#1 of 25 #1 documentary movie of April 2017
2017 · Adventure, Family
$25.1M worldwide · 61% of the chart's total
$13.9M US & Canada · 55% $11.2M elsewhere · 45%
Documentary box office · April 2017
Documentary Box Office, April 2017: Top-Grossing Releases
Born in China (2017) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in April 2017, with $25.1M worldwide, ahead of Our President (2017) at $13.4M and Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (2017) at $406.9K. 25 documentary films released in April 2017 report a worldwide gross, $41M in all, 39% of it from the US & Canada. That is 14.5 times the total of March 2017, whose releases took $2.8M. By language, English leads with $27.1M across 18 documentary releases.
- April 2017 releases with a gross
- 25
- combined worldwide
- $41M
- Born in China (2017), the #1
- $25.1M
- vs March 2017
- ×14.5
#1 of 25 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of April 2017?
Born in China (2017) leads with $25.1M, 61% of the total. The top 5 together took $39.6M, 97% of what all 25 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 $406.9K Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (2017)$406.3K US & Canada · 100% $626 elsewhere · <1% -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Documentary Release of April 2017, 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 April 2017.
- 1 Apr 21, 2017 US and Canada: $13.9M Rest of the world: $11.2M Worldwide: $25.1M
- 2 Apr 29, 2017 US and Canada: $507.3K Rest of the world: $12.9M Worldwide: $13.4M
- 3 Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (2017)Apr 14, 2017 US and Canada: $406.3K Rest of the world: $626 Worldwide: $406.9K
Apr 14, 2017 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $406.9K worldwide - 4 Apr 29, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $368.4K
- 5 Citizen Jane: Battle for the City (2017)Apr 21, 2017 US and Canada: $313.4K Rest of the world: $9.7K Worldwide: $323.1K Apr 21, 2017 · English · Biography, History, Documentary $323.1K worldwide
- 6
Apr 8, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $316.8K - 7
Apr 26, 2017 US and Canada: $315K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $315K - 8
Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent (2017)Apr 21, 2017 US and Canada: $228.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $228.2K Apr 21, 2017 · English · Biography, Documentary $228.2K worldwide - 9
Apr 13, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $84.1K - 10
Apr 6, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $82.2K - 11
Raphael: The Lord of the Arts (2017)Apr 3, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $78.4K
Apr 3, 2017 · Italian · History, Documentary, Romance $78.4K worldwide - 12
Apr 7, 2017 US and Canada: $68.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $68.5K - 13
Bang! The Bert Berns Story (2017)Apr 26, 2017 US and Canada: $59.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $59.3K Apr 26, 2017 · English · History, Music, Documentary $59.3K worldwide - 14
Intent to Destroy: Death, Denial & Depiction (2017)Apr 25, 2017 US and Canada: $31.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $31.5K Apr 25, 2017 · English · Documentary $31.5K worldwide - 15
Apr 16, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $30.1K - 16
Apr 1, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.9K - 17
Apr 14, 2017 US and Canada: $23.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.1K - 18
Apr 7, 2017 US and Canada: $20.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $20.8K - 19
Apr 21, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.3K - 20
SHOT! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock (2017)Apr 7, 2017 US and Canada: $15.2K Rest of the world: $3.1K Worldwide: $18.3K Apr 7, 2017 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $18.3K worldwide - 21
Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo (2017)Apr 14, 2017 US and Canada: $16.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $16.4K Apr 14, 2017 · English · History, Documentary $16.4K worldwide - 22
Apr 14, 2017 US and Canada: $7.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.7K - 23
Apr 21, 2017 US and Canada: $3.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.7K - 24
Apr 25, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $312 - 25
Apr 28, 2017 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $297
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in April 2017?
Of the top 10, Obit (2017) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Our President (2017) made 96% of its gross abroad. Across all 25 films, $15.9M (39%) came from the US & Canada. 4 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Born in China (2017) $25.1M $13.9M US & Canada · 55% $11.2M elsewhere · 45%
- 2 Our President (2017) $13.4M $507.3K US & Canada · 4% $12.9M elsewhere · 96%
- 3 Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (2017) $406.9K $406.3K US & Canada · 100% $626 elsewhere · <1%
- 4 Pecking Order (2017) $368.4K No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Citizen Jane: Battle for the City (2017) $323.1K $313.4K US & Canada · 97% $9.7K elsewhere · 3%
- 6 Tasha Tudor: A Still Water Story (2017) $316.8K No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Obit (2017) $315K $315K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent (2017) $228.2K $228.2K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Dancing Beethoven (2017) $84.1K No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Paula Rego: Secrets & Stories (2017) $82.2K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many April 2017 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 25 films reached $100M. 23 films, 92% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $41M total.
