Market Charts > 2013 > Genres > Documentary

Box Office Performance for Documentary Movies in 2013

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RankMovieRelease
Date
Theatrical
Distributor
MPAA
Rating
2013 GrossTickets Sold
1 Justin Bieber’s Believe Dec 25, 2013 Open Road PG $5,962,982 733,454
2 Hubble 3D Mar 19, 2010 Warner Bros. G $5,361,957 659,527
3 20 Feet From Stardom Jun 14, 2013 RADiUS-TWC PG-13 $4,821,266 593,021
4 To the Arctic 3D Apr 20, 2012 Warner Bros. G $2,930,286 360,428
5 Space Station Apr 19, 2002 IMAX Films Not Rated $2,436,846 299,735
6 The Gatekeepers Feb 1, 2013 Sony Pictures Cla… PG-13 $2,408,553 296,254
7 Blackfish Jul 19, 2013 Magnolia Pictures PG-13 $2,073,582 255,053
8 Flying Monsters 3D Oct 6, 2011 National Geograph… Not Rated $1,574,271 193,637
9 Stories We Tell Oct 12, 2012 Mongrel Media PG-13 $1,358,516 167,099
10 Born to be Wild 3D Apr 8, 2011 Warner Bros. G $1,334,377 164,130
11 Inequality for All Sep 27, 2013 RADiUS-TWC PG $1,192,778 146,713
12 Under the Sea 3D Feb 13, 2009 Warner Bros. G $1,142,800 140,565
13 Searching for Sugar Man Jul 27, 2012 Sony Pictures Cla… PG-13 $906,423 111,491
14 Generation Iron Sep 20, 2013 Docurama PG-13 $849,521 104,492
15 Girl Rising Mar 7, 2013 Gathr Films PG-13 $849,484 104,487
16 Meerkats Oct 2, 2011 National Geograph… Not Rated $845,613 104,011
17 Burn Jul 20, 2012 Callbox, LLC Not Rated $693,125 85,255
18 56 Up Jan 4, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $679,190 83,541
19 Muscle Shoals Sep 27, 2013 Magnolia Pictures PG $671,810 82,633
20 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Warner Bros. G $611,380 75,200
21 Salinger Sep 6, 2013 Weinstein Co. PG-13 $583,633 71,787
22 Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's May 3, 2013 Entertainment One PG-13 $516,719 63,557
23 The Act of Killing Jul 19, 2013 Drafthouse Films Not Rated $461,777 56,799
24 Sound City Jan 29, 2013 Variance Films Not Rated $422,853 52,011
25 Dirty Wars Jun 7, 2013 IFC Films Not Rated $371,245 45,663
26 Hava Nagila: The Movie Mar 1, 2013 International Fil… Not Rated $368,724 45,353
27 Watermark Sep 27, 2013 Mongrel Media PG $353,184 43,442
28 Koch Feb 1, 2013 Zeitgeist Not Rated $342,941 42,182
29 Happy People: A Year in the… Dec 9, 2011 Mongrel Media Not Rated $329,464 40,524
30 West of Memphis Dec 25, 2012 Sony Pictures Cla… R $270,705 33,297
31 Room 237 Mar 29, 2013 IFC Films Not Rated $263,411 32,399
32 Linsanity Oct 4, 2013 PG $258,427 31,786
33 A Place at the Table Mar 1, 2013 Magnolia Pictures PG $231,378 28,459
34 The Summit Oct 4, 2013 IFC Films R $219,346 26,979
35 No Place on Earth Apr 5, 2013 Magnolia Pictures PG-13 $200,238 24,629
36 The Armstrong Lie Nov 8, 2013 Sony Pictures Cla… R $194,857 23,967
37 The Anonymous People Aug 16, 2013 Alive Mind Not Rated $187,459 23,057
38 We Steal Secrets: The Story… May 24, 2013 Focus Features R $166,243 20,448
39 Somm Jun 21, 2013 Samuel Goldwyn Films Not Rated $153,620 18,895
40 Deceptive Practice: The Mys… Apr 17, 2013 Kino Lorber Not Rated $152,449 18,751
41 Narco Cultura Nov 22, 2013 Cinedigm R $145,088 17,846
42 Free the Mind May 3, 2013 International Fil… Not Rated $142,008 17,467
43 Good Ol' Freda Sep 6, 2013 Magnolia Pictures PG $138,811 17,073
44 American Promise Oct 18, 2013 Rada Film Group Not Rated $136,385 16,775
45 Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy? Nov 22, 2013 IFC Films Not Rated $132,409 16,286
46 Free Angela & All Political… Apr 5, 2013 CODEBLACK Films/L… Not Rated $129,102 15,879
47 A Band Called Death Jun 28, 2013 Drafthouse Films Not Rated $127,257 15,652
48 Cutie and the Boxer Aug 16, 2013 Radius R $125,382 15,422
49 Spark: A Burning Man Story Aug 16, 2013 Paladin Not Rated $120,459 14,816
50 Storm Surfers 3D Apr 26, 2013 XLrator Media Not Rated $117,090 14,402
51 The Punk Singer Nov 29, 2013 IFC Films Not Rated $115,814 14,245
52 Ain't in It for My Health: … Mar 31, 2013 Kino Lorber Not Rated $111,794 13,750
53 Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me Jul 3, 2013 Magnolia Pictures PG-13 $105,998 13,037
54 One Track Heart: The Story … May 8, 2013 Zeitgeist Not Rated $100,401 12,349
55 Spinning Plates Oct 25, 2013 Film Arcade Not Rated $99,127 12,192
