Market Charts > 2010 > Genres > Documentary

Box Office Performance for Documentary Movies in 2010

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RankMovieRelease
Date		 Theatrical
Distributor		MPAA
Rating		2010 GrossTickets Sold
1 Hubble 3D Mar 19, 2010 Warner Bros. G $20,149,829 2,553,844
2 Oceans Apr 22, 2010 Walt Disney G $19,422,319 2,461,637
3 Babies May 7, 2010 Focus Features PG $7,320,323 927,797
4 Waiting for Superman Sep 24, 2010 Paramount Vantage PG $6,417,135 813,325
5 Under the Sea 3D Feb 13, 2009 Warner Bros. G $5,857,442 742,388
6 The Wildest Dream Apr 30, 2010 National Geograph… PG $4,896,296 620,569
7 Inside Job Oct 8, 2010 Sony Pictures Cla… PG-13 $3,452,017 437,517
8 Exit Through the Gift Shop Apr 16, 2010 Producers Distrib… R $3,291,250 417,141
9 Catfish Sep 17, 2010 Universal PG-13 $3,237,343 410,310
10 Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work Jun 11, 2010 IFC Films R $2,930,687 371,443
11 Magnificent Desolation Sep 23, 2005 IMAX Films Not Rated $2,504,085 317,374
12 Space Station Apr 19, 2002 IMAX Films Not Rated $1,931,542 244,808
13 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Warner Bros. G $1,379,500 174,842
14 Restrepo Jun 25, 2010 National Geograph… R $1,330,894 168,681
15 The Tillman Story Aug 20, 2010 Weinstein Co. R $798,940 101,259
16 Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric… Oct 5, 2007 National Geograph… Not Rated $781,527 99,052
17 Racing Dreams May 21, 2010 Hannover House PG $615,028 77,950
18 The Art of the Steal Feb 26, 2010 IFC Films PG $544,890 69,060
19 Dolphins and Whales Tribes … Feb 15, 2008 3D Entertainment Not Rated $458,309 58,087
20 The Most Dangerous Man in A… Jan 29, 2010 First Run Features Not Rated $453,650 57,496
21 I Want Your Money Oct 15, 2010 Freestyle Releasing PG $433,588 54,954
22 I'm Still Here Sep 10, 2010 Magnolia Pictures R $408,983 51,835
23 A Film Unfinished Aug 18, 2010 Oscilloscope Pict… R $320,486 40,619
24 Last Train Home Sep 3, 2010 Zeitgeist Not Rated $288,328 36,543
25 Countdown to Zero Jul 23, 2010 Magnolia Pictures PG $272,040 34,479
26 Breath Made Visible Apr 2, 2010 Argot Pictures Not Rated $267,281 33,875
27 Kings of Pastry Sep 15, 2010 First Run Features Not Rated $264,482 33,521
28 Jean-Michel Basquiat: The R… Jul 21, 2010 Arthouse Films Not Rated $256,242 32,476
29 When You're Strange: A Film… Apr 9, 2010 Abramorama Films R $246,078 31,188
30 Sweetgrass Jan 6, 2010 Cinema Guild Not Rated $207,473 26,295
31 South of the Border Jun 25, 2010 Cinema Libre Not Rated $198,600 25,171
32 Winnebago Man Jul 9, 2010 Kino International Not Rated $181,039 22,945
33 Casino Jack and the United … May 7, 2010 Magnolia Pictures R $176,865 22,416
34 Client 9: The Rise and Fall… Nov 5, 2010 Magnolia Pictures R $170,829 21,651
35 Genius Within: The Inner Li… Sep 10, 2010 Lorber Films Not Rated $162,122 20,547
36 La Danse Nov 4, 2009 Zipporah Not Rated $149,561 18,955
37 Stonewall Uprising Jun 16, 2010 First Run Features Not Rated $128,203 16,248
38 Galapagos Oct 29, 1999 IMAX Films Not Rated $113,853 14,430
39 Best Worst Movie Apr 23, 2010 Area 23a Not Rated $109,895 13,928
40 Waste Land Oct 29, 2010 Arthouse Films Not Rated $102,454 12,985
41 Freakonomics Oct 1, 2010 Magnolia Pictures PG-13 $101,270 12,835
42 8: The Mormon Proposition Jun 18, 2010 Red Flag Releasing R $100,280 12,709
