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 Under the Sea 3D Feb 13, 2009 Warner Bros. G $333,495 36,608
30 Science Fair Sep 14, 2018 National Geograph… PG $278,350 30,554
31 The King Jun 22, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… R $259,291 28,462
32 Generation Wealth Jul 20, 2018 Amazon Studios R $237,709 26,093
33 Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. Sep 28, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $230,808 25,335
34 Island of Lemurs: Madagascar Apr 4, 2014 Warner Bros. G $224,252 24,616
35 Jane Oct 20, 2017 Abramorama Films PG $220,790 24,236
36 Dark Money Jul 13, 2018 PBS Distribution Not Rated $217,932 23,922
37 The Final Year Jan 19, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $191,900 21,064
38 Studio 54 Oct 5, 2018 Zeitgeist Not Rated $190,412 20,901
39 Owarani hito Miyazaki: Hayao Dec 13, 2018 GKIDS Not Rated $186,944 20,520
40 Born to be Wild 3D Apr 8, 2011 Warner Bros. G $184,248 20,225
41 Always at the Carlyle May 11, 2018 Good Deed Enterta… PG-13 $174,251 19,127
42 Boom for Real: The Late Tee… May 11, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $166,616 18,289
43 Far From the Tree Jul 20, 2018 Sundance Selects Not Rated $165,756 18,195
44 Eating Animals Jun 15, 2018 Sundance Selects Not Rated $149,384 16,398
45 Bad Reputation Sep 28, 2018 Magnolia Pictures R $148,568 16,308
46 The Great Buster Oct 5, 2018 Cohen Media Group Not Rated $144,199 15,828
47 The World Before Your Feet Nov 21, 2018 Greenwich Not Rated $142,789 15,673
48 Bisbee ‘17 Sep 5, 2018 4th Row Films Not Rated $117,470 12,894
49 Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda Jul 6, 2018 MUBI Not Rated $117,460 12,893
50 ‘85 The Greatest Team in Fo… Jan 29, 2018 Fathom Events Not Rated $115,463 12,674
51 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Warner Bros. G $108,865 11,950
52 Love, Cecil Jun 29, 2018 Zeitgeist Not Rated $106,057 11,641
53 Filmworker May 11, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $99,593 10,932
54 L’empire de la perfection Aug 22, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $90,964 9,985
55 The Price of Everything Oct 19, 2018 HBO Documentary F… Not Rated $87,400 9,593
56 93Queen Jul 25, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $76,056 8,348
57 Chef Flynn Nov 9, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $67,686 7,429
58 The Doctor From India Apr 20, 2018 Zeitgeist Not Rated $67,136 7,369
59 3100: Run and Become Aug 17, 2018 Illumine Films Not Rated $65,524 7,192
60 Beuys Jan 17, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $65,410 7,180
61 The Gardener Mar 30, 2018 Gravitas Ventures Not Rated $62,734 6,886
62 Monrovia, Indiana Oct 26, 2018 Zipporah Not Rated $61,737 6,776
63 Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist Jun 8, 2018 Greenwich Not Rated $58,799 6,454
64 In Search of Greatness Nov 2, 2018 Self Distributed PG-13 $58,090 6,376
65 Ramen Heads Mar 16, 2018 Gunpowder & Sky Not Rated $57,346 6,294
66 Django Jan 5, 2018 Under the Milky Way Not Rated $56,556 6,208
67 Garry Winogrand: All Things… Sep 19, 2018 Greenwich Not Rated $51,194 5,619
68 The China Hustle Mar 30, 2018 Magnolia Pictures R $48,650 5,340
69 Big Sonia Nov 17, 2017 Argot Pictures Not Rated $46,704 5,126
70 Hal Sep 7, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $45,889 5,037
71 Summer in the Forest Mar 23, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $45,542 4,999
72 Wait For Your Laugh Nov 3, 2017 Vitagraph Films Not Rated $45,037 4,943
73 Hitler’s Hollywood Apr 11, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $43,766 4,804
74 Antonio Lopez 1970: Sex Fas… Sep 14, 2018 Film Movement Not Rated $43,169 4,738
75 Hale County This Morning, T… Sep 14, 2018 Cinema Guild Not Rated $40,333 4,427
76 Divide and Conquer: The Sto… Dec 7, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $38,036 4,175
77 The Heart of Nuba Apr 6, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $37,880 4,158
78 The Road Movie Jan 19, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $35,757 3,925
79 Liyana Oct 10, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $34,822 3,822
80 That Summer May 18, 2018 Sundance Selects Not Rated $34,556 3,793
81 Ingmar Bergman: Vermächtnis… Nov 2, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $33,275 3,652
82 Moynihan Oct 3, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $31,971 3,509
83 Saving Brinton Sep 22, 2017 Barn Owl Not Rated $31,630 3,472
84 Charm City Oct 12, 2018 PBS Distribution Not Rated $29,335 3,220
85 Horn From the Heart: The Pa… Oct 17, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $28,418 3,119
86 On Her Shoulders Oct 19, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $28,288 3,105
