Skip to content
What's After the Movie?

Jump to
What's After the Movie?
Documentary box office · All time

Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies of All Time, Page 36

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 36 of 81

All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 1,751 to 1,800 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.

  1. 1751 The Man Who Stole Banksy (2018) movie poster
    The Man Who Stole Banksy (2018) Apr 20, 2018 · English · Documentary $89.7K worldwide
    Apr 20, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $89.7K
  2. 1752 Pushwagner (2011) movie poster
    Pushwagner (2011) Sep 2, 2011 · Norwegian · Documentary $89.6K worldwide
    Sep 2, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $89.6K
  3. 1753 Jan Saudek - Trapped By His Passions No Hope For Rescue (2007) movie poster
    Jan Saudek - Trapped By His Passions No Hope For Rescue (2007) Dec 20, 2007 · Czech · Documentary $89.6K worldwide
    Dec 20, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $89.6K
  4. 1754 Throw Down Your Heart (2008) movie poster
    Throw Down Your Heart (2008) Dec 10, 2008 · English · Documentary, Music $89.5K worldwide
    Dec 10, 2008 US and Canada: $89.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $89.5K
  5. 1755 Six Inches of Soil (2024) movie poster
    Six Inches of Soil (2024) Jan 4, 2024 · English · Documentary $89.1K worldwide
    Jan 4, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $89.1K
  6. 1756 Lakota Nation vs. United States (2023) movie poster
    Lakota Nation vs. United States (2023) Jul 14, 2023 · English · History, Documentary $89.1K worldwide
    Jul 14, 2023 US and Canada: $89.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $89.1K
  7. 1757 This Is Not a Film (2012) movie poster
    This Is Not a Film (2012) Mar 2, 2012 · Persian · Documentary $88.8K worldwide
    Mar 2, 2012 US and Canada: $77K Rest of the world: $11.7K Worldwide: $88.8K
  8. 1758 Pete Seeger: The Power of Song (2007) movie poster
    Pete Seeger: The Power of Song (2007) Sep 14, 2007 · English · Music, Documentary $88.3K worldwide
    Sep 14, 2007 US and Canada: $88.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $88.3K
  9. 1759 Money for Nothing (2013) movie poster
    Money for Nothing (2013) Sep 6, 2013 · English · Documentary $88K worldwide
    Sep 6, 2013 US and Canada: $88K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $88K
  10. 1760 Money for Nothing: Inside the Federal Reserve (2013) movie poster
    Money for Nothing: Inside the Federal Reserve (2013) Sep 6, 2013 · English · Documentary $88K worldwide
    Sep 6, 2013 US and Canada: $88K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $88K
  11. 1761 Jim Allison: Breakthrough (2019) movie poster
    Jim Allison: Breakthrough (2019) Sep 27, 2019 · English · Documentary $88K worldwide
    Sep 27, 2019 US and Canada: $88K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $88K
  12. 1762 Warren Miller’s Chasing Shadows (2015) movie poster
    Warren Miller’s Chasing Shadows (2015) Oct 16, 2015 · English · Documentary, Action $87.9K worldwide
    Oct 16, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $87.9K
  13. 1763 Exporting Raymond (2011) movie poster
    Exporting Raymond (2011) Apr 29, 2011 · English · Comedy, Documentary $87.7K worldwide
    Apr 29, 2011 US and Canada: $87.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $87.7K
  14. 1764 America: Freedom to Fascism (2006) movie poster
    America: Freedom to Fascism (2006) Jul 28, 2006 · English · Documentary $87.4K worldwide
    Jul 28, 2006 US and Canada: $87.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $87.4K
  15. 1765 Into the Spotlight (2025) movie poster
    Into the Spotlight (2025) Feb 21, 2025 · English · Documentary $87.3K worldwide
    Feb 21, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $87.3K
  16. 1766 The Man Who Saves the World? (2025) movie poster
