Market Charts > 2018 > Genres > Documentary

Domestic 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 1,352,453
4 Free Solo Sep 28, 2018 Greenwich PG-13 $11,240,569 1,233,871
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 $3,026,558 332,224
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 $1,213,419 133,196
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 79,758
16 Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr … Nov 24, 2017 Zeitgeist Not Rated $664,289 72,919
17 Love, Gilda Sep 21, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $626,318 68,751
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 Not Rated $409,521 44,953
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 43,966
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 25,336
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 21,065
38 Studio 54 Oct 5, 2018 Zeitgeist Not Rated $190,412 20,901
39 Owarani hito Miyazaki: Hayao Dec 13, 2018 GKIDS Not Rated $185,871 20,403
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 15,829
47 Bisbee ‘17 Sep 5, 2018 4th Row Films Not Rated $117,470 12,895
48 Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda Jul 6, 2018 MUBI Not Rated $117,460 12,894
49 ‘85 The Greatest Team in Fo… Jan 29, 2018 Fathom Events Not Rated $115,463 12,674
50 The World Before Your Feet Nov 21, 2018 Greenwich Not Rated $111,823 12,275
51 Amazing Grace Apr 5, 2019 Neon G $111,389 12,227
52 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Warner Bros. G $108,865 11,950
53 Love, Cecil Jun 29, 2018 Zeitgeist Not Rated $106,057 11,642
54 Filmworker May 11, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $99,593 10,932
55 L’empire de la perfection Aug 22, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $90,964 9,985
56 The Price of Everything Oct 19, 2018 HBO Documentary F… Not Rated $87,400 9,594
57 93Queen Jul 25, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $76,056 8,349
58 The Doctor From India Apr 20, 2018 Zeitgeist Not Rated $67,136 7,369
59 Chef Flynn Nov 9, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $66,140 7,260
60 3100: Run and Become Aug 17, 2018 Illumine Films Not Rated $65,524 7,193
61 Beuys Jan 17, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $65,410 7,180
62 The Gardener Mar 30, 2018 Gravitas Ventures Not Rated $62,734 6,886
63 Monrovia, Indiana Oct 26, 2018 Zipporah Not Rated $61,737 6,777
64 Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist Jun 8, 2018 Greenwich Not Rated $58,799 6,454
65 In Search of Greatness Nov 2, 2018 Self Distributed PG-13 $58,090 6,377
66 Ramen Heads Mar 16, 2018 Gunpowder & Sky Not Rated $57,346 6,295
67 Django Jan 5, 2018 Under the Milky Way Not Rated $56,556 6,208
68 Garry Winogrand: All Things… Sep 19, 2018 Greenwich Not Rated $51,194 5,620
69 The China Hustle Mar 30, 2018 Magnolia Pictures R $48,650 5,340
70 Big Sonia Nov 17, 2017 Argot Pictures Not Rated $46,704 5,127
71 Hal Sep 7, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $45,889 5,037
72 Summer in the Forest Mar 23, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $45,542 4,999
73 Wait For Your Laugh Nov 3, 2017 Vitagraph Films Not Rated $45,037 4,944
74 Hitler’s Hollywood Apr 11, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $43,766 4,804
75 Antonio Lopez 1970: Sex Fas… Sep 14, 2018 Film Movement Not Rated $43,169 4,739
76 The Heart of Nuba Apr 6, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $37,880 4,158
77 Hale County This Morning, T… Sep 14, 2018 Cinema Guild Not Rated $37,374 4,103
78 Divide and Conquer: The Sto… Dec 7, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $36,697 4,028
79 The Road Movie Jan 19, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $35,757 3,925
80 That Summer May 18, 2018 Sundance Selects Not Rated $34,556 3,793
81 Liyana Oct 10, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $34,202 3,754
82 Ingmar Bergman: Vermächtnis… Nov 2, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $33,275 3,653
83 Moynihan Oct 3, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $31,971 3,509
84 Saving Brinton Sep 22, 2017 Barn Owl Not Rated $31,630 3,472
85 Charm City Oct 12, 2018 PBS Distribution Not Rated $29,335 3,220
86 Horn From the Heart: The Pa… Oct 17, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $28,418 3,119
87 On Her Shoulders Oct 19, 2018 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $28,288 3,105
88 Milford Graves: Full Mantis Jul 13, 2018 Cinema Guild Not Rated $26,443 2,903
89 The Atomic Cafe Mar 17, 1982 Kino Lorber Not Rated $22,293 2,447
