#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 53
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 53 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 2,601 to 2,650 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 2601
Oct 10, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $26K - 2602
May 10, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $26K - 2603
Aug 2, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $26K - 2604
Sep 20, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.9K - 2605
Mar 8, 2019 US and Canada: $18.8K Rest of the world: $7.2K Worldwide: $25.9K - 2606
Mar 17, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.9K - 2607
Aug 5, 2022 US and Canada: $25.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.9K - 2608
Apr 1, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.9K - 2609
Jun 30, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.8K - 2610
Feb 10, 2006 US and Canada: $25.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.8K - 2611
Oct 20, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.6K - 2612
In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis (2023)Mar 31, 2023 US and Canada: $23.1K Rest of the world: $2.3K Worldwide: $25.4K
Mar 31, 2023 · Italian · Documentary $25.4K worldwide - 2613
Jul 27, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.3K - 2614
Oct 3, 2007 US and Canada: $25.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.3K - 2615
Mar 12, 2004 US and Canada: $25.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.3K - 2616
Nov 11, 2016 US and Canada: $25.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.3K - 2617
Mar 24, 2017 US and Canada: $12.8K Rest of the world: $12.5K Worldwide: $25.3K - 2618
Jul 31, 2009 US and Canada: $25.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $25.1K - 2619
Sep 11, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.1K - 2620
Aug 29, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25K - 2621
Jul 5, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25K - 2622
Back from the Brink: Saved from Extinction (2019)Oct 1, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25K
Oct 1, 2019 · English · Documentary $25K worldwide - 2623
Jun 6, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.9K - 2624
Nov 7, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.9K - 2625
Nov 29, 2017 US and Canada: $24.6K Rest of the world: $243 Worldwide: $24.9K - 2626
Jun 1, 2005 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.8K - 2627
Aug 21, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.8K - 2628
Wrestling with Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner (2006)Oct 4, 2006 US and Canada: $24.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.7K Oct 4, 2006 · English · Documentary $24.7K worldwide - 2629
2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.7K - 2630
Oct 13, 2017 US and Canada: $24.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.7K - 2631
Dec 2, 2011 US and Canada: $2.6K Rest of the world: $22K Worldwide: $24.7K - 2632
Jan 30, 2004 US and Canada: $24.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.6K - 2633
Sep 10, 2014 US and Canada: $24.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.6K - 2634
Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity (2014)Mar 8, 2014 US and Canada: $24.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.6K Mar 8, 2014 · English · Documentary $24.6K worldwide - 2635
Oct 20, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.6K - 2636
Nov 2, 2018 US and Canada: $9.3K Rest of the world: $15.3K Worldwide: $24.6K - 2637
May 29, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.4K - 2638
Oct 20, 2023 US and Canada: $14.4K Rest of the world: $10K Worldwide: $24.4K - 2639
Dec 10, 2018 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.2K - 2640
May 2, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.1K - 2641
Sep 21, 2012 US and Canada: $24.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.1K - 2642
Sep 13, 2019 US and Canada: $24.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24.1K - 2643
Sep 13, 2013 US and Canada: $24K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $24K - 2644
Sep 6, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24K - 2645
May 20, 2016 US and Canada: $21.1K Rest of the world: $2.8K Worldwide: $24K - 2646
Apr 27, 2018 US and Canada: $23.5K Rest of the world: $441 Worldwide: $23.9K - 2647
Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure (2011)Sep 16, 2011 US and Canada: $23.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.9K Sep 16, 2011 · English · Drama, History, Comedy $23.9K worldwide - 2648
Nov 15, 2013 US and Canada: $23.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.9K - 2649
Nov 16, 2018 US and Canada: $3.4K Rest of the world: $20.5K Worldwide: $23.9K - 2650
Apr 23, 2010 US and Canada: $23.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.9K
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)