#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 44
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 44 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 2,151 to 2,200 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 2151
Nov 15, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.4K - 2152
Sep 15, 2010 US and Canada: $30.8K Rest of the world: $18.6K Worldwide: $49.4K - 2153
Aug 12, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.4K - 2154
Jun 14, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.4K - 2155
Aug 28, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49.1K - 2156
Sep 7, 2018 US and Canada: $48.7K Rest of the world: $347 Worldwide: $49K - 2157
Sep 30, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $49K - 2158
Sep 18, 2020 US and Canada: $49K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49K - 2159
May 2, 2009 US and Canada: $49K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49K - 2160
Apr 20, 2007 US and Canada: $49K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $49K - 2161
Sep 9, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $48.9K - 2162
The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz (2014)Jun 27, 2014 US and Canada: $48.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $48.9K
Jun 27, 2014 · English · Biography, Crime, Documentary $48.9K worldwide - 2163
Jun 26, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $48.9K - 2164
Mar 11, 2022 US and Canada: $40.4K Rest of the world: $8.4K Worldwide: $48.9K - 2165
May 7, 2015 US and Canada: $48.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $48.9K - 2166
Mar 30, 2018 US and Canada: $48.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $48.7K - 2167
Mar 10, 2006 US and Canada: $48.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $48.6K - 2168
May 22, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $48.5K - 2169
Mar 2, 2007 US and Canada: $38.9K Rest of the world: $9.6K Worldwide: $48.5K - 2170
Sep 14, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $48.4K - 2171
Sep 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $48.3K - 2172
Apr 22, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $48.2K - 2173
Dec 2, 2022 US and Canada: $48.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $48.1K - 2174
Sep 6, 2019 US and Canada: $11.3K Rest of the world: $36.7K Worldwide: $48K - 2175
Oct 18, 2024 US and Canada: $47.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $47.9K - 2176
Jun 17, 1968 US and Canada: $47.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $47.8K - 2177
Janis Ian: Breaking Silence (2025)Mar 28, 2025 US and Canada: $47.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $47.7K Mar 28, 2025 · English · Documentary, Biography, History $47.7K worldwide - 2178
Sep 13, 2013 US and Canada: $47.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $47.6K - 2179
St. Peter’s and the Papal Basilicas of Rome 3D (2016)May 6, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $47.5K
May 6, 2016 · Italian · Documentary $47.5K worldwide - 2180
Jul 14, 2023 US and Canada: $47.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $47.4K - 2181
Jun 7, 2019 US and Canada: $39.7K Rest of the world: $7.6K Worldwide: $47.3K - 2182
Sep 1, 2020 US and Canada: $21.5K Rest of the world: $25.7K Worldwide: $47.2K - 2183
Aug 12, 2005 US and Canada: $47.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $47.2K - 2184
Nov 4, 2005 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $47.2K - 2185
Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things (2020)Jun 26, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $47.1K Jun 26, 2020 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $47.1K worldwide - 2186
Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things (2019)Feb 12, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $47.1K Feb 12, 2019 · English · History, Documentary, Music $47.1K worldwide - 2187
Apr 25, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $47K - 2188
Nov 6, 2009 US and Canada: $47K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $47K - 2189
Mar 18, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $46.9K - 2190
Oct 13, 2017 US and Canada: $37.7K Rest of the world: $9.2K Worldwide: $46.8K - 2191
Jan 23, 2017 US and Canada: $37.7K Rest of the world: $9.2K Worldwide: $46.8K - 2192
Connected: An Autoblogography About Love, Death & Technology (2011)Oct 14, 2011 US and Canada: $46.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $46.8K Oct 14, 2011 · English · Documentary $46.8K worldwide - 2193
Jul 27, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $46.8K - 2194
May 13, 2005 US and Canada: $39.1K Rest of the world: $7.7K Worldwide: $46.7K - 2195
Sep 24, 1999 US and Canada: $46.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $46.7K - 2196
Jan 19, 2011 US and Canada: $46.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $46.6K - 2197
Oct 7, 1984 US and Canada: $13.8K Rest of the world: $32.8K Worldwide: $46.6K - 2198
Etoiles: Dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet (2002)Nov 8, 2002 US and Canada: $46.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $46.4K Nov 8, 2002 · English · Music, Documentary $46.4K worldwide - 2199
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $15.9K Rest of the world: $30.5K Worldwide: $46.4K - 2200
Jul 16, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $46.4K
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)