#1 of 119 #1 documentary movie of 2010
2010 · Action, Comedy
$178.1M worldwide · 53% of the chart's total
$117.2M US & Canada · 66% $60.9M elsewhere · 34%
Documentary box office · 2010
Documentary Box Office 2010: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
Jackass 3-D (2010) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 2010, with $178.1M worldwide, ahead of Oceans (2010) at $83.1M and Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World (2010) at $16M. 119 documentary films released in 2010 report a worldwide gross, $338.6M in all, 53% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 16% on 2009, whose releases took $401.6M. By language, English leads with $249M across 87 documentary releases.
- 2010 releases with a gross
- 119
- combined worldwide
- $338.6M
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 2009
- −16%
#1 of 119 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 2010?
Jackass 3-D (2010) leads with $178.1M, 53% of the total. The top 5 together took $295.3M, 87% of what all 119 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 $16M Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World (2010)$6.1M US & Canada · 38% $9.9M elsewhere · 62% -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Documentary Release of 2010, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 119. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2010.
- 1 Oct 15, 2010 US and Canada: $117.2M Rest of the world: $60.9M Worldwide: $178.1M
- 2 Apr 22, 2010 US and Canada: $19.4M Rest of the world: $63.7M Worldwide: $83.1M
- 3 Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World (2010)May 14, 2010 US and Canada: $6.1M Rest of the world: $9.9M Worldwide: $16M
May 14, 2010 · English · Documentary $16M worldwide - 4 May 7, 2010 US and Canada: $7.3M Rest of the world: $2.9M Worldwide: $10.2M
- 5 Oct 8, 2010 US and Canada: $4.3M Rest of the world: $3.6M Worldwide: $7.9M
- 6
Sep 24, 2010 US and Canada: $6.4M Rest of the world: $16.6K Worldwide: $6.4M - 7
Apr 16, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.2M - 8
Apr 16, 2010 US and Canada: $3.3M Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $5.4M - 9
Sep 17, 2010 US and Canada: $3.2M Rest of the world: $296.4K Worldwide: $3.5M - 10
Jun 11, 2010 US and Canada: $2.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.9M - 11
Sep 9, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.2M - 12
Jun 25, 2010 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: $105.5K Worldwide: $1.4M - 13
Sep 17, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M - 14
Apr 9, 2010 US and Canada: $246.1K Rest of the world: $948.1K Worldwide: $1.2M - 15
Feb 12, 2010 US and Canada: $23.7K Rest of the world: $1.2M Worldwide: $1.2M - 16
Jan 8, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 17
Aug 20, 2010 US and Canada: $802.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $802.5K - 18
Sep 10, 2010 US and Canada: $409K Rest of the world: $217.4K Worldwide: $626.4K - 19
Feb 26, 2010 US and Canada: $544.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $544.9K - 20
Mar 26, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $499.5K - 21
Jul 6, 2010 US and Canada: $433.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $433.6K - 22
Sep 3, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $408.8K - 23
Oct 1, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $348.9K - 24
Sep 15, 2010 US and Canada: $336.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $336.4K - 25
Aug 18, 2010 US and Canada: $320.5K Rest of the world: $410 Worldwide: $320.9K - 26
Sep 3, 2010 US and Canada: $288.3K Rest of the world: $21.4K Worldwide: $309.7K - 27
Oct 29, 2010 US and Canada: $187.7K Rest of the world: $103.6K Worldwide: $291.3K - 28
Jul 23, 2010 US and Canada: $272K Rest of the world: $15.7K Worldwide: $287.7K - 29
Jun 25, 2010 US and Canada: $198.6K Rest of the world: $85.6K Worldwide: $284.2K - 30
Feb 25, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $257K - 31
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (2010)Jul 21, 2010 US and Canada: $256.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $256.2K Jul 21, 2010 · English · Documentary $256.2K worldwide - 32
Jun 2, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $214.4K - 33
Jan 6, 2010 US and Canada: $207.5K Rest of the world: $1.7K Worldwide: $209.2K - 34
Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer (2010)Nov 5, 2010 US and Canada: $189.4K Rest of the world: $3.5K Worldwide: $192.9K Nov 5, 2010 · English · Documentary $192.9K worldwide - 35
Jul 9, 2010 US and Canada: $181K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $181K - 36
Casino Jack and the United States of Money (2010)May 7, 2010 US and Canada: $176.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $176.9K May 7, 2010 · English · Documentary $176.9K worldwide - 37
Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (2010)Sep 10, 2010 US and Canada: $167.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $167.5K Sep 10, 2010 · English · Documentary $167.5K worldwide - 38
Sep 10, 2010 US and Canada: $40.3K Rest of the world: $121.3K Worldwide: $161.6K - 39
Jun 18, 2010 US and Canada: $128.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $128.2K - 40
Oct 1, 2010 US and Canada: $101.3K Rest of the world: $20.9K Worldwide: $122.2K - 41
Feb 18, 2010 US and Canada: $116K Rest of the world: $3.9K Worldwide: $119.9K - 42
Celine: Through the Eyes of the World (2010)Feb 17, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $119.3K Feb 17, 2010 · English · Music, Documentary $119.3K worldwide - 43
See What I’m Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary (2010)Mar 19, 2010 US and Canada: $118.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $118.2K Mar 19, 2010 · English · Documentary $118.2K worldwide - 44
Oct 8, 2010 US and Canada: $112K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $112K - 45
Apr 23, 2010 US and Canada: $109.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $109.9K - 46
A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism (2010)Sep 24, 2010 US and Canada: $1.9K Rest of the world: $98.8K Worldwide: $100.7K Sep 24, 2010 · English · Documentary $100.7K worldwide - 47
Jun 18, 2010 US and Canada: $100.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $100.3K - 48
Dec 3, 2010 US and Canada: $100.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $100.2K - 49
Feb 21, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $99.5K - 50
2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $97.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2010?
