#1 of 12 #1 documentary movie of 1988
1988 · Documentary, Music
$8.6M worldwide · 56% of the chart's total
$8.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Documentary box office · 1988
Documentary Box Office 1988: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 1988, with $8.6M worldwide, ahead of Imagine: John Lennon (1988) at $3.8M and The Thin Blue Line (1988) at $1.2M. 12 documentary films released in 1988 report a worldwide gross, $15.3M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 72% on 1987, whose releases took $54.3M. By language, English leads with $15.3M across 8 documentary releases.
- 1988 releases with a gross
- 12
- combined worldwide
- $15.3M
- U2: Rattle and Hum (1988), the #1
- $8.6M
- vs 1987
- −72%
#1 of 12 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 1988?
U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) leads with $8.6M, 56% of the total. The top 5 together took $14.7M, 96% of what all 12 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 1988, 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 1988.
- 1 Nov 3, 1988 US and Canada: $8.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.6M
- 2 Sep 30, 1988 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: $296 Worldwide: $3.8M
- 3 Sep 1, 1988 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M
- 4 Feb 20, 1988 US and Canada: $589.2K Rest of the world: $3.3K Worldwide: $592.6K
- 5 Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1988)Oct 25, 1988 US and Canada: $518.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $518.9K
Oct 25, 1988 · English · Documentary, Music $518.9K worldwide - 6
The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)Jun 17, 1988 US and Canada: $373.7K Rest of the world: $16 Worldwide: $373.8K Jun 17, 1988 · English · Documentary, Music $373.8K worldwide - 7
Apr 22, 1988 US and Canada: $193.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $193.2K - 8
Sep 23, 1988 US and Canada: $22.2K Rest of the world: $5.2K Worldwide: $27.4K - 9
1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.9K - 10
Mar 2, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.8K - 11
Mar 2, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.8K - 12
Jun 6, 1988 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $472
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1988?
Of the top 10, U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (1988) made 19% of its gross abroad. Across all 12 films, $15.3M (100%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) $8.6M $8.6M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Imagine: John Lennon (1988) $3.8M $3.8M US & Canada · 100% $296 elsewhere · <1%
- 3 The Thin Blue Line (1988) $1.2M $1.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Powaqqatsi (1988) $592.6K $589.2K US & Canada · 99% $3.3K elsewhere · <1%
- 5 Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1988) $518.9K $518.9K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988) $373.8K $373.7K US & Canada · 100% $16 elsewhere · <1%
- 7 Mondo New York (1988) $193.2K $193.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (1988) $27.4K $22.2K US & Canada · 81% $5.2K elsewhere · 19%
- 9 Francis Bacon (1988) $17.9K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Jane B. by Agnès V. (1988) $10.8K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 1988 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 12 films reached $100M. 12 films, 100% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $15.3M total.
100%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- Under $10M 12 films, 100% of the list $15.3M · 100% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1988 Earned the Most?
November releases took the most, $8.6M from 1 film, led by U2: Rattle and Hum (1988). January was the quietest month ($17.9K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Francis Bacon (1988) $17.9K Francis Bacon (1988)
- February Feb Powaqqatsi (1988) $592.6K Powaqqatsi (1988)
- March Mar Jane B. by Agnès V. (1988) $21.7K Jane B. by Agnès V. (1988)
- April Apr Mondo New York (1988) $193.2K Mondo New York (1988)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988) $374.2K The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep Imagine: John Lennon (1988) $5M Imagine: John Lennon (1988)
- October Oct Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1988) $518.9K Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1988)
- November Nov U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) $8.6M U2: Rattle and Hum (1988)
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 1988 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1987 earned the most: $54.3M from 4 films, led by Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987). 1988 took $15.3M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 1985 6 films · −93% | 6 | $1.8M | −93% | The Dream Is Alive (1985) $1M |
| 1986 3 films · −23% | 3 | $1.4M | −23% | Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson (1986) $1.3M |
| 1987 4 films · +3833% | 4 | $54.3M | +3833% | Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987) $50.5M |
| 1988 12 films · −72% | 12 | $15.3M | −72% | U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) $8.6M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 1988?
English-language documentary films took $15.3M across 8 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Swedish-language documentary films ($27.4K) and French-language documentary films ($21.7K).
1988 Documentary Box Office by Language
- English $15.3M8 films · #1 U2: Rattle and Hum (1988)
-
Swedish $27.4K1 film · #1 Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (1988) -
French $21.7K2 films · #1 Jane B. by Agnès V. (1988) -
Portuguese $4721 film · #1 Steel Mask Versus Blue Abyss (1988)
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 1988: 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 12 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 1988?
U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) leads with $8.6M worldwide, $8.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Imagine: John Lennon (1988) at $3.8M and The Thin Blue Line (1988) at $1.2M.
How much did documentary movies released in 1988 earn?
12 documentary films released in 1988 report a worldwide gross, $15.3M in all, or $1.3M per film on average. 1987 releases took $54.3M.
How many documentary movies released in 1988 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, U2: Rattle and Hum (1988), earned $8.6M.
How is the 1988 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 1988. 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 1988 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.