Market Charts > 2018 > Genres > Documentary

Box Office Performance for Documentary Movies in 2018

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RankMovieRelease
Date
Theatrical
Distributor
MPAA
Rating
2018 GrossTickets Sold
1 Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Jun 8, 2018 Focus Features PG-13 $22,835,787 2,506,673
2 RBG May 4, 2018 Magnolia Pictures PG $14,017,361 1,538,678
3 Three Identical Strangers Jun 29, 2018 Neon PG-13 $12,320,845 1,352,452
4 Free Solo Sep 28, 2018 Greenwich PG-13 $11,447,188 1,256,551
5 Fahrenheit 11/9 Sep 21, 2018 Briarcliff Entert… R $6,352,306 697,289
6 Death of a Nation Aug 3, 2018 Quality Flix PG-13 $5,885,881 646,090
7 Pandas Apr 6, 2018 IMAX Films G $5,757,906 632,042
8 They Shall Not Grow Old Dec 17, 2018 Warner Bros. R $5,703,839 626,107
9 Whitney Jul 6, 2018 Roadside Attractions R $3,026,558 332,223
10 Pope Francis—A Man of His W… May 18, 2018 Focus Features PG $2,008,385 220,459
11 McQueen Jul 20, 2018 Bleecker Street R $1,257,275 138,010
12 Maria by Callas Nov 2, 2018 Sony Pictures Cla… PG $1,230,392 135,059
13 The Dawn Wall Sep 14, 2018 The Orchard Not Rated $1,037,023 113,833
14 Nothing Like a Dame Sep 21, 2018 IFC Films Not Rated $872,055 95,725
15 Walk with me Jul 18, 2017 Gathr Films Not Rated $726,593 79,757
16 Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr … Nov 24, 2017 Zeitgeist Not Rated $664,289 72,918
17 Love, Gilda Sep 21, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $626,318 68,750
18 Itzhak Mar 9, 2018 Greenwich Not Rated $618,626 67,906
19 Pick of the Litter Aug 31, 2018 IFC Films Not Rated $565,484 62,073
20 Scotty and the Secret Histo… Jul 27, 2018 Greenwich Not Rated $461,689 50,679
21 Anthropocene: The Human Epoch Sep 28, 2018 Mongrel Media Not Rated $413,915 45,435
22 Hubble 3D Mar 19, 2010 Warner Bros. G $408,663 44,859
23 The Gospel According to Andre May 25, 2018 Magnolia Pictures PG-13 $400,713 43,986
24 Leaning into the Wind Mar 9, 2018 Magnolia Pictures PG $400,530 43,965
25 Grace Jones: Bloodlight and… Apr 13, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $375,208 41,186
26 Mountain May 11, 2018 Greenwich PG $364,429 40,003
27 Kusama: Infinity Sep 7, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $360,931 39,619
28 Visages villages Oct 6, 2017 Cohen Media Group PG $347,796 38,177
29 Science Fair Sep 14, 2018 National Geograph… PG $278,350 30,554
30 The King Jun 22, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… R $259,291 28,462
31 Generation Wealth Jul 20, 2018 Amazon Studios R $237,709 26,093
32 Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. Sep 28, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $230,808 25,335
33 Island of Lemurs: Madagascar Apr 4, 2014 Warner Bros. G $224,252 24,616
34 Jane Oct 20, 2017 Abramorama Films PG $220,790 24,236
35 Dark Money Jul 13, 2018 PBS Distribution Not Rated $217,932 23,922
36 The Final Year Jan 19, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $191,900 21,064
37 Studio 54 Oct 5, 2018 Zeitgeist Not Rated $190,412 20,901
38 Owarani hito Miyazaki: Hayao Dec 13, 2018 GKIDS Not Rated $186,944 20,520
39 Born to be Wild 3D Apr 8, 2011 Warner Bros. G $184,248 20,225
40 Always at the Carlyle May 11, 2018 Good Deed Enterta… PG-13 $174,251 19,127
41 Boom for Real: The Late Tee… May 11, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $166,616 18,289
42 Far From the Tree Jul 20, 2018 Sundance Selects Not Rated $165,756 18,195
43 Eating Animals Jun 15, 2018 Sundance Selects Not Rated $149,384 16,398
44 Bad Reputation Sep 28, 2018 Magnolia Pictures R $148,568 16,308
45 The Great Buster Oct 5, 2018 Cohen Media Group Not Rated $144,199 15,828
46 The World Before Your Feet Nov 21, 2018 Greenwich Not Rated $142,789 15,673
47 Bisbee ‘17 Sep 5, 2018 4th Row Films Not Rated $117,470 12,894
48 Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda Jul 6, 2018 MUBI Not Rated $117,460 12,893
