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Documentary box office · All time

Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies of All Time, Page 37

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 37 of 81

All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 1,801 to 1,850 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.

  1. 1801 Jimmy (2024) movie poster
    Jimmy (2024) Sep 28, 2024 · English · History, Documentary $82.1K worldwide
    Sep 28, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $82.1K
  2. 1802 Luigi Proietti detto Gigi (2021) movie poster
    Luigi Proietti detto Gigi (2021) Oct 24, 2021 · Italian · Documentary $81.9K worldwide
    Oct 24, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $81.9K
  3. 1803 Holding Liat (2026) movie poster
    Holding Liat (2026) Jan 9, 2026 · English · Documentary, Drama $81.6K worldwide
    Jan 9, 2026 US and Canada: $78.5K Rest of the world: $3.1K Worldwide: $81.6K
  4. 1804 A State of Mind (2005) movie poster
    A State of Mind (2005) Aug 10, 2005 · English · Documentary $81.5K worldwide
    Aug 10, 2005 US and Canada: $41.5K Rest of the world: $40K Worldwide: $81.5K
  5. 1805 Hating Breitbart (2013) movie poster
    Hating Breitbart (2013) May 17, 2013 · English · Documentary $81.4K worldwide
    May 17, 2013 US and Canada: $81.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $81.4K
  6. 1806 The Future of Food (2005) movie poster
    The Future of Food (2005) Sep 14, 2005 · English · Documentary $81.3K worldwide
    Sep 14, 2005 US and Canada: $81.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $81.3K
  7. 1807 Patti Smith: Dream of Life (2008) movie poster
    Patti Smith: Dream of Life (2008) Aug 6, 2008 · English · Music, Documentary $81.1K worldwide
    Aug 6, 2008 US and Canada: $30.9K Rest of the world: $50.2K Worldwide: $81.1K
  8. 1808 The Island President (2012) movie poster
    The Island President (2012) Mar 28, 2012 · English · Documentary $81K worldwide
    Mar 28, 2012 US and Canada: $76.4K Rest of the world: $4.6K Worldwide: $81K
  9. 1809 Real: The Movie (2005) movie poster
    Real: The Movie (2005) Aug 25, 2005 · Spanish · Documentary $80.3K worldwide
    Aug 25, 2005 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $80.3K
  10. 1810 Kim-Gun (2018) movie poster
    Kim-Gun (2018) Oct 7, 2018 · Korean · Documentary $80.2K worldwide
    Oct 7, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $80.2K
  11. 1811 Armstrong (2019) movie poster
    Armstrong (2019) Jul 12, 2019 · English · Biography, Documentary $80.2K worldwide
    Jul 12, 2019 US and Canada: $19.7K Rest of the world: $60.4K Worldwide: $80.2K
  12. 1812 For the Love of Spock (2016) movie poster
    For the Love of Spock (2016) Sep 9, 2016 · English · Biography, Documentary $80.1K worldwide
    Sep 9, 2016 US and Canada: $80.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $80.1K
  13. 1813 iHuman (2019) movie poster
    iHuman (2019) Nov 15, 2019 · Norwegian · Documentary $80.1K worldwide
    Nov 15, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $80.1K
  14. 1814 Air Guitar Nation (2007) movie poster
    Air Guitar Nation (2007) Mar 23, 2007 · English · Biography, Comedy, Music $79.8K worldwide
    Mar 23, 2007 US and Canada: $71.5K Rest of the world: $8.3K Worldwide: $79.8K
  15. 1815 Sobibór, 14 Octobre 1943, 16 heures (2001) movie poster
    Sobibór, 14 Octobre 1943, 16 heures (2001) Oct 12, 2001 · French · History, Documentary $79.7K worldwide
    Oct 12, 2001 US and Canada: $41K Rest of the world: $38.7K Worldwide: $79.7K
  16. 1816 Sobibor, October 14, 1943, 4 p.m. (2001) movie poster
    Sobibor, October 14, 1943, 4 p.m. (2001) May 13, 2001 · French · Documentary $79.7K worldwide
    May 13, 2001 US and Canada: $41K Rest of the world: $38.7K Worldwide: $79.7K
