#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 8
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 8 of 81
All 4,018 Documentary Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 351 to 400 of 4,018. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 351
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (2012)Sep 21, 2012 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: $703.9K Worldwide: $1.7M
Sep 21, 2012 · English · Biography, Documentary $1.7M worldwide - 352
May 20, 2016 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $39.8K Worldwide: $1.7M - 353
The Finnish Flash - A Teemu Selänne Story (2013)Sep 26, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M
Sep 26, 2013 · Finnish · Documentary $1.7M worldwide - 354
Sep 11, 2015 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.7M - 355
Oct 28, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M - 356
Jul 6, 2022 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $574.7K Worldwide: $1.7M - 357
Dec 6, 2013 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $15.5K Worldwide: $1.7M - 358
Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015)Nov 27, 2015 US and Canada: $410.5K Rest of the world: $1.3M Worldwide: $1.7M Nov 27, 2015 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $1.7M worldwide - 359
Louis Tomlinson: All of Those Voices (2023)Mar 22, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M Mar 22, 2023 · English · Documentary, Music $1.7M worldwide - 360
Apr 29, 2020 US and Canada: $539.5K Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $1.7M - 361
Nov 2, 2007 US and Canada: $850.9K Rest of the world: $807.5K Worldwide: $1.7M - 362
May 5, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M - 363
Apr 29, 2015 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: $310K Worldwide: $1.6M - 364
May 11, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M - 365
Mar 4, 1997 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M - 366
Nov 26, 2018 US and Canada: $726.7K Rest of the world: $880K Worldwide: $1.6M - 367
Jun 12, 2013 US and Canada: $79.8K Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $1.6M - 368
Mar 11, 2011 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M - 369
Oct 7, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M - 370
Apr 11, 2008 US and Canada: $155.1K Rest of the world: $1.4M Worldwide: $1.6M - 371
The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52 (2021)Jul 9, 2021 US and Canada: $107.8K Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $1.6M Jul 9, 2021 · English · Adventure, Documentary $1.6M worldwide - 372
Nov 13, 2017 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M - 373
National Theatre Live: Our Generation (2022)Mar 8, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M Mar 8, 2022 · English · Documentary, Drama, Comedy $1.6M worldwide - 374
The Basque Ball: Skin Against Stone (2003)Sep 20, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M
Sep 20, 2003 · Spanish · History, Documentary $1.6M worldwide - 375
Dec 12, 2007 US and Canada: $161.2K Rest of the world: $1.4M Worldwide: $1.6M - 376
May 9, 2014 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: $7.3K Worldwide: $1.5M - 377
May 4, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 378
Apr 26, 2002 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: $222.5K Worldwide: $1.5M - 379
Jul 26, 2002 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: $82.4K Worldwide: $1.5M - 380
Mar 5, 2021 US and Canada: $521.2K Rest of the world: $994.3K Worldwide: $1.5M - 381
Jun 23, 2006 US and Canada: $326.9K Rest of the world: $1.2M Worldwide: $1.5M - 382
Jun 30, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 383
Oct 26, 2016 US and Canada: $242.9K Rest of the world: $1.2M Worldwide: $1.5M - 384
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008)Jul 4, 2008 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: $239.9K Worldwide: $1.5M Jul 4, 2008 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $1.5M worldwide - 385
Nov 23, 2022 US and Canada: $500.1K Rest of the world: $983.9K Worldwide: $1.5M - 386
Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (2009)Oct 16, 2009 US and Canada: $1.2K Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $1.5M
Oct 16, 2009 · French · Documentary $1.5M worldwide - 387
Aug 21, 2009 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: $81.3K Worldwide: $1.5M - 388
May 20, 2022 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.5M - 389
Aug 23, 2019 US and Canada: $614.2K Rest of the world: $850.3K Worldwide: $1.5M - 390
Jun 10, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 391
Apr 19, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M - 392
Sep 10, 2021 US and Canada: $844.7K Rest of the world: $601.1K Worldwide: $1.4M - 393
Sep 14, 2018 US and Canada: $970K Rest of the world: $475.5K Worldwide: $1.4M - 394
Dec 27, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M - 395
Jun 26, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M - 396
Jan 20, 2006 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 397
Jun 25, 2010 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: $105.5K Worldwide: $1.4M - 398
Jul 27, 2007 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 399
Oct 9, 1996 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M - 400
Jun 12, 2015 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: $112.4K Worldwide: $1.4M
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)