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Documentary box office · 1994

Documentary Box Office 1994: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies

Hoop Dreams (1994) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 1994, with $11.8M worldwide, ahead of Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy (1994) at $10.2M and The Endless Summer II (1994) at $2.2M. 14 documentary films released in 1994 report a worldwide gross, $26.8M in all, 85% of it from the US & Canada. By language, English leads with $26.8M across 13 documentary releases.

1994 releases with a gross
14
combined worldwide
$26.8M
Hoop Dreams (1994), the #1
$11.8M
earned in the US & Canada
85%
Hoop Dreams (1994) movie poster #1 of 14
#1 documentary movie of 1994

Hoop Dreams (1994)

1994 · Drama, Sport

$11.8M worldwide · 44% of the chart's total

$7.8M US & Canada · 66% $4M elsewhere · 34%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 1994?

Hoop Dreams (1994) leads with $11.8M, 44% of the total. The top 5 together took $25.7M, 96% of what all 14 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Hoop Dreams (1994) movie poster Number 1
    $11.8M Hoop Dreams (1994)
    $7.8M US & Canada · 66% $4M elsewhere · 34%
  2. Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy (1994) movie poster Number 2
    $10.2M Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy (1994)
    $10.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. The Endless Summer II (1994) movie poster Number 3
    $2.2M The Endless Summer II (1994)
    $2.2M US & Canada · 100% $1.6K elsewhere · <1%
  4. The War Room (1994) movie poster Number 4
    $901.7K The War Room (1994)
    $901.7K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (1994) movie poster Number 5
    $669.6K The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (1994)
    $669.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Documentary Release of 1994, 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 1994.

  1. 1 Hoop Dreams (1994) movie poster
    Hoop Dreams (1994) Oct 14, 1994 · English · Drama, Sport, Documentary $11.8M worldwide
    Oct 14, 1994 US and Canada: $7.8M Rest of the world: $4M Worldwide: $11.8M
  2. 2 Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy (1994) movie poster
    Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy (1994) Apr 27, 1994 · English · Comedy, Documentary $10.2M worldwide
    Apr 27, 1994 US and Canada: $10.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.2M
  3. 3 The Endless Summer II (1994) movie poster
    The Endless Summer II (1994) Jun 3, 1994 · English · Documentary $2.2M worldwide
    Jun 3, 1994 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: $1.6K Worldwide: $2.2M
  4. 4 The War Room (1994) movie poster
    The War Room (1994) 1994 · English · History, Documentary $901.7K worldwide
    1994 US and Canada: $901.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $901.7K
  5. 5 The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (1994) movie poster
    The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (1994) Feb 17, 1994 · English · Documentary $669.6K worldwide
    Feb 17, 1994 US and Canada: $669.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $669.6K
  6. 6 A Great Day in Harlem (1994) movie poster
    A Great Day in Harlem (1994) Sep 27, 1994 · English · Documentary, Music, History $527K worldwide
    Sep 27, 1994 US and Canada: $527K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $527K
  7. 7 That's Entertainment! III (1994) movie poster
    That's Entertainment! III (1994) Jul 1, 1994 · English · Family, Musical, Documentary $280.2K worldwide
    Jul 1, 1994 US and Canada: $280.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $280.2K
  8. 8 Freedom on My Mind (1994) movie poster
    Freedom on My Mind (1994) Jun 22, 1994 · English · Documentary $71.2K worldwide
    Jun 22, 1994 US and Canada: $71.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $71.2K
  9. 9 Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision (1994) movie poster
    Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision (1994) Oct 31, 1994 · English · Documentary $62.2K worldwide
    Oct 31, 1994 US and Canada: $62.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $62.2K
  10. 10 Moving the Mountain (1994) movie poster
    Moving the Mountain (1994) Sep 15, 1994 · English · Documentary $44.5K worldwide
    Sep 15, 1994 US and Canada: $44.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.5K
  11. 11 Tsahal (1994) movie poster
    Tsahal (1994) Sep 11, 1994 · English · Documentary $38.8K worldwide
    Sep 11, 1994 US and Canada: $38.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $38.8K
  12. 12 Fast Trip, Long Drop (1994) movie poster
    Fast Trip, Long Drop (1994) Jan 22, 1994 · English · Documentary $10.5K worldwide
    Jan 22, 1994 US and Canada: $10.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.5K
  13. 13 Black Is… Black Ain’t (1994) movie poster
    Black Is… Black Ain’t (1994) Jun 1, 1994 · English · Documentary $10.2K worldwide
    Jun 1, 1994 US and Canada: $10.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.2K
  14. 14 Katatsumori (1994) movie poster
    Katatsumori (1994) May 22, 1994 · Japanese · Documentary $1.1K worldwide
    May 22, 1994 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 1994?

