Market Charts > 2008 > Genres > Documentary

Box Office Performance for Documentary Movies in 2008

← 2007 Summary for all Years 2009 →
RankMovieRelease
Date		 Theatrical
Distributor		MPAA
Rating		2008 GrossTickets Sold
1 Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric… Oct 5, 2007 National Geograph… Not Rated $14,144,251 1,969,951
2 Religulous Oct 1, 2008 Lionsgate R $13,011,160 1,812,139
3 Space Station Apr 19, 2002 IMAX Films Not Rated $10,840,176 1,509,773
4 Expelled: No Intelligence A… Apr 18, 2008 Rocky Mountain Pi… PG $7,720,487 1,075,277
5 Shine a Light Apr 4, 2008 Paramount Vantage R $5,505,267 766,750
6 Dolphins and Whales Tribes … Feb 15, 2008 3D Entertainment Not Rated $5,243,604 730,306
7 Magnificent Desolation Sep 23, 2005 IMAX Films Not Rated $5,083,770 708,045
8 Young @ Heart Apr 9, 2008 Fox Searchlight PG $3,992,189 556,015
9 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Warner Bros. G $3,550,091 494,442
10 Man on Wire Jul 25, 2008 Magnolia Pictures PG-13 $2,942,990 409,887
11 Roving Mars Jan 27, 2006 Walt Disney G $1,717,565 239,215
12 Gonzo: The Life and Work of… Jul 4, 2008 Magnolia Pictures R $1,252,100 174,387
13 Encounters at the End of th… Jun 11, 2008 ThinkFilm G $944,933 131,606
14 American Teen Jul 25, 2008 Paramount Vantage PG-13 $942,441 131,259
15 I.O.U.S.A. Aug 22, 2008 Roadside Attractions PG $810,196 112,840
16 Up the Yangtze Apr 25, 2008 Zeitgeist Not Rated $783,969 109,187
17 Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Co… Feb 8, 2008 Weinstein Co. R $603,894 84,107
18 Galapagos Oct 29, 1999 IMAX Films Not Rated $513,163 71,471
19 Trouble the Water Aug 22, 2008 Zeitgeist Not Rated $486,582 67,769
20 Where in the World is Osama… Apr 18, 2008 Weinstein Co. PG-13 $384,955 53,614
21 The Singing Revolution Dec 7, 2007 Abramorama Films Not Rated $380,043 52,930
22 Bigger, Stronger, Faster* May 30, 2008 Magnolia Pictures PG-13 $308,575 42,977
23 Morning Light Oct 17, 2008 Walt Disney PG $275,093 38,313
24 Taxi to the Dark Side Jan 18, 2008 ThinkFilm R $274,661 38,253
25 Planet B-Boy Mar 21, 2008 Elephant Eye Films Not Rated $272,791 37,993
26 Surfwise May 9, 2008 Magnolia Pictures R $269,994 37,603
27 Standard Operating Procedure Apr 25, 2008 Sony Pictures Cla… R $228,830 31,870
28 Waltz with Bashir Dec 25, 2008 Sony Pictures Cla… R $220,441 30,702
29 Chris and Don: A Love Story Jun 13, 2008 Zeitgeist Not Rated $216,110 30,098
30 Call+Response Oct 10, 2008 Fair Trade Pictures PG-13 $208,806 29,081
31 Steep Dec 21, 2007 Sony Pictures Cla… PG $180,962 25,203
32 Constantine's Sword Apr 18, 2008 First Run Features Not Rated $179,507 25,000
33 Chicago 10 Feb 29, 2008 Roadside Attractions R $176,545 24,588
34 Girls Rock! Mar 7, 2008 Shadow PG $159,294 22,185
35 My Winnipeg Jun 13, 2008 IFC First Take Not Rated $156,629 21,814
36 A Man Named Pearl Aug 31, 2007 Railroad Square G $156,090 21,739
37 FLOW: For Love of Water Mar 21, 2008 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $142,569 19,856
38 Wild Safari 3D Apr 8, 2005 nWave Pictures Not Rated $135,640 18,891
39 Nanking Dec 12, 2007 ThinkFilm R $134,970 18,798
40 The First Saturday in May Apr 18, 2008 Truly Indie PG-13 $124,294 17,311
41 Bra Boys Apr 11, 2008 BerKela Films R $113,730 15,839
42 Trumbo Jun 27, 2008 Samuel Goldwyn Films PG-13 $108,280 15,080