87 Milford Graves: Full Mantis Jul 13, 2018 Cinema Guild Not Rated $26,443 2,902
88 The Atomic Cafe Mar 17, 1982 Libra Films Not Rated $22,293 2,447
89 The Judge Apr 13, 2018 Idle Wild Films Not Rated $22,257 2,443
90 Half the Picture Jun 8, 2018 Gravitas Ventures Not Rated $21,595 2,370
91 The Last Resort Dec 21, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $20,789 2,281
92 The Devil and Father Amorth Apr 20, 2018 The Orchard Not Rated $20,449 2,244
93 Active Measures Aug 31, 2018 Super LTD PG-13 $19,862 2,180
94 Crime + Punishment Aug 24, 2018 IFC Films Not Rated $18,644 2,047
95 306 Hollywood Sep 28, 2018 El Tigre Productions Not Rated $18,399 2,019
96 Quest Dec 1, 2017 First Run Features Not Rated $18,216 1,999
97 People’s Republic of Desire Nov 30, 2018 Tripod Media Not Rated $15,241 1,672
98 Weed the People Oct 26, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $14,419 1,582
99 Narcissister Organ Player Nov 7, 2018 Film Movement Not Rated $14,319 1,571
100 Our Blood is Wine Mar 9, 2018 Music Box Films Not Rated $13,348 1,465
101 American Socialist: The Lif… Mar 2, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $12,610 1,384
102 The Most Unknown May 18, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $12,119 1,330
103 Ex Libris: The New York Pub… Sep 15, 2017 Zipporah Not Rated $12,008 1,318
104 Minding the Gap Aug 17, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $11,998 1,317
105 The Last Race Nov 16, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $11,947 1,311
106 The Public Image is Rotten Sep 14, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $11,293 1,239
107 The Advocates Oct 19, 2018 Cinema Libre Not Rated $10,402 1,141
108 Mama Africa Jan 19, 2018 ArtMattan Films Not Rated $9,808 1,076
109 La quête d’Alain Ducasse Jun 8, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $9,627 1,056
110 Strangers on the Earth May 4, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $9,518 1,044
111 El Mar La Mar Feb 23, 2018 Cinema Guild Not Rated $9,065 995
112 American Chaos Sep 14, 2018 Sony Pictures Cla… R $7,616 836
113 This is Congo Jun 29, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $7,051 773
114 In the Land of Pomegranates Jan 5, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $7,014 769
115 Kinder des Kalifats Nov 16, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $6,936 761
116 Calling All Earthlings Jun 29, 2018 Carpe Stella Not Rated $6,756 741
117 Okujirasama: Futatsu no sei… Aug 17, 2018 Fine Line Not Rated $6,747 740
118 Spiral Jun 22, 2018 Cohen Media Group Not Rated $6,279 689
119 Bill Nye: Science Guy Oct 27, 2017 PBS Distribution Not Rated $5,651 620
120 Dolores Sep 1, 2017 PBS Distribution Not Rated $5,638 618
121 Shoah Four Sisters Nov 14, 2018 Cohen Media Group Not Rated $5,512 605
122 Cuban Food Stories Aug 10, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $5,434 596
123 Chavela Oct 4, 2017 Music Box Films Not Rated $5,212 572
124 Kangaroo Jan 19, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $4,547 499
125 Brimstone & Glory Oct 27, 2017 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $4,036 443
126 Under the Wire Nov 16, 2018 Abramorama Films R $3,429 376
127 The Cage Fighter Feb 2, 2018 IFC Films Not Rated $3,267 359
128 Over the Limit Oct 3, 2018 Film Movement Not Rated $3,243 355
129 Hot to Trot Aug 24, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $3,133 343
130 Aida’s Secrets Oct 20, 2017 Music Box Films Not Rated $3,082 338
131 Nana Apr 13, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $2,784 305
132 The Paris Opera Oct 18, 2017 Film Movement Not Rated $2,766 303
133 Straight Into a Storm Jun 15, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $2,684 294
134 12 jours Mar 16, 2018 Distrib Films Not Rated $2,633 289
135 ACORN and the Firestorm Apr 6, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $2,621 287
136 Shadowman Dec 1, 2017 Film Movement Not Rated $2,356 258
137 Frank Serpico Nov 1, 2017 IFC Films Not Rated $2,214 243
138 West of the Jordan River Jan 26, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $1,926 211
139 The Lost Village Oct 19, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $1,780 195
140 Rat Film Sep 15, 2017 Cinema Guild Not Rated $1,627 178
141 That Way Madness Lies Dec 14, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $1,447 158
142 Invisible Hands Nov 23, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $1,034 113
143 30 Years of Garbage: The Ga… Jul 28, 2017 Indican Pictures Not Rated $935 102
144 TVTV: Video Revolutionaries Oct 19, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $812 89
Total Gross of All Movies$107,165,148
Total Tickets Sold11,763,406

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.