94%
- $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 2 films, 8% of the list $38.5M · 94% of the gross
- Under $10M 23 films, 92% of the list $2.5M · 6% of the gross
By release week
Which Week of April 2017 Had the Biggest Releases?
Films released in week 16 (Apr 16–22) took $25.7M, led by Born in China (2017). Each column links to that week's chart; weeks are Sunday to Saturday.
- Week 13 Wk 13 Mar 26–Apr 1 Ronaldo vs. Messi: Face Off! (2017) $25.9K Ronaldo vs. Messi: Face Off! (2017)
- Week 14 Wk 14 Apr 2–8 Tasha Tudor: A Still Water Story (2017) $585K Tasha Tudor: A Still Water Story (2017)
- Week 15 Wk 15 Apr 9–15 Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (2017) $538.2K Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (2017)
- Week 16 Wk 16 Apr 16–22 Born in China (2017) $25.7M Born in China (2017)
- Week 17 Wk 17 Apr 23–29 Our President (2017) $14.2M Our President (2017)
- Week 18 Wk 18 Apr 30–May 6 No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Earlier years
How Does April 2017 Compare With April in Earlier Years?
Of these 10 years, April 2011 earned the most: $100.9M from 17 films, led by Born to Be Wild (2011). April 2017 took $41M.
| Month | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2008 16 films | 16 | $35.8M | – | Shine a Light (2008) $15.8M |
| April 2009 6 films · −86% | 6 | $4.9M | −86% | Every Little Step (2009) $2.8M |
| April 2010 10 films · +1878% | 10 | $96.1M | +1878% | Oceans (2010) $83.1M |
| April 2011 17 films · +5% | 17 | $100.9M | +5% | Born to Be Wild (2011) $41.6M |
| April 2012 12 films · −38% | 12 | $62.8M | −38% | Chimpanzee (2012) $34.8M |
| April 2013 9 films · −94% | 9 | $4M | −94% | Unmade in China (2013) $3.4M |
| April 2014 15 films · +888% | 15 | $39.9M | +888% | Bears (2014) $21.3M |
| April 2015 21 films · −46% | 21 | $21.6M | −46% | Monkey Kingdom (2015) $16.8M |
| April 2016 23 films · +58% | 23 | $34.1M | +58% | A Beautiful Planet (2016) $26.3M |
| April 2017 25 films · +20% | 25 | $41M | +20% | Born in China (2017) $25.1M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in April 2017?
English-language documentary films took $27.1M across 18 films, 66% of the total, ahead of Korean-language documentary films ($13.4M) and Japanese-language documentary films ($316.8K).
April 2017 Documentary Box Office by Language
- English $27.1M18 films · #1 Born in China (2017)
-
Korean $13.4M1 film · #1 Our President (2017) -
Japanese $316.8K1 film · #1 Tasha Tudor: A Still Water Story (2017) - Italian $78.4K1 film · #1 Raphael: The Lord of the Arts (2017)
-
Hungarian $30.1K1 film · #1 Ultra (2017) -
Polish $20.8K1 film · #1 All These Sleepless Nights (2017) -
Spanish $3121 film · #1 Orione (2017)
Archive
Documentary Box Office in 2017, Month by Month
The months of 2017 with their totals: April leads with $41M, led by Born in China (2017).
- January $31M #1 Reset (2017)
- February $15.5M #1 Kiki (2017)
- March $2.8M #1 Uncertain (2017)
- April $41M #1 Born in China (2017)
- May $4.1M #1 Buena Vista Social Club: Adios (2017)
- June $7.3M #1 Return to the Wolves (2017)
- July $6.2M #1 An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (2017)
- August $2.8M #1 Step (2017)
- September $6.7M #1 So Help Me God (2017)
- October $23.8M #1 Earth: One Amazing Day (2017)
- November $18.4M #1 The Next Guardian (2017)
- December $13.2M #1 Killing for Love (2017)
FAQ
Documentary Box Office April 2017: 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 25 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in April 2017?
Born in China (2017) leads with $25.1M worldwide, $13.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Our President (2017) at $13.4M and Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (2017) at $406.9K.
How much did documentary movies released in April 2017 earn?
25 documentary films released in April 2017 report a worldwide gross, $41M in all, or $1.6M per film on average. March 2017 releases took $2.8M.
How many documentary movies released in April 2017 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Born in China (2017), earned $25.1M.
How is the April 2017 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 April 2017. 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 April 2017 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.