#1 of 47 #1 documentary movie of 2026
2026 · Documentary, Biography
$56.9M worldwide · 42% of the chart's total
$56.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Documentary box office · 2026
Documentary Box Office 2026 So Far: Highest-Grossing Documentary Movies
You Can See Everything (2026) is the highest-grossing documentary movie released in 2026 so far, with $56.9M worldwide, ahead of jackass: best and last (2026) at $27.8M and Melania (2026) at $16.7M. 47 documentary films released in 2026 report a worldwide gross, $134.5M in all, 80% of it from the US & Canada. Releases from the same days of 2025 (Jan 1 to Nov 2, 2025) have taken $41.6M, though they have had longer to earn. By language, English leads with $132.9M across 39 documentary releases.
- 2026 releases with a gross
- 47
- worldwide so far
- $134.5M
- You Can See Everything (2026), the #1
- $56.9M
- vs the same days of 2025
- ×3.2
#1 of 47 Top 5
What Are the Biggest Documentary Hits of 2026 So Far?
You Can See Everything (2026) leads with $56.9M, 42% of the total. The top 5 together took $119M, 89% of what all 47 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 2026, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2026.
- 1 Oct 16, 2026 US and Canada: $56.9M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $56.9M
- 2 Jun 26, 2026 US and Canada: $18.3M Rest of the world: $9.6M Worldwide: $27.8M
- 3 Jan 30, 2026 US and Canada: $16.4M Rest of the world: $304K Worldwide: $16.7M
- 4 Sep 11, 2026 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: $10.6M Worldwide: $12.5M
- 5 Jan 30, 2026 US and Canada: $3.9M Rest of the world: $1.2M Worldwide: $5.2M
- 6
Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition (2026)May 7, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3M
May 7, 2026 · English · Documentary, Biography, Music $3M worldwide - 7
The History of Concrete (2026)Sep 18, 2026 US and Canada: $2.5M Rest of the world: $318K Worldwide: $2.8M Sep 18, 2026 · English · Documentary, Comedy, History $2.8M worldwide - 8
The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist (2026)Mar 27, 2026 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3M Mar 27, 2026 · English · Documentary $1.3M worldwide - 9
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World (2026)Jul 2, 2026 US and Canada: $789.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $789.4K Jul 2, 2026 · English · Documentary $789.4K worldwide - 10
Oct 9, 2026 US and Canada: $696.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $696.3K - 11
Standout: The Ben Kjar Story (2026)Jan 23, 2026 US and Canada: $658.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $658.8K Jan 23, 2026 · English · Documentary, Biography, Drama $658.8K worldwide - 12
Aug 7, 2026 US and Canada: $643.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $643.5K - 13
Aug 14, 2026 US and Canada: $608.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $608.9K - 14
Jan 21, 2026 US and Canada: $270.1K Rest of the world: $334K Worldwide: $604.1K - 15
Apr 17, 2026 US and Canada: $449.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $449.1K - 16
Jul 28, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $370K - 17
Mar 27, 2026 US and Canada: $283.3K Rest of the world: $44.8K Worldwide: $328.1K - 18
May 22, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $294.9K - 19
Jul 17, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $281.3K - 20
Jul 29, 2026 US and Canada: $256.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $256.2K - 21
Mar 6, 2026 US and Canada: $99.7K Rest of the world: $131.7K Worldwide: $231.3K - 22
Jan 30, 2026 US and Canada: $204.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $204.9K - 23
You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way) (2026)Sep 25, 2026 US and Canada: $191.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $191.8K Sep 25, 2026 · English · Documentary, Comedy, Music $191.8K worldwide - 24
May 29, 2026 US and Canada: $95.8K Rest of the world: $82.8K Worldwide: $178.6K - 25
American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (2026)Jul 17, 2026 US and Canada: $178.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $178.3K Jul 17, 2026 · English · Documentary $178.3K worldwide - 26
Jun 5, 2026 US and Canada: $16.1K Rest of the world: $137.6K Worldwide: $153.7K - 27
Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore? (2026)Sep 24, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $152K Sep 24, 2026 · English · Documentary, Music $152K worldwide - 28
Sep 2, 2026 US and Canada: $145.2K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $145.2K - 29
Apr 10, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $144.8K - 30
Paul McCartney: Man on the Run (2026)Feb 19, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $103.7K Feb 19, 2026 · English · Documentary, Biography, Music $103.7K worldwide - 31
May 8, 2026 US and Canada: $93.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $93.5K - 32
Jan 9, 2026 US and Canada: $78.5K Rest of the world: $3.1K Worldwide: $81.6K - 33
Jan 6, 2026 US and Canada: $77.9K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $77.9K - 34
Billy Preston: That's the Way God Planned It (2026) Feb 20, 2026 · Documentary, Biography, Music $77.8K worldwideFeb 20, 2026 US and Canada: $77.8K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $77.8K - 35
Jul 10, 2026 US and Canada: $62.4K Rest of the world: $2.5K Worldwide: $64.9K - 36
May 22, 2026 US and Canada: $63.4K Rest of the world: $1.2K Worldwide: $64.6K - 37
Jan 16, 2026 US and Canada: $42.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $42.1K - 38
Sep 11, 2026 US and Canada: $29.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $29.7K - 39
Aug 28, 2026 US and Canada: $27.5K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $27.5K - 40
Sep 10, 2026 US and Canada: $23.1K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $23.1K - 41
John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Office (2026)Mar 27, 2026 US and Canada: $21.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $21.4K Mar 27, 2026 · English · Documentary, Biography $21.4K worldwide - 42
Oct 9, 2026 US and Canada: $17.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $17.6K - 43
Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie (2026)Sep 17, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.6K Sep 17, 2026 · English · Documentary, Biography, History $8.6K worldwide - 44
Mar 6, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.2K - 45
The Rose: Come Back to Me (2026)Feb 14, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8K Feb 14, 2026 · English · Documentary, Biography, Music $2.8K worldwide - 46
Aug 28, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9K - 47
Mar 10, 2026 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $939
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2026?
