#1 of 14 #1 documentary movie of 1999
Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
1999 · Music, Documentary
$23.1M worldwide · 46% of the chart's total
$7M US & Canada · 30% $16.1M elsewhere · 70%
Documentary box office · 1999
Documentary Box Office 1999: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
Buena Vista Social Club (1999) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 1999, with $23.1M worldwide, ahead of Island of the Sharks (1999) at $10.7M and Tripping (1999) at $9M. 14 documentary films released in 1999 report a worldwide gross, $50.2M in all, 68% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 17% on 1998, whose releases took $60.8M. By language, English leads with $50.2M across 12 documentary releases.
- 1999 releases with a gross
- 14
- combined worldwide
- $50.2M
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999), the #1
- $23.1M
- vs 1998
- −17%
#1 of 14 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 1999?
Buena Vista Social Club (1999) leads with $23.1M, 46% of the total. The top 5 together took $48.8M, 97% 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 1999, 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 1999.
- 1 Jun 4, 1999 US and Canada: $7M Rest of the world: $16.1M Worldwide: $23.1M
- 2 Apr 22, 1999 US and Canada: $10.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $10.7M
- 3 Aug 7, 1999 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9M
- 4 Mar 1, 1999 US and Canada: $4.8M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.8M
- 5 Nov 5, 1999 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: $450 Worldwide: $1.2M
- 6
Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999)Dec 29, 1999 US and Canada: $507.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $507.9K
Dec 29, 1999 · English · Biography, Documentary $507.9K worldwide - 7
Jul 19, 1999 US and Canada: $374.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $374.6K - 8
Oct 15, 1999 US and Canada: $362.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $362.6K - 9
Sep 24, 1999 US and Canada: $46.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $46.7K - 10
Sep 17, 1999 US and Canada: $44.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.3K - 11
1999 US and Canada: $44.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $44.2K - 12
Sep 11, 1999 US and Canada: $11.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.7K - 13
Oct 29, 1999 US and Canada: $6.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $6.9K - 14
Sep 24, 1999 US and Canada: $4.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.3K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 1999?
Of the top 10, Island of the Sharks (1999) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Buena Vista Social Club (1999) made 70% of its gross abroad. Across all 14 films, $34.1M (68%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Buena Vista Social Club (1999) $23.1M $7M US & Canada · 30% $16.1M elsewhere · 70%
- 2 Island of the Sharks (1999) $10.7M $10.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 3 Tripping (1999) $9M $9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 4 Wolves (1999) $4.8M $4.8M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 5 American Movie (1999) $1.2M $1.2M US & Canada · 100% $450 elsewhere · <1%
- 6 Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999) $507.9K $507.9K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 Genghis Blues (1999) $374.6K $374.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 The Source (1999) $362.6K $362.6K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 On the Ropes (1999) $46.7K $46.7K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Get Bruce (1999) $44.3K $44.3K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 1999 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 $50.2M total.
67% 33%
- $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 $33.8M · 67% of the gross
- Under $10M 12 films, 86% of the list $16.4M · 33% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 1999 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $23.1M from 1 film, led by Buena Vista Social Club (1999). January was the quietest month ($44.2K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Regret to Inform (1999) $44.2K Regret to Inform (1999)
- February Feb No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- March Mar Wolves (1999) $4.8M Wolves (1999)
- April Apr Island of the Sharks (1999) $10.7M Island of the Sharks (1999)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun Buena Vista Social Club (1999) $23.1M Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
- July Jul Genghis Blues (1999) $374.6K Genghis Blues (1999)
- August Aug Tripping (1999) $9M Tripping (1999)
- September Sep On the Ropes (1999) $107.1K On the Ropes (1999)
- October Oct The Source (1999) $369.5K The Source (1999)
- November Nov American Movie (1999) $1.2M American Movie (1999)
- December Dec Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999) $507.9K Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999)
Last 10 years
How Does 1999 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 1998 earned the most: $60.8M from 14 films, led by Mysteries of Egypt (1998). 1999 took $50.2M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 3 films | 3 | $785.7K | – | 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 |
| 1999 14 films · −17% | 14 | $50.2M | −17% | Buena Vista Social Club (1999) $23.1M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 1999?
English-language documentary films took $50.2M across 12 films, 100% of the total, ahead of Italian-language documentary films ($11.7K).
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 1999: 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 1999?
Buena Vista Social Club (1999) leads with $23.1M worldwide, $7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Island of the Sharks (1999) at $10.7M and Tripping (1999) at $9M.
How much did documentary movies released in 1999 earn?
14 documentary films released in 1999 report a worldwide gross, $50.2M in all, or $3.6M per film on average. 1998 releases took $60.8M.
How many documentary movies released in 1999 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Buena Vista Social Club (1999), earned $23.1M.
How is the 1999 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 1999. 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 1999 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.