43 Until the Light Takes Us Nov 20, 2009 Variance Films Not Rated $84,156 10,666
44 Waking Sleeping Beauty Mar 26, 2010 Walt Disney PG $80,741 10,233
45 Living in Emergency Jun 4, 2010 Bev Pictures Not Rated $69,047 8,751
46 Budrus Oct 8, 2010 Balcony Releasing Not Rated $68,353 8,663
47 2012: Time for Change Apr 9, 2010 Mangusta Productions Not Rated $68,339 8,661
48 Dancing Across Borders Mar 26, 2010 First Run Features Not Rated $66,166 8,386
49 Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage Jun 4, 2010 Not Rated $63,696 8,073
50 Marwencol Oct 8, 2010 Not Rated $63,292 8,021
51 Cool It Nov 12, 2010 Roadside Attractions PG $62,713 7,948
52 The Nature of Existence Jun 18, 2010 Walking Shadows Not Rated $54,645 6,925
53 Strange Powers: Stephin Mer… Oct 27, 2010 Variance Films Not Rated $54,152 6,863
54 Enemies of the People Jul 30, 2010 International Fil… Not Rated $46,463 5,888
55 Cropsey Jun 4, 2010 Not Rated $42,392 5,372
56 The Oath May 7, 2010 Zeitgeist Not Rated $42,273 5,357
57 Queen of the Sun Sep 17, 2010 Collective Eye Not Rated $41,895 5,309
58 On the Bowery Mar 18, 1957 Not Rated $41,802 5,298
59 The Legend of Pale Male Nov 24, 2010 Balcony Releasing Not Rated $38,083 4,826
60 Boxing Gym Oct 22, 2010 Zipporah Not Rated $36,812 4,665
61 Bhutto Dec 3, 2010 First Run Features Not Rated $34,963 4,431
62 The Yes Men Fix the World Oct 7, 2009 Shadow Not Rated $34,136 4,326
63 Ahead of Time Sep 10, 2010 Vitagraph Films Not Rated $33,024 4,185
64 William S. Burroughs: A Man… Nov 17, 2010 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $32,608 4,132
65 In Search of Memory Jan 8, 2010 Icarus Films Not Rated $31,052 3,935
66 Who is Harry Nilsson (and W… Sep 10, 2010 Lorber Films Not Rated $30,975 3,925
67 GasLand Sep 15, 2010 GasLand Productions Not Rated $30,846 3,909
68 Deux de la vague May 19, 2010 Lorber Films Not Rated $28,808 3,651
69 Visual Acoustics Oct 9, 2009 Arthouse Films Not Rated $27,565 3,493
70 The Human Experience Apr 9, 2010 PG-13 $27,170 3,443
71 October Country Feb 12, 2010 International Fil… Not Rated $26,185 3,318
72 Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inf… Jul 16, 2010 Not Rated $24,328 3,083
73 Behind the Burly Q Apr 23, 2010 First Run Features Not Rated $23,889 3,027
74 Saint Misbehavin’: The Wavy… Dec 3, 2010 Argot Pictures Not Rated $23,887 3,027
75 Smash His Camera Jul 30, 2010 Magnolia Pictures PG-13 $23,671 3,000
76 The Other City Sep 17, 2010 Cabin Films Not Rated $22,539 2,856
77 And Everything is Going Fine Dec 10, 2010 IFC Films Not Rated $22,080 2,798
78 Raw Faith May 28, 2010 Alive Mind Not Rated $20,956 2,656
79 Double Take Jun 2, 2010 Kino International Not Rated $20,218 2,562
80 Neshoba: The Price of Freedom Aug 13, 2010 First Run Features Not Rated $19,245 2,439
81 The Horse Boy Sep 11, 2009 Zeitgeist Not Rated $19,117 2,422
82 Off and Running Jan 29, 2010 First Run Features Not Rated $18,262 2,314
83 Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo May 12, 2010 Argot Pictures Not Rated $15,930 2,019
84 Shoah Nov 1, 1985 IFC Films Not Rated $15,642 1,982
85 The End of Poverty? Nov 13, 2009 Cinema Libre Not Rated $15,444 1,957
86 Les plages d'Agnès Jul 1, 2009 Cinema Guild Not Rated $14,523 1,840
87 The Kids Grow Up Oct 29, 2010 Not Rated $12,095 1,532
