Box Office Performance for Based on Real Life Events Movies in 2008
| Rank | Movie | Genre | MPAA | 2008 Gross | Tickets Sold | Inflation- Adjusted Gross |
| 1 |
Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour
|
Concert/Performance
|
G
|
$65,281,781 |
9,092,170 |
$65,281,781 |
| 2 |
Valkyrie
|
Thriller/Suspense
|
PG-13
|
$60,691,979 |
8,452,922 |
$60,691,980 |
| 3 |
The Bank Job
|
Thriller/Suspense
|
R
|
$30,060,660 |
4,186,721 |
$30,060,657 |
| 4 |
W.
|
Drama
|
PG-13
|
$25,534,493 |
3,556,336 |
$25,534,492 |
| 5 |
Milk
|
Drama
|
R
|
$17,157,994 |
2,389,693 |
$17,157,996 |
| 6 |
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$14,710,283 |
2,048,786 |
$14,710,283 |
| 7 |
The Great Debaters
|
Drama
|
PG-13
|
$13,791,114 |
1,920,768 |
$13,791,114 |
| 8 |
Religulous
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$13,011,160 |
1,812,139 |
$13,011,158 |
| 9 |
The Longshots
|
Drama
|
PG
|
$11,511,323 |
1,603,248 |
$11,511,321 |
| 10 |
Stop-Loss
|
Drama
|
R
|
$10,915,744 |
1,520,299 |
$10,915,747 |
| 11 |
Space Station
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$10,904,400 |
1,518,719 |
$10,904,402 |
| 12 |
U2 3D
|
Concert/Performance
|
G
|
$9,674,438 |
1,347,415 |
$9,674,440 |
| 13 |
Cadillac Records
|
Drama
|
R
|
$8,134,217 |
1,132,899 |
$8,134,215 |
| 14 |
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
|
Documentary
|
PG
|
$7,720,487 |
1,075,277 |
$7,720,489 |
| 15 |
Mongol
|
Drama
|
R
|
$5,705,761 |
794,674 |
$5,705,759 |
| 16 |
Shine a Light
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$5,505,267 |
766,750 |
$5,505,265 |
| 17 |
The Counterfeiters
|
Drama
|
R
|
$5,488,570 |
764,425 |
$5,488,572 |
| 18 |
Magnificent Desolation
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$5,355,159 |
745,844 |
$5,355,160 |
| 19 |
Dolphins and Whales Tribes of the Ocean 3D
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$5,243,604 |
730,307 |
$5,243,604 |
| 20 |
Flash of Genius
|
Drama
|
PG-13
|
$4,442,377 |
618,715 |
$4,442,374 |
| 21 |
Bottle Shock
|
Drama
|
PG-13
|
$4,048,523 |
563,861 |
$4,048,522 |
| 22 |
Young @ Heart
|
Documentary
|
PG
|
$3,992,189 |
556,015 |
$3,992,188 |
| 23 |
Deep Sea 3-D
|
Documentary
|
G
|
$3,550,091 |
494,442 |
$3,550,094 |
| 24 |
Jodhaa Akbar
|
Drama
|
Not Rated
|
$3,440,718 |
479,209 |
$3,440,721 |
| 25 |
Man on Wire
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$2,942,990 |
409,887 |
$2,942,989 |
| 26 |
Roving Mars
|
Documentary
|
G
|
$1,775,287 |
247,254 |
$1,775,284 |
| 27 |
August Rush
|
Drama
|
PG
|
$1,490,945 |
207,653 |
$1,490,949 |
| 28 |
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$1,252,100 |
174,387 |
$1,252,099 |
| 29 |
The Children of Huang Shi
|
Drama
|
R
|
$1,031,872 |
143,715 |
$1,031,874 |
| 30 |
American Gangster
|
Drama
|
R
|
$1,013,910 |
141,213 |
$1,013,909 |
| 31 |
Encounters at the End of the World
|
Documentary
|
G
|
$944,933 |
131,606 |
$944,931 |
| 32 |
American Teen
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$942,441 |
131,259 |
$942,440 |
| 33 |
I'm Not There
|
Drama
|
R
|
$874,343 |
121,775 |
$874,345 |
| 34 |
Emma Smith: My Story
|
Drama
|
PG
|
$872,427 |
121,508 |
$872,427 |
| 35 |
I.O.U.S.A.
