#1 of 190 #1 documentary movie of 2023
2023 · Documentary
$11.8M worldwide · 23% of the chart's total
$11.5M US & Canada · 97% $352.5K elsewhere · 3%
Documentary box office · 2023
Documentary Box Office 2023: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
After Death (2023) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 2023, with $11.8M worldwide, ahead of Plan C (2023) at $4M and The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli (2023) at $3.6M. 190 documentary films released in 2023 report a worldwide gross, $52.4M in all, 41% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 66% on 2022, whose releases took $154.9M. By language, English leads with $33.6M across 109 documentary releases.
- 2023 releases with a gross
- 190
- combined worldwide
- $52.4M
- After Death (2023), the #1
- $11.8M
- vs 2022
- −66%
#1 of 190 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 2023?
After Death (2023) leads with $11.8M, 23% of the total. The top 5 together took $24.3M, 46% of what all 190 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 $3.6M The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli (2023)$3.6M US & Canada · 99% $24.1K elsewhere · <1% -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Documentary Release of 2023, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 190. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2023.
- 1 Oct 27, 2023 US and Canada: $11.5M Rest of the world: $352.5K Worldwide: $11.8M
- 2 Oct 13, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4M
- 3 The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli (2023)Apr 2, 2023 US and Canada: $3.6M Rest of the world: $24.1K Worldwide: $3.6M
Apr 2, 2023 · Italian · Music, Documentary $3.6M worldwide - 4 May 18, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3M
- 5 Dec 8, 2023 US and Canada: $508.9K Rest of the world: $1.3M Worldwide: $1.8M
- 6
Louis Tomlinson: All of Those Voices (2023)Mar 22, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M
Mar 22, 2023 · English · Documentary, Music $1.7M worldwide - 7
Dec 27, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M - 8
Jul 22, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M - 9
Jul 17, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 10
The Meaning and Mystery of Life (2023)Nov 23, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1M
Nov 23, 2023 · Czech · Fantasy, Documentary, Drama $1M worldwide - 11
Sep 20, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $819.2K - 12
Feb 22, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $789.1K - 13
Joan Baez I Am A Noise (2023)Oct 6, 2023 US and Canada: $648.3K Rest of the world: $92.8K Worldwide: $741.1K Oct 6, 2023 · English · Documentary, Biography, Music $741.1K worldwide - 14
May 12, 2023 US and Canada: $705.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $705.4K - 15
Apr 21, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $610.2K - 16
Jun 13, 2023 US and Canada: $3.2K Rest of the world: $561.7K Worldwide: $564.9K - 17
Aug 7, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $533.5K - 18
Nov 6, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $523.6K - 19
Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival (2023)Mar 9, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $507.2K Mar 9, 2023 · English · Documentary $507.2K worldwide - 20
Oct 26, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $482.1K - 21
BTOB TIME: Be Together the Movie (2023)Nov 15, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $479.3K
Nov 15, 2023 · Korean · Music, Documentary $479.3K worldwide - 22
Nov 3, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $446.8K - 23
Sep 29, 2023 US and Canada: $432.5K Rest of the world: $13.7K Worldwide: $446.2K - 24
Oct 8, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $435.5K - 25
Nov 24, 2023 US and Canada: $30.4K Rest of the world: $402.1K Worldwide: $432.5K - 26
Feb 3, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $415.6K - 27
Jul 28, 2023 US and Canada: $412.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $412.6K - 28
Oct 27, 2023 US and Canada: $138.2K Rest of the world: $273.9K Worldwide: $412K - 29
Nov 10, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $395.7K - 30
Apr 21, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $389.2K - 31
Sep 4, 2023 US and Canada: $103.4K Rest of the world: $280.6K Worldwide: $384K - 32
Aug 5, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $365.4K - 33
Aug 10, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $359.4K - 34
Feb 17, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $356.7K - 35
Apr 14, 2023 US and Canada: $326.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $326.2K - 36
Oct 6, 2023 US and Canada: $36.1K Rest of the world: $278.4K Worldwide: $314.5K - 37
Aug 26, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $304.6K - 38
Sep 21, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $301K - 39
Jun 30, 2023 US and Canada: $276.4K Rest of the world: $479 Worldwide: $276.9K - 40
Jun 8, 2023 US and Canada: $260K Rest of the world: $6K Worldwide: $266K - 41
Dec 1, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $256.6K - 42
Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis) (2023)Jun 7, 2023 US and Canada: $111.6K Rest of the world: $144.4K Worldwide: $255.9K Jun 7, 2023 · English · Documentary $255.9K worldwide - 43
Jun 23, 2023 US and Canada: $148K Rest of the world: $92.9K Worldwide: $240.9K - 44
Oct 6, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $227.3K - 45
Dec 12, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $205.9K - 46
Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023)Apr 21, 2023 US and Canada: $131.5K Rest of the world: $47K Worldwide: $178.5K Apr 21, 2023 · English · Music, Documentary $178.5K worldwide - 47
Oct 4, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $175.4K - 48
Jul 29, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $173.4K - 49
Jul 25, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $165.5K - 50
Aug 30, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $154.5K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2023?