88 After the Cup: Sons of Sakh… May 21, 2010 Variance Films Not Rated $12,085 1,531
89 Picture Me: A Model's Diary Sep 17, 2010 Not Rated $12,008 1,521
90 Mine Mar 1, 2009 Film Movement Not Rated $11,283 1,430
91 Good Hair Oct 9, 2009 Roadside Attractions PG-13 $11,053 1,400
92 The Two Escobars Aug 27, 2010 All Rise Films Not Rated $10,942 1,386
93 Waiting for Armageddon Jan 8, 2010 First Run Features Not Rated $10,501 1,330
94 GhettoPhysics: Will the Rea… Oct 8, 2010 Samuel Goldwyn Films R $10,229 1,296
95 The Cove Jul 31, 2009 Roadside Attractions PG-13 $7,934 1,005
96 Mugabe and the White African Jul 23, 2010 First Run Features Not Rated $7,924 1,004
97 It's a Bash! Apr 30, 2010 Not Rated $7,839 993
98 The Thorn in the Heart Apr 2, 2010 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $7,376 934
99 Youssou N'Dour: I Bring Wha… Jun 12, 2009 Shadow Not Rated $7,296 924
100 Only When I Dance Jul 2, 2010 Film Movement Not Rated $7,150 906
101 Crude Sep 9, 2009 First Run Features Not Rated $6,878 871
102 The Cartel Apr 16, 2010 Not Rated $6,569 832
103 Under Our Skin Jun 17, 2009 Shadow Not Rated $6,526 827
104 Brutal Beauty: Tales of the… Jan 8, 2010 Cinema Purgatorio Not Rated $6,280 795
105 Phyllis and Harold Feb 19, 2010 Rainbow Releasing Not Rated $5,992 759
106 Nénette Dec 22, 2010 Kino International Not Rated $5,450 690
107 Whiz Kids Jun 4, 2010 Shadow Not Rated $5,427 687
108 American Grindhouse Jun 18, 2010 Lorber Films Not Rated $3,598 456
109 Det røde kapel Dec 29, 2010 Lorber Films Not Rated $3,539 448
110 The September Issue Aug 28, 2009 Roadside Attractions PG-13 $3,169 401
111 Sweethearts of the Prison R… Sep 17, 2010 Cinema Purgatorio Not Rated $2,198 278
112 Fallen Idol: The Yuri Gagar… Oct 2, 2009 Indican Pictures Not Rated $2,126 269
113 Nobody's Perfect Apr 16, 2010 Lorber Films Not Rated $2,122 268
114 A Mother's Courage: Talking… Sep 24, 2010 First Run Features Not Rated $1,916 242
115 45365 Feb 26, 2010 Seventh Art Relea… Not Rated $1,909 241
116 Carbon Nation May 7, 2010 Not Rated $1,470 186
117 Convention Jun 4, 2010 IFC Films Not Rated $1,220 154
118 Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg Jul 10, 2009 International Fil… Not Rated $961 121
119 The Wonder of it All Jul 17, 2009 Indican Pictures Not Rated $355 44
Total Gross of All Movies$94,298,461
Total Tickets Sold11,951,581

Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 2010. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 2010. For example, a movie released over Thanksgiving in 2010 will most likely earn money in 2010 and 2011. Click on the individual movie to see its total gross over all the years in which it played.

Inflation-adjusted figures are based ticket sale estimates, and may not be precise due to rounding errors.

Our Theatrical Market pages are based on the Domestic Theatrical Market performance only. The Domestic Market is defined as the North American movie territory (consisting of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam).

The yearly amounts on our Theatrical Market pages are based on box office years. Each box office year starts on the first Monday of the year, so the previous year ends on the Sunday before the first Monday. For example, the "2017 box office year" started on January 2, 2017 so the "2016 box office year" ended on Sunday, January 1, 2017.