#1 of 88 #1 documentary movie of 2004
2004 · History, War
$222.4M worldwide · 65% of the chart's total
$119.2M US & Canada · 54% $103.3M elsewhere · 46%
Documentary box office · 2004
Documentary Box Office 2004: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 2004, with $222.4M worldwide, ahead of What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? (2004) at $21.1M and Super Size Me (2004) at $20.6M. 88 documentary films released in 2004 report a worldwide gross, $339.9M in all, 51% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 176% on 2003, whose releases took $123.3M. By language, English leads with $309.7M across 64 documentary releases.
- 2004 releases with a gross
- 88
- combined worldwide
- $339.9M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 2003
- +176%
#1 of 88 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 2004?
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) leads with $222.4M, 65% of the total. The top 5 together took $293.3M, 86% of what all 88 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 2004, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 88. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2004.
- 1 Jun 23, 2004 US and Canada: $119.2M Rest of the world: $103.3M Worldwide: $222.4M
- 2 What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? (2004)Jun 18, 2004 US and Canada: $10.9M Rest of the world: $10.1M Worldwide: $21.1M
Jun 18, 2004 · English · Drama, Comedy, Documentary $21.1M worldwide - 3 May 7, 2004 US and Canada: $11.5M Rest of the world: $9.1M Worldwide: $20.6M
- 4 Dec 12, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.3M
- 5 Jan 23, 2004 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: $9.3M Worldwide: $13.9M
- 6
The Story of the Weeping Camel (2004)Jun 4, 2004 US and Canada: $1.8M Rest of the world: $7.6M Worldwide: $9.3M
Jun 4, 2004 · Mongolian · Drama, Family, Documentary $9.3M worldwide - 7
Jun 12, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.8M - 8
Jun 4, 2004 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $4.6M - 9
Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004)Dec 8, 2004 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: $14.1K Worldwide: $3.5M Dec 8, 2004 · English · Documentary $3.5M worldwide - 10
Jul 9, 2004 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: $939.7K Worldwide: $3.2M - 11
May 21, 2004 US and Canada: $2.6M Rest of the world: $135.2K Worldwide: $2.7M - 12
Jul 9, 2004 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: $757.7K Worldwide: $2M - 13
Jun 10, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 14
Jul 30, 2004 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: $107.7K Worldwide: $1.3M - 15
Nov 24, 2004 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $31K Worldwide: $1.2M - 16
Apr 22, 2004 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M - 17
Nov 5, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $940.4K - 18
Nov 5, 2004 US and Canada: $728.9K Rest of the world: $26.3K Worldwide: $755.2K - 19
Oct 6, 2004 US and Canada: $592K Rest of the world: $46.5K Worldwide: $638.5K - 20
Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry (2004)Oct 1, 2004 US and Canada: $614.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $614.1K Oct 1, 2004 · English · Biography, History, Documentary $614.1K worldwide - 21
Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004)Aug 6, 2004 US and Canada: $461.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $461.6K Aug 6, 2004 · English · Documentary $461.6K worldwide - 22
In the Realms of the Unreal (2004)Dec 22, 2004 US and Canada: $417.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $417.1K Dec 22, 2004 · English · Biography, Documentary $417.1K worldwide - 23
Sep 22, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $399.1K - 24
Still We Believe: The Boston Red Sox Movie (2004)May 9, 2004 US and Canada: $396.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $396.8K May 9, 2004 · English · Drama, Documentary $396.8K worldwide - 25
Sep 24, 2004 US and Canada: $255.4K Rest of the world: $138.8K Worldwide: $394.2K - 26
Aug 20, 2004 US and Canada: $392K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $392K - 27
Jun 18, 2004 US and Canada: $376.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $376.6K - 28
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2004)Jun 11, 2004 US and Canada: $353.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $353.6K Jun 11, 2004 · English · History, Music, Documentary $353.6K worldwide - 29
Feb 19, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $342.7K - 30
May 28, 2004 US and Canada: $318.8K Rest of the world: $10.3K Worldwide: $329.1K - 31
Jul 2, 2004 US and Canada: $314.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $314.4K - 32
May 26, 2004 US and Canada: $165.8K Rest of the world: $113.2K Worldwide: $279K - 33
Jul 23, 2004 US and Canada: $270K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $270K - 34
Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2004)Mar 26, 2004 US and Canada: $257.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $257.3K Mar 26, 2004 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $257.3K worldwide - 35
Oct 27, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $243.1K - 36
Oct 1, 2004 US and Canada: $127.1K Rest of the world: $101.8K Worldwide: $228.8K - 37
This So-Called Disaster: Sam Shepard Directs the Late Henry Moss (2004)Apr 21, 2004 US and Canada: $226.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $226.7K Apr 21, 2004 · English · Documentary $226.7K worldwide - 38
Apr 23, 2004 US and Canada: $226.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $226.2K - 39
Oct 22, 2004 US and Canada: $201.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $201.7K - 40
Jun 9, 2004 US and Canada: $201K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $201K - 41
Feb 18, 2004 US and Canada: $188.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $188.5K - 42
Aug 27, 2004 US and Canada: $177.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $177.5K - 43
Sep 13, 2004 US and Canada: $130K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $130K - 44
Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (2004)Jul 23, 2004 US and Canada: $122K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $122K Jul 23, 2004 · English · Documentary $122K worldwide - 45
Jun 11, 2004 US and Canada: $110.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $110.6K - 46
In the Face of Evil: Reagan's War in Word and Deed (2004) Oct 15, 2004 · Documentary $110.6K worldwideOct 15, 2004 US and Canada: $110.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $110.6K - 47
Jun 2, 2004 US and Canada: $107K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $107K - 48
Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst (2004)Nov 26, 2004 US and Canada: $105.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $105.1K Nov 26, 2004 · English · Biography, History, Crime $105.1K worldwide - 49
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2004)Jan 9, 2004 US and Canada: $97.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $97.4K Jan 9, 2004 · English · Crime, Documentary $97.4K worldwide - 50
Celsius 41.11: The Temperature at Which the Brain... Begins to Die (2004) Oct 22, 2004 · War, Documentary $93K worldwideOct 22, 2004 US and Canada: $93K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $93K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2004?