Of the top 10, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Oceans (2010) made 77% of its gross abroad. Across all 119 films, $179M (53%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Jackass 3-D (2010) $178.1M $117.2M US & Canada · 66% $60.9M elsewhere · 34%
- 2 Oceans (2010) $83.1M $19.4M US & Canada · 23% $63.7M elsewhere · 77%
- 3 Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World (2010) $16M $6.1M US & Canada · 38% $9.9M elsewhere · 62%
- 4 Babies (2010) $10.2M $7.3M US & Canada · 72% $2.9M elsewhere · 28%
- 5 Inside Job (2010) $7.9M $4.3M US & Canada · 55% $3.6M elsewhere · 45%
- 6 Waiting for 'Superman' (2010) $6.4M $6.4M US & Canada · 100% $16.6K elsewhere · <1%
- 7 The Cartel (2010) $6.2M No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) $5.4M $3.3M US & Canada · 61% $2.1M elsewhere · 39%
- 9 Catfish (2010) $3.5M $3.2M US & Canada · 92% $296.4K elsewhere · 8%
- 10 Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010) $2.9M $2.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 2010 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 119 films crossed $100M and took $178.1M between them, 53% of the total. 115 films, 97% of the list, earned under $10M.
53% 32% 15%
- $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 $178.1M · 53% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 3 films, 3% of the list $109.3M · 32% of the gross
- Under $10M 115 films, 97% of the list $51.2M · 15% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2010 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $187M from 11 films, led by Jackass 3-D (2010). December was the quietest month ($210.8K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan In Search of Memory (2010) $1.5M In Search of Memory (2010)
- February Feb Videocracy (2010) $2.4M Videocracy (2010)
- March Mar Steam of Life (2010) $850.5K Steam of Life (2010)
- April Apr Oceans (2010) $96.1M Oceans (2010)
- May May Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World (2010) $26.6M Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World (2010)
- June Jun Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010) $5.2M Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)
- July Jul I Want Your Money (2010) $1.3M I Want Your Money (2010)
- August Aug The Tillman Story (2010) $1.2M The Tillman Story (2010)
- September Sep Waiting for 'Superman' (2010) $15.8M Waiting for 'Superman' (2010)
- October Oct Jackass 3-D (2010) $187M Jackass 3-D (2010)
- November Nov Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer (2010) $414.5K Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer (2010)
- December Dec Bhutto (2010) $210.8K Bhutto (2010)
Last 10 years
How Does 2010 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2009 earned the most: $401.6M from 111 films, led by This Is It (2009). 2010 took $338.6M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 31 films | 31 | $39.4M | – | 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 |
| 2005 94 films · −16% | 94 | $284.9M | −16% | March of the Penguins (2005) $127.4M |
| 2006 112 films · +1% | 112 | $286.9M | +1% | Deep Sea (2006) $98.2M |
| 2007 132 films · −52% | 132 | $137.8M | −52% | Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure (2007) $50.7M |
| 2008 122 films · −14% | 122 | $118.2M | −14% | U2 3D (2008) $22.7M |
| 2009 111 films · +240% | 111 | $401.6M | +240% | This Is It (2009) $268M |
| 2010 119 films · −16% | 119 | $338.6M | −16% | Jackass 3-D (2010) $178.1M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 2010?
English-language documentary films took $249M across 87 films, 74% of the total, ahead of French-language documentary films ($83.1M) and Korean-language documentary films ($2.2M).
2010 Documentary Box Office by Language
- English $249M87 films · #1 Jackass 3-D (2010)
-
French $83.1M5 films · #1 Oceans (2010) -
Korean $2.2M1 film · #1 Don’t Cry for Me Sudan (2010) -
German $1.9M6 films · #1 In the Beginning There Was Light (2010) -
Finnish $908.3K2 films · #1 Steam of Life (2010) -
Catalan $348.9K1 film · #1 Bicicleta, cullera, poma (2010) -
Chinese $326K2 films · #1 Last Train Home (2010) -
Czech $257K1 film · #1 Katka (2010) -
Tagalog $214.4K1 film · #1 Noy (2010) -
Spanish $168.7K5 films · #1 Fake Orgasm (2010)
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 2010: 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 119 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 2010?
Jackass 3-D (2010) leads with $178.1M worldwide, $117.2M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Oceans (2010) at $83.1M and Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World (2010) at $16M.
How much did documentary movies released in 2010 earn?
119 documentary films released in 2010 report a worldwide gross, $338.6M in all, or $2.8M per film on average. 2009 releases took $401.6M.
How many documentary movies released in 2010 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Jackass 3-D (2010) with $178.1M.
How is the 2010 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 2010. 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 2010 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.