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Documentary box office · October 2009

Documentary Box Office, October 2009: Top-Grossing Releases

This Is It (2009) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in October 2009, with $268M worldwide, ahead of Good Hair (2009) at $4.2M and Turtle: The Incredible Journey (2009) at $2.9M. 20 documentary films released in October 2009 report a worldwide gross, $280.3M in all, 28% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is 12.3 times the total of September 2009, whose releases took $22.7M. By language, English leads with $10.3M across 12 documentary releases.

October 2009 releases with a gross
20
combined worldwide
$280.3M
film crossed $100M
1
vs September 2009
×12.3
This Is It (2009) movie poster #1 of 20
#1 documentary movie of October 2009

This Is It (2009)

2009 · Music, Documentary

$268M worldwide · 96% of the chart's total

$72.1M US & Canada · 27% $195.9M elsewhere · 73%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of October 2009?

This Is It (2009) leads with $268M, 96% of the total. The top 5 together took $278.2M, 99% of what all 20 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. This Is It (2009) movie poster Number 1
    $268M This Is It (2009)
    $72.1M US & Canada · 27% $195.9M elsewhere · 73%
  2. Good Hair (2009) movie poster Number 2
    $4.2M Good Hair (2009)
    $4.2M US & Canada · 100% $5.9K elsewhere · <1%
  3. Turtle: The Incredible Journey (2009) movie poster Number 3
    $2.9M Turtle: The Incredible Journey (2009)
    $386.1K US & Canada · 13% $2.6M elsewhere · 87%
  4. Le syndrome du Titanic (2009) movie poster Number 4
    $1.6M Le syndrome du Titanic (2009)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (2009) movie poster Number 5
    $1.5M Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (2009)
    $1.2K US & Canada · <1% $1.5M elsewhere · 100%

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Documentary Release of October 2009, 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 October 2009.

  1. 1 This Is It (2009) movie poster
    This Is It (2009) Oct 28, 2009 · Music, Documentary $268M worldwide
    Oct 28, 2009 US and Canada: $72.1M Rest of the world: $195.9M Worldwide: $268M
  2. 2 Good Hair (2009) movie poster
    Good Hair (2009) Oct 9, 2009 · English · Comedy, Documentary $4.2M worldwide
    Oct 9, 2009 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: $5.9K Worldwide: $4.2M
  3. 3 Turtle: The Incredible Journey (2009) movie poster
    Turtle: The Incredible Journey (2009) Oct 1, 2009 · English · Documentary $2.9M worldwide
    Oct 1, 2009 US and Canada: $386.1K Rest of the world: $2.6M Worldwide: $2.9M
  4. 4 Le syndrome du Titanic (2009) movie poster
    Le syndrome du Titanic (2009) Oct 7, 2009 · English · Documentary $1.6M worldwide
    Oct 7, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M
  5. 5 Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (2009) movie poster
    Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (2009) Oct 16, 2009 · French · Documentary $1.5M worldwide
    Oct 16, 2009 US and Canada: $1.2K Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $1.5M
  6. 6 More Than a Game (2009) movie poster
    More Than a Game (2009) Oct 2, 2009 · English · Sport, Documentary $960.4K worldwide
    Oct 2, 2009 US and Canada: $950.7K Rest of the world: $9.7K Worldwide: $960.4K
  7. 7 Bratislavafilm (2009) movie poster
    Bratislavafilm (2009) Oct 1, 2009 · Slovak · Documentary, Drama $300.9K worldwide
    Oct 1, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $300.9K
  8. 8 The Yes Men Fix the World (2009) movie poster
    The Yes Men Fix the World (2009) Oct 7, 2009 · English · Documentary $241.9K worldwide
    Oct 7, 2009 US and Canada: $194.5K Rest of the world: $47.3K Worldwide: $241.9K
  9. 9 Killing Kasztner (2009) movie poster
    Killing Kasztner (2009) Oct 23, 2009 · English · Documentary $112.3K worldwide
    Oct 23, 2009 US and Canada: $112.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $112.3K
  10. 10 American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009) movie poster
    American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009) Oct 23, 2009 · English · Documentary, Comedy $92.2K worldwide
    Oct 23, 2009 US and Canada: $92.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $92.2K
  11. 11 Herbert de Perto (2009) movie poster
    Herbert de Perto (2009) Oct 9, 2009 · Portuguese · Documentary $90.3K worldwide
    Oct 9, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $90.3K
  12. 12 How to Live Forever (2009) movie poster
    How to Live Forever (2009) Oct 1, 2009 · English · Documentary $60.6K worldwide
    Oct 1, 2009 US and Canada: $60.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $60.6K
  13. 13 Visual Acoustics (2009) movie poster
    Visual Acoustics (2009) Oct 9, 2009 · English · Documentary $52.5K worldwide
    Oct 9, 2009 US and Canada: $52.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $52.5K
  14. 14 Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno (2009) movie poster
    Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno (2009) Oct 1, 2009 · French · Documentary $52K worldwide
    Oct 1, 2009 US and Canada: $25.5K Rest of the world: $26.5K Worldwide: $52K
  15. 15 The Border City 2 (2009) movie poster
    The Border City 2 (2009) Oct 10, 2009 · Korean · Documentary $51.1K worldwide
    Oct 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $51.1K
  16. 16 Tears in the Arctic (2009) movie poster
    Tears in the Arctic (2009) Oct 15, 2009 · Korean · Documentary $44.5K worldwide
    Oct 15, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $44.5K
  17. 17 Bananas!* (2009) movie poster
    Bananas!* (2009) Oct 9, 2009 · English · Documentary $37K worldwide
    Oct 9, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $37K
  18. 18 Chelsea on the Rocks (2009) movie poster
    Chelsea on the Rocks (2009) Oct 2, 2009 · English · Documentary $18.5K worldwide
    Oct 2, 2009 US and Canada: $11.8K Rest of the world: $6.7K Worldwide: $18.5K
  19. 19 Sona, the Other Myself (2009) movie poster
    Sona, the Other Myself (2009) Oct 10, 2009 · Korean · Documentary $17.2K worldwide
    Oct 10, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.2K
  20. 20 Rembrandt's J'Accuse...! (2009) movie poster
    Rembrandt's J'Accuse...! (2009) Oct 21, 2009 · English · Mystery, Documentary $12K worldwide
    Oct 21, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in October 2009?

