#1 of 55 #1 documentary movie of 2003
2003 · Documentary, Short
$29.4M worldwide · 24% of the chart's total
$19.1M US & Canada · 65% $10.4M elsewhere · 35%
Documentary box office · 2003
Documentary Box Office 2003: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
Bugs! (2003) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 2003, with $29.4M worldwide, ahead of Ghosts of the Abyss (2003) at $27.6M and To Be and to Have (2003) at $16.1M. 55 documentary films released in 2003 report a worldwide gross, $123.3M in all, 62% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 48% on 2002, whose releases took $239M. By language, English leads with $102.7M across 44 documentary releases.
- 2003 releases with a gross
- 55
- combined worldwide
- $123.3M
- Bugs! (2003), the #1
- $29.4M
- vs 2002
- −48%
#1 of 55 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 2003?
Bugs! (2003) leads with $29.4M, 24% of the total. The top 5 together took $88.3M, 72% of what all 55 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 2003, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 55. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2003.
- 1 Jul 25, 2003 US and Canada: $19.1M Rest of the world: $10.4M Worldwide: $29.4M
- 2 Apr 11, 2003 US and Canada: $17M Rest of the world: $10.5M Worldwide: $27.6M
- 3 Sep 19, 2003 US and Canada: $777.1K Rest of the world: $15.3M Worldwide: $16.1M
- 4 Nov 14, 2003 US and Canada: $7.7M Rest of the world: $89.6K Worldwide: $7.8M
- 5 Apr 30, 2003 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $1.7M Worldwide: $7.5M
- 6
Apr 25, 2003 US and Canada: $3.8M Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $5.3M - 7
The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)Dec 19, 2003 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: $840.3K Worldwide: $5M
Dec 19, 2003 · English · War, Documentary $5M worldwide - 8
May 30, 2003 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: $957.9K Worldwide: $4.1M - 9
Aug 8, 2003 US and Canada: $3.7M Rest of the world: $359.8K Worldwide: $4M - 10
Nov 12, 2003 US and Canada: $2.8M Rest of the world: $169.4K Worldwide: $2.9M - 11
Apr 4, 2003 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.3M - 12
Feb 11, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 13
The Basque Ball: Skin Against Stone (2003)Sep 20, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M
Sep 20, 2003 · Spanish · History, Documentary $1.6M worldwide - 14
Jan 31, 2003 US and Canada: $732.4K Rest of the world: $674.6K Worldwide: $1.4M - 15
Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie (2003)Mar 28, 2003 US and Canada: $604.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $604.9K Mar 28, 2003 · English · Comedy, Documentary $604.9K worldwide - 16
May 16, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $592.9K - 17
Sep 19, 2003 US and Canada: $578.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $578.2K - 18
Jun 4, 2003 US and Canada: $564.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $564.6K - 19
Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony (2003)Feb 19, 2003 US and Canada: $405.3K Rest of the world: $13.6K Worldwide: $418.9K Feb 19, 2003 · English · History, Music, Documentary $418.9K worldwide - 20
End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones (2003)Jan 19, 2003 US and Canada: $392K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $392K Jan 19, 2003 · English · Documentary, Music $392K worldwide - 21
Blind Spot. Hitler's Secretary (2003)Jan 24, 2003 US and Canada: $378.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $378.4K
Jan 24, 2003 · German · Biography, War, Documentary $378.4K worldwide - 22
Nov 7, 2003 US and Canada: $156K Rest of the world: $189.7K Worldwide: $345.7K - 23
Jun 20, 2003 US and Canada: $296.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $296.2K - 24
Feb 12, 2003 US and Canada: $260.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $260.5K - 25
2003 US and Canada: $226.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $226.7K - 26
Nov 2, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $225K - 27
Oct 8, 2003 US and Canada: $217.2K Rest of the world: $5.3K Worldwide: $222.5K - 28
May 23, 2003 US and Canada: $160.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $160.6K - 29
Nov 5, 2003 US and Canada: $153.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $153.9K - 30
Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator (2003)Aug 22, 2003 US and Canada: $150.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $150.3K Aug 22, 2003 · English · Sport, Documentary $150.3K worldwide - 31
Jan 18, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $135.6K - 32
Apr 2, 2003 US and Canada: $106.7K Rest of the world: $12.5K Worldwide: $119.2K - 33
Mar 28, 2003 US and Canada: $103.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $103.4K - 34
Sep 19, 2003 US and Canada: $101.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $101.4K - 35
Oct 13, 2003 US and Canada: $38K Rest of the world: $62.2K Worldwide: $100.2K - 36
May 9, 2003 US and Canada: $57.6K Rest of the world: $6.2K Worldwide: $63.8K - 37
Oct 8, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $62.6K - 38
Nov 28, 2003 US and Canada: $40.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $40.6K - 39
Dec 17, 2003 US and Canada: $39.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $39.4K - 40
Apr 25, 2003 US and Canada: $34.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $34.8K - 41
Aug 22, 2003 US and Canada: $18.5K Rest of the world: $11K Worldwide: $29.5K - 42
Apr 9, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $28.7K - 43
S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine (2003)May 17, 2003 US and Canada: $22.6K Rest of the world: $944 Worldwide: $23.6K
May 17, 2003 · French · History, War, Documentary $23.6K worldwide - 44
Jul 23, 2003 US and Canada: $16.8K Rest of the world: $6.8K Worldwide: $23.5K - 45
Nov 7, 2003 US and Canada: $16.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.8K - 46
Feb 21, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.4K - 47
Nov 28, 2003 US and Canada: $12K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12K - 48
May 16, 2003 US and Canada: $11.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $11.3K - 49
Forget Baghdad: Jews and Arabs - The Iraqi Connection (2003)Dec 5, 2003 US and Canada: $3.7K Rest of the world: $2.4K Worldwide: $6.2K
Dec 5, 2003 · Arabic · Documentary $6.2K worldwide - 50
Feb 20, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.9K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2003?
