#1 of 256 #1 documentary movie of 2019
2019 · History, Documentary
$15.3M worldwide · 11% of the chart's total
$9M US & Canada · 59% $6.3M elsewhere · 41%
Documentary box office · 2019
Documentary Box Office 2019: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
Apollo 11 (2019) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 2019, with $15.3M worldwide, ahead of Metamorphosis (2019) at $12.9M and Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019) at $12.2M. 256 documentary films released in 2019 report a worldwide gross, $145.4M in all, 48% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 43% on 2018, whose releases took $257.3M. By language, English leads with $117M across 179 documentary releases.
- 2019 releases with a gross
- 256
- combined worldwide
- $145.4M
- Apollo 11 (2019), the #1
- $15.3M
- vs 2018
- −43%
#1 of 256 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 2019?
Apollo 11 (2019) leads with $15.3M, 11% of the total. The top 5 together took $59.6M, 41% of what all 256 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
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Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Documentary Release of 2019, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 256. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2019.
- 1 Mar 1, 2019 US and Canada: $9M Rest of the world: $6.3M Worldwide: $15.3M
- 2 Apr 19, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.9M
- 3 Aug 7, 2019 US and Canada: $4.8M Rest of the world: $7.3M Worldwide: $12.2M
- 4 Aug 23, 2019 US and Canada: $667.8K Rest of the world: $10.5M Worldwide: $11.1M
- 5 Jun 7, 2019 US and Canada: $4.6M Rest of the world: $3.5M Worldwide: $8.1M
- 6
Apr 17, 2019 US and Canada: $7.7M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $7.7M - 7
May 10, 2019 US and Canada: $4.4M Rest of the world: $903.7K Worldwide: $5.3M - 8
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019)Sep 6, 2019 US and Canada: $4.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $4.3M
Sep 6, 2019 · English · Music, Documentary $4.3M worldwide - 9
Sep 12, 2019 US and Canada: $1.6M Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $3.7M - 10
Mar 29, 2019 US and Canada: $2.2M Rest of the world: $1.3M Worldwide: $3.5M - 11
Jun 28, 2019 US and Canada: $3.2M Rest of the world: $326.3K Worldwide: $3.5M - 12
May 24, 2019 US and Canada: $3.4M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $3.4M - 13
Jul 5, 2019 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: $2.3M Worldwide: $3.3M - 14
Sep 20, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8M - 15
Nov 21, 2019 US and Canada: $704.7K Rest of the world: $1.8M Worldwide: $2.5M - 16
Oct 11, 2019 US and Canada: $1.8M Rest of the world: $89.4K Worldwide: $1.9M - 17
Sep 4, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 18
Aug 23, 2019 US and Canada: $614.2K Rest of the world: $850.3K Worldwide: $1.5M - 19
Jul 26, 2019 US and Canada: $43.8K Rest of the world: $1.4M Worldwide: $1.4M - 20
Jul 26, 2019 US and Canada: $815.1K Rest of the world: $499.2K Worldwide: $1.3M - 21
Sep 6, 2019 US and Canada: $611.6K Rest of the world: $682.8K Worldwide: $1.3M - 22
Oct 25, 2019 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M - 23
Sep 20, 2019 US and Canada: $705.3K Rest of the world: $537.8K Worldwide: $1.2M - 24
Oct 25, 2019 US and Canada: $973K Rest of the world: $109.6K Worldwide: $1.1M - 25
Jun 21, 2019 US and Canada: $903K Rest of the world: $24.5K Worldwide: $927.5K - 26
Apr 22, 2019 US and Canada: $9.1K Rest of the world: $894.7K Worldwide: $903.8K - 27
Sep 27, 2019 US and Canada: $739.7K Rest of the world: $158.3K Worldwide: $898K - 28
Apr 26, 2019 US and Canada: $875.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $875.2K - 29
Aug 1, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $789.2K - 30
Patterns of Evidence: The Moses Controversy (2019)Mar 14, 2019 US and Canada: $765.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $765.4K Mar 14, 2019 · English · Documentary, History $765.4K worldwide - 31
Billy Connolly: The Sex Life of Bandages (2019)Oct 10, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $757.4K Oct 10, 2019 · English · Documentary $757.4K worldwide - 32
Aug 9, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $751.7K - 33
Nov 15, 2019 US and Canada: $547.2K Rest of the world: $201.3K Worldwide: $748.5K - 34
Jul 19, 2019 US and Canada: $732.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $732.8K - 35
Oct 18, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $714K - 36
Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins (2019)Aug 30, 2019 US and Canada: $694.4K Rest of the world: $917 Worldwide: $695.3K Aug 30, 2019 · English · Documentary $695.3K worldwide - 37
Aug 16, 2019 US and Canada: $307.3K Rest of the world: $364.3K Worldwide: $671.6K - 38
Jul 12, 2019 US and Canada: $590.7K Rest of the world: $67.2K Worldwide: $657.8K - 39
Aug 23, 2019 US and Canada: $549.4K Rest of the world: $9.4K Worldwide: $558.8K - 40
Sep 1, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $544.2K - 41
Nov 23, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $527.8K - 42
May 24, 2019 US and Canada: $519.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $519.5K - 43
May 31, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $508.8K - 44
Mar 22, 2019 US and Canada: $485K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $485K - 45
Nov 27, 2019 US and Canada: $483.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $483.7K - 46
Sep 13, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $477K - 47
Dec 16, 2019 US and Canada: $453.7K Rest of the world: $21.8K Worldwide: $475.5K - 48
Apr 17, 2019 US and Canada: $424.3K Rest of the world: $43.1K Worldwide: $467.4K - 49
Feb 25, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $445.6K - 50
Jun 13, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $439.6K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2019?
