#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 47
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 47 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 2,301 to 2,350 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 2301
Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande (2022)Mar 12, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.5K
Mar 12, 2022 · English · Documentary, Music $40.5K worldwide - 2302
Apr 11, 2008 US and Canada: $40.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.5K - 2303
Apr 5, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.4K - 2304
Apr 5, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.4K - 2305
Sep 30, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.2K - 2306
Mar 14, 2014 US and Canada: $40.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.2K - 2307
Jan 25, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.2K - 2308
Oct 19, 2018 US and Canada: $28.3K Rest of the world: $11.9K Worldwide: $40.1K - 2309
Jul 27, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.1K - 2310
Dec 14, 2011 US and Canada: $40.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.1K - 2311
Jul 9, 2017 US and Canada: $40.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.1K - 2312
Jan 8, 2017 US and Canada: $40.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.1K - 2313
Nov 3, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $40.1K - 2314
May 18, 2011 US and Canada: $40K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40K - 2315
Sep 14, 2007 US and Canada: $40K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40K - 2316
Sep 27, 1975 US and Canada: $36.9K Rest of the world: $2.9K Worldwide: $39.9K - 2317
Sep 20, 2013 US and Canada: $39.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.8K - 2318
Oct 31, 2014 US and Canada: $7.1K Rest of the world: $32.8K Worldwide: $39.8K - 2319
Jun 15, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.8K - 2320
Apr 15, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.7K - 2321
Apr 24, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.6K - 2322
Sep 15, 2023 US and Canada: $39.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.6K - 2323
Feb 2, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.5K - 2324
Mar 22, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.4K - 2325
Dec 17, 2003 US and Canada: $39.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.4K - 2326
Apr 19, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.4K - 2327
Sep 18, 2015 US and Canada: $39.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.3K - 2328
Aug 25, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.3K - 2329
3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets (2015)Jun 19, 2015 US and Canada: $30.4K Rest of the world: $8.9K Worldwide: $39.3K Jun 19, 2015 · English · Drama, Crime, Documentary $39.3K worldwide - 2330
Oct 8, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.2K - 2331
Sep 9, 2011 US and Canada: $39.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.2K - 2332
Jun 26, 2013 US and Canada: $39.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.2K - 2333
Oct 28, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.1K - 2334
Expedition to the End of the World (2014)Aug 20, 2014 US and Canada: $39.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.1K Aug 20, 2014 · English · Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy $39.1K worldwide - 2335
Jul 25, 2025 US and Canada: $39.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.1K - 2336
Oct 4, 2024 US and Canada: $39.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.1K - 2337
A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995)1995 US and Canada: $39.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.1K 1995 · English · Documentary $39.1K worldwide - 2338
Jan 18, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39K - 2339
Sep 13, 2013 US and Canada: $38.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.9K - 2340
Sep 11, 1994 US and Canada: $38.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.8K - 2341
Paul Williams Still Alive (2012)Jun 8, 2012 US and Canada: $38.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.7K Jun 8, 2012 · English · Biography, Comedy, Musical $38.7K worldwide - 2342
Apr 1, 2016 US and Canada: $38.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.6K - 2343
Feb 12, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $38.6K - 2344
Apr 15, 2005 US and Canada: $35.6K Rest of the world: $3K Worldwide: $38.6K - 2345
Troublemakers: The Story of Land Art (2016)Jan 8, 2016 US and Canada: $29.5K Rest of the world: $9.1K Worldwide: $38.6K Jan 8, 2016 · English · Biography, History, Documentary $38.6K worldwide - 2346
Sep 19, 2001 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $38.5K - 2347
Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes (2018)Dec 7, 2018 US and Canada: $38.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.5K Dec 7, 2018 · English · Documentary $38.5K worldwide - 2348
Aug 24, 2012 US and Canada: $38.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.5K - 2349
Sep 12, 2025 US and Canada: $38.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.4K - 2350
Jan 31, 2018 US and Canada: $25K Rest of the world: $13.3K Worldwide: $38.2K
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
- 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)