Of the top 10, Tupac: Resurrection (2003) earned the biggest share at home (99% in the US & Canada), while To Be and to Have (2003) made 95% of its gross abroad. Across all 55 films, $76.1M (62%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Bugs! (2003) $29.4M $19.1M US & Canada · 65% $10.4M elsewhere · 35%
- 2 Ghosts of the Abyss (2003) $27.6M $17M US & Canada · 62% $10.5M elsewhere · 38%
- 3 To Be and to Have (2003) $16.1M $777.1K US & Canada · 5% $15.3M elsewhere · 95%
- 4 Tupac: Resurrection (2003) $7.8M $7.7M US & Canada · 99% $89.6K elsewhere · 1%
- 5 Spellbound (2003) $7.5M $5.7M US & Canada · 77% $1.7M elsewhere · 23%
- 6 The Real Cancun (2003) $5.3M $3.8M US & Canada · 72% $1.5M elsewhere · 28%
- 7 The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003) $5M $4.2M US & Canada · 83% $840.3K elsewhere · 17%
- 8 Capturing the Friedmans (2003) $4.1M $3.1M US & Canada · 77% $957.9K elsewhere · 23%
- 9 Step Into Liquid (2003) $4M $3.7M US & Canada · 91% $359.8K elsewhere · 9%
- 10 My Architect (2003) $2.9M $2.8M US & Canada · 94% $169.4K elsewhere · 6%
Gross bands
How Many 2003 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 55 films reached $100M. 52 films, 95% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $123.3M total.
59% 41%
- $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 3 films, 5% of the list $73.1M · 59% of the gross
- Under $10M 52 films, 95% of the list $50.3M · 41% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2003 Earned the Most?
April releases took the most, $42.8M from 7 films, led by Ghosts of the Abyss (2003). October was the quietest month ($388.9K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Lost in La Mancha (2003) $2.5M Lost in La Mancha (2003)
- February Feb Ocean Wonderland 3D (2003) $2.5M Ocean Wonderland 3D (2003)
- March Mar Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie (2003) $711.8K Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie (2003)
- April Apr Ghosts of the Abyss (2003) $42.8M Ghosts of the Abyss (2003)
- May May Capturing the Friedmans (2003) $4.9M Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
- June Jun The Weather Underground (2003) $863K The Weather Underground (2003)
- July Jul Bugs! (2003) $29.5M Bugs! (2003)
- August Aug Step Into Liquid (2003) $4.2M Step Into Liquid (2003)
- September Sep To Be and to Have (2003) $18.3M To Be and to Have (2003)
- October Oct Bus 174 (2003) $388.9K Bus 174 (2003)
- November Nov Tupac: Resurrection (2003) $11.5M Tupac: Resurrection (2003)
- December Dec The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003) $5.1M The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)
Last 10 years
How Does 2003 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2002 earned the most: $239M from 50 films, led by Space Station 3D (2002). 2003 took $123.3M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 14 films | 14 | $26.8M | – | 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 |
| 2000 25 films · +62% | 25 | $81.4M | +62% | The Original Kings of Comedy (2000) $38.2M |
| 2001 31 films · −52% | 31 | $39.4M | −52% | Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure (2001) $19.6M |
| 2002 50 films · +507% | 50 | $239M | +507% | Space Station 3D (2002) $128.4M |
| 2003 55 films · −48% | 55 | $123.3M | −48% | Bugs! (2003) $29.4M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 2003?
English-language documentary films took $102.7M across 44 films, 83% of the total, ahead of French-language documentary films ($16.2M) and Spanish-language documentary films ($1.6M).
2003 Documentary Box Office by Language
- English $102.7M44 films · #1 Bugs! (2003)
- French $16.2M5 films · #1 To Be and to Have (2003)
- Spanish $1.6M2 films · #1 The Basque Ball: Skin Against Stone (2003)
- German $378.4K1 film · #1 Blind Spot. Hitler's Secretary (2003)
-
Portuguese $222.5K1 film · #1 Bus 174 (2003) - Arabic $6.2K1 film · #1 Forget Baghdad: Jews and Arabs - The Iraqi Connection (2003)
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 2003: 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 55 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 2003?
Bugs! (2003) leads with $29.4M worldwide, $19.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Ghosts of the Abyss (2003) at $27.6M and To Be and to Have (2003) at $16.1M.
How much did documentary movies released in 2003 earn?
55 documentary films released in 2003 report a worldwide gross, $123.3M in all, or $2.2M per film on average. 2002 releases took $239M.
How many documentary movies released in 2003 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Bugs! (2003), earned $29.4M.
How is the 2003 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 2003. 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 2003 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.