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Documentary box office · All time

Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies of All Time, Page 46

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 46 of 81

All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 2,251 to 2,300 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.

  1. 2251 The Cleaners (2018) movie poster
    The Cleaners (2018) Nov 23, 2018 · English · Documentary $43.7K worldwide
    Nov 23, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $43.7K
  2. 2252 A Grin Without a Cat (1977) movie poster
    A Grin Without a Cat (1977) Nov 23, 1977 · French · Documentary $43.6K worldwide
    Nov 23, 1977 US and Canada: $43.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.6K
  3. 2253 Love Etc. (2011) movie poster
    Love Etc. (2011) Jul 1, 2011 · English · Documentary $43.6K worldwide
    Jul 1, 2011 US and Canada: $43.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.6K
  4. 2254 Who Cares? (2014) movie poster
    Who Cares? (2014) Sep 4, 2014 · Portuguese · Documentary $43.6K worldwide
    Sep 4, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $43.6K
  5. 2255 Take Me to the River: New Orleans (2022) movie poster
    Take Me to the River: New Orleans (2022) Apr 21, 2022 · English · Documentary $43.6K worldwide
    Apr 21, 2022 US and Canada: $43.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.6K
  6. 2256 Our Body (2023) movie poster
    Our Body (2023) Aug 4, 2023 · French · Documentary $43.4K worldwide
    Aug 4, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $43.4K
  7. 2257 If You Build It (2014) movie poster
    If You Build It (2014) Jan 10, 2014 · English · Documentary $43.4K worldwide
    Jan 10, 2014 US and Canada: $43.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.4K
  8. 2258 Next Goal Wins (2014) movie poster
    Next Goal Wins (2014) Apr 25, 2014 · English · Sport, Documentary $43.1K worldwide
    Apr 25, 2014 US and Canada: $43.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $43.1K
  9. 2259 Mother Suriname – Mama Sranan (2023) movie poster
    Mother Suriname – Mama Sranan (2023) Nov 16, 2023 · Dutch · Documentary $42.9K worldwide
    Nov 16, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42.9K
  10. 2260 Andre Gregory: Before and After Dinner (2013) movie poster
    Andre Gregory: Before and After Dinner (2013) Apr 3, 2013 · English · Documentary $42.9K worldwide
    Apr 3, 2013 US and Canada: $42.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.9K
  11. 2261 Valley of the Boom (2019) movie poster
    Valley of the Boom (2019) 2019 · English · Drama, Documentary $42.8K worldwide
    2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42.8K
  12. 2262 A Dog Called Money (2019) movie poster
    A Dog Called Money (2019) Feb 9, 2019 · English · Documentary, Music $42.7K worldwide
    Feb 9, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42.7K
  13. 2263 Donkeyote (2017) movie poster
    Donkeyote (2017) Jan 28, 2017 · Spanish · Family, Western, Documentary $42.5K worldwide
    Jan 28, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42.5K
  14. 2264 Massoud the Afghan (1998) movie poster
    Massoud the Afghan (1998) Sep 30, 1998 · French · Documentary, History $42.5K worldwide
    Sep 30, 1998 US and Canada: $26.7K Rest of the world: $15.7K Worldwide: $42.5K
  15. 2265 Invisible World (2012) movie poster
    Invisible World (2012) Oct 29, 2012 · Documentary, Drama $42.4K worldwide
    Oct 29, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42.4K
  16. 2266 Last Call at the Oasis (2012) movie poster
    Last Call at the Oasis (2012) May 4, 2012 · English · Documentary $42.4K worldwide
    May 4, 2012 US and Canada: $42.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.4K
  17. 2267 The Oath (2010) movie poster
    The Oath (2010) May 7, 2010 · Documentary $42.3K worldwide
    May 7, 2010 US and Canada: $42.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.3K
  18. 2268 Breathing Underwater (2016) movie poster
    Breathing Underwater (2016) May 1, 2016 · Korean · Documentary $42.2K worldwide
    May 1, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42.2K
  19. 2269 McKellen: Playing the Part (2017) movie poster
    McKellen: Playing the Part (2017) Nov 1, 2017 · English · Documentary, History $42.2K worldwide
    Nov 1, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42.2K
  20. 2270 Mandela (1996) movie poster
    Mandela (1996) Oct 11, 1996 · English · Documentary, History $42.1K worldwide
    Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $42.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.1K
  21. 2271 Seeds (2026) movie poster
    Seeds (2026) Jan 16, 2026 · English · Documentary $42.1K worldwide
    Jan 16, 2026 US and Canada: $42.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.1K
  22. 2272 For Vagina’s Sake (2017) movie poster
    For Vagina’s Sake (2017) Jun 2, 2017 · Korean · Documentary $42K worldwide
    Jun 2, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42K
  23. 2273 In Search of Chopin (2014) movie poster
    In Search of Chopin (2014) May 15, 2014 · English · Documentary $42K worldwide
    May 15, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $42K
  24. 2274 Loudmouth (2022) movie poster
    Loudmouth (2022) Dec 9, 2022 · English · Documentary $42K worldwide
    Dec 9, 2022 US and Canada: $42K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42K
  25. 2275 The Nightmare (2015) movie poster
    The Nightmare (2015) Jun 5, 2015 · English · Documentary $41.9K worldwide
    Jun 5, 2015 US and Canada: $28.3K Rest of the world: $13.6K Worldwide: $41.9K
  26. 2276 The Princess (2022) movie poster
    The Princess (2022) Aug 13, 2022 · English · Documentary $41.8K worldwide
    Aug 13, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $41.8K