  17. 1817 Harvest of Empire (2012) movie poster
    Harvest of Empire (2012) Sep 28, 2012 · English · History, Documentary $79.6K worldwide
    Sep 28, 2012 US and Canada: $79.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $79.6K
  18. 1818 The Mission (2023) movie poster
    The Mission (2023) Jan 27, 2023 · English · Documentary $79.6K worldwide
    Jan 27, 2023 US and Canada: $58.4K Rest of the world: $21.2K Worldwide: $79.6K
  19. 1819 The Mission (2023) movie poster
    The Mission (2023) Oct 13, 2023 · English · Documentary $79.6K worldwide
    Oct 13, 2023 US and Canada: $58.4K Rest of the world: $21.2K Worldwide: $79.6K
  20. 1820 The Metamorphosis of Birds (2020) movie poster
    The Metamorphosis of Birds (2020) Feb 28, 2020 · Portuguese · Documentary, Drama $79.4K worldwide
    Feb 28, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $79.4K
  21. 1821 Radiant City (2007) movie poster
    Radiant City (2007) May 30, 2007 · English · Drama, Comedy, Documentary $78.9K worldwide
    May 30, 2007 US and Canada: $78.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $78.9K
  22. 1822 El Pepe: A Supreme Life (2018) movie poster
    El Pepe: A Supreme Life (2018) Sep 3, 2018 · Spanish · Documentary $78.7K worldwide
    Sep 3, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $78.7K
  23. 1823 King Otto (2021) movie poster
    King Otto (2021) May 27, 2021 · English · Documentary $78.6K worldwide
    May 27, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $78.6K
  24. 1824 Raphael: The Lord of the Arts (2017) movie poster
    Raphael: The Lord of the Arts (2017) Apr 3, 2017 · Italian · History, Documentary, Romance $78.4K worldwide
    Apr 3, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $78.4K
  25. 1825 Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte (2008) movie poster
    Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte (2008) Feb 9, 2008 · German · Documentary $78.4K worldwide
    Feb 9, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $78.4K
  26. 1826 Rezo (2019) movie poster
    Rezo (2019) Mar 13, 2019 · Russian · Biography, Comedy, Animation $78.2K worldwide
    Mar 13, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $78.2K
  27. 1827 Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition (2023) movie poster
    Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition (2023) Apr 18, 2023 · English · Documentary $78.1K worldwide
    Apr 18, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $78.1K
  28. 1828 Bertsolari (2011) movie poster
    Bertsolari (2011) Oct 13, 2011 · Basque · Documentary $78.1K worldwide
    Oct 13, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $78.1K
  29. 1829 The Missing Picture (2013) movie poster
    The Missing Picture (2013) Oct 4, 2013 · English · Documentary $78.1K worldwide
    Oct 4, 2013 US and Canada: $52.2K Rest of the world: $25.9K Worldwide: $78.1K
  30. 1830 Homegrown (2026) movie poster
    Homegrown (2026) Jan 6, 2026 · Documentary, Comedy, Crime $77.9K worldwide
    Jan 6, 2026 US and Canada: $77.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $77.9K
  31. 1831 Bright Leaves (2004) movie poster
    Bright Leaves (2004) Aug 25, 2004 · English · Documentary $77.9K worldwide
    Aug 25, 2004 US and Canada: $77.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $77.9K
  32. 1832 Heaven (1987) movie poster
    Heaven (1987) Apr 17, 1987 · English · Documentary $77.9K worldwide
    Apr 17, 1987 US and Canada: $77.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $77.9K
  33. 1833 Billy Preston: That's the Way God Planned It (2026) movie poster
    Billy Preston: That's the Way God Planned It (2026) Feb 20, 2026 · Documentary, Biography, Music $77.8K worldwide
    Feb 20, 2026 US and Canada: $77.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $77.8K