Of the top 10, Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while The Story of the Weeping Camel (2004) made 81% of its gross abroad. Across all 88 films, $173.4M (51%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) $222.4M $119.2M US & Canada · 54% $103.3M elsewhere · 46%
- 2 What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? (2004) $21.1M $10.9M US & Canada · 52% $10.1M elsewhere · 48%
- 3 Super Size Me (2004) $20.6M $11.5M US & Canada · 56% $9.1M elsewhere · 44%
- 4 The Last Trapper (2004) $15.3M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Touching the Void (2004) $13.9M $4.6M US & Canada · 33% $9.3M elsewhere · 67%
- 6 The Story of the Weeping Camel (2004) $9.3M $1.8M US & Canada · 19% $7.6M elsewhere · 81%
- 7 Rhythm is it! (2004) $4.8M No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 The Corporation (2004) $4.6M $3.5M US & Canada · 76% $1.1M elsewhere · 24%
- 9 Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004) $3.5M $3.5M US & Canada · 100% $14.1K elsewhere · <1%
- 10 Riding Giants (2004) $3.2M $2.3M US & Canada · 71% $939.7K elsewhere · 29%
Gross bands
How Many 2004 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 88 films crossed $100M and took $222.4M between them, 65% of the total. 83 films, 94% of the list, earned under $10M.
65% 21% 14%
- $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 1 film, 1% of the list $222.4M · 65% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 4 films, 5% of the list $70.9M · 21% of the gross
- Under $10M 83 films, 94% of the list $46.6M · 14% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2004 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $264.9M from 12 films, led by Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004). March was the quietest month ($389.5K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Touching the Void (2004) $14.2M Touching the Void (2004)
- February Feb Johan Cruijff - En un momento dado (2004) $585.6K Johan Cruijff - En un momento dado (2004)
- March Mar Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2004) $389.5K Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2004)
- April Apr Sacred Planet (2004) $1.6M Sacred Planet (2004)
- May May Super Size Me (2004) $24.4M Super Size Me (2004)
- June Jun Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) $264.9M Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
- July Jul Riding Giants (2004) $7.2M Riding Giants (2004)
- August Aug Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004) $1.1M Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004)
- September Sep Earth from Above (2004) $1M Earth from Above (2004)
- October Oct Tarnation (2004) $2.3M Tarnation (2004)
- November Nov Paper Clips (2004) $3M Paper Clips (2004)
- December Dec The Last Trapper (2004) $19.3M The Last Trapper (2004)
Last 10 years
How Does 2004 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2004 earned the most: $339.9M from 88 films, led by Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 15 films | 15 | $13.9M | – | 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 |
| 2004 88 films · +176% | 88 | $339.9M | +176% | Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) $222.4M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 2004?
English-language documentary films took $309.7M across 64 films, 91% of the total, ahead of French-language documentary films ($15.3M) and Mongolian-language documentary films ($9.3M).
2004 Documentary Box Office by Language
- English $309.7M64 films · #1 Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
-
French $15.3M2 films · #1 The Last Trapper (2004) - Mongolian $9.3M1 film · #1 The Story of the Weeping Camel (2004)
-
Arabic $2.8M2 films · #1 Control Room (2004) -
German $1.5M2 films · #1 Hell on Wheels (2004) -
Spanish $392.1K4 films · #1 The Sky Turns (2004) -
Catalan $342.7K1 film · #1 Johan Cruijff - En un momento dado (2004) -
Danish $279K1 film · #1 The Five Obstructions (2004) -
Khmer $23.6K1 film · #1 S21: The Khmer Rouge Death Machine (2004) -
Portuguese $8.9K1 film · #1 Welcome to São Paulo (2004)
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 2004: 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 88 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 2004?
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) leads with $222.4M worldwide, $119.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? (2004) at $21.1M and Super Size Me (2004) at $20.6M.
How much did documentary movies released in 2004 earn?
88 documentary films released in 2004 report a worldwide gross, $339.9M in all, or $3.9M per film on average. 2003 releases took $123.3M.
How many documentary movies released in 2004 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) with $222.4M.
How is the 2004 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 2004. 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 2004 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.