Of the top 10, The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli (2023) earned the biggest share at home (99% in the US & Canada), while Anselm (2023) made 72% of its gross abroad. Across all 190 films, $21.3M (41%) came from the US & Canada. 7 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 After Death (2023) $11.8M $11.5M US & Canada · 97% $352.5K elsewhere · 3%
- 2 Plan C (2023) $4M No US & Canada figure reported
- 3 The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli (2023) $3.6M $3.6M US & Canada · 99% $24.1K elsewhere · <1%
- 4 John Farnham: Finding the Voice (2023) $3M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Anselm (2023) $1.8M $508.9K US & Canada · 28% $1.3M elsewhere · 72%
- 6 Louis Tomlinson: All of Those Voices (2023) $1.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Kina & Yuk (2023) $1.4M No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Filipka (2023) $1.2M No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 The Final Game of Death (2023) $1.1M No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 The Meaning and Mystery of Life (2023) $1M No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 2023 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 190 films reached $100M. 189 films, 99% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $52.4M total.
23% 77%
- $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 1 film, <1% of the list $11.8M · 23% of the gross
- Under $10M 189 films, 99% of the list $40.6M · 77% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2023 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $19.3M from 27 films, led by After Death (2023). January was the quietest month ($211.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV (2023) $211.1K Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV (2023)
- February Feb Whale Nation (2023) $1.9M Whale Nation (2023)
- March Mar Louis Tomlinson: All of Those Voices (2023) $2.6M Louis Tomlinson: All of Those Voices (2023)
- April Apr The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli (2023) $5.6M The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli (2023)
- May May John Farnham: Finding the Voice (2023) $3.8M John Farnham: Finding the Voice (2023)
- June Jun The Last Breath of Sam Yan (2023) $2.1M The Last Breath of Sam Yan (2023)
- July Jul Filipka (2023) $3.7M Filipka (2023)
- August Aug Antarctica Calling (2023) $2.3M Antarctica Calling (2023)
- September Sep Canary (2023) $2.6M Canary (2023)
- October Oct After Death (2023) $19.3M After Death (2023)
- November Nov The Meaning and Mystery of Life (2023) $4.3M The Meaning and Mystery of Life (2023)
- December Dec Anselm (2023) $4.2M Anselm (2023)
Last 10 years
How Does 2023 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2018 earned the most: $257.3M from 238 films, led by Believer (2018). 2023 took $52.4M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 174 films | 174 | $126.7M | – | 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 |
| 2023 190 films · −66% | 190 | $52.4M | −66% | After Death (2023) $11.8M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 2023?
English-language documentary films took $33.6M across 109 films, 64% of the total, ahead of Italian-language documentary films ($4.6M) and French-language documentary films ($4.3M).
2023 Documentary Box Office by Language
- English $33.6M109 films · #1 After Death (2023)
- Italian $4.6M10 films · #1 The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli (2023)
-
French $4.3M10 films · #1 Kina & Yuk (2023) -
German $1.9M2 films · #1 Anselm (2023) - Korean $1.6M5 films · #1 BTOB TIME: Be Together the Movie (2023)
-
Spanish $1.2M20 films · #1 Esta Ambición Desmedida (2023) -
Polish $1.2M1 film · #1 Filipka (2023) - Czech $1.1M2 films · #1 The Meaning and Mystery of Life (2023)
-
Thai $564.9K1 film · #1 The Last Breath of Sam Yan (2023) -
Estonian $432.5K1 film · #1 Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (2023)
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 2023: 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 190 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 2023?
After Death (2023) leads with $11.8M worldwide, $11.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Plan C (2023) at $4M and The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli (2023) at $3.6M.
How much did documentary movies released in 2023 earn?
190 documentary films released in 2023 report a worldwide gross, $52.4M in all, or $275.8K per film on average. 2022 releases took $154.9M.
How many documentary movies released in 2023 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, After Death (2023), earned $11.8M.
How is the 2023 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 2023. 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 2023 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.