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Documentary box office · 2020

Documentary Box Office 2020: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies

The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 2020, with $9.7M worldwide, ahead of Break the Silence: The Movie (2020) at $9M and The Walrus and the Whistleblower (2020) at $7.5M. 153 documentary films released in 2020 report a worldwide gross, $67.8M in all, 3% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 53% on 2019, whose releases took $145.4M. By language, English leads with $33.3M across 93 documentary releases.

2020 releases with a gross
153
combined worldwide
$67.8M
The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020), the #1
$9.7M
vs 2019
−53%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 2020?

The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020) leads with $9.7M, 14% of the total. The top 5 together took $36.1M, 53% of what all 153 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020) movie poster Number 1
    $9.7M The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  2. Break the Silence: The Movie (2020) movie poster Number 2
    $9M Break the Silence: The Movie (2020)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  3. The Walrus and the Whistleblower (2020) movie poster Number 3
    $7.5M The Walrus and the Whistleblower (2020)
    $280.9K US & Canada · 4% $7.2M elsewhere · 96%
  4. Lindenberg! Mach dein Ding (2020) movie poster Number 4
    $6.4M Lindenberg! Mach dein Ding (2020)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. Lost in America (2020) movie poster Number 5
    $3.5M Lost in America (2020)
    No US & Canada figure reported

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Documentary Release of 2020, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 1 to 50 of 153. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2020.

