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Documentary box office · 2021

Documentary Box Office 2021: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies

Fathom (2021) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 2021, with $8.6M worldwide, ahead of The Velvet Underground (2021) at $5.6M and Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021) at $5.5M. 183 documentary films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $58.5M in all, 30% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 14% on 2020, whose releases took $67.8M. By language, English leads with $44.2M across 110 documentary releases.

2021 releases with a gross
183
combined worldwide
$58.5M
Fathom (2021), the #1
$8.6M
vs 2020
−14%
Fathom (2021) movie poster #1 of 183
#1 documentary movie of 2021

Fathom (2021)

2021 · Documentary

$8.6M worldwide · 15% of the chart's total

No US & Canada figure reported
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 2021?

Fathom (2021) leads with $8.6M, 15% of the total. The top 5 together took $26.3M, 45% of what all 183 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. Fathom (2021) movie poster Number 1
    $8.6M Fathom (2021)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  2. The Velvet Underground (2021) movie poster Number 2
    $5.6M The Velvet Underground (2021)
    $151K US & Canada · 3% $5.5M elsewhere · 97%
  3. Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021) movie poster Number 3
    $5.5M Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)
    $5.4M US & Canada · 98% $137K elsewhere · 2%
  4. Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) movie poster Number 4
    $3.7M Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
    $2.3M US & Canada · 63% $1.4M elsewhere · 37%
  5. Karel (2021) movie poster Number 5
    $2.9M Karel (2021)
    No US & Canada figure reported

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Documentary Release of 2021, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Ranks 1 to 50 of 183. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2021.