  27. 2277 The Red Princess (2022) movie poster
    The Red Princess (2022) Apr 4, 2022 · French · Documentary $41.8K worldwide
    Apr 4, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $41.8K
  28. 2278 Piazzolla: The Years of the Shark (2018) movie poster
    Piazzolla: The Years of the Shark (2018) Aug 30, 2018 · Spanish · Documentary $41.8K worldwide
    Aug 30, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $41.8K
  29. 2279 On the Bowery (1956) movie poster
    On the Bowery (1956) Sep 1, 1956 · English · Documentary, Drama $41.8K worldwide
    Sep 1, 1956 US and Canada: $41.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.8K
  30. 2280 Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (2024) movie poster
    Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (2024) May 3, 2024 · English · Documentary $41.6K worldwide
    May 3, 2024 US and Canada: $14.1K Rest of the world: $27.5K Worldwide: $41.6K
  31. 2281 Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands (2024) movie poster
    Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands (2024) Aug 21, 2024 · English · Documentary, Music $41.5K worldwide
    Aug 21, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $41.5K
  32. 2282 The Mountain Within Me (2024) movie poster
    The Mountain Within Me (2024) Aug 20, 2024 · English · Documentary $41.4K worldwide
    Aug 20, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $41.4K
  33. 2283 The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (2008) movie poster
    The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (2008) Nov 21, 2008 · English · Documentary $41.3K worldwide
    Nov 21, 2008 US and Canada: $41.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.3K
  34. 2284 Censored Voices (2015) movie poster
    Censored Voices (2015) Nov 20, 2015 · Hebrew · History, Documentary $41.3K worldwide
    Nov 20, 2015 US and Canada: $41.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.3K
  35. 2285 Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans (2015) movie poster
    Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans (2015) May 16, 2015 · English · Documentary $41.2K worldwide
    May 16, 2015 US and Canada: $6.8K Rest of the world: $34.4K Worldwide: $41.2K
  36. 2286 Mr. Bachmann and His Class (2022) movie poster
    Mr. Bachmann and His Class (2022) Feb 20, 2022 · German · Documentary $41.2K worldwide
    Feb 20, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $41.2K
  37. 2287 The Smiling Lombana (2018) movie poster
    The Smiling Lombana (2018) Feb 28, 2018 · Spanish · Documentary $41.2K worldwide
    Feb 28, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $41.2K
  38. 2288 Nobody’s Perfect (2008) movie poster
    Nobody’s Perfect (2008) Nov 27, 2008 · Cantonese · Documentary $41.1K worldwide
    Nov 27, 2008 US and Canada: $2.1K Rest of the world: $39K Worldwide: $41.1K
  39. 2289 Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes (2019) movie poster
    Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes (2019) Jun 14, 2019 · English · Music, Documentary $41.1K worldwide
    Jun 14, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $41.1K
  40. 2290 Karl Marx City (2016) movie poster
    Karl Marx City (2016) Sep 8, 2016 · Documentary $41.1K worldwide
    Sep 8, 2016 US and Canada: $41.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $41.1K
  41. 2291 Young Plato (2022) movie poster
    Young Plato (2022) Sep 23, 2022 · English · Documentary $41K worldwide
    Sep 23, 2022 US and Canada: $24.4K Rest of the world: $16.6K Worldwide: $41K
  42. 2292 Hell and Back Again (2011) movie poster
    Hell and Back Again (2011) Oct 1, 2011 · English · Action, History, War $40.9K worldwide
    Oct 1, 2011 US and Canada: $40.6K Rest of the world: $315 Worldwide: $40.9K
  43. 2293 Tom Dowd & the Language of Music (2004) movie poster
    Tom Dowd & the Language of Music (2004) Jan 16, 2004 · English · Music, Documentary $40.9K worldwide
    Jan 16, 2004 US and Canada: $40.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.9K
  44. 2294 Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist (2014) movie poster
    Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist (2014) Feb 17, 2014 · English · Documentary $40.9K worldwide
    Feb 17, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.9K
  45. 2295 Moving Midway (2008) movie poster
    Moving Midway (2008) Sep 12, 2008 · English · Documentary $40.9K worldwide
    Sep 12, 2008 US and Canada: $40.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.9K
  46. 2296 Yung Lean: In My Head (2020) movie poster
    Yung Lean: In My Head (2020) Apr 15, 2020 · Swedish · Documentary, Music $40.8K worldwide
    Apr 15, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.8K
  47. 2297 Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America (2014) movie poster
    Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America (2014) Jan 24, 2014 · Spanish · Documentary $40.8K worldwide
    Jan 24, 2014 US and Canada: $2.6K Rest of the world: $38.1K Worldwide: $40.8K
  48. 2298 Spirit of the Marathon (2008) movie poster
    Spirit of the Marathon (2008) Jan 24, 2008 · English · Documentary $40.6K worldwide
    Jan 24, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.6K
  49. 2299 Tying the Knot (2004) movie poster
    Tying the Knot (2004) Oct 1, 2004 · English · Documentary $40.6K worldwide
    Oct 1, 2004 US and Canada: $40.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.6K
  50. 2300 My Flesh and Blood (2003) movie poster
    My Flesh and Blood (2003) Nov 28, 2003 · English · Documentary $40.6K worldwide
    Nov 28, 2003 US and Canada: $40.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.6K
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
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