43 Bustin' Down the Door Jul 25, 2008 Screen Media Films Not Rated $106,100 14,777
44 A Jihad for Love May 21, 2008 First Run Features Not Rated $105,651 14,714
45 The Unforeseen Feb 29, 2008 Cinema Guild Not Rated $90,287 12,574
46 Blindsight Mar 5, 2008 Spark Entertainment PG $89,169 12,419
47 Louise Bourgeois Jun 25, 2008 Zeitgeist Not Rated $87,997 12,255
48 Dalai Lama Renaissance May 21, 2008 Self Distributed Not Rated $82,736 11,523
49 Praying with Lior Feb 1, 2008 First Run Features Not Rated $82,553 11,497
50 America the Beautiful May 9, 2008 First Independent… R $76,173 10,609
51 Body of War Mar 7, 2008 Film Sales Company Not Rated $71,716 9,988
52 The Business of Being Born Jan 9, 2008 International Fil… Not Rated $69,348 9,658
53 Happy Valley Mar 28, 2008 Stone Five Studios PG-13 $67,665 9,424
54 Allah Made Me Funny Oct 3, 2008 Truly Indie Not Rated $66,903 9,317
55 CSNY: Déjà Vu Jul 25, 2008 Roadside Attractions R $65,025 9,056
56 Stranded: I've Come from a … Oct 22, 2008 Zeitgeist Not Rated $64,000 8,913
57 Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 Nov 19, 2008 Kino/Emerging Not Rated $63,973 8,909
58 Bloodline May 9, 2008 Cinema Libre R $62,248 8,669
59 Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater… Sep 26, 2008 InterPositive Media Not Rated $60,332 8,402
60 The Order of Myths Jan 13, 2008 Cinema Guild Not Rated $59,400 8,272
61 Roman Polanski: Wanted and … Jul 11, 2008 ThinkFilm Not Rated $59,192 8,244
62 War Dance Nov 9, 2007 ThinkFilm PG-13 $57,525 8,011
63 Beautiful Losers Aug 8, 2008 Sidetrack Films Not Rated $56,386 7,853
64 Dare Not Walk Alone Apr 25, 2008 Indican Pictures Not Rated $52,166 7,265
65 Pray the Devil Back to Hell Nov 7, 2008 Balcony Releasing Not Rated $51,886 7,226
66 Shoot Down Jan 25, 2008 Magic Lamp PG-13 $51,408 7,159
67 Gunnin' for that #1 Spot Jun 27, 2008 Oscilloscope Pict… PG-13 $50,804 7,075
68 The Dhamma Brothers Apr 11, 2008 Balcony Releasing Not Rated $49,568 6,903
69 For the Bible Tells Me So Oct 5, 2007 First Run Features Not Rated $41,605 5,794
70 Moving Midway Sep 12, 2008 First Run Features Not Rated $40,864 5,691
71 Refusenik Apr 11, 2008 Abramorama Films Not Rated $39,456 5,495
72 Enlighten Up! Sep 12, 2008 Balcony Releasing Not Rated $33,226 4,627
73 Hats Off Mar 28, 2008 Abramorama Films Not Rated $31,272 4,355
74 Fighting for Life Mar 7, 2008 Truly Indie Not Rated $30,606 4,262
75 Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains Oct 26, 2007 Sony Pictures Cla… PG $28,016 3,901
76 Frontrunners Oct 15, 2008 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $26,976 3,757
77 Forever Sep 12, 2007 First Run/Icarus Not Rated $25,222 3,512
78 The Matador Oct 31, 2008 City Lights Pictures Not Rated $21,816 3,038
79 Wie man sein leben kocht Oct 26, 2007 Roadside Attractions PG-13 $21,771 3,032
80 Dear Zachary: a letter to a… Oct 31, 2008 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $20,834 2,901
81 Walking on Dead Fish Sep 19, 2008 Variance Films PG-13 $20,705 2,883
82 The First Basket Oct 29, 2008 Laemmle/Zeller Film Not Rated $20,440 2,846
83 Glass: A Portrait of Philip… Apr 18, 2008 Koch Lorber Films Not Rated $20,018 2,788
84 Trying to Get Good: The Jaz… May 30, 2008 Reel Source Not Rated $19,712 2,745