    The Man Who Saves the World? (2025) Oct 17, 2025 · Documentary $87.3K worldwide
    Oct 17, 2025 US and Canada: $87.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $87.3K
  17. 1767 The Territory (2022) movie poster
    The Territory (2022) Aug 19, 2022 · Portuguese · Documentary $87.3K worldwide
    Aug 19, 2022 US and Canada: $69.3K Rest of the world: $17.9K Worldwide: $87.3K
  18. 1768 War Photographer (2002) movie poster
    War Photographer (2002) Jun 19, 2002 · English · War, Documentary $86.9K worldwide
    Jun 19, 2002 US and Canada: $61K Rest of the world: $25.8K Worldwide: $86.9K
  19. 1769 School Life (2017) movie poster
    School Life (2017) Sep 8, 2017 · French · Documentary $86.6K worldwide
    Sep 8, 2017 US and Canada: $37.4K Rest of the world: $49.2K Worldwide: $86.6K
  20. 1770 Beuys (2018) movie poster
    Beuys (2018) Jan 17, 2018 · German · Documentary $86.5K worldwide
    Jan 17, 2018 US and Canada: $65.4K Rest of the world: $21K Worldwide: $86.5K
  21. 1771 The Great White Silence (1924) movie poster
    The Great White Silence (1924) May 1, 1924 · Documentary $86.5K worldwide
    May 1, 1924 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $86.5K
  22. 1772 Crazy Wisdom: The Life & Times of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche (2011) movie poster
    Crazy Wisdom: The Life & Times of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche (2011) Nov 25, 2011 · Documentary $86.2K worldwide
    Nov 25, 2011 US and Canada: $86.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $86.2K
  23. 1773 KJ: Music and Life (2009) movie poster
    KJ: Music and Life (2009) Apr 3, 2009 · Cantonese · Music, Documentary $86.2K worldwide
    Apr 3, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $86.2K
  24. 1774 Tab Hunter Confidential (2015) movie poster
    Tab Hunter Confidential (2015) Oct 16, 2015 · English · Biography, Documentary $85.8K worldwide
    Oct 16, 2015 US and Canada: $85.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $85.8K
  25. 1775 Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV (2023) movie poster
    Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV (2023) Jan 22, 2023 · English · Documentary $85.8K worldwide
    Jan 22, 2023 US and Canada: $59K Rest of the world: $26.8K Worldwide: $85.8K
  26. 1776 Cathedrals of Culture (2014) movie poster
    Cathedrals of Culture (2014) May 29, 2014 · English · Documentary $85.2K worldwide
    May 29, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $85.2K
  27. 1777 Drops of Joy (2014) movie poster
    Drops of Joy (2014) Jul 19, 2014 · Portuguese · Documentary $84.9K worldwide
    Jul 19, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $84.9K
  28. 1778 Waking Sleeping Beauty (2010) movie poster
    Waking Sleeping Beauty (2010) Mar 26, 2010 · English · Documentary $84.9K worldwide
    Mar 26, 2010 US and Canada: $80.7K Rest of the world: $4.2K Worldwide: $84.9K
  29. 1779 Live Nude Girls Unite! (2000) movie poster
    Live Nude Girls Unite! (2000) Oct 6, 2000 · English · Documentary $84.7K worldwide
    Oct 6, 2000 US and Canada: $84.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $84.7K
  30. 1780 51 Birch Street (2006) movie poster
    51 Birch Street (2006) Oct 18, 2006 · English · Documentary $84.7K worldwide
    Oct 18, 2006 US and Canada: $84.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $84.7K
  31. 1781 The Songs We Sang (2015) movie poster
    The Songs We Sang (2015) Nov 29, 2015 · Chinese · Music, Documentary $84.7K worldwide
    Nov 29, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $84.7K
  32. 1782 Wretches & Jabberers (2011) movie poster
    Wretches & Jabberers (2011) Apr 1, 2011 · English · Documentary, Comedy $84.6K worldwide
    Apr 1, 2011 US and Canada: $84.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $84.6K
  33. 1783 Visitors (2014) movie poster
    Visitors (2014) Jan 24, 2014 · English · Documentary $84.6K worldwide
    Jan 24, 2014 US and Canada: $84.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $84.6K
