#1 of 186 #1 documentary movie of 2022
2022 · Action, Comedy
$80.6M worldwide · 52% of the chart's total
$57.7M US & Canada · 72% $22.8M elsewhere · 28%
Documentary box office · 2022
Documentary Box Office 2022: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
Jackass Forever (2022) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 2022, with $80.6M worldwide, ahead of Calendar Girls (2022) at $25.4M and Moonage Daydream (2022) at $13.1M. 186 documentary films released in 2022 report a worldwide gross, $154.9M in all, 46% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 165% on 2021, whose releases took $58.5M. By language, English leads with $146.2M across 110 documentary releases.
- 2022 releases with a gross
- 186
- combined worldwide
- $154.9M
- Jackass Forever (2022), the #1
- $80.6M
- vs 2021
- +165%
#1 of 186 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 2022?
Jackass Forever (2022) leads with $80.6M, 52% of the total. The top 5 together took $127.1M, 82% of what all 186 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 $2.6M Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song (2022)$1.1M US & Canada · 41% $1.5M elsewhere · 59%
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Documentary Release of 2022, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 186. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2022.
- 1 Feb 4, 2022 US and Canada: $57.7M Rest of the world: $22.8M Worldwide: $80.6M
- 2 Nov 4, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.4M
- 3 Sep 16, 2022 US and Canada: $4.2M Rest of the world: $8.9M Worldwide: $13.1M
- 4 Aug 5, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.5M
- 5 Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song (2022)Jul 1, 2022 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $2.6M
Jul 1, 2022 · English · Biography, Music, Documentary $2.6M worldwide - 6
Mar 29, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 7
Oct 28, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M - 8
Jul 6, 2022 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $574.7K Worldwide: $1.7M - 9
National Theatre Live: Our Generation (2022)Mar 8, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M Mar 8, 2022 · English · Documentary, Drama, Comedy $1.6M worldwide - 10
Nov 23, 2022 US and Canada: $500.1K Rest of the world: $983.9K Worldwide: $1.5M - 11
May 20, 2022 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.5M - 12
Jul 21, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 13
Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon (2022)Dec 5, 2022 US and Canada: $840.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $840.6K Dec 5, 2022 · English · Music, Documentary $840.6K worldwide - 14
Sep 16, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $620.4K - 15
May 6, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $618.1K - 16
Dec 21, 2022 US and Canada: $563.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $563.6K - 17
Nov 4, 2022 US and Canada: $307K Rest of the world: $202K Worldwide: $509K - 18
Jul 1, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $502.1K - 19
Jun 16, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $483K - 20
Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story (2022)May 12, 2022 US and Canada: $480.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $480.2K May 12, 2022 · English · Documentary $480.2K worldwide - 21
Aug 16, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $454K - 22
May 11, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $434.3K - 23
May 24, 2022 US and Canada: $405.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $405.8K - 24
Mar 18, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $403.9K - 25
Sep 15, 2022 US and Canada: $399.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $399.4K - 26
Jul 22, 2022 US and Canada: $104K Rest of the world: $281K Worldwide: $385K - 27
Feb 10, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $374.8K - 28
Mar 22, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $359.4K - 29
Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb (2022)Dec 30, 2022 US and Canada: $335.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $335.4K Dec 30, 2022 · English · Documentary $335.4K worldwide - 30
Jan 11, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $296K - 31
Aug 26, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $287.1K - 32
Nov 17, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $274K - 33
Jun 17, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $257.4K - 34
Apr 11, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $257.2K - 35
Aug 9, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $254.3K - 36
Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America (2022)Jan 14, 2022 US and Canada: $234.3K Rest of the world: $73 Worldwide: $234.4K Jan 14, 2022 · English · Documentary $234.4K worldwide - 37
Mar 18, 2022 US and Canada: $41.1K Rest of the world: $189.4K Worldwide: $230.5K - 38
Oct 14, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $229.1K - 39
Aug 12, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $207.9K - 40
May 13, 2022 US and Canada: $179K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $179K - 41
May 14, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $175.7K - 42
Jun 24, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $175.2K - 43
Sep 2, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $173.5K - 44
Nov 28, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $172.4K - 45
Sep 23, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $163.4K - 46
Dame Valerie Adams: More Than Gold (2022)Oct 20, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $159.7K Oct 20, 2022 · English · Drama, Documentary $159.7K worldwide - 47
Oct 27, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $145.8K - 48
Oct 30, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $139.2K - 49
Jul 15, 2022 US and Canada: $134.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $134.1K - 50
May 27, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $127.7K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2022?