90 The Judge Apr 13, 2018 Idle Wild Films Not Rated $22,257 2,443
91 Half the Picture Jun 8, 2018 Gravitas Ventures Not Rated $21,595 2,370
92 The Devil and Father Amorth Apr 20, 2018 The Orchard Not Rated $20,449 2,245
93 Active Measures Aug 31, 2018 Super LTD PG-13 $19,862 2,180
94 To the Arctic 3D Apr 20, 2012 Warner Bros. G $19,351 2,124
95 Crime + Punishment Aug 24, 2018 IFC Films Not Rated $18,644 2,047
96 306 Hollywood Sep 28, 2018 El Tigre Productions Not Rated $18,399 2,020
97 Quest Dec 1, 2017 First Run Features Not Rated $18,216 2,000
98 The Last Resort Dec 21, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $17,572 1,929
99 People’s Republic of Desire Nov 30, 2018 Tripod Media Not Rated $15,241 1,673
100 Weed the People Oct 26, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $14,419 1,583
101 Narcissister Organ Player Nov 7, 2018 Film Movement Not Rated $14,319 1,572
102 Our Blood is Wine Mar 9, 2018 Music Box Films Not Rated $13,348 1,465
103 American Socialist: The Lif… Mar 2, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $12,610 1,384
104 The Most Unknown May 18, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $12,119 1,330
105 Ex Libris: The New York Pub… Sep 15, 2017 Zipporah Not Rated $12,008 1,318
106 Minding the Gap Aug 17, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $11,998 1,317
107 The Last Race Nov 16, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $11,947 1,311
108 The Public Image is Rotten Sep 14, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $11,293 1,240
109 The Advocates Oct 19, 2018 Cinema Libre Not Rated $10,402 1,142
110 Mama Africa Jan 19, 2018 ArtMattan Films Not Rated $9,808 1,077
111 La quête d’Alain Ducasse Jun 8, 2018 Magnolia Pictures Not Rated $9,627 1,057
112 Strangers on the Earth May 4, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $9,518 1,045
113 El Mar La Mar Feb 23, 2018 Cinema Guild Not Rated $9,065 995
114 American Chaos Sep 14, 2018 Sony Pictures Cla… R $7,616 836
115 This is Congo Jun 29, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $7,051 774
116 In the Land of Pomegranates Jan 5, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $7,014 770
117 Calling All Earthlings Jun 29, 2018 Carpe Stella Not Rated $6,756 742
118 Okujirasama: Futatsu no sei… Aug 17, 2018 Fine Line Not Rated $6,747 741
119 Kinder des Kalifats Nov 16, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $6,461 709
120 Spiral Jun 22, 2018 Cohen Media Group Not Rated $6,279 689
121 Dolores Sep 1, 2017 PBS Distribution Not Rated $5,638 619
122 Shoah Four Sisters Nov 14, 2018 Cohen Media Group Not Rated $5,512 605
123 Cuban Food Stories Aug 10, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $5,434 596
124 Chavela Oct 4, 2017 Music Box Films Not Rated $5,212 572
125 Kangaroo Jan 19, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $4,547 499
126 Bill Nye: Science Guy Oct 27, 2017 PBS Distribution Not Rated $4,462 490
127 Brimstone & Glory Oct 27, 2017 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $4,036 443
128 Under the Wire Nov 16, 2018 Abramorama Films R $3,429 376
129 The Cage Fighter Feb 2, 2018 IFC Films Not Rated $3,267 359
130 Over the Limit Oct 3, 2018 Film Movement Not Rated $3,174 348
131 Hot to Trot Aug 24, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $3,133 344
132 Aida’s Secrets Oct 20, 2017 Music Box Films Not Rated $2,828 310
133 Nana Apr 13, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $2,784 306
134 The Paris Opera Oct 18, 2017 Film Movement Not Rated $2,766 304
135 Straight Into a Storm Jun 15, 2018 Abramorama Films Not Rated $2,684 295
136 12 jours Mar 16, 2018 Distrib Films Not Rated $2,633 289
137 ACORN and the Firestorm Apr 6, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $2,621 288
138 Shadowman Dec 1, 2017 Film Movement Not Rated $2,356 259
139 Frank Serpico Nov 1, 2017 IFC Films Not Rated $2,214 243
140 West of the Jordan River Jan 26, 2018 Kino Lorber Not Rated $1,926 211
141 The Lost Village Oct 19, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $1,780 195
142 Rat Film Sep 15, 2017 Cinema Guild Not Rated $1,627 179
143 That Way Madness Lies Dec 14, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $1,447 159
144 Invisible Hands Nov 23, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $1,034 114
145 30 Years of Garbage: The Ga… Jul 28, 2017 Indican Pictures Not Rated $935 103
146 TVTV: Video Revolutionaries Oct 19, 2018 First Run Features Not Rated $812 89
Total Gross of All Movies$107,024,195
Total Tickets Sold11,747,990

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.