  1. 1 Fathom (2021) movie poster
    Fathom (2021) Jun 25, 2021 · English · Documentary $8.6M worldwide
    Jun 25, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.6M
  2. 2 The Velvet Underground (2021) movie poster
    The Velvet Underground (2021) Oct 15, 2021 · English · Music, Documentary $5.6M worldwide
    Oct 15, 2021 US and Canada: $151K Rest of the world: $5.5M Worldwide: $5.6M
  3. 3 Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021) movie poster
    Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021) Jul 16, 2021 · English · Documentary $5.5M worldwide
    Jul 16, 2021 US and Canada: $5.4M Rest of the world: $137K Worldwide: $5.5M
  4. 4 Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) movie poster
    Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) Jul 2, 2021 · English · Documentary $3.7M worldwide
    Jul 2, 2021 US and Canada: $2.3M Rest of the world: $1.4M Worldwide: $3.7M
  5. 5 Karel (2021) movie poster
    Karel (2021) Sep 30, 2021 · Czech · Documentary $2.9M worldwide
    Sep 30, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9M
  6. 6 The Hidden Life of Trees (2021) movie poster
    The Hidden Life of Trees (2021) Jul 16, 2021 · German · Documentary $2.8M worldwide
    Jul 16, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8M
  7. 7 Tina (2021) movie poster
    Tina (2021) Mar 27, 2021 · English · Biography, History, Music $2.6M worldwide
    Mar 27, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.6M
  8. 8 Show Me the Father (2021) movie poster
    Show Me the Father (2021) Sep 10, 2021 · English · Drama, Documentary $1.9M worldwide
    Sep 10, 2021 US and Canada: $1.8M Rest of the world: $115.9K Worldwide: $1.9M
  9. 9 Burning (2021) movie poster
    Burning (2021) Nov 26, 2021 · English · Documentary $1.9M worldwide
    Nov 26, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9M
  10. 10 The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52 (2021) movie poster
    The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52 (2021) Jul 9, 2021 · English · Adventure, Documentary $1.6M worldwide
    Jul 9, 2021 US and Canada: $107.8K Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $1.6M
  11. 11 The Truffle Hunters (2021) movie poster
    The Truffle Hunters (2021) Mar 5, 2021 · Italian · Documentary $1.5M worldwide
    Mar 5, 2021 US and Canada: $521.2K Rest of the world: $994.3K Worldwide: $1.5M
  12. 12 The Alpinist (2021) movie poster
    The Alpinist (2021) Sep 10, 2021 · English · Documentary $1.4M worldwide
    Sep 10, 2021 US and Canada: $844.7K Rest of the world: $601.1K Worldwide: $1.4M
  13. 13 The Sparks Brothers (2021) movie poster
    The Sparks Brothers (2021) Jun 18, 2021 · English · Music, Documentary $1.2M worldwide
    Jun 18, 2021 US and Canada: $648.7K Rest of the world: $600.5K Worldwide: $1.2M
  14. 14 Bigger Than Us (2021) movie poster
    Bigger Than Us (2021) Jul 7, 2021 · English · Documentary $1.1M worldwide
    Jul 7, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M
  15. 15 Oasis Knebworth 1996 (2021) movie poster
    Oasis Knebworth 1996 (2021) Sep 23, 2021 · English · Documentary $1.1M worldwide
    Sep 23, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M
  16. 16 The Rescue (2021) movie poster
    The Rescue (2021) Oct 8, 2021 · English · Drama, Documentary $1.1M worldwide
    Oct 8, 2021 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.1M
  17. 17 The Jesus Music (2021) movie poster
    The Jesus Music (2021) Oct 1, 2021 · English · Documentary $1M worldwide
    Oct 1, 2021 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1M
  18. 18 Those Who Care (2021) movie poster
    Those Who Care (2021) Mar 21, 2021 · French · Documentary $773.2K worldwide
    Mar 21, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $773.2K
  19. 19 Flee (2021) movie poster
    Flee (2021) Dec 3, 2021 · Danish · Biography, Drama, Animation $711.7K worldwide
    Dec 3, 2021 US and Canada: $339.8K Rest of the world: $371.9K Worldwide: $711.7K
  20. 20 Lynx (2021) movie poster
    Lynx (2021) Aug 3, 2021 · French · Documentary $671.7K worldwide
    Aug 3, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $671.7K
  21. 21 Children of the Enemy (2021) movie poster
    Children of the Enemy (2021) Nov 17, 2021 · Swedish · Documentary $575.2K worldwide
    Nov 17, 2021 US and Canada: $325.6K Rest of the world: $249.6K Worldwide: $575.2K
  22. 22 Goodbye! (2021) movie poster
    Goodbye! (2021) Sep 26, 2021 · Japanese · Documentary, Music $563.6K worldwide
    Sep 26, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $563.6K
  23. 23 Aksel (2021) movie poster
    Aksel (2021) Oct 2, 2021 · Norwegian · Documentary $553.1K worldwide
    Oct 2, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $553.1K
  24. 24 Monsta X: The Dreaming (2021) movie poster
    Monsta X: The Dreaming (2021) Nov 9, 2021 · Korean · Music, Documentary $493.8K worldwide
    Nov 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $493.8K
  25. 25 Julia (2021) movie poster
    Julia (2021) Nov 12, 2021 · English · Documentary $493.1K worldwide
    Nov 12, 2021 US and Canada: $399.8K Rest of the world: $93.3K Worldwide: $493.1K
  26. 26 Softie (2021) movie poster
    Softie (2021) Jan 29, 2021 · French · Drama, Documentary $489.1K worldwide