  1. 1 The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020) movie poster
    The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020) Dec 1, 2020 · Spanish · Comedy, Documentary $9.7M worldwide
    Dec 1, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.7M
  2. 2 Break the Silence: The Movie (2020) movie poster
    Break the Silence: The Movie (2020) Sep 10, 2020 · Korean · Music, Documentary $9M worldwide
    Sep 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9M
  3. 3 The Walrus and the Whistleblower (2020) movie poster
    The Walrus and the Whistleblower (2020) Nov 24, 2020 · English · Documentary $7.5M worldwide
    Nov 24, 2020 US and Canada: $280.9K Rest of the world: $7.2M Worldwide: $7.5M
  4. 4 Lindenberg! Mach dein Ding (2020) movie poster
    Lindenberg! Mach dein Ding (2020) Jan 16, 2020 · German · Music, Documentary, Drama $6.4M worldwide
    Jan 16, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.4M
  5. 5 Lost in America (2020) movie poster
    Lost in America (2020) Feb 28, 2020 · English · Documentary $3.5M worldwide
    Feb 28, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5M
  6. 6 Gather (2020) movie poster
    Gather (2020) Sep 8, 2020 · English · Documentary $3.1M worldwide
    Sep 8, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.1M
  7. 7 Caught in the Net (2020) movie poster
    Caught in the Net (2020) Feb 27, 2020 · Czech · Documentary $2.9M worldwide
    Feb 27, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9M
  8. 8 Spelling the Dream (2020) movie poster
    Spelling the Dream (2020) Jun 3, 2020 · English · Documentary $1.9M worldwide
    Jun 3, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9M
  9. 9 A Secret Love (2020) movie poster
    A Secret Love (2020) Apr 29, 2020 · English · Documentary $1.7M worldwide
    Apr 29, 2020 US and Canada: $539.5K Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $1.7M
  10. 10 The House in Between (2020) movie poster
    The House in Between (2020) May 5, 2020 · English · Thriller, Horror, Documentary $1.7M worldwide
    May 5, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M
  11. 11 2040 (2020) movie poster
    2040 (2020) Jun 5, 2020 · English · Documentary $1.4M worldwide
    Jun 5, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M
  12. 12 Mishima: The Last Debate (2020) movie poster
    Mishima: The Last Debate (2020) Mar 20, 2020 · Japanese · Documentary $1.2M worldwide
    Mar 20, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M
  13. 13 Mystify: Michael Hutchence (2020) movie poster
    Mystify: Michael Hutchence (2020) Jan 7, 2020 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $1.2M worldwide
    Jan 7, 2020 US and Canada: $289.6K Rest of the world: $885.2K Worldwide: $1.2M
  14. 14 On the Record (2020) movie poster
    On the Record (2020) May 27, 2020 · English · Documentary $992.1K worldwide
    May 27, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $992.1K
  15. 15 To the Moon (2020) movie poster
    To the Moon (2020) Sep 8, 2020 · English · Documentary $832.1K worldwide
    Sep 8, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $832.1K
  16. 16 My Name Is Francesco Totti (2020) movie poster
    My Name Is Francesco Totti (2020) Oct 17, 2020 · Italian · Documentary $781.6K worldwide
    Oct 17, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $781.6K
  17. 17 Space Dogs (2020) movie poster
    Space Dogs (2020) Sep 11, 2020 · English · Documentary $776K worldwide
    Sep 11, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $776K
  18. 18 Born in Evin (2020) movie poster
    Born in Evin (2020) Jun 9, 2020 · German · Documentary $713.6K worldwide
    Jun 9, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $713.6K
  19. 19 David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020) movie poster
    David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020) Oct 4, 2020 · English · Biography, Documentary $627.2K worldwide
    Oct 4, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $627.2K
  20. 20 Time (2020) movie poster
    Time (2020) Oct 9, 2020 · English · Documentary $574.4K worldwide
    Oct 9, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $574.4K
  21. 21 The Painter and the Thief (2020) movie poster
    The Painter and the Thief (2020) May 22, 2020 · English · Documentary $547.7K worldwide
    May 22, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $547.7K
  22. 22 Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band (2020) movie poster
    Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band (2020) Feb 21, 2020 · English · Biography, History, Music $536.5K worldwide
    Feb 21, 2020 US and Canada: $449.6K Rest of the world: $87K Worldwide: $536.5K
  23. 23 Capital in the Twenty-First Century (2020) movie poster
    Capital in the Twenty-First Century (2020) May 1, 2020 · English · Documentary $439.6K worldwide
    May 1, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $439.6K
  24. 24 The Mole Agent (2020) movie poster
    The Mole Agent (2020) Sep 1, 2020 · Spanish · Documentary $402K worldwide
    Sep 1, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $402K
  25. 25 Gunda (2020) movie poster
    Gunda (2020) Dec 11, 2020 · English · Documentary $383.1K worldwide
    Dec 11, 2020 US and Canada: $115.7K Rest of the world: $267.4K Worldwide: $383.1K
  26. 26 I Am Greta (2020) movie poster
    I Am Greta (2020) Nov 13, 2020 · English · Documentary $363.1K worldwide
    Nov 13, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $363.1K
  27. 27 Slim & I (2020) movie poster
    Slim & I (2020) Sep 10, 2020 · English · Documentary, Music $342.6K worldwide
    Sep 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $342.6K
  28. 28 Gallant Indies (2020) movie poster
    Gallant Indies (2020) Oct 18, 2020 · French · Documentary $308.4K worldwide
    Oct 18, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $308.4K
  29. 29 Psychomagic, A Healing Art (2020) movie poster
    Psychomagic, A Healing Art (2020) Aug 7, 2020 · French · Documentary $308.2K worldwide
    Aug 7, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $308.2K
  30. 30 Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words (2020) movie poster
    Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words (2020) Jan 31, 2020 · English · Documentary $282.1K worldwide
    Jan 31, 2020 US and Canada: $282.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $282.1K
  31. 31 The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (2020) movie poster
    The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (2020) Dec 12, 2020 · English · Music, Documentary $280.4K worldwide
    Dec 12, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $280.4K
  32. 32 Eyes on Me: The Movie (2020) movie poster
    Eyes on Me: The Movie (2020) Jun 10, 2020 · Korean · Music, Documentary $275.8K worldwide
    Jun 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $275.8K
  33. 33 In My Blood It Runs (2020) movie poster
    In My Blood It Runs (2020) Jun 12, 2020 · English · Biography, History, Documentary $253.4K worldwide
    Jun 12, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $253.4K
  34. 34 Purgatory (2020) movie poster
    Purgatory (2020) Oct 23, 2020 · Polish · Documentary, Drama $250.7K worldwide
    Oct 23, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $250.7K
  35. 35 David Byrne's American Utopia (2020) movie poster
    David Byrne's American Utopia (2020) Oct 17, 2020 · English · Music, Musical, Documentary $248.6K worldwide
    Oct 17, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $248.6K
  36. 36 David Byrne’s American Utopia (2020) movie poster
    David Byrne’s American Utopia (2020) Oct 17, 2020 · English · Documentary, Music, Musical $248.6K worldwide
    Oct 17, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $248.6K
  37. 37 Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful (2020) movie poster
    Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful (2020) Jul 24, 2020 · English · Documentary $244.6K worldwide
    Jul 24, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $244.6K
  38. 38 Tempos (2020) movie poster
    Tempos (2020) Feb 27, 2020 · Slovak · Documentary, Music $234K worldwide
    Feb 27, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $234K
  39. 39 Zappa (2020) movie poster
    Zappa (2020) Nov 27, 2020 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $220K worldwide
    Nov 27, 2020 US and Canada: $15.5K Rest of the world: $204.5K Worldwide: $220K
  40. 40 Billie (2020) movie poster
    Billie (2020) Dec 4, 2020 · English · Music, Documentary $202.9K worldwide
    Dec 4, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $202.9K
  41. 41 Collective (2020) movie poster
    Collective (2020) Nov 20, 2020 · Romanian · Documentary $200K worldwide
    Nov 20, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $200K
  42. 42 Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles (2020) movie poster
    Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles (2020) Sep 25, 2020 · English · Documentary $194.3K worldwide
    Sep 25, 2020 US and Canada: $5K Rest of the world: $189.4K Worldwide: $194.3K
  43. 43 Oliver Sacks: His Own Life (2020) movie poster
    Oliver Sacks: His Own Life (2020) Sep 23, 2020 · English · Documentary $193.7K worldwide
    Sep 23, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $193.7K
  44. 44 Meky (2020) movie poster
    Meky (2020) Jul 9, 2020 · Slovak · Documentary $192.4K worldwide
    Jul 9, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $192.4K
  45. 45 The Woman Who Loves Giraffes (2020) movie poster
    The Woman Who Loves Giraffes (2020) Jan 10, 2020 · English · Documentary $189.9K worldwide
    Jan 10, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $189.9K
  46. 46 White Riot (2020) movie poster
    White Riot (2020) Oct 16, 2020 · English · Music, Documentary $186K worldwide
    Oct 16, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $186K
  47. 47 The Booksellers (2020) movie poster
    The Booksellers (2020) Mar 6, 2020 · English · Documentary $177.3K worldwide
    Mar 6, 2020 US and Canada: $25.7K Rest of the world: $151.6K Worldwide: $177.3K
  48. 48 The Cordillera of Dreams (2020) movie poster
    The Cordillera of Dreams (2020) Feb 12, 2020 · Spanish · Documentary $166.6K worldwide
    Feb 12, 2020 US and Canada: $20.9K Rest of the world: $145.6K Worldwide: $166.6K
  49. 49 Suzi Q (2020) movie poster
    Suzi Q (2020) Jul 1, 2020 · English · Documentary $160.1K worldwide
    Jul 1, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $160.1K
  50. 50 Return to Hardwick (2020) movie poster
    Return to Hardwick (2020) Jun 9, 2020 · English · History, War, Documentary $150.4K worldwide
    Jun 9, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $150.4K
Gross bands