49 ‘85 The Greatest Team in Fo… Jan 29, 2018 Fathom Events Not Rated $115,463 12,674
50 Love, Cecil Jun 29, 2018 Zeitgeist Not Rated $106,057 11,641
51 Filmworker May 11, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $99,593 10,932
52 L’empire de la perfection Aug 22, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $90,964 9,985
53 The Price of Everything Oct 19, 2018 HBO Documentary F… Not Rated $87,400 9,593
54 93Queen Jul 25, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $76,056 8,348
55 Chef Flynn Nov 9, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $67,686 7,429
56 The Doctor From India Apr 20, 2018 Zeitgeist Not Rated $67,136 7,369
57 3100: Run and Become Aug 17, 2018 Illumine Films Not Rated $65,524 7,192
58 Beuys Jan 17, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $65,410 7,180
59 The Gardener Mar 30, 2018 Gravitas Ventures Not Rated $62,734 6,886
60 Monrovia, Indiana Oct 26, 2018 Zipporah Not Rated $61,737 6,776
61 Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist Jun 8, 2018 Greenwich Not Rated $58,799 6,454
62 In Search of Greatness Nov 2, 2018 Self Distributed PG-13 $58,090 6,376
63 Ramen Heads Mar 16, 2018 Gunpowder & Sky Not Rated $57,346 6,294
64 Django Jan 5, 2018 Under the Milky Way Not Rated $56,556 6,208
65 Garry Winogrand: All Things… Sep 19, 2018 Greenwich Not Rated $51,194 5,619
66 The China Hustle Mar 30, 2018 Magnolia Pictures R $48,650 5,340
67 Big Sonia Nov 17, 2017 Argot Pictures Not Rated $46,704 5,126
68 Hal Sep 7, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $45,889 5,037
69 Summer in the Forest Mar 23, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $45,542 4,999
70 Wait For Your Laugh Nov 3, 2017 Vitagraph Films Not Rated $45,037 4,943
71 Hitler’s Hollywood Apr 11, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $43,766 4,804
72 Antonio Lopez 1970: Sex Fas… Sep 14, 2018 Film Movement Not Rated $43,169 4,738
73 Hale County This Morning, T… Sep 14, 2018 Cinema Guild Not Rated $40,333 4,427
74 Divide and Conquer: The Sto… Dec 7, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $38,036 4,175
75 The Heart of Nuba Apr 6, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $37,880 4,158
76 The Road Movie Jan 19, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $35,757 3,925
77 Liyana Oct 10, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $34,822 3,822
78 That Summer May 18, 2018 Sundance Selects Not Rated $34,556 3,793
79 Ingmar Bergman: Vermächtnis… Nov 2, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $33,275 3,652
80 Moynihan Oct 3, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $31,971 3,509
81 Saving Brinton Sep 22, 2017 Barn Owl Not Rated $31,630 3,472
82 Charm City Oct 12, 2018 PBS Distribution Not Rated $29,335 3,220
83 Horn From the Heart: The Pa… Oct 17, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $28,418 3,119
84 On Her Shoulders Oct 19, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $28,288 3,105
85 Milford Graves: Full Mantis Jul 13, 2018 Cinema Guild Not Rated $26,443 2,902
86 The Atomic Cafe Mar 17, 1982 Libra Films Not Rated $22,293 2,447
87 The Judge Apr 13, 2018 Idle Wild Films Not Rated $22,257 2,443
88 Half the Picture Jun 8, 2018 Gravitas Ventures Not Rated $21,595 2,370
89 The Last Resort Dec 21, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $20,789 2,281
90 The Devil and Father Amorth Apr 20, 2018 The Orchard Not Rated $20,449 2,244
91 Active Measures Aug 31, 2018 Super LTD PG-13 $19,862 2,180
92 Crime + Punishment Aug 24, 2018 IFC Films Not Rated $18,644 2,047
93 306 Hollywood Sep 28, 2018 El Tigre Productions Not Rated $18,399 2,019
94 Quest Dec 1, 2017 First Run Features Not Rated $18,216 1,999
95 People’s Republic of Desire Nov 30, 2018 Tripod Media Not Rated $15,241 1,672
96 Weed the People Oct 26, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $14,419 1,582
97 Narcissister Organ Player Nov 7, 2018 Film Movement Not Rated $14,319 1,571
