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Documentary box office · All time

Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies of All Time, Page 35

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 35 of 81

All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 1,701 to 1,750 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.

  1. 1701 Warren Miller’s Here, There & Everywhere (2016) movie poster
    Warren Miller’s Here, There & Everywhere (2016) Oct 14, 2016 · English · Action, Documentary $96.4K worldwide
    Oct 14, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $96.4K
  2. 1702 Love in Bright Landscapes (2021) movie poster
    Love in Bright Landscapes (2021) Aug 20, 2021 · English · Documentary $96.2K worldwide
    Aug 20, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $96.2K
  3. 1703 My Reincarnation (2011) movie poster
    My Reincarnation (2011) Oct 28, 2011 · English · Adventure, Biography, Family $96.1K worldwide
    Oct 28, 2011 US and Canada: $92.8K Rest of the world: $3.3K Worldwide: $96.1K
  4. 1704 Van Gogh: Of Wheat Fields and Clouded Skies (2018) movie poster
    Van Gogh: Of Wheat Fields and Clouded Skies (2018) Apr 9, 2018 · Italian · Documentary $96K worldwide
    Apr 9, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $96K
  5. 1705 The Stones and Brian Jones (2023) movie poster
    The Stones and Brian Jones (2023) Nov 17, 2023 · English · Documentary, Music $95.8K worldwide
    Nov 17, 2023 US and Canada: $57.9K Rest of the world: $37.8K Worldwide: $95.8K
  6. 1706 The Curious World of Hieronymus Bosch (2016) movie poster
    The Curious World of Hieronymus Bosch (2016) Dec 30, 2016 · English · Documentary $95.7K worldwide
    Dec 30, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $95.7K
  7. 1707 A Very British Gangster (2008) movie poster
    A Very British Gangster (2008) Jul 18, 2008 · English · Crime, Documentary $95.6K worldwide
    Jul 18, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $95.6K
  8. 1708 The Lovers and the Despot (2016) movie poster
    The Lovers and the Despot (2016) Sep 23, 2016 · Korean · Thriller, Documentary $95.5K worldwide
    Sep 23, 2016 US and Canada: $55.5K Rest of the world: $40K Worldwide: $95.5K
  9. 1709 Il mio amico Massimo (2022) movie poster
    Il mio amico Massimo (2022) Dec 15, 2022 · Italian · Documentary $95.3K worldwide
    Dec 15, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $95.3K
  10. 1710 Winter Nomads (2013) movie poster
    Winter Nomads (2013) Sep 27, 2013 · French · Documentary $95.2K worldwide
    Sep 27, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $95.2K
  11. 1711 Pirate for the Sea (2008) movie poster
    Pirate for the Sea (2008) Aug 30, 2008 · English · Documentary $94.7K worldwide
    Aug 30, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $94.7K
  12. 1712 Delicate Balance (2016) movie poster
    Delicate Balance (2016) Dec 23, 2016 · Spanish · Documentary $94.5K worldwide
    Dec 23, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $94.5K
  13. 1713 My Mexican Bretzel (2019) movie poster
    My Mexican Bretzel (2019) Nov 18, 2019 · Spanish · Fantasy, Documentary $94.2K worldwide
    Nov 18, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $94.2K
  14. 1714 The Boy (2024) movie poster
    The Boy (2024) Oct 2, 2024 · French · Comedy, Documentary $94K worldwide
    Oct 2, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $94K
  15. 1715 Leonardo da Vinci: The Genius in Milan (2016) movie poster
    Leonardo da Vinci: The Genius in Milan (2016) Apr 21, 2016 · Italian · Documentary $93.7K worldwide
    Apr 21, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $93.7K
  16. 1716 Great White Shark (2013) movie poster
    Great White Shark (2013) May 24, 2013 · English · Documentary $93.5K worldwide
    May 24, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $93.5K
  17. 1717 The Python Hunt (2026) movie poster
    The Python Hunt (2026) May 8, 2026 · English · Documentary $93.5K worldwide
    May 8, 2026 US and Canada: $93.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $93.5K
  18. 1718 The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile (2022) movie poster
    The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile (2022) Oct 21, 2022 · English · Documentary $93.3K worldwide
    Oct 21, 2022 US and Canada: $93.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $93.3K
  19. 1719 Martin Margiela: In His Own Words (2020) movie poster
    Martin Margiela: In His Own Words (2020) Aug 14, 2020 · Documentary $93.2K worldwide
    Aug 14, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $93.2K
  20. 1720 Martin Margiela: In His Own Words (2019) movie poster
    Martin Margiela: In His Own Words (2019) Nov 8, 2019 · English · Documentary $93.2K worldwide
    Nov 8, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $93.2K
  21. 1721 Celsius 41.11: The Temperature at Which the Brain... Begins to Die (2004) movie poster
    Celsius 41.11: The Temperature at Which the Brain... Begins to Die (2004) Oct 22, 2004 · War, Documentary $93K worldwide
    Oct 22, 2004 US and Canada: $93K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $93K
  22. 1722 Morality is Goodness (2022) movie poster
    Morality is Goodness (2022) Nov 7, 2022 · Bulgarian · Documentary $92.9K worldwide
    Nov 7, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $92.9K
  23. 1723 Louis Theroux: Altered States (2018) movie poster
    Louis Theroux: Altered States (2018) 2018 · English · Documentary $92.9K worldwide
    2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $92.9K
  24. 1724 The First Rasta (2011) movie poster
    The First Rasta (2011) Dec 2, 2011 · English · Documentary $92.7K worldwide
    Dec 2, 2011 US and Canada: $22.8K Rest of the world: $69.8K Worldwide: $92.7K
  25. 1725 The Fourth Phase (2016) movie poster
    The Fourth Phase (2016) Oct 2, 2016 · English · Adventure, Documentary $92.4K worldwide
