#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 31
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 31 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1,501 to 1,550 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 1501
Oct 3, 2007 US and Canada: $87K Rest of the world: $39.4K Worldwide: $126.4K - 1502
Jan 28, 2022 US and Canada: $126.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $126.3K - 1503
Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare (2012)Oct 5, 2012 US and Canada: $126.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $126.2K
Oct 5, 2012 · English · Documentary $126.2K worldwide - 1504
Apr 27, 2011 US and Canada: $21.6K Rest of the world: $104.6K Worldwide: $126.2K - 1505
Aug 28, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $125.9K - 1506
Oct 5, 2018 US and Canada: $118.3K Rest of the world: $7.5K Worldwide: $125.8K - 1507
May 4, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $125.6K - 1508
Aug 9, 2019 US and Canada: $65K Rest of the world: $60.4K Worldwide: $125.3K - 1509
The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman's Portrait Photography (2017)Jun 30, 2017 US and Canada: $125.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $125.2K Jun 30, 2017 · English · Documentary $125.2K worldwide - 1510
Oct 25, 2013 US and Canada: $112.4K Rest of the world: $12.4K Worldwide: $124.9K - 1511
Feb 15, 2019 US and Canada: $121.8K Rest of the world: $2.8K Worldwide: $124.6K - 1512
’85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2016)Sep 7, 2016 US and Canada: $124.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $124.6K Sep 7, 2016 · English · History, Documentary $124.6K worldwide - 1513
Feb 11, 2011 US and Canada: $86K Rest of the world: $38.6K Worldwide: $124.5K - 1514
Sep 27, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $124.4K - 1515
Apr 18, 2008 US and Canada: $124.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $124.3K - 1516
Oct 25, 2013 US and Canada: $124.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $124.2K - 1517
Sep 5, 1986 US and Canada: $124.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $124.1K - 1518
Dec 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $123.5K - 1519
Jun 3, 2011 US and Canada: $123K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $123K - 1520
Mar 1, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $122.9K - 1521
Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst (2006)Jan 28, 2006 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $122.7K Jan 28, 2006 · English · Documentary $122.7K worldwide - 1522
Jul 10, 2015 US and Canada: $119.4K Rest of the world: $3.2K Worldwide: $122.6K - 1523
Nov 21, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $122.4K - 1524
Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary (2024)Nov 8, 2024 US and Canada: $109K Rest of the world: $13.4K Worldwide: $122.3K Nov 8, 2024 · English · Documentary $122.3K worldwide - 1525
Oct 1, 2010 US and Canada: $101.3K Rest of the world: $20.9K Worldwide: $122.2K - 1526
Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (2004)Jul 23, 2004 US and Canada: $122K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $122K Jul 23, 2004 · English · Documentary $122K worldwide - 1527
Feb 14, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $121.9K - 1528
Nov 10, 2023 US and Canada: $37.5K Rest of the world: $84.2K Worldwide: $121.7K - 1529
Oct 18, 2002 US and Canada: $121.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $121.3K - 1530
Nov 4, 2015 US and Canada: $121.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $121.1K - 1531
Jan 22, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $121.1K - 1532
Oct 3, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $120.9K - 1533
Jul 29, 2016 US and Canada: $120.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $120.9K - 1534
Feb 25, 2009 US and Canada: $120.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $120.7K - 1535
Oct 10, 2007 US and Canada: $67.5K Rest of the world: $53.1K Worldwide: $120.6K - 1536
Spark: A Burning Man Story (2013)Aug 16, 2013 US and Canada: $120.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $120.5K Aug 16, 2013 · English · Action, Biography, Drama $120.5K worldwide - 1537
Feb 18, 2010 US and Canada: $116K Rest of the world: $3.9K Worldwide: $119.9K - 1538
Apr 12, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $119.9K - 1539
Oct 23, 2015 US and Canada: $42.2K Rest of the world: $77.6K Worldwide: $119.8K - 1540
Oct 14, 2022 US and Canada: $112.3K Rest of the world: $7.4K Worldwide: $119.7K - 1541
Oct 26, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $119.6K - 1542
Jun 15, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $119.5K - 1543
Aug 28, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $119.4K - 1544
Celine: Through the Eyes of the World (2010)Feb 17, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $119.3K Feb 17, 2010 · English · Music, Documentary $119.3K worldwide - 1545
Aug 13, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $119.3K - 1546
Jimmy Carter Man from Plains (2007)Oct 26, 2007 US and Canada: $108.8K Rest of the world: $10.5K Worldwide: $119.3K Oct 26, 2007 · English · Biography, Documentary $119.3K worldwide - 1547
Apr 2, 2003 US and Canada: $106.7K Rest of the world: $12.5K Worldwide: $119.2K - 1548
Nov 8, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $119.1K - 1549
May 3, 2002 US and Canada: $119.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $119.1K - 1550
Aug 11, 2023 US and Canada: $67.6K Rest of the world: $51.3K Worldwide: $118.9K
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)