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Documentary Movies Sorted by US Box Office Earnings Ascending

by Shoriful islam 02 February, 2023

The documentary movie genre has seen a surge in popularity over the last decade, with many films earning critical acclaim and large box office earnings. Now, it's easier than ever to explore the documentary movie list and find the best documentary movies according to US box office earnings. With this list of documentary movies sorted by US box office earnings ascending, you can quickly identify the top documentary movie list and view the best films in the genre. 

The list of documentary movies covers a wide range of topics and styles, from hard-hitting investigative journalism to in-depth historical biographies. Whether you’re looking for a riveting account of a major news event, a unique look at a fascinating culture, or an inspiring story of resilience and courage, these top documentary movie list has something for everyone. Each documentary movie on the list is sorted by its US box office earnings, so you can easily identify which films have been the most successful at the box office. 

Get the inside scoop on some of the most critically acclaimed documentaries ever made, and explore some of the lesser-known gems that have earned their place on the documentary movie list. Discover the stories behind the films, their production process, and the directors and subjects behind them. With this list of documentary movies sorted by US box office earnings ascending, you can quickly get an overview of the best documentary movies in the genre. 

1
7.9
The Colonial Parkway: The Foundation of Our Economy

The Colonial Parkway: The Foundation of Our Economy (2015)

21 January, 2015
0h 08min
Documentary
Short
History
DIRECTED BY
Michael Lemley
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Kaylee Boger Michael Lemley
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7.9
0
2
7.9
Amy's Organic Garden

Amy's Organic Garden (2015)

18 November, 2015
0h 05min
Documentary
Short
DIRECTED BY
Tim Felbinger Michael Lemley
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Tim Felbinger Michael Lemley
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7.9
0
3
6.5
Algorithms

Algorithms (2014)

07 November, 2014
1h 40min
Documentary
Sport
DIRECTED BY
Ian McDonald Geetha J
Country
India Greece Sweden Serbia and Montenegro
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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6.5
0
4
7.4
A People Uncounted

A People Uncounted (2011)

20 August, 2011
1h 39min
Documentary
History
Music
War
DIRECTED BY
Aaron Yeger
Country
Canada
LANGUAGE
English Romanian Czech Russian German Hungarian
WRITER
Aaron Yeger
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7.4
0
5
5.9
Gottfried Helnwein and the Dreaming Child

Gottfried Helnwein and the Dreaming Child (2011)

22 May, 2011
1h 10min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Lisa Kirk Colburn
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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5.9
0
6
6.2
Triumph of the Wall

Triumph of the Wall (2011)

12 November, 2011
2h 4min
Documentary
Adventure
Comedy
DIRECTED BY
Bill Stone
Country
Canada
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Bill Stone
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6.2
0
7
7.6
Love, Sweat and Tears

Love, Sweat and Tears (2016)

03 June, 2016
1h 21min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Scott Jacobs
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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7.6
0
8
7.2
The Comedians of Comedy

The Comedians of Comedy (2005)

12 March, 2005
1h 43min
Comedy
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Michael Blieden
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Maria Bamford Zach Galifianakis Patton Oswalt
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7.2
0
9
4.6
The Gospel According to Philip K. Dick

The Gospel According to Philip K. Dick (2001)

02 March, 2001
1h 20min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Mark Steensland
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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4.6
0
10
6.7
Nos enfants nous accuseront

Nos enfants nous accuseront (2008)

05 November, 2008
1h 47min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Country
France
LANGUAGE
French English
WRITER
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6.7
0
11
6.9
Yalom's Cure

Yalom's Cure (2014)

02 October, 2014
1h 17min
Documentary
Biography
DIRECTED BY
Sabine Gisiger
Country
Switzerland
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Sabine Gisiger
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6.9
0
12
7.4
Hallelujah! Ron Athey: A Story of Deliverance

Hallelujah! Ron Athey: A Story of Deliverance (1998)

11 December, 1998
1h 30min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Catherine Gund
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Catherine Gund
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7.4
0
13
7.3
El color de los olivos

El color de los olivos (2006)

08 March, 2006
1h 37min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Carolina Rivas
Country
Mexico Occupied Palestinian Territory
LANGUAGE
Arabic
WRITER
Carolina Rivas
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7.3
0
14
8
Monumental: David Brower's Fight for Wild America

Monumental: David Brower's Fight for Wild America (2004)

19 August, 2004
1h 28min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Kelly Duane
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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8
0
15
7.3
A Different American Dream