|
Documentary
|
PG
|
$810,196 |
112,841 |
$810,198 |
| 36 |
Up the Yangtze
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$783,969 |
109,188 |
$783,970 |
| 37 |
Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$603,894 |
84,108 |
$603,895 |
| 38 |
Trouble the Water
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$486,582 |
67,769 |
$486,581 |
| 39 |
Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$384,955 |
53,615 |
$384,956 |
| 40 |
The Singing Revolution
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$365,660 |
50,928 |
$365,663 |
| 41 |
Billy: The Early Years of Billy Graham
|
Drama
|
Not Rated
|
$320,896 |
44,693 |
$320,896 |
| 42 |
Bigger, Stronger, Faster*
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$308,575 |
42,977 |
$308,575 |
| 43 |
Morning Light
|
Documentary
|
PG
|
$275,093 |
38,314 |
$275,095 |
| 44 |
Taxi to the Dark Side
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$274,661 |
38,254 |
$274,664 |
| 45 |
Planet B-Boy
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$272,791 |
37,993 |
$272,790 |
| 46 |
Surfwise
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$269,994 |
37,604 |
$269,997 |
| 47 |
Il Divo
|
Drama
|
|
$239,294 |
33,328 |
$239,295 |
| 48 |
La Vie en Rose
|
Drama
|
PG-13
|
$230,722 |
32,134 |
$230,722 |
| 49 |
Standard Operating Procedure
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$228,830 |
31,870 |
$228,827 |
| 50 |
Waltz with Bashir
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$220,441 |
30,702 |
$220,440 |
| 51 |
Chris and Don: A Love Story
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$216,110 |
30,099 |
$216,111 |
| 52 |
Call+Response
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$207,625 |
28,917 |
$207,624 |
| 53 |
Steep
|
Documentary
|
PG
|
$204,069 |
28,422 |
$204,070 |
| 54 |
The Errand of Angels
|
Drama
|
PG
|
$195,184 |
27,184 |
$195,181 |
| 55 |
Wild Safari 3D
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$187,606 |
26,129 |
$187,606 |
| 56 |
Chicago 10
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$176,545 |
24,588 |
$176,542 |
| 57 |
Girls Rock!
|
Documentary
|
PG
|
$159,294 |
22,186 |
$159,295 |
| 58 |
My Winnipeg
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$156,629 |
21,815 |
$156,632 |
| 59 |
A Man Named Pearl
|
Documentary
|
G
|
$156,090 |
21,740 |
$156,093 |
| 60 |
FLOW: For Love of Water
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$142,569 |
19,856 |
$142,566 |
| 61 |
Nanking
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$134,970 |
18,798 |
$134,970 |
| 62 |
The First Saturday in May
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$124,294 |
17,311 |
$124,293 |
| 63 |
Bra Boys
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$113,730 |
15,840 |
$113,731 |
| 64 |
Trumbo
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$108,280 |
15,081 |
$108,282 |
| 65 |
Bustin' Down the Door
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$106,100 |
14,777 |
$106,099 |
| 66 |
A Jihad for Love
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$105,651 |
14,715 |
$105,654 |
| 67 |
Lola Montes
|
Drama
|
Not Rated
|
$90,774 |
12,643 |
$90,777 |
| 68 |
The Unforeseen
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$90,287 |
12,575 |
$90,289 |
| 69 |
Blindsight
|
Documentary
|
PG
|
$89,169 |
12,419 |
$89,168 |
| 70 |
Louise Bourgeois
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$87,997 |
12,256 |
$87,998 |
| 71 |
Dalai Lama Renaissance
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$82,736 |
11,523 |
$82,735 |
| 72 |
Praying with Lior
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$82,553 |
11,498 |
$82,556 |
| 73 |
Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!