56 Bettie Page Reveals All Nov 22, 2013 Music Box Films R $81,776 10,058
57 Harvest of Empire Sep 28, 2012 Onyx Films Not Rated $79,627 9,794
58 Money for Nothing: Inside t… Sep 6, 2013 Liberty Street Films Not Rated $77,619 9,547
59 Leviathan Mar 1, 2013 Cinema Guild Not Rated $76,202 9,372
60 More Than Honey Jun 12, 2013 Kino Lorber Not Rated $71,977 8,853
61 The Waiting Room Sep 21, 2012 International Fil… Not Rated $67,815 8,341
62 After Tiller Sep 20, 2013 Oscilloscope Pict… PG-13 $67,414 8,292
63 Pandora's Promise Jun 12, 2013 Abramorama Films Not Rated $66,680 8,201
64 Beware of Mr. Baker Nov 30, 2012 SnagFilms Not Rated $63,105 7,761
65 Traviata et nous May 15, 2013 Distrib Films Not Rated $62,652 7,706
66 Don't Stop Believin': Every… Mar 8, 2013 Cinedigm R $61,018 7,505
67 The Trials of Muhammad Ali Aug 23, 2013 Kino Lorber Not Rated $57,641 7,089
68 Terms and Conditions May Apply Jul 12, 2013 Variance Films Not Rated $55,824 6,866
69 The Square Oct 25, 2013 Noujaim Films Not Rated $52,954 6,513
70 The Central Park Five Nov 23, 2012 IFC Films Not Rated $51,906 6,384
71 Venus and Serena May 10, 2013 Magnolia Pictures PG-13 $51,271 6,306
72 God Loves Uganda Oct 11, 2013 Variance Films Not Rated $51,229 6,301
73 Let the Fire Burn Oct 2, 2013 Zeitgeist Not Rated $49,128 6,042
74 The Pervert's Guide to Ideo… Nov 1, 2013 Zeitgeist Not Rated $49,072 6,035
75 Flores Raras Nov 8, 2013 Wolfe Releasing Not Rated $45,502 5,596
76 American Made Movie Aug 30, 2013 Variance Films G $45,175 5,556
77 Greedy Lying Bastards Mar 8, 2013 Lambert Releasing PG-13 $45,000 5,535
78 Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has… Sep 21, 2012 Samuel Goldwyn Films PG-13 $41,683 5,127
79 The Human Scale Sep 20, 2013 Mongrel Media Not Rated $41,098 5,055
80 Bill W. May 18, 2012 Page 124 Productions Not Rated $41,072 5,051
81 GMO OMG Sep 13, 2013 Submarine Deluxe Not Rated $39,901 4,907
82 Escape Fire: The Fight to R… Oct 5, 2012 Roadside Attractions PG-13 $39,428 4,849
83 How to Make Money Selling D… Jun 26, 2013 TriBeca Films Not Rated $39,192 4,820
84 Herb & Dorothy 50X50 Sep 13, 2013 Fine Line Not Rated $38,933 4,788
85 The Short Game Sep 20, 2013 Phase 4 Films Sam… PG $38,856 4,779
86 Mumia: Long Distance Revolu… Feb 1, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $37,731 4,640
87 Rising From Ashes Jul 26, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $37,673 4,633
88 Far Out Isn't Far Enough: T… Jun 14, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $35,431 4,358
89 Les Salauds Oct 11, 2013 Mongrel Media Not Rated $35,018 4,307
90 5 Broken Cameras May 30, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $34,376 4,228
91 Bert Stern: Original Mad Man Apr 5, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $34,005 4,182
92 Running from Crazy Nov 1, 2013 Vitagraph Films Not Rated $33,300 4,095
93 Dislecksia: The Movie Oct 4, 2013 Area 23a Not Rated $33,066 4,067
94 Samsara Aug 24, 2012 Oscilloscope Pict… PG-13 $32,797 4,034
95 Somewhere Between Aug 24, 2012 Long Shot Factory Not Rated $30,515 3,753
96 Long Shot: The Kevin Laue S… Oct 25, 2013 Cinipix PG-13 $29,863 3,673
97 A Fierce Green Fire Mar 1, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $29,817 3,667
98 The House I Live In Oct 5, 2012 Abramorama Films Not Rated $28,970 3,563
99 Broadway Idiot Oct 11, 2013 FilmBuff Not Rated $27,595 3,394
100 At Berkeley Nov 8, 2013 Zipporah Not Rated $26,482 3,257
101 Gregory Crewdson: Brief Enc… Nov 2, 2012 Zeitgeist Not Rated $26,162 3,217
102 Greenwich Village: Music Th… Jan 18, 2013 Kino Lorber Not Rated $23,701 2,915
103 Evocateur: The Morton Downe… Jun 7, 2013 Magnolia Pictures R $21,652 2,663
104 Brooklyn Castle Oct 19, 2012 Producers Distrib… PG $20,743 2,551
105 The Ghosts in Our Machine Nov 8, 2013 Ghosts Media, Inc. Not Rated $20,709 2,547
106 Our Nixon Aug 30, 2013 Cinedigm Not Rated $20,486 2,519
107 Meine Familie, die Nazis un… Nov 16, 2012 Film Movement Not Rated $19,160 2,356
108 Smash & Grab: The Story of … Jul 31, 2013 Doppelganger Rele… Not Rated $18,938 2,329
109 Nostalghia May 31, 2013 Kino Lorber Not Rated $18,846 2,318
110 Jamel Shabazz: Street Photo… Aug 2, 2013 Artists Public Do… Not Rated $17,378 2,137
