 4, 2012 · Finnish · Music, Documentary $166K worldwide
    May 4, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $166K
  24. 1324 Remembering Gene Wilder (2024) movie poster
    Remembering Gene Wilder (2024) Mar 15, 2024 · English · Documentary, Biography $165.7K worldwide
    Mar 15, 2024 US and Canada: $165.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $165.7K
  25. 1325 Once Upon a Time in Uganda (2023) movie poster
    Once Upon a Time in Uganda (2023) Jul 25, 2023 · English · Documentary $165.5K worldwide
    Jul 25, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $165.5K
  26. 1326 How to Live Forever (2011) movie poster
    How to Live Forever (2011) May 13, 2011 · English · Documentary $164.7K worldwide
    May 13, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $164.7K
  27. 1327 Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014) movie poster
    Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014) Oct 1, 2014 · English · Documentary $164.5K worldwide
    Oct 1, 2014 US and Canada: $164.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $164.5K
  28. 1328 The Price of Free (2018) movie poster
    The Price of Free (2018) Nov 2, 2018 · English · Documentary $164.5K worldwide
    Nov 2, 2018 US and Canada: $87.4K Rest of the world: $77.1K Worldwide: $164.5K
  29. 1329 The Price of Everything (2018) movie poster
    The Price of Everything (2018) Oct 19, 2018 · English · Documentary $164.5K worldwide
    Oct 19, 2018 US and Canada: $87.4K Rest of the world: $77.1K Worldwide: $164.5K
  30. 1330 Keep On Keepin' On (2014) movie poster
    Keep On Keepin' On (2014) Sep 19, 2014 · English · Documentary $163.7K worldwide
    Sep 19, 2014 US and Canada: $163.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $163.7K
  31. 1331 Narco Cultura (2013) movie poster
    Narco Cultura (2013) Nov 22, 2013 · English · Documentary $163.7K worldwide
    Nov 22, 2013 US and Canada: $145.1K Rest of the world: $18.6K Worldwide: $163.7K
  32. 1332 Nothing Compares (2022) movie poster
    Nothing Compares (2022) Sep 23, 2022 · English · Music, Documentary $163.4K worldwide
    Sep 23, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $163.4K
  33. 1333 Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All (2017) movie poster
    Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All (2017) Jun 16, 2017 · English · Documentary $163.4K worldwide
    Jun 16, 2017 US and Canada: $152.3K Rest of the world: $11.1K Worldwide: $163.4K
  34. 1334 Eames: The Architect & The Painter (2011) movie poster
    Eames: The Architect & The Painter (2011) Nov 18, 2011 · English · Biography, Documentary $163.4K worldwide
    Nov 18, 2011 US and Canada: $153.1K Rest of the world: $10.3K Worldwide: $163.4K
  35. 1335 Bound by Flesh (2014) movie poster
    Bound by Flesh (2014) Jun 27, 2014 · English · Documentary $163.1K worldwide
    Jun 27, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $163.1K
  36. 1336 The Red Elvis (2007) movie poster
    The Red Elvis (2007) Feb 13, 2007 · German · Documentary $163.1K worldwide
    Feb 13, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $163.1K
  37. 1337 Mad About the Boy: The Noel Coward Story (2024) movie poster
    Mad About the Boy: The Noel Coward Story (2024) Oct 9, 2024 · English · Documentary $162.5K worldwide
    Oct 9, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $162.5K
  38. 1338 Her Name Is Sabine (2007) movie poster
    Her Name Is Sabine (2007) Mar 24, 2007 · French · Documentary $161.8K worldwide
    Mar 24, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $161.8K
  39. 1339 Race to Nowhere (2010) movie poster
    Race to Nowhere (2010) Sep 10, 2010 · English · Documentary $161.6K worldwide
    Sep 10, 2010 US and Canada: $40.3K Rest of the world: $121.3K Worldwide: $161.6K
  40. 1340 Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns) (2003) movie poster
    Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns) (2003) May 23, 2003 · English · Music, Documentary $160.6K worldwide
    May 23, 2003 US and Canada: $160.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $160.6K
  41. 1341 Suzi Q (2020) movie poster
    Suzi Q (2020) Jul 1, 2020 · English · Documentary $160.1K worldwide
    Jul 1, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $160.1K
  42. 1342 Suzi Q (2019) movie poster
    Suzi Q (2019) Aug 15, 2019 · English · Documentary, Music $160.1K worldwide
    Aug 15, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $160.1K
  43. 1343 Dame Valerie Adams: More Than Gold (2022) movie poster
    Dame Valerie Adams: More Than Gold (2022) Oct 20, 2022 · English · Drama, Documentary $159.7K worldwide
    Oct 20, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $159.7K
  44. 1344 Drop Dead City (2025) movie poster
    Drop Dead City (2025) Apr 25, 2025 · English · Documentary $159.5K worldwide
    Apr 25, 2025 US and Canada: $159.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $159.5K
  45. 1345 The Witness (2016) movie poster
    The Witness (2016) Jun 3, 2016 · Korean · Biography, Mystery, Crime $159.3K worldwide
    Jun 3, 2016 US and Canada: $159.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $159.3K
  46. 1346 Girls Rock! (2008) movie poster
    Girls Rock! (2008) Mar 7, 2008 · French · Music, Documentary $159.3K worldwide
    Mar 7, 2008 US and Canada: $159.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $159.3K
  47. 1347 The Gleaners & I (2001) movie poster
    The Gleaners & I (2001) Mar 7, 2001 · French · Documentary $159.2K worldwide
    Mar 7, 2001 US and Canada: $155.3K Rest of the world: $3.8K Worldwide: $159.2K
  48. 1348 The Last Resort (2018) movie poster
    The Last Resort (2018) Dec 21, 2018 · English · Documentary $158.6K worldwide
    Dec 21, 2018 US and Canada: $158.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $158.6K
  49. 1349 Shut Up & Sing (2006) movie poster
    Shut Up & Sing (2006) Oct 27, 2006 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $158.6K worldwide
    Oct 27, 2006 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $158.6K
  50. 1350 The Art of Flight 3D (2012) movie poster
    The Art of Flight 3D (2012) Dec 7, 2012 · English · Adventure, Sport, Documentary $158.5K worldwide
    Dec 7, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $158.5K
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