    Jan 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $489.1K
  27. 27 Aulcie (2021) movie poster
    Aulcie (2021) Nov 12, 2021 · English · Sport, Documentary $373K worldwide
    Nov 12, 2021 US and Canada: $373K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $373K
  28. 28 Final Account (2021) movie poster
    Final Account (2021) May 21, 2021 · German · Documentary $353.1K worldwide
    May 21, 2021 US and Canada: $309K Rest of the world: $44.1K Worldwide: $353.1K
  29. 29 Waterman (2021) movie poster
    Waterman (2021) Nov 18, 2021 · English · Documentary, History $336.8K worldwide
    Nov 18, 2021 US and Canada: $316.8K Rest of the world: $20K Worldwide: $336.8K
  30. 30 My Name Is Bulger (2021) movie poster
    My Name Is Bulger (2021) Jun 17, 2021 · English · Documentary $312.7K worldwide
    Jun 17, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $312.7K
  31. 31 My Name Is Gulpilil (2021) movie poster
    My Name Is Gulpilil (2021) Mar 12, 2021 · English · Documentary $312.7K worldwide
    Mar 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $312.7K
  32. 32 Becoming Cousteau (2021) movie poster
    Becoming Cousteau (2021) Oct 22, 2021 · English · Adventure, Documentary $282.6K worldwide
    Oct 22, 2021 US and Canada: $231.7K Rest of the world: $50.9K Worldwide: $282.6K
  33. 33 Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It (2021) movie poster
    Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It (2021) Jun 18, 2021 · English · Documentary $264.6K worldwide
    Jun 18, 2021 US and Canada: $264.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $264.6K
  34. 34 The Automat (2021) movie poster
    The Automat (2021) Sep 2, 2021 · English · History, Documentary $257.4K worldwide
    Sep 2, 2021 US and Canada: $257.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $257.4K
  35. 35 Ailey (2021) movie poster
    Ailey (2021) Jul 23, 2021 · English · Documentary $214.3K worldwide
    Jul 23, 2021 US and Canada: $204.5K Rest of the world: $9.8K Worldwide: $214.3K
  36. 36 Mr. Saturday Night (2021) movie poster
    Mr. Saturday Night (2021) Dec 9, 2021 · English · Music, Documentary $211.6K worldwide
    Dec 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $211.6K
  37. 37 Marx Can Wait (2021) movie poster
    Marx Can Wait (2021) Dec 15, 2021 · Italian · Documentary $210.8K worldwide
    Dec 15, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $210.8K
  38. 38 Facing Monsters (2021) movie poster
    Facing Monsters (2021) Oct 24, 2021 · English · Documentary $179.4K worldwide
    Oct 24, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $179.4K
  39. 39 Attica (2021) movie poster
    Attica (2021) Oct 29, 2021 · English · Documentary $154K worldwide
    Oct 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $154K
  40. 40 Kernagis (2021) movie poster
    Kernagis (2021) Oct 25, 2021 · Lithuanian · Documentary $147.5K worldwide
    Oct 25, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $147.5K
  41. 41 100 Days with Tata (2021) movie poster
    100 Days with Tata (2021) Dec 29, 2021 · Spanish · Documentary $123.5K worldwide
    Dec 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $123.5K
  42. 42 Notturno (2021) movie poster
    Notturno (2021) Jan 22, 2021 · Documentary $121.1K worldwide
    Jan 22, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $121.1K
  43. 43 Quant (2021) movie poster
    Quant (2021) Oct 9, 2021 · English · Documentary $117.7K worldwide
    Oct 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $117.7K
  44. 44 Wild Horses - A Tale From The Puszta (2021) movie poster
    Wild Horses - A Tale From The Puszta (2021) Nov 4, 2021 · Hungarian · Documentary $115.7K worldwide
    Nov 4, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $115.7K
  45. 45 The Reason I Jump (2021) movie poster
    The Reason I Jump (2021) Jan 8, 2021 · English · Documentary $115.6K worldwide
    Jan 8, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $115.6K
  46. 46 Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In (2021) movie poster
    Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In (2021) May 29, 2021 · English · Documentary $115.6K worldwide
    May 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $115.6K
  47. 47 The Legend of the Underground (2021) movie poster
    The Legend of the Underground (2021) Jun 29, 2021 · English · Documentary $115.5K worldwide
    Jun 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $115.5K
  48. 48 Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale (2021) movie poster
    Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale (2021) Sep 22, 2021 · English · Documentary $111.3K worldwide
    Sep 22, 2021 US and Canada: $111.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $111.3K
  49. 49 Botticelli, Florence and the Medici (2021) movie poster
    Botticelli, Florence and the Medici (2021) Sep 6, 2021 · Italian · Documentary $100.1K worldwide
    Sep 6, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $100.1K
  50. 50 The United Way (2021) movie poster
    The United Way (2021) May 10, 2021 · English · Documentary $97.1K worldwide
    May 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $97.1K
US & Canada vs the world

