#1 of 7 #1 documentary movie of 1984
1984 · Music, Documentary
$13.1M worldwide · 55% of the chart's total
$10.3M US & Canada · 79% $2.8M elsewhere · 21%
Documentary box office · 1984
Documentary Box Office 1984: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
Stop Making Sense (1984) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 1984, with $13.1M worldwide, ahead of Terror in the Aisles (1984) at $10M and Marlene (1984) at $852.7K. 7 documentary films released in 1984 report a worldwide gross, $24.1M in all, 88% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 49% on 1983, whose releases took $16.2M. By language, English leads with $23.2M across 4 documentary releases.
- 1984 releases with a gross
- 7
- combined worldwide
- $24.1M
- Stop Making Sense (1984), the #1
- $13.1M
- vs 1983
- +49%
#1 of 7 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 1984?
Stop Making Sense (1984) leads with $13.1M, 55% of the total. The top 5 together took $24.1M, almost all of what the 7 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Documentary Release of 1984, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 1984.
- 1 Oct 18, 1984 US and Canada: $10.3M Rest of the world: $2.8M Worldwide: $13.1M
- 2 Oct 26, 1984 US and Canada: $10M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10M
- 3 Oct 1, 1984 US and Canada: $852.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $852.7K
- 4 Oct 7, 1984 US and Canada: $13.8K Rest of the world: $32.8K Worldwide: $46.6K
- 5 Aug 11, 1984 US and Canada: $18.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $18.2K
- 6
Dec 7, 1984 US and Canada: $9.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.9K - 7
Oct 9, 1984 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1984?
Of the top 7, Terror in the Aisles (1984) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Times of Harvey Milk (1984) made 70% of its gross abroad. Across all 7 films, $21.2M (88%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 7 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Stop Making Sense (1984) $13.1M $10.3M US & Canada · 79% $2.8M elsewhere · 21%
- 2 Terror in the Aisles (1984) $10M $10M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Marlene (1984) $852.7K $852.7K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 The Times of Harvey Milk (1984) $46.6K $13.8K US & Canada · 30% $32.8K elsewhere · 70%
- 5 Tosca’s Kiss (1984) $18.2K $18.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Streetwise (1984) $9.9K $9.9K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Leila and the Wolves (1984) $1.3K No US & Canada figure reported
By release month
Which Month of 1984 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $24M from 5 films, led by Stop Making Sense (1984). December was the quietest month ($9.9K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug Tosca’s Kiss (1984) $18.2K Tosca’s Kiss (1984)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct Stop Making Sense (1984) $24M Stop Making Sense (1984)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec Streetwise (1984) $9.9K Streetwise (1984)
Last 10 years
How Does 1984 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1982 earned the most: $44.4M from 8 films, led by Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982). 1984 took $24.1M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 2 films | 2 | $40.9K | – | Grey Gardens (1975) $39.9K |
| 1976 3 films · +12114% | 3 | $5M | +12114% | That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) $5M |
| 1977 6 films · −94% | 6 | $298.5K | −94% | ABBA: The Movie (1977) $144.4K |
| 1978 2 films · +22% | 2 | $363.8K | +22% | The Last Waltz (1978) $363.5K |
| 1979 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| 1980 1 film | 1 | $5.3M | – | Divine Madness (1980) $5.3M |
| 1981 4 films · −60% | 4 | $2.1M | −60% | This Is Elvis (1981) $2M |
| 1982 8 films · +1986% | 8 | $44.4M | +1986% | Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982) $36.3M |
| 1983 3 films · −64% | 3 | $16.2M | −64% | Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983) $16.2M |
| 1984 7 films · +49% | 7 | $24.1M | +49% | Stop Making Sense (1984) $13.1M |
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)
1960s 6 years · $143K
1950s 5 years · $233.2K
1920s 2 years · $201.5K
1910s 1 year · $9.7K
FAQ
Documentary Box Office 1984: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 7 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 1984?
Stop Making Sense (1984) leads with $13.1M worldwide, $10.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Terror in the Aisles (1984) at $10M and Marlene (1984) at $852.7K.
How much did documentary movies released in 1984 earn?
7 documentary films released in 1984 report a worldwide gross, $24.1M in all, or $3.4M per film on average. 1983 releases took $16.2M.
How many documentary movies released in 1984 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Stop Making Sense (1984), earned $13.1M.
How is the 1984 documentary box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in 1984. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.
How often is the 1984 documentary box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.