#1 of 162 #1 documentary movie of 2011
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011)
2011 · Music, Documentary
$99M worldwide · 34% of the chart's total
$73M US & Canada · 74% $26M elsewhere · 26%
Documentary box office · 2011
Documentary Box Office 2011: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 2011, with $99M worldwide, ahead of Born to Be Wild (2011) at $41.6M and African Cats (2011) at $30.9M. 162 documentary films released in 2011 report a worldwide gross, $288.8M in all, 52% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 15% on 2010, whose releases took $338.6M. By language, English leads with $258.3M across 126 documentary releases.
- 2011 releases with a gross
- 162
- combined worldwide
- $288.8M
- Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011), the #1
- $99M
- vs 2010
- −15%
#1 of 162 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 2011?
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011) leads with $99M, 34% of the total. The top 5 together took $204.3M, 71% of what all 162 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 2011, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 162. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2011.
- 1 Feb 11, 2011 US and Canada: $73M Rest of the world: $26M Worldwide: $99M
- 2 Apr 8, 2011 US and Canada: $26M Rest of the world: $15.7M Worldwide: $41.6M
- 3 Apr 22, 2011 US and Canada: $15.4M Rest of the world: $15.4M Worldwide: $30.9M
- 4 Dec 23, 2011 US and Canada: $3.5M Rest of the world: $15.2M Worldwide: $18.7M
- 5 Sep 2, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.1M
- 6
Apr 8, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.9M - 7
Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough (2011)May 6, 2011 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $5.1M Worldwide: $10.8M
May 6, 2011 · English · Documentary $10.8M worldwide - 8
Aug 12, 2011 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: $8.6M Worldwide: $10.2M - 9
Apr 29, 2011 US and Canada: $5.3M Rest of the world: $2.9M Worldwide: $8.2M - 10
Jun 17, 2011 US and Canada: $4M Rest of the world: $409.8K Worldwide: $4.4M - 11
Apr 22, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3M - 12
Aug 10, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.6M - 13
Apr 15, 2011 US and Canada: $14.6K Rest of the world: $2M Worldwide: $2M - 14
Mar 16, 2011 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: $498K Worldwide: $2M - 15
Mar 11, 2011 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.6M - 16
Feb 3, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M - 17
Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest (2011)Jul 8, 2011 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M Jul 8, 2011 · English · Music, Documentary $1.2M worldwide - 18
Page One: A Year Inside the New York Times (2011)Jun 17, 2011 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $11K Worldwide: $1.1M Jun 17, 2011 · English · Documentary $1.1M worldwide - 19
Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness (2011)Jul 6, 2011 US and Canada: $906.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $906.7K Jul 6, 2011 · English · Documentary $906.7K worldwide - 20
Oct 14, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $813.4K - 21
Nov 20, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $778.6K - 22
May 19, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $741.7K - 23
May 6, 2011 US and Canada: $739.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $739.6K - 24
Jul 15, 2011 US and Canada: $696.9K Rest of the world: $35K Worldwide: $731.9K - 25
Oct 21, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $706.5K - 26
POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011)Apr 22, 2011 US and Canada: $638.5K Rest of the world: $59.8K Worldwide: $698.2K Apr 22, 2011 · English · Comedy, Documentary $698.2K worldwide - 27
Jun 8, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $655K - 28
Aug 18, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $652.5K - 29
Feb 18, 2011 US and Canada: $635.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $635.3K - 30
Jul 8, 2011 US and Canada: $411.2K Rest of the world: $201.7K Worldwide: $612.8K - 31
Jul 29, 2011 US and Canada: $252.8K Rest of the world: $354.4K Worldwide: $607.2K - 32
Feb 3, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $542.1K - 33
Mar 25, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $532.9K - 34
May 13, 2011 US and Canada: $312.5K Rest of the world: $204.5K Worldwide: $517K - 35
Sep 20, 2011 US and Canada: $471.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $471.3K - 36
Mar 18, 2011 US and Canada: $164K Rest of the world: $246.9K Worldwide: $410.9K - 37
Nov 11, 2011 US and Canada: $223.9K Rest of the world: $169.8K Worldwide: $393.7K - 38
Jul 22, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $385.5K - 39
Jun 17, 2011 US and Canada: $183.8K Rest of the world: $179.5K Worldwide: $363.3K - 40
Jul 27, 2011 US and Canada: $237.2K Rest of the world: $105.9K Worldwide: $343.1K - 41
Oct 21, 2011 US and Canada: $304.1K Rest of the world: $6.8K Worldwide: $310.8K - 42
Nov 30, 2011 US and Canada: $39.5K Rest of the world: $255.1K Worldwide: $294.6K - 43
Jul 29, 2011 US and Canada: $282.4K Rest of the world: $4K Worldwide: $286.5K - 44
Sep 9, 2011 US and Canada: $273.7K Rest of the world: $6.5K Worldwide: $280.3K - 45
Jun 24, 2011 US and Canada: $268K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $268K - 46
Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune (2011)Jan 5, 2011 US and Canada: $263.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $263.7K Jan 5, 2011 · English · Biography, History, Music $263.7K worldwide - 47
Feb 18, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $254.5K - 48
Mar 23, 2011 US and Canada: $242.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $242.7K - 49
Dec 19, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $224.5K - 50
Sep 16, 2011 US and Canada: $27.3K Rest of the world: $190.4K Worldwide: $217.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2011?