Where Did the Money Come From in 2021?

Of the top 10, Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021) earned the biggest share at home (98% in the US & Canada), while The Velvet Underground (2021) made 97% of its gross abroad. Across all 183 films, $17.7M (30%) came from the US & Canada. 5 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.

  1. 1 Fathom (2021) $8.6M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  2. 2 The Velvet Underground (2021) $5.6M
    $151K US & Canada · 3% $5.5M elsewhere · 97%
  3. 3 Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021) $5.5M
    $5.4M US & Canada · 98% $137K elsewhere · 2%
  4. 4 Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) $3.7M
    $2.3M US & Canada · 63% $1.4M elsewhere · 37%
  5. 5 Karel (2021) $2.9M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  6. 6 The Hidden Life of Trees (2021) $2.8M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  7. 7 Tina (2021) $2.6M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  8. 8 Show Me the Father (2021) $1.9M
    $1.8M US & Canada · 94% $115.9K elsewhere · 6%
  9. 9 Burning (2021) $1.9M
    No US & Canada figure reported
  10. 10 The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52 (2021) $1.6M
    $107.8K US & Canada · 7% $1.5M elsewhere · 93%
Gross bands

How Many 2021 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 183 films reached $100M. 183 films, 100% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $58.5M 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 183 films, 100% of the list $58.5M · 100% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 2021 Earned the Most?

July releases took the most, $15.2M from 20 films, led by Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021). April was the quietest month ($81.9K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan Softie (2021) $880.4K Softie (2021)
  2. February Feb Life in a Day 2020 (2021) $83.1K Life in a Day 2020 (2021)
  3. March Mar Tina (2021) $5.3M Tina (2021)
  4. April Apr The Man Who Paints Water Drops (2021) $81.9K The Man Who Paints Water Drops (2021)
  5. May May Final Account (2021) $723.3K Final Account (2021)
  6. June Jun Fathom (2021) $10.7M Fathom (2021)
  7. July Jul Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021) $15.2M Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)
  8. August Aug Lynx (2021) $1M Lynx (2021)
  9. September Sep Karel (2021) $8.8M Karel (2021)
  10. October Oct The Velvet Underground (2021) $9.5M The Velvet Underground (2021)
  11. November Nov Burning (2021) $4.9M Burning (2021)
  12. December Dec Flee (2021) $1.4M Flee (2021)
Last 10 years

How Does 2021 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 2013 earned the most: $696.2M from 180 films, led by Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013). 2021 took $58.5M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
2012 164 films 164 $288M – 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
2021 183 films · −14% 183 $58.5M −14% Fathom (2021) $8.6M
By language

Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 2021?

English-language documentary films took $44.2M across 110 films, 76% of the total, ahead of German-language documentary films ($3.2M) and Czech-language documentary films ($2.9M).

2021 Documentary Box Office by Language

  1. English $44.2M
    110 films · #1 Fathom (2021)
  2. German $3.2M
    3 films · #1 The Hidden Life of Trees (2021)
  3. Czech $2.9M
    2 films · #1 Karel (2021)
  4. French $2.1M
    9 films · #1 Those Who Care (2021)
  5. Italian $2M
    8 films · #1 The Truffle Hunters (2021)
  6. Danish $711.7K
    1 film · #1 Flee (2021)
  7. Korean $698.3K
    6 films · #1 Monsta X: The Dreaming (2021)
  8. Japanese $577.3K
    3 films · #1 Goodbye! (2021)
  9. Swedish $575.2K
    2 films · #1 Children of the Enemy (2021)
  10. Norwegian $553.1K
    1 film · #1 Aksel (2021)
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 2021: 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 183 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 2021?

Fathom (2021) leads with $8.6M worldwide. Next come The Velvet Underground (2021) at $5.6M and Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021) at $5.5M.

How much did documentary movies released in 2021 earn?

183 documentary films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $58.5M in all, or $319.8K per film on average. 2020 releases took $67.8M.

How many documentary movies released in 2021 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, Fathom (2021), earned $8.6M.

How much of the 2021 Documentary box office came from the US and Canada?

$17.7M of the $58.5M total, or 30%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 133 films of the 183 report no domestic figure.

How is the 2021 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 2021. 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 2021 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.