#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 48
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 48 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 2,351 to 2,400 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 2351
Feb 24, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $38.1K - 2352
Nov 24, 2010 US and Canada: $38.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.1K - 2353
Jul 12, 2017 US and Canada: $37.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.8K - 2354
Sep 3, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.8K - 2355
Sep 7, 2006 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.8K - 2356
Feb 1, 2013 US and Canada: $37.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.7K - 2357
Oct 29, 2025 US and Canada: $37.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.7K - 2358
Mar 29, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.6K - 2359
Oct 3, 2007 US and Canada: $503 Rest of the world: $36.9K Worldwide: $37.4K - 2360
Oct 4, 2019 US and Canada: $31.4K Rest of the world: $5.9K Worldwide: $37.3K - 2361
Jun 4, 2021 US and Canada: $37.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.3K - 2362
What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? (2023)Mar 24, 2023 US and Canada: $37.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.1K
Mar 24, 2023 · English · Documentary $37.1K worldwide - 2363
Jul 21, 2000 US and Canada: $37.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37.1K - 2364
Soul Boys of the Western World (2015)Apr 29, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.1K Apr 29, 2015 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $37.1K worldwide - 2365
Jun 17, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.1K - 2366
Feb 16, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37.1K - 2367
Jun 21, 2019 US and Canada: $37K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37K - 2368
Oct 22, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37K - 2369
Oct 9, 2024 US and Canada: $37K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $37K - 2370
Oct 9, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37K - 2371
Sep 18, 1992 US and Canada: $36.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.9K - 2372
Oct 6, 2017 US and Canada: $21.9K Rest of the world: $14.7K Worldwide: $36.6K - 2373
Sep 1, 2006 US and Canada: $36.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.6K - 2374
Apr 13, 2012 US and Canada: $34K Rest of the world: $2.6K Worldwide: $36.6K - 2375
Feb 28, 2020 US and Canada: $36.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.5K - 2376
Jul 21, 2006 US and Canada: $36.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.4K - 2377
How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change (2016)Apr 20, 2016 US and Canada: $36.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.4K Apr 20, 2016 · English · Documentary $36.4K worldwide - 2378
Sep 9, 2015 US and Canada: $36K Rest of the world: $370 Worldwide: $36.4K - 2379
Nov 19, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $36.3K - 2380
May 18, 2012 US and Canada: $36.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $36.3K - 2381
May 9, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $36.2K - 2382
Sep 1, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $36.2K - 2383
Jul 14, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $36K - 2384
Sep 20, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $36K - 2385
Jul 28, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.9K - 2386
Oct 8, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.9K - 2387
Mar 15, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.8K - 2388
Jun 12, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.8K - 2389
Sep 9, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.8K - 2390
Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything (2023)Nov 21, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.7K Nov 21, 2023 · English · Documentary $35.7K worldwide - 2391
Paul Goodman Changed My Life (2011)Oct 19, 2011 US and Canada: $35.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.7K Oct 19, 2011 · English · Biography, Drama, History $35.7K worldwide - 2392
Far Out Isn’t Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story (2012)Oct 15, 2012 US and Canada: $35.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.6K Oct 15, 2012 · English · Documentary $35.6K worldwide - 2393
Oct 27, 2017 US and Canada: $32.1K Rest of the world: $3.5K Worldwide: $35.6K - 2394
Aug 6, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.6K - 2395
Sep 25, 2015 US and Canada: $35.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.6K - 2396
Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? (2006)Jun 16, 2006 US and Canada: $35.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $35.4K Jun 16, 2006 · English · Documentary $35.4K worldwide - 2397
Oct 21, 2005 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.3K - 2398
Mar 14, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.3K - 2399
Oct 1, 2014 US and Canada: $21.3K Rest of the world: $14K Worldwide: $35.3K - 2400
Nov 23, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35.3K
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)