#1 of 79 #1 documentary movie of 2025
2025 · Documentary, Music
$14.7M worldwide · 35% of the chart's total
$10.4M US & Canada · 71% $4.3M elsewhere · 29%
Documentary box office · 2025
Documentary Box Office 2025: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 2025, with $14.7M worldwide, ahead of Ocean with David Attenborough (2025) at $4.2M and It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley (2025) at $3.2M. 79 documentary films released in 2025 report a worldwide gross, $42.2M in all, 47% of it from the US & Canada. That is down 69% on 2024, whose releases took $134.2M. By language, English leads with $33.6M across 48 documentary releases.
- 2025 releases with a gross
- 79
- combined worldwide
- $42.2M
- Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025), the #1
- $14.7M
- vs 2024
- −69%
#1 of 79 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Documentary Hits of 2025?
Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025) leads with $14.7M, 35% of the total. The top 5 together took $25.7M, 61% of what all 79 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
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Documentary Release of 2025, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 79. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2025.
- 1 Feb 7, 2025 US and Canada: $10.4M Rest of the world: $4.3M Worldwide: $14.7M
- 2 Jun 7, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.2M
- 3 Aug 8, 2025 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: $1.7M Worldwide: $3.2M
- 4 Oct 28, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.2M
- 5 Mar 14, 2025 US and Canada: $1.4M Rest of the world: $30.7K Worldwide: $1.4M
- 6
May 17, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1M - 7
Sep 19, 2025 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1M - 8
Apr 11, 2025 US and Canada: $394.2K Rest of the world: $574.4K Worldwide: $968.7K - 9
Oct 17, 2025 US and Canada: $105.7K Rest of the world: $819K Worldwide: $924.7K - 10
Jun 13, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $888.7K - 11
Mar 21, 2025 US and Canada: $849.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $849.1K - 12
Sarkozy-Gaddafi: The Scandal of All Scandals (2025)Jan 8, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $826.9K
Jan 8, 2025 · French · Documentary $826.9K worldwide - 13
Jun 27, 2025 US and Canada: $9.1K Rest of the world: $758K Worldwide: $767.2K - 14
Apr 25, 2025 US and Canada: $750.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $750.4K - 15
Jun 3, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $687.1K - 16
Aug 7, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $687.1K - 17
Mar 28, 2025 US and Canada: $533.4K Rest of the world: $22.5K Worldwide: $555.9K - 18
Jan 3, 2025 US and Canada: $330.2K Rest of the world: $29.6K Worldwide: $359.8K - 19
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World (2025)Mar 19, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $358.1K
Mar 19, 2025 · English · Documentary, Crime $358.1K worldwide - 20
May 2, 2025 US and Canada: $354.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $354.5K - 21
Mar 19, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $341.5K - 22
Aug 1, 2025 US and Canada: $117.3K Rest of the world: $161.6K Worldwide: $278.9K - 23
Jan 9, 2025 US and Canada: $133.4K Rest of the world: $141.7K Worldwide: $275.1K - 24
j-hope Tour 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' THE MOVIE (2025) Nov 12, 2025 · Documentary, Music $255.8K worldwideNov 12, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $255.8K - 25
Jan 10, 2025 US and Canada: $200.7K Rest of the world: $47.4K Worldwide: $248.1K - 26
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (2025)Jan 24, 2025 US and Canada: $222.8K Rest of the world: $14K Worldwide: $236.8K Jan 24, 2025 · English · Documentary $236.8K worldwide - 27
May 1, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $235.2K - 28
May 7, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $230.3K - 29
Jan 17, 2025 US and Canada: $143.5K Rest of the world: $74.5K Worldwide: $218K - 30
Apr 27, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $203.2K - 31
Sep 21, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $175.2K - 32
Apr 25, 2025 US and Canada: $159.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $159.5K - 33
Jun 5, 2025 US and Canada: $16.1K Rest of the world: $137.6K Worldwide: $153.7K - 34
Feb 2, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $144.8K - 35
Oct 22, 2025 US and Canada: $93.2K Rest of the world: $48.5K Worldwide: $141.7K - 36
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror (2025)Sep 26, 2025 US and Canada: $126.5K Rest of the world: $14.9K Worldwide: $141.4K Sep 26, 2025 · English · Documentary $141.4K worldwide - 37
Feb 20, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $132.1K - 38
Jul 25, 2025 US and Canada: $129.4K Rest of the world: $1.5K Worldwide: $130.8K - 39
Sep 5, 2025 US and Canada: $128.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $128.8K - 40
Sep 12, 2025 US and Canada: $128.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $128.2K - 41
Nov 5, 2025 US and Canada: $60.1K Rest of the world: $53.5K Worldwide: $113.6K - 42
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (2025)Jun 20, 2025 US and Canada: $106.1K Rest of the world: $3.2K Worldwide: $109.3K Jun 20, 2025 · English · Documentary, Biography $109.3K worldwide - 43
Aug 8, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $106.9K - 44
Feb 21, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $87.3K - 45
Oct 17, 2025 US and Canada: $87.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $87.3K - 46
Apr 4, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $71.9K - 47
Sep 19, 2025 US and Canada: $61K Rest of the world: $6.4K Worldwide: $67.4K - 48
You Got Gold: A Celebration of John Prine (2025)Nov 28, 2025 US and Canada: $66.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $66.7K Nov 28, 2025 · English · Documentary, Music $66.7K worldwide - 49
Love of an Icon: The Legend of Crocodile Dundee (2025)Mar 27, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $64.2K Mar 27, 2025 · English · Documentary $64.2K worldwide - 50
Feb 28, 2025 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $59.4K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2025?