|
Comedy
|
Not Rated
|
$80,037 |
11,147 |
$80,035 |
| 74 |
Il Trittico at Fenice
|
Concert/Performance
|
Not Rated
|
$79,842 |
11,120 |
$79,842 |
| 75 |
One Day You'll Understand
|
Drama
|
Not Rated
|
$77,368 |
10,775 |
$77,365 |
| 76 |
America the Beautiful
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$76,173 |
10,609 |
$76,173 |
| 77 |
Body of War
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$71,716 |
9,988 |
$71,714 |
| 78 |
The Business of Being Born
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$69,348 |
9,658 |
$69,344 |
| 79 |
Happy Valley
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$67,665 |
9,424 |
$67,664 |
| 80 |
Allah Made Me Funny
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$66,903 |
9,318 |
$66,903 |
| 81 |
CSNY: Déjà Vu
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$65,025 |
9,056 |
$65,022 |
| 82 |
Stranded: I've Come from a Plane that Crashed on the Mountains
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$64,000 |
8,914 |
$64,003 |
| 83 |
Stranded: I've Come from a Plane that Crashed on the Mountains
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$64,000 |
8,914 |
$64,003 |
| 84 |
Harvard Beats Yale
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$63,973 |
8,910 |
$63,974 |
| 85 |
Harvard Beats Yale
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$63,973 |
8,910 |
$63,974 |
| 86 |
Bloodline
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$62,248 |
8,670 |
$62,251 |
| 87 |
Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$60,332 |
8,403 |
$60,334 |
| 88 |
The Order of Myths
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$59,400 |
8,273 |
$59,400 |
| 89 |
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$59,192 |
8,244 |
$59,192 |
| 90 |
What We Do Is Secret
|
Drama
|
R
|
$58,776 |
8,186 |
$58,775 |
| 91 |
War Dance
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$57,525 |
8,012 |
$57,526 |
| 92 |
Beautiful Losers
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$56,386 |
7,853 |
$56,385 |
| 93 |
Chapter 27
|
Drama
|
R
|
$56,215 |
7,829 |
$56,212 |
| 94 |
A Plumm Summer
|
Adventure
|
PG
|
$53,752 |
7,486 |
$53,749 |
| 95 |
Dare Not Walk Alone
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$52,166 |
7,265 |
$52,163 |
| 96 |
Pray the Devil Back to Hell
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$51,886 |
7,226 |
$51,883 |
| 97 |
Shoot Down
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$51,408 |
7,160 |
$51,409 |
| 98 |
Gunnin' for that #1 Spot
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$50,804 |
7,076 |
$50,806 |
| 99 |
All Roads Lead Home
|
Drama
|
PG
|
$43,905 |
6,115 |
$43,906 |
| 100 |
For the Bible Tells Me So
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$43,505 |
6,059 |
$43,504 |
| 101 |
Moving Midway
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$40,864 |
5,691 |
$40,861 |
| 102 |
Refusenik
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$39,456 |
5,495 |
$39,454 |
| 103 |
Dhamma Brothers, The
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$34,727 |
4,837 |
$34,730 |
| 104 |
The Edge of Love
|
Drama
|
R
|
$33,260 |
4,632 |
$33,258 |
| 105 |
Enlighten Up!
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$33,226 |
4,628 |
$33,229 |
| 106 |
Hats Off
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$31,272 |
4,355 |
$31,269 |
| 107 |
Fighting for Life
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$30,606 |
4,263 |
$30,608 |
| 108 |
Dark Matter
|
Drama
|
R
|
$30,591 |
4,261 |
$30,594 |
| 109 |
The Alphabet Killer
|
Thriller/Suspense
|
R
|
$29,784 |
4,148 |
$29,783 |
| 110 |
Lou Reed's Berlin
|
Concert/Performance
|
PG-13
|
$29,692 |
4,135 |
$29,689 |
| 111 |
Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains
|
Documentary
|
PG
|
$28,278 |
3,938 |
$28,275 |
| 112 |
Frontrunners
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$26,976 |
3,757 |
$26,975 |
| 113 |
How to Cook Your Life
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$23,789 |
3,313 |
$23,787 |
| 114 |
Yiddish Theater: A Love Story
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$22,653 |
3,155 |
$22,653 |
| 115 |
The Matador
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$21,816 |
3,038 |
$21,813 |
| 116 |
Dear Zachary: a letter to a son about his father
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$20,834 |
2,902 |
$20,836 |
| 117 |
Walking on Dead Fish
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$20,705 |
2,884 |
$20,707 |
| 118 |
The First Basket
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$20,440 |
2,847 |
$20,441 |
| 119 |
Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$20,018 |
2,788 |
$20,018 |
| 120 |
Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$19,712 |
2,745 |
$19,709 |
| 121 |
Saving Marriage
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$18,720 |
2,607 |
$18,718 |
| 122 |
To the Limit
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$18,254 |
2,542 |
$18,252 |
| 123 |
Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$18,190 |
2,533 |
$18,187 |
| 124 |
My Kid Could Paint That
|
Documentary
|
PG-13
|
$18,133 |
2,525 |
$18,130 |
| 125 |
Billy the Kid
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$17,809 |
2,480 |
$17,806 |
| 126 |
Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$17,537 |
2,442 |
$17,534 |
| 127 |
In the Valley of Elah
|
Drama
|
R
|
$12,718 |
1,771 |
$12,716 |
| 128 |
Full Battle Rattle
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$12,306 |
1,714 |
$12,307 |
| 129 |
Operation Filmmaker
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$11,391 |
1,586 |
$11,387 |
| 130 |
What Would Jesus Buy?