Of the top 10, Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy (1994) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Hoop Dreams (1994) made 34% of its gross abroad. Across all 14 films, $22.8M (85%) came from the US & Canada.

  1. 1 Hoop Dreams (1994) $11.8M
    $7.8M US & Canada · 66% $4M elsewhere · 34%
  2. 2 Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy (1994) $10.2M
    $10.2M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  3. 3 The Endless Summer II (1994) $2.2M
    $2.2M US & Canada · 100% $1.6K elsewhere · <1%
  4. 4 The War Room (1994) $901.7K
    $901.7K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  5. 5 The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (1994) $669.6K
    $669.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  6. 6 A Great Day in Harlem (1994) $527K
    $527K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  7. 7 That's Entertainment! III (1994) $280.2K
    $280.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  8. 8 Freedom on My Mind (1994) $71.2K
    $71.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  9. 9 Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision (1994) $62.2K
    $62.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 Moving the Mountain (1994) $44.5K
    $44.5K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many 1994 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 14 films reached $100M. 12 films, 86% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $26.8M total.

  • $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 2 films, 14% of the list $22M · 82% of the gross
  • Under $10M 12 films, 86% of the list $4.8M · 18% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 1994 Earned the Most?

October releases took the most, $11.9M from 2 films, led by Hoop Dreams (1994). May was the quietest month ($1.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan The War Room (1994) $912.2K The War Room (1994)
  2. February Feb The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (1994) $669.6K The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (1994)
  3. March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  4. April Apr Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy (1994) $10.2M Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy (1994)
  5. May May Katatsumori (1994) $1.1K Katatsumori (1994)
  6. June Jun The Endless Summer II (1994) $2.2M The Endless Summer II (1994)
  7. July Jul That's Entertainment! III (1994) $280.2K That's Entertainment! III (1994)
  8. August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  9. September Sep A Great Day in Harlem (1994) $610.3K A Great Day in Harlem (1994)
  10. October Oct Hoop Dreams (1994) $11.9M Hoop Dreams (1994)
  11. November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  12. December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years

How Does 1994 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1987 earned the most: $54.3M from 4 films, led by Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987). 1994 took $26.8M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1985 6 films 6 $1.8M – 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
1989 4 films · −39% 4 $9.3M −39% Roger & Me (1989) $7.7M
1990 3 films · −92% 3 $785.7K −92% Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones (1990) $776.7K
1991 6 films · +4697% 6 $37.7M +4697% Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991) $29M
1992 9 films · −81% 9 $7.2M −81% My Crasy Life (1992) $3.3M
1993 6 films · −90% 6 $733.8K −90% The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl (1993) $449.7K
1994 14 films · +3551% 14 $26.8M +3551% Hoop Dreams (1994) $11.8M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 1994?

English-language documentary films took $26.8M across 13 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language documentary films ($1.1K).

1994 Documentary Box Office by Language

  1. English $26.8M
    13 films · #1 Hoop Dreams (1994)
  2. Japanese $1.1K
    1 film · #1 Katatsumori (1994)
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
2000s 10 years · $2.1B
1990s 10 years · $226.1M
1980s 10 years · $174.2M
1970s 9 years · $33.9M
1960s 6 years · $143K
1950s 5 years · $233.2K
1920s 2 years · $201.5K
1910s 1 year · $9.7K
FAQ

Documentary Box Office 1994: 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 14 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 1994?

Hoop Dreams (1994) leads with $11.8M worldwide, $7.8M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy (1994) at $10.2M and The Endless Summer II (1994) at $2.2M.

How much did documentary movies released in 1994 earn?

14 documentary films released in 1994 report a worldwide gross, $26.8M in all, or $1.9M per film on average.

How many documentary movies released in 1994 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, Hoop Dreams (1994), earned $11.8M.

How much of the 1994 Documentary box office came from the US and Canada?

$22.8M of the $26.8M total, or 85%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 1 film of the 14 report no domestic figure.

How is the 1994 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 1994. 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 1994 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.