#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 77
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 77 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 3,801 to 3,850 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 3801
Jul 20, 2005 US and Canada: $1.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.5K - 3802
May 11, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5K - 3803
Unborn in the USA: Inside the War on Abortion (2007)Jun 15, 2007 US and Canada: $1.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.5K
Jun 15, 2007 · English · Documentary $1.5K worldwide - 3804
Jun 6, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5K - 3805
Oct 13, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5K - 3806
Jun 3, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5K - 3807
Aug 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5K - 3808
The Man Who Shot Chinatown: The Life and Work of John A. Alonzo (2007)2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5K 2007 · English · Documentary $1.5K worldwide - 3809
May 11, 2017 US and Canada: $1.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4K - 3810
Feb 19, 2003 US and Canada: $1.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4K - 3811
Jul 23, 1983 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K - 3812
Monumental: David Brower's Fight for Wild America (2005)Jul 22, 2005 US and Canada: $1.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4K Jul 22, 2005 · English · Documentary $1.4K worldwide - 3813
Oct 19, 2012 US and Canada: $1.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4K - 3814
Oct 18, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K - 3815
Sep 18, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K - 3816
May 9, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K - 3817
Mar 13, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K - 3818
Feb 9, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K - 3819
Sep 6, 2002 US and Canada: $1.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4K - 3820
Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting (2023)Mar 31, 2023 US and Canada: $1.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4K Mar 31, 2023 · English · Documentary $1.4K worldwide - 3821
In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America (2017)Sep 24, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K Sep 24, 2017 · English · Documentary $1.4K worldwide - 3822
Nov 7, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K - 3823
Elton John: Never Too Late (2024)Nov 15, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4K Nov 15, 2024 · English · Documentary, Biography, Music $1.4K worldwide - 3824
Nov 25, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K - 3825
Jul 13, 2005 US and Canada: $1.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3K - 3826
Jun 24, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K - 3827
2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K - 3828
Oct 2, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K - 3829
Oct 5, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K - 3830
Jan 18, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K - 3831
Mar 1, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K - 3832
Oct 9, 1984 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K - 3833
Nov 17, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K - 3834
1992 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K - 3835
Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story (2020)Aug 14, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K Aug 14, 2020 · English · Documentary $1.3K worldwide - 3836
Nov 18, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K - 3837
Aug 5, 2005 US and Canada: $1.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2K - 3838
Proteus: A Nineteenth Century Vision (2004)2004 US and Canada: $1.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2K 2004 · English · Animation, History, Documentary $1.2K worldwide - 3839
Jan 28, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K - 3840
Apr 24, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K - 3841
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021)Apr 23, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K Apr 23, 2021 · English · History, Family, Documentary $1.2K worldwide - 3842
Mar 8, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K - 3843
Jun 15, 2007 US and Canada: $1.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2K - 3844
Mar 16, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K - 3845
Jul 26, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K - 3846
Apr 15, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K - 3847
Jun 17, 2015 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K - 3848
Apr 13, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K - 3849
Big Boys Gone Bananas!* (2012)Jul 27, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2K Jul 27, 2012 · English · Biography, Drama, Documentary $1.2K worldwide - 3850
Jan 6, 2017 US and Canada: $1.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2K
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)