#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 43
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 43 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 2,101 to 2,150 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 2101
Dec 22, 2005 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $52.9K - 2102
Dec 5, 2007 US and Canada: $52.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.8K - 2103
Aug 22, 2014 US and Canada: $52.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.8K - 2104
Jun 1, 2011 US and Canada: $52.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.7K - 2105
Jun 4, 2010 US and Canada: $52.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.5K - 2106
Oct 9, 2009 US and Canada: $52.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.5K - 2107
Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie (2013)Jun 7, 2013 US and Canada: $52.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.5K
Jun 7, 2013 · English · History, Family, Documentary $52.5K worldwide - 2108
Jul 3, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $52.4K - 2109
Apr 23, 2010 US and Canada: $52.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.4K - 2110
Dec 2, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $52.4K - 2111
Jun 12, 2008 US and Canada: $52.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.3K - 2112
Dec 8, 2006 US and Canada: $52K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52K - 2113
Oct 1, 2009 US and Canada: $25.5K Rest of the world: $26.5K Worldwide: $52K - 2114
May 31, 2024 US and Canada: $51.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $51.9K - 2115
Hiding and Seeking: Faith and Tolerance After the Holocaust (2004)Feb 6, 2004 US and Canada: $51.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $51.9K Feb 6, 2004 · English · Documentary $51.9K worldwide - 2116
Nov 1, 2019 US and Canada: $51.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $51.9K - 2117
May 20, 2025 US and Canada: $51.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $51.9K - 2118
Aug 19, 2015 US and Canada: $51.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $51.9K - 2119
Dec 6, 2019 US and Canada: $42.3K Rest of the world: $9.4K Worldwide: $51.7K - 2120
Mar 15, 2017 US and Canada: $51.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $51.5K - 2121
Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach (2016)Jun 30, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $51.3K Jun 30, 2016 · English · Documentary $51.3K worldwide - 2122
Jun 12, 2015 US and Canada: $50.2K Rest of the world: $1.1K Worldwide: $51.3K - 2123
May 10, 2013 US and Canada: $51.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $51.3K - 2124
Oct 11, 2013 US and Canada: $51.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $51.2K - 2125
Jul 11, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $51.2K - 2126
Oct 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $51.1K - 2127
Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted (2025)May 2, 2025 US and Canada: $51K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $51K May 2, 2025 · English · Documentary, Comedy, Music $51K worldwide - 2128
Jun 27, 2008 US and Canada: $50.8K Rest of the world: $146 Worldwide: $51K - 2129
Jun 18, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.9K - 2130
Apr 21, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.7K - 2131
Mar 9, 2001 US and Canada: $50.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $50.7K - 2132
Jul 17, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.7K - 2133
Jun 29, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.7K - 2134
Mar 18, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.7K - 2135
Sep 27, 1996 US and Canada: $50.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $50.6K - 2136
Jul 27, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.6K - 2137
Dec 16, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.5K - 2138
Feb 10, 2017 US and Canada: $50.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $50.5K - 2139
Sep 2, 2009 US and Canada: $50.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $50.4K - 2140
Dec 1, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.4K - 2141
Sep 18, 2019 US and Canada: $41.3K Rest of the world: $9.1K Worldwide: $50.3K - 2142
Oct 30, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.2K - 2143
Apr 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.1K - 2144
May 6, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50K - 2145
Dec 8, 2017 US and Canada: $47.8K Rest of the world: $2.2K Worldwide: $50K - 2146
Stardate Revisited - The Origin of Star Trek: The Next Generation (2012)Jul 23, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.9K Jul 23, 2012 · English · Documentary $49.9K worldwide - 2147
Sep 2, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.9K - 2148
Mar 29, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.8K - 2149
Jan 15, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.8K - 2150
May 2, 2014 US and Canada: $49.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49.6K
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)