A Different American Dream (2016)

15 March, 2016
1h 24min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Simon Brook
Country
France United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Simon Brook Jane Wells
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7.3
0
16
6
This Is Not an Exit: The Fictional World of Bret Easton Ellis

This Is Not an Exit: The Fictional World of Bret Easton Ellis (1998)

23 August, 1998
1h 20min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Gerald Fox
Country
United Kingdom
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Bret Easton Ellis
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6
0
17
7.3
Extraordinary Ordinary People

Extraordinary Ordinary People (2017)

15 September, 2017
1h 24min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Alan Govenar
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Alan Govenar
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7.3
0
18
6.6
Au delà de la haine

Au delà de la haine (2007)

14 March, 2007
1h 26min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Olivier Meyrou
Country
France
LANGUAGE
French
WRITER
Olivier Meyrou
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6.6
0
19
7.8
Vietnam Long Time Coming

Vietnam Long Time Coming (1970)

01 January, 1970
2h 10min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Jerry Blumenthal Peter Gilbert Gordon Quinn
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
WRITER
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7.8
0
20
7
The Penguin Counters

The Penguin Counters (2017)

21 April, 2017
1h 7min
Documentary
Adventure
DIRECTED BY
Peter Getzels Harriet Gordon Getzels Erik Osterholm
Country
Argentina Antarctica United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Harriet Gordon Getzels
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7
0
21
Parallel Policy

Parallel Policy (2020)

20 December, 2020
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Shaune Bordere
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Shaune Bordere
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0
22
8.3
Invisible Hands

Invisible Hands (2018)

23 November, 2018
1h 20min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Shraysi Tandon
Country
Ghana China India Hong Kong Indonesia United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Chad Beck Shraysi Tandon
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8.3
0
23
7.9
More Than the Rainbow

More Than the Rainbow (1970)

01 January, 1970
1h 22min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Dan Wechsler
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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7.9
0
24
7.2
The Empire in Africa

The Empire in Africa (2006)

24 January, 2006
1h 27min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Philippe Diaz
Country
France United States
LANGUAGE
English French
WRITER
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7.2
0
25
6.8
We Are the Giant

We Are the Giant (2014)

07 November, 2014
1h 32min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Greg Barker
Country
United States United Kingdom
LANGUAGE
Arabic English
WRITER
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6.8
0
26
7.5
The Trials of Darryl Hunt

The Trials of Darryl Hunt (1970)

01 January, 1970
1h 46min
Documentary
Crime
DIRECTED BY
Ricki Stern Anne Sundberg
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Ricki Stern Anne Sundberg
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7.5
0
27
6.9
Heftig og begeistret

Heftig og begeistret (2001)

19 January, 2001
1h 44min
Documentary
Music
DIRECTED BY
Knut Erik Jensen
Country
Sweden Norway
LANGUAGE
Norwegian
WRITER
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6.9
0
28
7.4
The Other Man: F.W. de Klerk and the End of Apartheid

The Other Man: F.W. de Klerk and the End of Apartheid (2015)

06 February, 2015
1h 15min
Documentary
Biography
History
DIRECTED BY
Nicolas Rossier
Country
South Africa United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Nicolas Rossier
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7.4
0
29
7
On the Rhumba River

On the Rhumba River (2008)

14 May, 2008
1h 22min
Documentary
Music
DIRECTED BY
Jacques Sarasin
Country
France
LANGUAGE
Lingala
WRITER
Jacques Sarasin
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7
0
30
7
Hell's Highway: The True Story of Highway Safety Films

Hell's Highway: The True Story of Highway Safety Films (2003)

27 June, 2003
1h 31min
Documentary
History
DIRECTED BY
Bret Wood
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Bret Wood
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7
0
31
7.5
It's Not Yet Dark

It's Not Yet Dark (2017)

13 October, 2017
1h 21min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Frankie Fenton
Country
Ireland
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Simon Fitzmaurice
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7.5
0
32
5.9
You Don't Need Feet to Dance

You Don't Need Feet to Dance (2013)

22 March, 2013
1h 28min
Documentary
Biography
Drama
Music
DIRECTED BY
Alan Govenar
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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5.9
0
33
7.7
Proteus: A Nineteenth Century Vision

Proteus: A Nineteenth Century Vision (1970)

01 January, 1970
1h 37min
Documentary
Animation
History
DIRECTED BY
David Lebrun
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
David Lebrun
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7.7
0
34
7.5
America Betrayed