How Many 2020 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 153 films reached $100M. 153 films, 100% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $67.8M total.

  • $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 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • Under $10M 153 films, 100% of the list $67.8M · 100% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 2020 Earned the Most?

September releases took the most, $15.2M from 24 films, led by Break the Silence: The Movie (2020). July was the quietest month ($631.2K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan Lindenberg! Mach dein Ding (2020) $8.3M Lindenberg! Mach dein Ding (2020)
  2. February Feb Lost in America (2020) $7.6M Lost in America (2020)
  3. March Mar Mishima: The Last Debate (2020) $1.5M Mishima: The Last Debate (2020)
  4. April Apr A Secret Love (2020) $1.9M A Secret Love (2020)
  5. May May The House in Between (2020) $3.8M The House in Between (2020)
  6. June Jun Spelling the Dream (2020) $4.9M Spelling the Dream (2020)
  7. July Jul Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful (2020) $631.2K Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful (2020)
  8. August Aug Psychomagic, A Healing Art (2020) $885.9K Psychomagic, A Healing Art (2020)
  9. September Sep Break the Silence: The Movie (2020) $15.2M Break the Silence: The Movie (2020)
  10. October Oct My Name Is Francesco Totti (2020) $3.7M My Name Is Francesco Totti (2020)
  11. November Nov The Walrus and the Whistleblower (2020) $8.5M The Walrus and the Whistleblower (2020)
  12. December Dec The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020) $10.8M The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020)
Last 10 years

How Does 2020 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 2013 earned the most: $696.2M from 180 films, led by Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013). 2020 took $67.8M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
2011 162 films 162 $288.8M – 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
2020 153 films · −53% 153 $67.8M −53% The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020) $9.7M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 2020?

English-language documentary films took $33.3M across 93 films, 49% of the total, ahead of Spanish-language documentary films ($10.7M) and Korean-language documentary films ($9.3M).

2020 Documentary Box Office by Language

  1. English $33.3M
    93 films · #1 The Walrus and the Whistleblower (2020)
  2. Spanish $10.7M
    12 films · #1 The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020)
  3. Korean $9.3M
    4 films · #1 Break the Silence: The Movie (2020)
  4. German $7.3M
    5 films · #1 Lindenberg! Mach dein Ding (2020)
  5. Czech $2.9M
    1 film · #1 Caught in the Net (2020)
  6. Japanese $1.2M
    1 film · #1 Mishima: The Last Debate (2020)
  7. Italian $854.1K
    7 films · #1 My Name Is Francesco Totti (2020)
  8. French $751.7K
    4 films · #1 Gallant Indies (2020)
  9. Slovak $428.7K
    3 films · #1 Tempos (2020)
  10. Polish $305.5K
    2 films · #1 Purgatory (2020)
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
2000s 10 years · $2.1B
1990s 10 years · $226.1M
1980s 10 years · $174.2M
1970s 9 years · $33.9M
1960s 6 years · $143K
1950s 5 years · $233.2K
1920s 2 years · $201.5K
1910s 1 year · $9.7K
FAQ

Documentary Box Office 2020: 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 153 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 2020?

The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020) leads with $9.7M worldwide. Next come Break the Silence: The Movie (2020) at $9M and The Walrus and the Whistleblower (2020) at $7.5M.

How much did documentary movies released in 2020 earn?

153 documentary films released in 2020 report a worldwide gross, $67.8M in all, or $443.1K per film on average. 2019 releases took $145.4M.

How many documentary movies released in 2020 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo (2020), earned $9.7M.

How much of the 2020 Documentary box office came from the US and Canada?

$2.3M of the $67.8M total, or 3%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 132 films of the 153 report no domestic figure.

How is the 2020 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 2020. 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 2020 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.