Of the top 10, In Whose Name? (2025) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Wisdom of Happiness (2025) made 89% of its gross abroad. Across all 79 films, $20M (47%) came from the US & Canada. 4 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025) $14.7M $10.4M US & Canada · 71% $4.3M elsewhere · 29%
- 2 Ocean with David Attenborough (2025) $4.2M No US & Canada figure reported
- 3 It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley (2025) $3.2M $1.4M US & Canada · 45% $1.7M elsewhere · 55%
- 4 Depeche Mode: M (2025) $2.2M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 October 8 (2025) $1.4M $1.4M US & Canada · 98% $30.7K elsewhere · 2%
- 6 I Love Peru (2025) $1M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 In Whose Name? (2025) $1M $1M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 8 One to One: John & Yoko (2025) $968.7K $394.2K US & Canada · 41% $574.4K elsewhere · 59%
- 9 Wisdom of Happiness (2025) $924.7K $105.7K US & Canada · 11% $819K elsewhere · 89%
- 10 Prime Minister (2025) $888.7K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 2025 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 79 films reached $100M. 78 films, 99% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $42.2M 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 1 film, 1% of the list $14.7M · 35% of the gross
- Under $10M 78 films, 99% of the list $27.5M · 65% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2025 Earned the Most?
February releases took the most, $15.1M from 5 films, led by Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025). December was the quietest month ($4.4K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Sarkozy-Gaddafi: The Scandal of All Scandals (2025) $2.2M Sarkozy-Gaddafi: The Scandal of All Scandals (2025)
- February Feb Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025) $15.1M Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025)
- March Mar October 8 (2025) $3.7M October 8 (2025)
- April Apr One to One: John & Yoko (2025) $2.2M One to One: John & Yoko (2025)
- May May I Love Peru (2025) $2M I Love Peru (2025)
- June Jun Ocean with David Attenborough (2025) $6.8M Ocean with David Attenborough (2025)
- July Jul Folktales (2025) $190.5K Folktales (2025)
- August Aug It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley (2025) $4.3M It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley (2025)
- September Sep In Whose Name? (2025) $1.7M In Whose Name? (2025)
- October Oct Depeche Mode: M (2025) $3.4M Depeche Mode: M (2025)
- November Nov j-hope Tour 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' THE MOVIE (2025) $556.7K j-hope Tour 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' THE MOVIE (2025)
- December Dec The King of Color (2025) $4.4K The King of Color (2025)
Last 10 years
How Does 2025 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2018 earned the most: $257.3M from 238 films, led by Believer (2018). 2025 took $42.2M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 211 films | 211 | $149.8M | – | 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 |
| 2024 215 films · +156% | 215 | $134.2M | +156% | In the Rearview (2024) $28.4M |
| 2025 79 films · −69% | 79 | $42.2M | −69% | Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025) $14.7M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 2025?
English-language documentary films took $33.6M across 48 films, 80% of the total, ahead of French-language documentary films ($1.9M) and Spanish-language documentary films ($830K).
2025 Documentary Box Office by Language
- English $33.6M48 films · #1 Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025)
- French $1.9M3 films · #1 I Love Peru (2025)
-
Spanish $830K3 films · #1 Afternoons of Solitude (2025) -
Arabic $466.7K2 films · #1 From Ground Zero (2025) -
Italian $454.1K2 films · #1 Architecton (2025) -
Norwegian $341.5K1 film · #1 Facing War (2025) -
German $275.1K1 film · #1 Riefenstahl (2025) -
Bulgarian $132.1K1 film · #1 Milen (2025) -
Macedonian $61.5K2 films · #1 The Tale of Sylian (2025) -
Ukrainian $14.9K1 film · #1 2000 Meters to Andriivka (2025)
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 2025: 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 79 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 2025?
Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025) leads with $14.7M worldwide, $10.4M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Ocean with David Attenborough (2025) at $4.2M and It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley (2025) at $3.2M.
How much did documentary movies released in 2025 earn?
79 documentary films released in 2025 report a worldwide gross, $42.2M in all, or $534K per film on average. 2024 releases took $134.2M.
How many documentary movies released in 2025 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025), earned $14.7M.
How is the 2025 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 2025. 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 2025 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.