#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 28
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 28 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1,351 to 1,400 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 1351
The Desert of Forbidden Art (2011)Mar 11, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $158.5K
Mar 11, 2011 · English · Adventure, Biography, Drama $158.5K worldwide - 1352
Jul 17, 2015 US and Canada: $109.1K Rest of the world: $48.8K Worldwide: $157.9K - 1353
Aug 22, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $157.7K - 1354
Aug 26, 2011 US and Canada: $157.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $157.6K - 1355
Apr 27, 2016 US and Canada: $157.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $157.5K - 1356
Oct 23, 2002 US and Canada: $157.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $157.2K - 1357
Nov 17, 2000 US and Canada: $156.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $156.8K - 1358
Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present (2012)Jun 13, 2012 US and Canada: $86.6K Rest of the world: $70.1K Worldwide: $156.7K Jun 13, 2012 · English · Biography, History, Documentary $156.7K worldwide - 1359
Sep 30, 2009 US and Canada: $156.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $156.6K - 1360
Sep 21, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $156.2K - 1361
2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $156.1K - 1362
Oct 18, 2002 US and Canada: $133.1K Rest of the world: $22.6K Worldwide: $155.6K - 1363
Aug 1, 2014 US and Canada: $121K Rest of the world: $34.2K Worldwide: $155.2K - 1364
Aug 5, 2011 US and Canada: $154.5K Rest of the world: $484 Worldwide: $155K - 1365
Magic Trip: Ken Kesey’s Search for a Kool Place (2011)Aug 5, 2011 US and Canada: $154.5K Rest of the world: $484 Worldwide: $155K Aug 5, 2011 · English · Documentary, Music $155K worldwide - 1366
Oct 18, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $154.8K - 1367
Aug 30, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $154.5K - 1368
Sep 28, 2018 US and Canada: $148.6K Rest of the world: $5.6K Worldwide: $154.2K - 1369
Jun 15, 2018 US and Canada: $149.6K Rest of the world: $4.4K Worldwide: $154K - 1370
Oct 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $154K - 1371
Jun 6, 2014 US and Canada: $153.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $153.9K - 1372
Nov 5, 2003 US and Canada: $153.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $153.9K - 1373
Jun 5, 2025 US and Canada: $16.1K Rest of the world: $137.6K Worldwide: $153.7K - 1374
Jun 5, 2026 US and Canada: $16.1K Rest of the world: $137.6K Worldwide: $153.7K - 1375
Mar 13, 2009 US and Canada: $153.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $153.1K - 1376
Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of (2015)Jan 30, 2015 US and Canada: $153.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $153.1K Jan 30, 2015 · English · Documentary $153.1K worldwide - 1377
Deceptive Practices: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay (2013)Apr 17, 2013 US and Canada: $152.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $152.8K Apr 17, 2013 · English · Documentary $152.8K worldwide - 1378
Dec 24, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $152.1K - 1379
Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore? (2026)Sep 24, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $152K Sep 24, 2026 · English · Documentary, Music $152K worldwide - 1380
May 11, 2007 US and Canada: $151.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $151.8K - 1381
Sep 21, 2001 US and Canada: $151.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $151.8K - 1382
Mar 22, 2011 US and Canada: $151.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $151.4K - 1383
Nov 21, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $151.4K - 1384
Jan 12, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $151.4K - 1385
Jul 31, 2019 US and Canada: $151.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $151.3K - 1386
Oct 21, 2011 US and Canada: $150.9K Rest of the world: $386 Worldwide: $151.3K - 1387
Apr 28, 2023 US and Canada: $151.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $151.2K - 1388
Feb 13, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $150.7K - 1389
Jun 9, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $150.4K - 1390
Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator (2003)Aug 22, 2003 US and Canada: $150.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $150.3K Aug 22, 2003 · English · Sport, Documentary $150.3K worldwide - 1391
Oct 3, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $150.2K - 1392
May 4, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $150K - 1393
Oct 19, 2016 US and Canada: $149.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $149.1K - 1394
Sep 2, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $148.8K - 1395
Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down (2019)Nov 9, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $148.4K
Nov 9, 2019 · Cantonese · Comedy, Documentary, Drama $148.4K worldwide - 1396
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006)Oct 20, 2006 US and Canada: $148.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $148.3K Oct 20, 2006 · English · History, Documentary $148.3K worldwide - 1397
Aug 23, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $148K - 1398
May 24, 2017 US and Canada: $147.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $147.8K - 1399
Oct 25, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $147.5K - 1400
Nov 22, 2023 US and Canada: $140.3K Rest of the world: $6.4K Worldwide: $146.8K
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
- 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)