Of the top 10, Penguins (2019) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Jawline (2019) made 94% of its gross abroad. Across all 256 films, $70.2M (48%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Apollo 11 (2019) $15.3M $9M US & Canada · 59% $6.3M elsewhere · 41%
- 2 Metamorphosis (2019) $12.9M No US & Canada figure reported
- 3 Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019) $12.2M $4.8M US & Canada · 40% $7.3M elsewhere · 60%
- 4 Jawline (2019) $11.1M $667.8K US & Canada · 6% $10.5M elsewhere · 94%
- 5 Pavarotti (2019) $8.1M $4.6M US & Canada · 57% $3.5M elsewhere · 43%
- 6 Penguins (2019) $7.7M $7.7M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 7 The Biggest Little Farm (2019) $5.3M $4.4M US & Canada · 83% $903.7K elsewhere · 17%
- 8 Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019) $4.3M $4.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Western Stars (2019) $3.7M $1.6M US & Canada · 43% $2.1M elsewhere · 57%
- 10 Faustina: Love and Mercy (2019) $3.5M $2.2M US & Canada · 64% $1.3M elsewhere · 36%
Gross bands
How Many 2019 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 256 films reached $100M. 252 films, 98% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $145.4M total.
35% 65%
- $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 4 films, 2% of the list $51.5M · 35% of the gross
- Under $10M 252 films, 98% of the list $93.9M · 65% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2019 Earned the Most?
August releases took the most, $30.3M from 27 films, led by Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019). January was the quietest month ($310.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Who Will Write Our History (2019) $310.1K Who Will Write Our History (2019)
- February Feb Tintoretto: A Rebel in Venice (2019) $1.4M Tintoretto: A Rebel in Venice (2019)
- March Mar Apollo 11 (2019) $20.6M Apollo 11 (2019)
- April Apr Metamorphosis (2019) $24.7M Metamorphosis (2019)
- May May The Biggest Little Farm (2019) $12.6M The Biggest Little Farm (2019)
- June Jun Pavarotti (2019) $13.9M Pavarotti (2019)
- July Jul Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love (2019) $8.2M Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love (2019)
- August Aug Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019) $30.3M Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019)
- September Sep Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019) $18.8M Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019)
- October Oct Fantastic Fungi (2019) $7.4M Fantastic Fungi (2019)
- November Nov Spirits in the Forest (2019) $6.2M Spirits in the Forest (2019)
- December Dec Gorillaz: Reject False Icons (2019) $1M Gorillaz: Reject False Icons (2019)
Last 10 years
How Does 2019 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2013 earned the most: $696.2M from 180 films, led by Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013). 2019 took $145.4M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 119 films | 119 | $338.6M | – | Jackass 3-D (2010) $178.1M |
| 2011 162 films · −15% | 162 | $288.8M | −15% | Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011) $99M |
| 2012 164 films · ±0% | 164 | $288M | ±0% | Switch (2012) $47.2M |
| 2013 180 films · +142% | 180 | $696.2M | +142% | Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013) $151.8M |
| 2014 174 films · −82% | 174 | $126.7M | −82% | Bears (2014) $21.3M |
| 2015 184 films · +61% | 184 | $203.5M | +61% | Northern Limit Line (2015) $40M |
| 2016 211 films · −26% | 211 | $149.8M | −26% | A Beautiful Planet (2016) $26.3M |
| 2017 240 films · +15% | 240 | $172.8M | +15% | Reset (2017) $30M |
| 2018 238 films · +49% | 238 | $257.3M | +49% | Believer (2018) $39M |
| 2019 256 films · −43% | 256 | $145.4M | −43% | Apollo 11 (2019) $15.3M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 2019?
English-language documentary films took $117M across 179 films, 80% of the total, ahead of Korean-language documentary films ($12.3M) and Polish-language documentary films ($3.5M).
2019 Documentary Box Office by Language
- English $117M179 films · #1 Apollo 11 (2019)
-
Korean $12.3M4 films · #1 Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019) -
Polish $3.5M1 film · #1 Faustina: Love and Mercy (2019) -
Italian $2.8M4 films · #1 Chiara Ferragni: Unposted (2019) -
French $2.3M12 films · #1 Adolescents (2019) -
Arabic $1.7M3 films · #1 For Sama (2019) -
Turkish $1.3M4 films · #1 Honeyland (2019) -
Russian $1.2M5 films · #1 Aquarela (2019) -
Spanish $980.1K20 films · #1 The Silence of Others (2019) -
Portuguese $573K4 films · #1 October (2019)
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 2019: 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 256 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 2019?
Apollo 11 (2019) leads with $15.3M worldwide, $9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Metamorphosis (2019) at $12.9M and Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019) at $12.2M.
How much did documentary movies released in 2019 earn?
256 documentary films released in 2019 report a worldwide gross, $145.4M in all, or $568K per film on average. 2018 releases took $257.3M.
How many documentary movies released in 2019 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Apollo 11 (2019), earned $15.3M.
How is the 2019 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 2019. 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 2019 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.