|
Documentary
|
PG
|
$11,232 |
1,564 |
$11,230 |
| 131 |
Sputnik Mania
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$10,650 |
1,483 |
$10,648 |
| 132 |
The Betrayal
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$10,648 |
1,483 |
$10,648 |
| 133 |
The Betrayal
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$10,648 |
1,483 |
$10,648 |
| 134 |
Whaledreamers
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$10,584 |
1,474 |
$10,583 |
| 135 |
Lord, Save Us From Your Followers
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$10,510 |
1,464 |
$10,512 |
| 136 |
Without the King
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$8,663 |
1,207 |
$8,666 |
| 137 |
Battle for Haditha
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$8,443 |
1,176 |
$8,444 |
| 138 |
Kurt Cobain: About a Son
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$7,995 |
1,114 |
$7,999 |
| 139 |
The Killing of John Lennon
|
Drama
|
Not Rated
|
$6,975 |
971 |
$6,972 |
| 140 |
Patti Smith: Dream of Life
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$6,703 |
934 |
$6,706 |
| 141 |
Arranged
|
Drama
|
Not Rated
|
$6,312 |
879 |
$6,311 |
| 142 |
A Lawyer Walks into a Bar
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$5,202 |
725 |
$5,206 |
| 143 |
El Inmigrante
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$5,196 |
724 |
$5,198 |
| 144 |
God and Gays: Bridging the Gap
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$5,095 |
710 |
$5,098 |
| 145 |
Fuel
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$4,915 |
685 |
$4,918 |
| 146 |
Stealing America: Vote by Vote
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$4,740 |
660 |
$4,739 |
| 147 |
Twisted: A Balloonamentary
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$4,345 |
605 |
$4,344 |
| 148 |
Poisoned by Polonium: Litvinenko File
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$4,293 |
598 |
$4,294 |
| 149 |
Heavy Metal in Baghdad
|
Documentary
|
R
|
$4,070 |
567 |
$4,071 |
| 150 |
King Corn
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$3,676 |
512 |
$3,676 |
| 151 |
Death Defying Acts
|
Drama
|
PG
|
$3,561 |
496 |
$3,561 |
| 152 |
Nothing But the Truth
|
Drama
|
R
|
$3,500 |
487 |
$3,497 |
| 153 |
Fraude
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$3,373 |
470 |
$3,375 |
| 154 |
Who Does She Think She Is?
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$3,081 |
429 |
$3,080 |
| 155 |
The Beautiful Truth
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$3,026 |
421 |
$3,023 |
| 156 |
The Beautiful Truth
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$3,026 |
421 |
$3,023 |
| 157 |
Run For Your Life
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$2,992 |
417 |
$2,994 |
| 158 |
Wetlands Preserved: The Story of an Activist Rock Club
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$2,970 |
414 |
$2,973 |
| 159 |
Kicking It
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$2,669 |
372 |
$2,671 |
| 160 |
Angry Monk: Reflections on Tibet, The
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$2,125 |
296 |
$2,125 |
| 161 |
Running with Arnold
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$2,119 |
295 |
$2,118 |
| 162 |
Staub
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$2,072 |
289 |
$2,075 |
| 163 |
Hunger
|
Drama
|
Not Rated
|
$1,980 |
276 |
$1,982 |
| 164 |
Maria Bethania: Music is Perfume
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$1,858 |
259 |
$1,860 |
| 165 |
On the Rumba River
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$1,698 |
236 |
$1,694 |
| 166 |
Beyond Belief
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$667 |
93 |
$668 |
| 167 |
The Life of Reilly
|
Concert/Performance
|
Not Rated
|
$654 |
91 |
$653 |
| 168 |
Salvadore Allende
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$634 |
88 |
$632 |
| 169 |
Beautiful Boxer
|
Drama
|
Not Rated
|
$447 |
62 |
$445 |
| 170 |
I for India
|
Documentary
|
Not Rated
|
$386 |
54 |
$388 |
| 171 |
Show Business
|
Documentary
|
PG
|
$84 |
12 |
$86 |
| Total Gross of All Movies | $370,733,492 |
| Total Tickets Sold | 51,634,189 |
| Total Gross of All Movies at 2008 ticket prices | $370,733,477 |
Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 2008.
It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 2008.
For example, a movie released over Thanksgiving in 2007 will most likely earn money in 2007 and 2008.
Click on the individual movie to see its total gross over all the years in which it played.
Each box office year ends on the first Sunday of the following year.
The next year starts the following day (Monday).
For example, the "2004 box office year" ended on Sunday, January 2, 2005.
Inflation-adjusted figures are based ticket sale estimates, and may not be precise due to
rounding errors.
|