#1 of 14 #1 documentary movie of 1998
1998 · Documentary, History
$44.7M worldwide · 73% of the chart's total
$40.6M US & Canada · 91% $4.1M elsewhere · 9%
Documentary box office · 1998
Documentary Box Office 1998: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
Mysteries of Egypt (1998) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 1998, with $44.7M worldwide, ahead of Africa’s Elephant Kingdom (1998) at $13.5M and Kurt & Courtney (1998) at $890.3K. 14 documentary films released in 1998 report a worldwide gross, $60.8M in all, 92% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 177% on 1997, whose releases took $22M. By language, English leads with $60.4M across 12 documentary releases.
- 1998 releases with a gross
- 14
- combined worldwide
- $60.8M
- Mysteries of Egypt (1998), the #1
- $44.7M
- vs 1997
- +177%
#1 of 14 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 1998?
Mysteries of Egypt (1998) leads with $44.7M, 73% of the total. The top 5 together took $60.2M, 99% of what all 14 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 1998, 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 1998.
- 1 1998 US and Canada: $40.6M Rest of the world: $4.1M Worldwide: $44.7M
- 2 May 8, 1998 US and Canada: $13.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $13.5M
- 3 Feb 27, 1998 US and Canada: $668.2K Rest of the world: $222.1K Worldwide: $890.3K
- 4 Jul 10, 1998 US and Canada: $563.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $563.5K
- 5 Sep 3, 1998 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $553.5K
- 6
Oct 23, 1998 US and Canada: $421.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $421.4K - 7
Sep 23, 1998 US and Canada: $92.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $92.1K - 8
Sep 30, 1998 US and Canada: $26.7K Rest of the world: $15.7K Worldwide: $42.5K - 9
Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen’s (1998)Jun 19, 1998 US and Canada: $19.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.3K
Jun 19, 1998 · English · Documentary, Drama $19.3K worldwide - 10
Oct 23, 1998 US and Canada: $19.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $19.1K - 11
Jul 31, 1998 US and Canada: $15.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $15.3K - 12
Mar 19, 1998 US and Canada: $12.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.4K - 13
Jul 31, 1998 US and Canada: $9.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.1K - 14
Let It Come Down: The Life of Paul Bowles (1998)Sep 17, 1998 US and Canada: $5.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $5.9K Sep 17, 1998 · English · Documentary $5.9K worldwide
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1998?
Of the top 10, Africa’s Elephant Kingdom (1998) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Massoud the Afghan (1998) made 37% of its gross abroad. Across all 14 films, $55.9M (92%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Mysteries of Egypt (1998) $44.7M $40.6M US & Canada · 91% $4.1M elsewhere · 9%
- 2 Africa’s Elephant Kingdom (1998) $13.5M $13.5M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Kurt & Courtney (1998) $890.3K $668.2K US & Canada · 75% $222.1K elsewhere · 25%
- 4 Hands on a Hardbody: The Documentary (1998) $563.5K $563.5K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 Alaska: Spirit of the Wild (1998) $553.5K No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 The Last Days (1998) $421.4K $421.4K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 The Brandon Teena Story (1998) $92.1K $92.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Massoud the Afghan (1998) $42.5K $26.7K US & Canada · 63% $15.7K elsewhere · 37%
- 9 Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen’s (1998) $19.3K $19.3K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 The Cruise (1998) $19.1K $19.1K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1998 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 $60.8M total.
96%
- $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 $58.2M · 96% of the gross
- Under $10M 12 films, 86% of the list $2.6M · 4% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1998 Earned the Most?
January releases took the most, $44.7M from 1 film, led by Mysteries of Egypt (1998). March was the quietest month ($12.4K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Mysteries of Egypt (1998) $44.7M Mysteries of Egypt (1998)
- February Feb Kurt & Courtney (1998) $890.3K Kurt & Courtney (1998)
- March Mar Storefront Hitchcock (1998) $12.4K Storefront Hitchcock (1998)
- April Apr No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- May May Africa’s Elephant Kingdom (1998) $13.5M Africa’s Elephant Kingdom (1998)
- June Jun Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen’s (1998) $19.3K Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen’s (1998)
- July Jul Hands on a Hardbody: The Documentary (1998) $587.9K Hands on a Hardbody: The Documentary (1998)
- August Aug No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- September Sep Alaska: Spirit of the Wild (1998) $694K Alaska: Spirit of the Wild (1998)
- October Oct The Last Days (1998) $440.6K The Last Days (1998)
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 1998 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1998 earned the most: $60.8M from 14 films, led by Mysteries of Egypt (1998).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 4 films | 4 | $9.3M | – | 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 |
| 1997 9 films · +272% | 9 | $22M | +272% | Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun (1997) $18.8M |
| 1998 14 films · +177% | 14 | $60.8M | +177% | Mysteries of Egypt (1998) $44.7M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 1998?
English-language documentary films took $60.4M across 12 films, 99% of the total, ahead of French-language documentary films ($42.5K).
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 1998: 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 1998?
Mysteries of Egypt (1998) leads with $44.7M worldwide, $40.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Africa’s Elephant Kingdom (1998) at $13.5M and Kurt & Courtney (1998) at $890.3K.
How much did documentary movies released in 1998 earn?
14 documentary films released in 1998 report a worldwide gross, $60.8M in all, or $4.3M per film on average. 1997 releases took $22M.
How many documentary movies released in 1998 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Mysteries of Egypt (1998), earned $44.7M.
How is the 1998 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 1998. 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 1998 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.