Of the top 10, Jackass Forever (2022) earned the biggest share at home (72% in the US & Canada), while Moonage Daydream (2022) made 68% of its gross abroad. Across all 186 films, $71.7M (46%) came from the US & Canada. 5 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Jackass Forever (2022) $80.6M $57.7M US & Canada · 72% $22.8M elsewhere · 28%
- 2 Calendar Girls (2022) $25.4M No US & Canada figure reported
- 3 Moonage Daydream (2022) $13.1M $4.2M US & Canada · 32% $8.9M elsewhere · 68%
- 4 Mija (2022) $5.5M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song (2022) $2.6M $1.1M US & Canada · 41% $1.5M elsewhere · 59%
- 6 How to Survive a Pandemic (2022) $1.8M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Gandhada Gudi (2022) $1.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Fire of Love (2022) $1.7M $1.1M US & Canada · 66% $574.7K elsewhere · 34%
- 9 National Theatre Live: Our Generation (2022) $1.6M No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022) $1.5M $500.1K US & Canada · 34% $983.9K elsewhere · 66%
Gross bands
How Many 2022 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 186 films reached $100M. 183 films, 98% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $154.9M total.
77% 23%
- $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 3 films, 2% of the list $119.1M · 77% of the gross
- Under $10M 183 films, 98% of the list $35.8M · 23% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2022 Earned the Most?
February releases took the most, $81.2M from 8 films, led by Jackass Forever (2022). January was the quietest month ($683.4K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Dawn Raid (2022) $683.4K Dawn Raid (2022)
- February Feb Jackass Forever (2022) $81.2M Jackass Forever (2022)
- March Mar How to Survive a Pandemic (2022) $4.5M How to Survive a Pandemic (2022)
- April Apr Louis (2022) $915.8K Louis (2022)
- May May 2000 Mules (2022) $4.2M 2000 Mules (2022)
- June Jun Leave No Trace (2022) $1.4M Leave No Trace (2022)
- July Jul Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song (2022) $6.5M Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song (2022)
- August Aug Mija (2022) $7.2M Mija (2022)
- September Sep Moonage Daydream (2022) $15M Moonage Daydream (2022)
- October Oct Gandhada Gudi (2022) $2.9M Gandhada Gudi (2022)
- November Nov Calendar Girls (2022) $28.1M Calendar Girls (2022)
- December Dec Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon (2022) $2.4M Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon (2022)
Last 10 years
How Does 2022 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2013 earned the most: $696.2M from 180 films, led by Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013). 2022 took $154.9M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 180 films | 180 | $696.2M | – | 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 |
| 2022 186 films · +165% | 186 | $154.9M | +165% | Jackass Forever (2022) $80.6M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 2022?
English-language documentary films took $146.2M across 110 films, 94% of the total, ahead of Kannada-language documentary films ($1.7M) and French-language documentary films ($1.1M).
2022 Documentary Box Office by Language
- English $146.2M110 films · #1 Jackass Forever (2022)
-
Kannada $1.7M1 film · #1 Gandhada Gudi (2022) -
French $1.1M9 films · #1 Rookies (2022) -
German $805.1K3 films · #1 Dancing Pina (2022) -
Spanish $771.9K18 films · #1 Feeling It (2022) -
Italian $581.4K10 films · #1 Franco Battiato - La voce del padrone (2022) -
Norwegian $544.5K2 films · #1 Si ingenting (2022) -
Dutch $264.6K2 films · #1 Louis (2022) -
Portuguese $192.1K3 films · #1 Salgueiro Maia - The Implicated (2022) -
Polish $175.7K1 film · #1 Simona (2022)
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 2022: 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 186 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 2022?
Jackass Forever (2022) leads with $80.6M worldwide, $57.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Calendar Girls (2022) at $25.4M and Moonage Daydream (2022) at $13.1M.
How much did documentary movies released in 2022 earn?
186 documentary films released in 2022 report a worldwide gross, $154.9M in all, or $833K per film on average. 2021 releases took $58.5M.
How many documentary movies released in 2022 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Jackass Forever (2022), earned $80.6M.
How is the 2022 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 2022. 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 2022 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.