98 Our Blood is Wine Mar 9, 2018 Music Box Films Not Rated $13,348 1,465
99 American Socialist: The Lif… Mar 2, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $12,610 1,384
100 The Most Unknown May 18, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $12,119 1,330
101 Ex Libris: The New York Pub… Sep 15, 2017 Zipporah Not Rated $12,008 1,318
102 Minding the Gap Aug 17, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $11,998 1,317
103 The Last Race Nov 16, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $11,947 1,311
104 The Public Image is Rotten Sep 14, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $11,293 1,239
105 The Advocates Oct 19, 2018 Cinema Libre Not Rated $10,402 1,141
106 Mama Africa Jan 19, 2018 ArtMattan Films Not Rated $9,808 1,076
107 La quête d’Alain Ducasse Jun 8, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $9,627 1,056
108 Strangers on the Earth May 4, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $9,518 1,044
109 El Mar La Mar Feb 23, 2018 Cinema Guild Not Rated $9,065 995
110 American Chaos Sep 14, 2018 Sony Pictures Cla… R $7,616 836
111 This is Congo Jun 29, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $7,051 773
112 In the Land of Pomegranates Jan 5, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $7,014 769
113 Kinder des Kalifats Nov 16, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $6,936 761
114 Calling All Earthlings Jun 29, 2018 Carpe Stella Not Rated $6,756 741
115 Okujirasama: Futatsu no sei… Aug 17, 2018 Fine Line Not Rated $6,747 740
116 Spiral Jun 22, 2018 Cohen Media Group Not Rated $6,279 689
117 Bill Nye: Science Guy Oct 27, 2017 PBS Distribution Not Rated $5,651 620
118 Dolores Sep 1, 2017 PBS Distribution Not Rated $5,638 618
119 Shoah Four Sisters Nov 14, 2018 Cohen Media Group Not Rated $5,512 605
120 Cuban Food Stories Aug 10, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $5,434 596
121 Chavela Oct 4, 2017 Music Box Films Not Rated $5,212 572
122 Kangaroo Jan 19, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $4,547 499
123 Brimstone & Glory Oct 27, 2017 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $4,036 443
124 Under the Wire Nov 16, 2018 Abramorama Films R $3,429 376
125 The Cage Fighter Feb 2, 2018 IFC Films Not Rated $3,267 359
126 Over the Limit Oct 3, 2018 Film Movement Not Rated $3,243 355
127 Hot to Trot Aug 24, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $3,133 343
128 Aida’s Secrets Oct 20, 2017 Music Box Films Not Rated $3,082 338
129 Nana Apr 13, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $2,784 305
130 The Paris Opera Oct 18, 2017 Film Movement Not Rated $2,766 303
131 Straight Into a Storm Jun 15, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $2,684 294
132 12 jours Mar 16, 2018 Distrib Films Not Rated $2,633 289
133 ACORN and the Firestorm Apr 6, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $2,621 287
134 Shadowman Dec 1, 2017 Film Movement Not Rated $2,356 258
135 Frank Serpico Nov 1, 2017 IFC Films Not Rated $2,214 243
136 West of the Jordan River Jan 26, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $1,926 211
137 The Lost Village Oct 19, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $1,780 195
138 Rat Film Sep 15, 2017 Cinema Guild Not Rated $1,627 178
139 That Way Madness Lies Dec 14, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $1,447 158
140 Invisible Hands Nov 23, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $1,034 113
141 30 Years of Garbage: The Ga… Jul 28, 2017 Indican Pictures Not Rated $935 102
142 TVTV: Video Revolutionaries Oct 19, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $812 89
Total Gross of All Movies$106,722,788
Total Tickets Sold11,714,848

Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 2018. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 2018. 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.