  34. 1834 Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird (2024) movie poster
    Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird (2024) Nov 20, 2024 · English · Documentary, Music $77.7K worldwide
    Nov 20, 2024 US and Canada: $75.2K Rest of the world: $2.5K Worldwide: $77.7K
  35. 1835 Circo (2011) movie poster
    Circo (2011) Apr 1, 2011 · Spanish · Drama, Documentary $77.5K worldwide
    Apr 1, 2011 US and Canada: $77.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $77.5K
  36. 1836 Cocalero (2007) movie poster
    Cocalero (2007) Jan 22, 2007 · Spanish · Documentary $77.3K worldwide
    Jan 22, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $77.3K
  37. 1837 The Pool (2024) movie poster
    The Pool (2024) Jun 5, 2024 · English · Documentary $77.2K worldwide
    Jun 5, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $77.2K
  38. 1838 The State Against Mandela and the Others (2018) movie poster
    The State Against Mandela and the Others (2018) May 15, 2018 · French · Animation, Documentary, History $77K worldwide
    May 15, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $77K
  39. 1839 Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche (2022) movie poster
    Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche (2022) Sep 23, 2022 · English · Documentary $76.8K worldwide
    Sep 23, 2022 US and Canada: $76.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $76.8K
  40. 1840 In Balanchine's Classroom (2021) movie poster
    In Balanchine's Classroom (2021) Sep 17, 2021 · English · Documentary $76.7K worldwide
    Sep 17, 2021 US and Canada: $76.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $76.7K
  41. 1841 Mademoiselle C (2013) movie poster
    Mademoiselle C (2013) Sep 11, 2013 · French · Documentary $76.6K worldwide
    Sep 11, 2013 US and Canada: $48.7K Rest of the world: $28K Worldwide: $76.6K
  42. 1842 Don't Blink - Robert Frank (2016) movie poster
    Don't Blink - Robert Frank (2016) Jul 13, 2016 · English · Biography, History, Documentary $76.5K worldwide
    Jul 13, 2016 US and Canada: $76.1K Rest of the world: $407 Worldwide: $76.5K
  43. 1843 Neil Young: Harvest Time (2022) movie poster
    Neil Young: Harvest Time (2022) Dec 1, 2022 · English · Music, Documentary $76.5K worldwide
    Dec 1, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $76.5K
  44. 1844 The New Rijksmuseum (2013) movie poster
    The New Rijksmuseum (2013) Dec 18, 2013 · Dutch · Documentary $76.5K worldwide
    Dec 18, 2013 US and Canada: $40.6K Rest of the world: $35.9K Worldwide: $76.5K
  45. 1845 The Man Who Was Too Free (2016) movie poster
    The Man Who Was Too Free (2016) Dec 6, 2016 · Russian · Documentary $76.3K worldwide
    Dec 6, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $76.3K
  46. 1846 The Happiest Man in the World (2022) movie poster
    The Happiest Man in the World (2022) Apr 12, 2022 · Documentary $76.2K worldwide
    Apr 12, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $76.2K
  47. 1847 Russia from Above (2019) movie poster
    Russia from Above (2019) Apr 3, 2019 · German · Documentary $76.2K worldwide
    Apr 3, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $76.2K
  48. 1848 Being AP (2015) movie poster
    Being AP (2015) Sep 10, 2015 · English · Documentary $76.2K worldwide
    Sep 10, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $76.2K
  49. 1849 She Rises Up (2024) movie poster
    She Rises Up (2024) Jun 21, 2024 · English · Documentary $76.1K worldwide
    Jun 21, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $76.1K
  50. 1850 A Woman (2021) movie poster
    A Woman (2021) Nov 20, 2021 · German · Documentary $76.1K worldwide
    Nov 20, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $76.1K
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