#1 of 9 #1 documentary movie of 1996
1996 · History, Sport
$2.8M worldwide · 47% of the chart's total
$2.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Documentary box office · 1996
Documentary Box Office 1996: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
When We Were Kings (1996) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 1996, with $2.8M worldwide, ahead of Microcosmos (1996) at $1.4M and Looking for Richard (1996) at $1.4M. 9 documentary films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $5.9M in all, 100% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 58% on 1995, whose releases took $13.9M. By language, English leads with $4.5M across 8 documentary releases.
- 1996 releases with a gross
- 9
- combined worldwide
- $5.9M
- When We Were Kings (1996), the #1
- $2.8M
- vs 1995
- −58%
#1 of 9 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 1996?
When We Were Kings (1996) leads with $2.8M, 47% of the total. The top 5 together took $5.8M, 99% of what all 9 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 1996, 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 1996.
- 1 Oct 25, 1996 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.8M
- 2 Oct 9, 1996 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M
- 3 Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.4M
- 4 Jun 19, 1996 US and Canada: $134.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $134.5K
- 5 Sep 27, 1996 US and Canada: $50.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $50.6K
- 6
Oct 11, 1996 US and Canada: $42.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.1K - 7
Oct 1, 1996 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $29.1K - 8
Aug 16, 1996 US and Canada: $8.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $8.4K - 9
Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press (1996)Dec 1, 1996 US and Canada: $3.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.2K
Dec 1, 1996 · English · Documentary $3.2K worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1996?
Of the top 9, When We Were Kings (1996) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press (1996) made 0% of its gross abroad. Across all 9 films, $5.9M (100%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 9 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 When We Were Kings (1996) $2.8M $2.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 Microcosmos (1996) $1.4M $1.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Looking for Richard (1996) $1.4M $1.4M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 A Perfect Candidate (1996) $134.5K $134.5K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story (1996) $50.6K $50.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 6 Mandela (1996) $42.1K $42.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Gallivant (1996) $29.1K No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Red Hollywood (1996) $8.4K $8.4K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press (1996) $3.2K $3.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
By release month
Which Month of 1996 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $5.7M from 5 films, led by When We Were Kings (1996). December was the quietest month ($3.2K). 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 A Perfect Candidate (1996) $134.5K A Perfect Candidate (1996)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug Red Hollywood (1996) $8.4K Red Hollywood (1996)
- September Sep The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story (1996) $50.6K The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story (1996)
- October Oct When We Were Kings (1996) $5.7M When We Were Kings (1996)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press (1996) $3.2K Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press (1996)
Last 10 years
How Does 1996 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1987 earned the most: $54.3M from 4 films, led by Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987). 1996 took $5.9M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 4 films | 4 | $54.3M | – | 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 |
| 1995 15 films · −48% | 15 | $13.9M | −48% | Born to Be Wild (1995) $3.7M |
| 1996 9 films · −58% | 9 | $5.9M | −58% | When We Were Kings (1996) $2.8M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 1996?
English-language documentary films took $4.5M across 8 films, 76% of the total, ahead of French-language documentary films ($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)
1960s 6 years · $143K
1950s 5 years · $233.2K
1920s 2 years · $201.5K
1910s 1 year · $9.7K
FAQ
Documentary Box Office 1996: 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 9 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 1996?
When We Were Kings (1996) leads with $2.8M worldwide, $2.8M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Microcosmos (1996) at $1.4M and Looking for Richard (1996) at $1.4M.
How much did documentary movies released in 1996 earn?
9 documentary films released in 1996 report a worldwide gross, $5.9M in all, or $655.5K per film on average. 1995 releases took $13.9M.
How many documentary movies released in 1996 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, When We Were Kings (1996), earned $2.8M.
How is the 1996 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 1996. 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 1996 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.