Of the top 10, Buck (2011) earned the biggest share at home (91% in the US & Canada), while Senna (2011) made 84% of its gross abroad. Across all 162 films, $151.3M (52%) came from the US & Canada. 2 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011) $99M $73M US & Canada · 74% $26M elsewhere · 26%
- 2 Born to Be Wild (2011) $41.6M $26M US & Canada · 62% $15.7M elsewhere · 38%
- 3 African Cats (2011) $30.9M $15.4M US & Canada · 50% $15.4M elsewhere · 50%
- 4 Pina (2011) $18.7M $3.5M US & Canada · 19% $15.2M elsewhere · 81%
- 5 Rebirth (2011) $14.1M No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 The Family Jams (2011) $13.9M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough (2011) $10.8M $5.7M US & Canada · 53% $5.1M elsewhere · 47%
- 8 Senna (2011) $10.2M $1.6M US & Canada · 16% $8.6M elsewhere · 84%
- 9 Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2011) $8.2M $5.3M US & Canada · 65% $2.9M elsewhere · 35%
- 10 Buck (2011) $4.4M $4M US & Canada · 91% $409.8K elsewhere · 9%
Gross bands
How Many 2011 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 162 films reached $100M. 154 films, 95% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $288.8M total.
83% 17%
- $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 8 films, 5% of the list $239.2M · 83% of the gross
- Under $10M 154 films, 95% of the list $49.6M · 17% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2011 Earned the Most?
February releases took the most, $102.1M from 12 films, led by Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011). January was the quietest month ($310.5K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune (2011) $310.5K Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune (2011)
- February Feb Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011) $102.1M Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011)
- March Mar Bill Cunningham New York (2011) $5.4M Bill Cunningham New York (2011)
- April Apr Born to Be Wild (2011) $100.9M Born to Be Wild (2011)
- May May Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough (2011) $13.2M Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough (2011)
- June Jun Buck (2011) $7.3M Buck (2011)
- July Jul Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest (2011) $5.6M Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest (2011)
- August Aug Senna (2011) $14M Senna (2011)
- September Sep Rebirth (2011) $16.4M Rebirth (2011)
- October Oct To Be Heard (2011) $2.5M To Be Heard (2011)
- November Nov Woody Allen: A Documentary (2011) $1.9M Woody Allen: A Documentary (2011)
- December Dec Pina (2011) $19.2M Pina (2011)
Last 10 years
How Does 2011 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2009 earned the most: $401.6M from 111 films, led by This Is It (2009). 2011 took $288.8M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 50 films | 50 | $239M | – | 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 |
| 2011 162 films · −15% | 162 | $288.8M | −15% | Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011) $99M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 2011?
English-language documentary films took $258.3M across 126 films, 89% of the total, ahead of German-language documentary films ($21.6M) and Danish-language documentary films ($2M).
2011 Documentary Box Office by Language
- English $258.3M126 films · #1 Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011)
-
German $21.6M7 films · #1 Pina (2011) -
Danish $2M1 film · #1 Armadillo (2011) -
French $807.6K5 films · #1 L'amour fou (2011) -
Finnish $655K1 film · #1 Reindeerspotting: Escape from Santaland (2011) -
Spanish $627.6K4 films · #1 Nostalgia for the Light (2011) -
Italian $540K2 films · #1 Silvio Forever (2011) -
Russian $537.3K2 films · #1 Khodorkovsky (2011) -
Catalan $343.1K1 film · #1 El Bulli: Cooking in Progress (2011) -
Swedish $254.5K1 film · #1 Women with Cows (2011)
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 2011: 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 162 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 2011?
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011) leads with $99M worldwide, $73M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Born to Be Wild (2011) at $41.6M and African Cats (2011) at $30.9M.
How much did documentary movies released in 2011 earn?
162 documentary films released in 2011 report a worldwide gross, $288.8M in all, or $1.8M per film on average. 2010 releases took $338.6M.
How many documentary movies released in 2011 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011), earned $99M.
How is the 2011 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 2011. 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 2011 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.