Of the top 10, Killing Kasztner (2009) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (2009) made 100% of its gross abroad. Across all 20 films, $78.1M (28%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 This Is It (2009) $268M
    $72.1M US & Canada · 27% $195.9M elsewhere · 73%
  2. 2 Good Hair (2009) $4.2M
    $4.2M US & Canada · 100% $5.9K elsewhere · <1%
  3. 3 Turtle: The Incredible Journey (2009) $2.9M
    $386.1K US & Canada · 13% $2.6M elsewhere · 87%
  4. 4 Le syndrome du Titanic (2009) $1.6M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. 5 Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (2009) $1.5M
    $1.2K US & Canada · <1% $1.5M elsewhere · 100%
  6. 6 More Than a Game (2009) $960.4K
    $950.7K US & Canada · 99% $9.7K elsewhere · 1%
  7. 7 Bratislavafilm (2009) $300.9K
    No US & Canada figure reported
  8. 8 The Yes Men Fix the World (2009) $241.9K
    $194.5K US & Canada · 80% $47.3K elsewhere · 20%
  9. 9 Killing Kasztner (2009) $112.3K
    $112.3K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
  10. 10 American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009) $92.2K
    $92.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands

How Many October 2009 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

1 of 20 films crossed $100M and took $268M between them, 96% of the total. 19 films, 95% of the list, earned under $10M.

  • $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, 5% of the list $268M · 96% of the gross
  • $10M to $100M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • Under $10M 19 films, 95% of the list $12.3M · 4% of the gross
By release week

Which Week of October 2009 Had the Biggest Releases?

Films released in week 44 (Oct 25–31) took $268M, led by This Is It (2009). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.

  1. Week 40 Wk 40 Sep 27–Oct 3 Turtle: The Incredible Journey (2009) $4.3M Turtle: The Incredible Journey (2009)
  2. Week 41 Wk 41 Oct 4–10 Good Hair (2009) $6.2M Good Hair (2009)
  3. Week 42 Wk 42 Oct 11–17 Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (2009) $1.5M Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (2009)
  4. Week 43 Wk 43 Oct 18–24 Killing Kasztner (2009) $216.5K Killing Kasztner (2009)
  5. Week 44 Wk 44 Oct 25–31 This Is It (2009) $268M This Is It (2009)
Earlier years

How Does October 2009 Compare With October in Earlier Years?

Of these 10 years, October 2009 earned the most: $280.3M from 20 films, led by This Is It (2009).

Month Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
October 2000 3 films 3 $386.9K – Calle 54 (2000) $187.3K
October 2001 7 films · +576% 7 $2.6M +576% The Human Body (2001) $1M
October 2002 11 films · +2242% 11 $61.3M +2242% Bowling for Columbine (2002) $58M
October 2003 4 films · −99% 4 $388.9K −99% Bus 174 (2003) $222.5K
October 2004 11 films · +481% 11 $2.3M +481% Tarnation (2004) $638.5K
October 2005 7 films · −12% 7 $2M −12% Ballets Russes (2005) $1.3M
October 2006 17 films · +33% 17 $2.7M +33% 49 Up (2006) $697K
October 2007 17 films · +479% 17 $15.4M +479% Once Upon a Time in Norway (2007) $10.6M
October 2008 15 films · +126% 15 $34.7M +126% Old Partner (2008) $15.3M
October 2009 20 films · +708% 20 $280.3M +708% This Is It (2009) $268M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in October 2009?

English-language documentary films took $10.3M across 12 films, 4% of the total, ahead of French-language documentary films ($1.5M) and Slovak-language documentary films ($300.9K).

October 2009 Documentary Box Office by Language

  1. English $10.3M
    12 films · #1 Good Hair (2009)
  2. French $1.5M
    2 films · #1 Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (2009)
  3. Slovak $300.9K
    1 film · #1 Bratislavafilm (2009)
  4. Korean $112.9K
    3 films · #1 The Border City 2 (2009)
  5. Portuguese $90.3K
    1 film · #1 Herbert de Perto (2009)
Archive

Documentary Box Office in 2009, Month by Month

The months of 2009 with their totals: October leads with $280.3M, led by This Is It (2009).

FAQ

Documentary Box Office October 2009: 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 20 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in October 2009?

This Is It (2009) leads with $268M worldwide, $72.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Good Hair (2009) at $4.2M and Turtle: The Incredible Journey (2009) at $2.9M.

How much did documentary movies released in October 2009 earn?

20 documentary films released in October 2009 report a worldwide gross, $280.3M in all, or $14M per film on average. September 2009 releases took $22.7M.

How many documentary movies released in October 2009 made $1 billion?

None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by This Is It (2009) with $268M.

How much of the October 2009 Documentary box office came from the US and Canada?

$78.1M of the $280.3M total, or 28%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 8 films of the 20 report no domestic figure.

How is the October 2009 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 October 2009. 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 October 2009 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.