Of the top 10, You Can See Everything (2026) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger (2026) made 84% of its gross abroad. Across all 47 films, $107.4M (80%) came from the US & Canada. 1 film of the top 10 reports no US & Canada figure.
- 1 You Can See Everything (2026) $56.9M $56.9M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 2 jackass: best and last (2026) $27.8M $18.3M US & Canada · 66% $9.6M elsewhere · 34%
- 3 Melania (2026) $16.7M $16.4M US & Canada · 98% $304K elsewhere · 2%
- 4 Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger (2026) $12.5M $2M US & Canada · 16% $10.6M elsewhere · 84%
- 5 The Moment (2026) $5.2M $3.9M US & Canada · 76% $1.2M elsewhere · 24%
- 6 Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition (2026) $3M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 The History of Concrete (2026) $2.8M $2.5M US & Canada · 89% $318K elsewhere · 11%
- 8 The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist (2026) $1.3M $1.3M US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 9 Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World (2026) $789.4K $789.4K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Musk (2026) $696.3K $696.3K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
Gross bands
How Many 2026 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 47 films reached $100M. 43 films, 91% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $134.5M total.
85% 15%
- $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 4 films, 9% of the list $113.9M · 85% of the gross
- Under $10M 43 films, 91% of the list $20.6M · 15% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2026 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $57.6M from 3 films, led by You Can See Everything (2026). February was the quietest month ($184.3K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Melania (2026) $23.5M Melania (2026)
- February Feb Paul McCartney: Man on the Run (2026) $184.3K Paul McCartney: Man on the Run (2026)
- March Mar The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist (2026) $1.9M The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist (2026)
- April Apr Lorne (2026) $593.9K Lorne (2026)
- May May Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition (2026) $3.7M Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition (2026)
- June Jun jackass: best and last (2026) $28M jackass: best and last (2026)
- July Jul Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World (2026) $1.9M Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World (2026)
- August Aug Cookie Queens (2026) $1.3M Cookie Queens (2026)
- September Sep Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger (2026) $15.9M Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger (2026)
- October Oct You Can See Everything (2026) $57.6M You Can See Everything (2026)
- November Nov No reported grosses – so far No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 2026 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2018 earned the most: $257.3M from 238 films, led by Believer (2018). 2026 took $134.5M. 2026 is still running, so its figure is marked as so far.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 240 films | 240 | $172.8M | – | 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 |
| 2026 47 films · +219% | 47 | $134.5M so far | +219% | You Can See Everything (2026) $56.9M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Documentary Movies Speak in 2026?
English-language documentary films took $132.9M across 39 films, 99% of the total, ahead of Russian-language documentary films ($621.7K) and Italian-language documentary films ($231.3K).
2026 Documentary Box Office by Language
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 2026: 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 47 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing documentary movie in 2026?
You Can See Everything (2026) leads with $56.9M worldwide, $56.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come jackass: best and last (2026) at $27.8M and Melania (2026) at $16.7M. Films released in this period are still earning, so the order can change.
How much did documentary movies released in 2026 earn?
47 documentary films released in 2026 report a worldwide gross, $134.5M in all so far, or $2.9M per film on average.
How many documentary movies released in 2026 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, You Can See Everything (2026), earned $56.9M.
How is the 2026 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 2026. 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 2026 documentary box office chart updated?
2026 is still running: new releases join the chart once they report a gross, and films in theaters climb as their weekly figures come in, so the ranking moves until the period is over.