  34. 1784 Woodstock: Three Days that Defined a Generation (2019) movie poster
    Woodstock: Three Days that Defined a Generation (2019) May 24, 2019 · English · History, Documentary $84.4K worldwide
    May 24, 2019 US and Canada: $84.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $84.4K
  35. 1785 Dancing Beethoven (2017) movie poster
    Dancing Beethoven (2017) Apr 13, 2017 · English · Documentary $84.1K worldwide
    Apr 13, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $84.1K
  36. 1786 The Disappearance of My Mother (2019) movie poster
    The Disappearance of My Mother (2019) Dec 6, 2019 · Italian · Documentary $83.9K worldwide
    Dec 6, 2019 US and Canada: $25K Rest of the world: $59K Worldwide: $83.9K
  37. 1787 The Disappearance of the Millbrook Twins (2019) movie poster
    The Disappearance of the Millbrook Twins (2019) Nov 23, 2019 · English · Crime, Documentary $83.9K worldwide
    Nov 23, 2019 US and Canada: $25K Rest of the world: $59K Worldwide: $83.9K
  38. 1788 16 Days of Glory (1985) movie poster
    16 Days of Glory (1985) Jul 29, 1985 · English · Documentary $83.9K worldwide
    Jul 29, 1985 US and Canada: $83.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $83.9K
  39. 1789 Bulletproof (2021) movie poster
    Bulletproof (2021) Oct 29, 2021 · English · Documentary $83.4K worldwide
    Oct 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $83.4K
  40. 1790 The Builders of the Alhambra (2022) movie poster
    The Builders of the Alhambra (2022) Oct 23, 2022 · Spanish · Documentary, History $83.2K worldwide
    Oct 23, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $83.2K
  41. 1791 The Look (2011) movie poster
    The Look (2011) Nov 4, 2011 · English · Documentary $83.1K worldwide
    Nov 4, 2011 US and Canada: $20K Rest of the world: $63.1K Worldwide: $83.1K
  42. 1792 The Woman with the 5 Elephants (2009) movie poster
    The Woman with the 5 Elephants (2009) Apr 26, 2009 · German · Documentary $82.9K worldwide
    Apr 26, 2009 US and Canada: $11K Rest of the world: $71.9K Worldwide: $82.9K
  43. 1793 On Broadway (2019) movie poster
    On Broadway (2019) Oct 12, 2019 · English · Documentary $82.7K worldwide
    Oct 12, 2019 US and Canada: $82.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $82.7K
  44. 1794 12 O'Clock Boys (2014) movie poster
    12 O'Clock Boys (2014) Jan 31, 2014 · English · Biography, Documentary $82.6K worldwide
    Jan 31, 2014 US and Canada: $82.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $82.6K
  45. 1795 Praying with Lior (2008) movie poster
    Praying with Lior (2008) Feb 1, 2008 · English · Documentary $82.6K worldwide
    Feb 1, 2008 US and Canada: $82.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $82.6K
  46. 1796 The Go-Betweens: Right Here (2017) movie poster
    The Go-Betweens: Right Here (2017) Jun 15, 2017 · English · Documentary, Music $82.4K worldwide
    Jun 15, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $82.4K
  47. 1797 Better Living Through Circuitry (2000) movie poster
    Better Living Through Circuitry (2000) May 26, 2000 · English · Drama, Music, Documentary $82.4K worldwide
    May 26, 2000 US and Canada: $82.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $82.4K
  48. 1798 The Real Charlie Chaplin (2021) movie poster
    The Real Charlie Chaplin (2021) Nov 19, 2021 · English · Documentary $82.4K worldwide
    Nov 19, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $82.4K
  49. 1799 Paula Rego: Secrets & Stories (2017) movie poster
    Paula Rego: Secrets & Stories (2017) Apr 6, 2017 · Documentary $82.2K worldwide
    Apr 6, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $82.2K
  50. 1800 Carlo Giuliani, a Boy (2002) movie poster
    Carlo Giuliani, a Boy (2002) Mar 22, 2002 · Italian · Documentary $82.2K worldwide
    Mar 22, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $82.2K
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