    Oct 2, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $92.4K
  26. 1726 American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009) movie poster
    American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009) Oct 23, 2009 · English · Documentary, Comedy $92.2K worldwide
    Oct 23, 2009 US and Canada: $92.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $92.2K
  27. 1727 The Brandon Teena Story (1998) movie poster
    The Brandon Teena Story (1998) Sep 23, 1998 · English · Documentary $92.1K worldwide
    Sep 23, 1998 US and Canada: $92.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $92.1K
  28. 1728 Invisible Beauty (2023) movie poster
    Invisible Beauty (2023) Sep 15, 2023 · English · Documentary $92K worldwide
    Sep 15, 2023 US and Canada: $92K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $92K
  29. 1729 Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time (2021) movie poster
    Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time (2021) Nov 19, 2021 · English · Documentary $92K worldwide
    Nov 19, 2021 US and Canada: $60.4K Rest of the world: $31.6K Worldwide: $92K
  30. 1730 MLK/FBI (2021) movie poster
    MLK/FBI (2021) Jan 15, 2021 · English · Documentary $91.8K worldwide
    Jan 15, 2021 US and Canada: $45.2K Rest of the world: $46.6K Worldwide: $91.8K
  31. 1731 Ghosts of the République (2020) movie poster
    Ghosts of the République (2020) Nov 17, 2020 · English · Documentary $91.7K worldwide
    Nov 17, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91.7K
  32. 1732 Gigante: Como o Inter Conquistou o Mundo (2007) movie poster
    Gigante: Como o Inter Conquistou o Mundo (2007) Nov 7, 2007 · Portuguese · Documentary $91.6K worldwide
    Nov 7, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91.6K
  33. 1733 Hello I Am David! (2015) movie poster
    Hello I Am David! (2015) Dec 24, 2015 · English · Documentary, Music $91.6K worldwide
    Dec 24, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91.6K
  34. 1734 Graves Without a Name (2020) movie poster
    Graves Without a Name (2020) May 12, 2020 · Documentary $91.3K worldwide
    May 12, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91.3K
  35. 1735 The Story of Lovers Rock (2011) movie poster
    The Story of Lovers Rock (2011) Sep 30, 2011 · English · Music, Documentary, Family $91.2K worldwide
    Sep 30, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91.2K
  36. 1736 Heimatkunde (2008) movie poster
    Heimatkunde (2008) Oct 1, 2008 · German · Documentary $91.2K worldwide
    Oct 1, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91.2K
  37. 1737 Black Notebooks (2021) movie poster
    Black Notebooks (2021) Jul 7, 2021 · Hebrew · Documentary $91.2K worldwide
    Jul 7, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91.2K
  38. 1738 Salgueiro Maia - The Implicated (2022) movie poster
    Salgueiro Maia - The Implicated (2022) Apr 14, 2022 · Portuguese · Drama, War, Documentary $91.2K worldwide
    Apr 14, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91.2K
  39. 1739 Proximity (2017) movie poster
    Proximity (2017) Aug 1, 2017 · English · Documentary $91.1K worldwide
    Aug 1, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $91.1K
  40. 1740 Loopers: The Caddie's Long Walk (2019) movie poster
    Loopers: The Caddie's Long Walk (2019) Jun 7, 2019 · English · Sport, Documentary $90.7K worldwide
    Jun 7, 2019 US and Canada: $90.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $90.7K
  41. 1741 Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin (2020) movie poster
    Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin (2020) Aug 26, 2020 · English · Biography, Comedy, Documentary $90.7K worldwide
    Aug 26, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $90.7K
  42. 1742 Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin (2019) movie poster
    Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin (2019) Apr 28, 2019 · English · Documentary $90.7K worldwide
    Apr 28, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $90.7K
  43. 1743 Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011) movie poster
    Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011) Sep 9, 2011 · English · Biography, Sport, Documentary $90.5K worldwide
    Sep 9, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $90.5K
  44. 1744 Palio (2015) movie poster
    Palio (2015) Nov 6, 2015 · Italian · Drama, Sport, Documentary $90.4K worldwide
    Nov 6, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $90.4K
  45. 1745 I Want to See (2008) movie poster
    I Want to See (2008) May 16, 2008 · French · Documentary, History, Drama $90.4K worldwide
    May 16, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $90.4K
  46. 1746 Minding the Gap (2018) movie poster
    Minding the Gap (2018) Aug 17, 2018 · English · Documentary $90.3K worldwide
    Aug 17, 2018 US and Canada: $12K Rest of the world: $78.3K Worldwide: $90.3K
  47. 1747 Herbert de Perto (2009) movie poster
    Herbert de Perto (2009) Oct 9, 2009 · Portuguese · Documentary $90.3K worldwide
    Oct 9, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $90.3K
  48. 1748 The Unforeseen (2008) movie poster
    The Unforeseen (2008) Feb 29, 2008 · English · Documentary $90.3K worldwide
    Feb 29, 2008 US and Canada: $90.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $90.3K
  49. 1749 Pray the Devil Back to Hell (2008) movie poster
    Pray the Devil Back to Hell (2008) Nov 7, 2008 · English · Documentary $90.1K worldwide
    Nov 7, 2008 US and Canada: $90.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $90.1K
  50. 1750 Pump (2014) movie poster
    Pump (2014) Sep 19, 2014 · English · Documentary $89.8K worldwide
    Sep 19, 2014 US and Canada: $89.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $89.8K
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