85 Yiddish Theater: A Love Story Nov 21, 2007 New Love Films Not Rated $19,541 2,721
86 Saving Marriage Oct 17, 2008 Regent Releasing PG-13 $18,720 2,607
87 Am Limit Jun 13, 2008 First Run Features Not Rated $18,254 2,542
88 Imaginary Witness: Hollywoo… Dec 25, 2007 Shadow Not Rated $16,328 2,274
89 Billy the Kid Dec 5, 2007 Elephant Eye Films Not Rated $15,436 2,149
90 My Kid Could Paint That Oct 5, 2007 Sony Pictures Cla… PG-13 $14,790 2,059
91 Kicking It Jun 13, 2008 Not Rated $13,266 1,847
92 Full Battle Rattle Jul 11, 2008 Mile End Films Not Rated $12,306 1,713
93 Operation Filmmaker Jun 4, 2008 First Run/Icarus Not Rated $11,573 1,611
94 The Betrayal Nov 21, 2008 Cinema Guild Not Rated $11,464 1,596
95 Sputnik Mania Mar 14, 2008 Balcony Releasing Not Rated $10,650 1,483
96 Whaledreamers Sep 26, 2008 Monterey Media Not Rated $10,584 1,474
97 Lord, Save Us From Your Fol… Jun 13, 2008 Thunderstruck Films PG-13 $10,510 1,463
98 Without the King Apr 25, 2008 First Run Features Not Rated $8,663 1,206
99 Battle for Haditha May 7, 2008 Lafayette Films R $8,443 1,175
100 Joe Strummer: The Future is… Nov 2, 2007 Sony Pictures Not Rated $7,700 1,072
101 Patti Smith: Dream of Life Aug 15, 2008 Palm Pictures Not Rated $6,703 933
102 Kurt Cobain: About a Son Oct 3, 2007 Balcony Releasing Not Rated $5,941 827
103 A Lawyer Walks into a Bar Feb 29, 2008 Indican Pictures Not Rated $5,202 724
104 God and Gays: Bridging the Gap Oct 24, 2008 Indican Pictures Not Rated $5,095 709
105 Fuel Nov 14, 2008 Blue Water Entert… Not Rated $4,915 684
106 El Inmigrante Jul 13, 2007 Indican Pictures Not Rated $4,753 661
107 Stealing America: Vote by Vote Aug 1, 2008 Direct Cinema Ltd Not Rated $4,740 660
108 Twisted: A Balloonamentary May 23, 2008 Eliot Lives Produ… Not Rated $4,345 605
109 Poisoned by Polonium: Litvi… Mar 21, 2008 Kino International Not Rated $4,293 597
110 Heavy Metal in Baghdad May 23, 2008 Arts Alliance Ame… R $4,070 566
111 King Corn Oct 12, 2007 Balcony Releasing Not Rated $3,676 511
112 Lagerfeld Confidential Oct 24, 2007 Koch Lorber Films Not Rated $3,435 478
113 Fraude Oct 10, 2008 Maya Releasing Not Rated $3,373 469
114 Who Does She Think She Is? Oct 17, 2008 Artistic License Not Rated $3,081 429
115 The Beautiful Truth Nov 14, 2008 Cinema Libre Not Rated $3,026 421
116 Run For Your Life Oct 31, 2008 Screen Media Films Not Rated $2,992 416
117 Wetlands Preserved: The Sto… Mar 14, 2008 First Run Features Not Rated $2,970 413
118 Angry Monk: Reflections on … Jan 2, 2009 First Run/Icarus Not Rated $2,125 295
119 Running with Arnold Jan 11, 2008 Lantern Lane Ente… Not Rated $2,119 295
120 Staub Dec 5, 2008 Icarus Films Not Rated $2,072 288
121 Maria Bethania: Music is Pe… Jul 18, 2008 ArtMattan Films Not Rated $1,858 258
122 On the Rumba River Jun 6, 2008 First Run Features Not Rated $1,698 236
123 Beyond Belief Feb 29, 2008 Film Sales Company Not Rated $667 92
124 Salvadore Allende Sep 8, 2006 First Run/Icarus Not Rated $634 88
125 I for India Jan 11, 2008 First Run/Icarus Not Rated $386 53
126 ShowBusiness: The Road to B… May 11, 2007 Regent Releasing PG $84 11
Total Gross of All Movies$87,432,868
Total Tickets Sold12,177,214

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 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.