America Betrayed (2008)

04 September, 2008
1h 35min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Leslie Carde
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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7.5
0
35
7.5
You're Gonna Miss Me

You're Gonna Miss Me (2005)

15 March, 2005
1h 31min
Documentary
Music
DIRECTED BY
Keven McAlester
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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7.5
0
36
7.3
The Execution of Wanda Jean

The Execution of Wanda Jean (1970)

01 January, 1970
1h 28min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Liz Garbus
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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7.3
0
37
6.5
Bestiaire

Bestiaire (2013)

27 February, 2013
1h 12min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Denis Côté
Country
Canada France
LANGUAGE
None
WRITER
Denis Côté
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6.5
0
38
6.9
That Way Madness Lies...

That Way Madness Lies... (2018)

14 December, 2018
1h 41min
Documentary
Drama
DIRECTED BY
Sandra Luckow
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Anne Alvergue Sandra Luckow
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6.9
0
39
7.6
Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race & America

Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race & America (2017)

23 February, 2017
1h 36min
Documentary
Biography
History
DIRECTED BY
Matthew Ornstein
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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7.6
0
40
7.6
Split Decision

Split Decision (2000)

01 May, 2000
1h 15min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Marcy Garriott
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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7.6
0
41
8.4
Raw Faith

Raw Faith (2011)

24 June, 2011
1h 34min
Documentary
Biography
Drama
Family
DIRECTED BY
Wm. Peter Wiedensmith
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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8.4
0
42
5.1
Making Grace

Making Grace (2005)

22 July, 2005
1h 27min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Catherine Gund
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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5.1
0
43
Souldier

Souldier (2014)

21 February, 2014
1h 12min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Paul Dagostino Russ Littlefield
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Russ Littlefield
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0
44
8
Monterey Pop

Monterey Pop (1969)

23 April, 1969
1h 18min
Documentary
History
Music
DIRECTED BY
D.A. Pennebaker
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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8
0
45
6.4
Best and Most Beautiful Things

Best and Most Beautiful Things (2016)

02 December, 2016
1h 30min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Garrett Zevgetis
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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6.4
0
46
4.4
The Big Question

The Big Question (2004)

08 November, 2004
1h 16min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Francesco Cabras Alberto Molinari
Country
Italy
LANGUAGE
English Italian
WRITER
Francesco Cabras Alberto Molinari
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4.4
0
47
7.1
Patagonia Rising

Patagonia Rising (1970)

01 January, 1970
1h 25min
Documentary
Adventure
Western
DIRECTED BY
Brian Lilla
Country
Chile United States
LANGUAGE
Spanish
WRITER
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7.1
0
48
6.4
The Weird World of Blowfly

The Weird World of Blowfly (2011)

16 September, 2011
1h 29min
Documentary
Biography
Music
DIRECTED BY
Jonathan Furmanski
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
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6.4
0
49
3.8
The Lost Village

The Lost Village (2018)

19 October, 2018
1h 29min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Roger Paradiso
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
WRITER
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3.8
0
50
7.4
Sólskinsdrengurinn

Sólskinsdrengurinn (2009)

09 January, 2009
1h 43min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Friðrik Þór Friðriksson
Country
Iceland
LANGUAGE
English Icelandic
WRITER
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7.4
0
51
7.3
Up for Grabs

Up for Grabs (2007)

30 June, 2007
1h 30min
Comedy
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Michael Wranovics
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
Michael Wranovics
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7.3
0
52
7.5
Among the Believers

Among the Believers (2015)

11 December, 2015
1h 24min
Documentary
Biography
News
War
DIRECTED BY
Mohammed Ali Naqvi Hemal Trivedi
Country
Pakistan United States
LANGUAGE
English Urdu
WRITER
Jonathan Goodman Levitt
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7.5
0
53
6.4
Sneakerheadz

Sneakerheadz (2015)

07 August, 2015
1h 13min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
David T. Friendly Mick Partridge
Country
United States
LANGUAGE
English
WRITER
David T. Friendly
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6.4
0
54
6.7
West of the Jordan River

West of the Jordan River (2017)

11 October, 2017
1h 24min
Documentary
DIRECTED BY
Amos Gitai
Country
France Israel
LANGUAGE
English Arabic Hebrew
WRITER
Amos Gitai
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6.7
0
55
5.7
Jihadists

Jihadists (2016)