111 Love, Marilyn Apr 5, 2013 Mongrel Media Not Rated $16,164 1,988
112 Out of the Clear Blue Sky Sep 6, 2013 Area 23a Not Rated $16,050 1,974
113 Hating Breitbart Oct 19, 2012 Freestyle Releasing R $15,296 1,881
114 Design is One Oct 11, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $14,078 1,731
115 These Birds Walk Nov 1, 2013 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $14,000 1,722
116 The Invisible War Jun 22, 2012 Cinedigm Not Rated $13,476 1,657
117 Detropia Sep 7, 2012 Loki Films Not Rated $12,805 1,575
118 Liv & Ingmar Dec 13, 2013 Janus Films Not Rated $10,347 1,272
119 Shepard & Dark Sep 25, 2013 Music Box Films Not Rated $10,278 1,264
120 Informant Sep 13, 2013 Music Box Films Not Rated $10,068 1,238
121 Red Obsession Sep 6, 2013 Area23a/FilmBuff Not Rated $9,939 1,222
122 Orchestra of Exiles Oct 26, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $9,867 1,213
123 Birth of the Living Dead Oct 18, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $9,802 1,205
124 Caucus Oct 25, 2013 Bonfire Films of … Not Rated $9,796 1,204
125 Galapagos Oct 29, 1999 IMAX Films Not Rated $9,057 1,114
126 Tchoupitoulas Dec 7, 2012 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $8,944 1,100
127 Call Me Kuchu Jun 14, 2013 Cinedigm Not Rated $8,941 1,099
128 Wagner & Me Dec 7, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $8,558 1,052
129 Downloaded Jun 21, 2013 Abramorama Films Not Rated $8,377 1,030
130 Only the Young Dec 7, 2012 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $8,174 1,005
131 La maison de la radio Sep 4, 2013 Kino Lorber Not Rated $8,060 991
132 Maidentrip Dec 20, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $7,258 892
133 Assaulted: Civil Rights Und… Jun 20, 2013 High Top Releasing PG-13 $7,054 867
134 In Search of Blind Joe Deat… Aug 16, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $6,132 754
135 In No Great Hurry: 13 Lesso… Jan 3, 2014 Self Distributed Not Rated $6,100 750
136 Bidder 70 May 17, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $5,074 624
137 Nuclear Nation Dec 11, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $4,960 610
138 Herman's House Apr 19, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $4,956 609
139 The Flat Oct 19, 2012 IFC Films Not Rated $4,820 592
140 Ferlinghetti: A Rebirth of … Feb 8, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $4,816 592
141 People of a Feather Nov 8, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $4,483 551
142 When the Iron Bird Flies Oct 19, 2012 Alive Mind Not Rated $4,423 544
143 Radio Unnameable Sep 19, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $4,414 542
144 The Revisionaries Oct 5, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $4,155 511
145 Magnificent Desolation Sep 23, 2005 IMAX Films Not Rated $3,929 483
146 Tricked Dec 13, 2013 Kino Lorber Not Rated $3,533 434
147 Drew: The Man Behind the Po… Aug 16, 2013 Kino Lorber Not Rated $3,078 378
148 A Girl and a Gun Jul 4, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $3,018 371
149 Which Way is the Front Line… Jun 21, 2013 Mongrel Media Not Rated $2,945 362
150 What Richard Did May 10, 2013 TriBeca Films Not Rated $2,749 338
151 Men at Lunch Sep 20, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $2,483 305
152 Blood Brother Dec 13, 2013 Mongrel Media Not Rated $2,254 277
153 You Don't Need Feet to Dance Mar 22, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $1,719 211
154 Ouwehoeren Aug 8, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $1,453 178
155 Sushi: The Global Catch Aug 3, 2012 Alive Mind Not Rated $1,174 144
156 Jerusalem Sep 13, 2013 National Geograph… Not Rated $962 118
157 Putin's Kiss Feb 17, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $938 115
158 Triumph of the Wall May 31, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $476 58
159 The End of Time Dec 14, 2012 Mongrel Media Not Rated $221 27
160 Free Radicals: A History of… Aug 3, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $115 14
Total Gross of All Movies$49,277,491
Total Tickets Sold6,061,122

Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 2013. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 2013. 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.