Market Charts > 2012 > Creative Types > Factual

Box Office Performance for Factual Movies in 2012

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RankMovieRelease
Date
GenreMPAA
Rating
2012 GrossTickets Sold
1 2016: Obama’s America Jul 13, 2012 Documentary PG $33,349,941 4,189,691
2 Chimpanzee Apr 20, 2012 Documentary G $28,965,459 3,638,876
3 Katy Perry: Part of Me Jul 5, 2012 Concert/Perfor… PG $25,326,071 3,181,667
4 Born to be Wild 3D Apr 8, 2011 Documentary G $17,203,348 2,161,224
5 To the Arctic 3D Apr 20, 2012 Documentary G $15,183,579 1,907,484
6 Hubble 3D Mar 19, 2010 Documentary G $5,557,365 698,161
7 Flying Monsters 3D Oct 6, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $4,176,870 524,732
8 Pina Jan 20, 2012 Documentary PG $3,520,458 442,268
9 Bully Mar 30, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $3,483,795 437,662
10 Nitro Circus: The Movie 3D Aug 8, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $3,377,000 424,246
11 Searching for Sugar Man Jul 27, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $3,058,667 384,254
12 Samsara Aug 24, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $2,639,616 331,610
13 Jiro Dreams of Sushi Mar 9, 2012 Documentary PG $2,552,478 320,663
14 The Queen of Versailles Jul 20, 2012 Documentary PG $2,401,999 301,758
15 Under the Sea 3D Feb 13, 2009 Documentary G $2,272,907 285,541
16 Space Station Apr 19, 2002 Documentary Not Rated $2,084,978 261,931
17 Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Pr… May 28, 2010 Documentary Not Rated $1,631,522 204,965
18 Marley Apr 20, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $1,413,480 177,572
19 Air Racers 3D Apr 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,309,987 164,571
20 Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has… Sep 21, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $963,138 120,997
21 First Position May 4, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $908,235 114,099
22 The Imposter Jul 13, 2012 Documentary R $901,954 113,310
23 Bill W. May 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $768,518 96,547
24 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Documentary G $722,464 90,761
25 Chasing Ice Nov 16, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $612,089 76,895
26 Undefeated Feb 17, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $561,054 70,484
27 Shut Up and Play the Hits Jul 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $510,334 64,112
28 Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry Jul 27, 2012 Documentary R $489,074 61,441
29 The Flat Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $467,022 58,671
30 Burn Jul 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $416,151 52,280
31 Detropia Sep 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $377,219 47,389
32 Whores’ Glory Apr 27, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $306,151 38,461
33 Something From Nothing: The… Jun 15, 2012 Documentary R $288,738 36,273
34 The Central Park Five Nov 23, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $273,747 34,390
35 Gerhard Richter Painting Mar 14, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $242,646 30,483
36 Stories We Tell Oct 12, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $241,629 30,355
37 Neil Young Journeys Jun 29, 2012 Concert/Perfor… PG $214,588 26,958
38 Brooklyn Castle Oct 19, 2012 Documentary PG $198,664 24,957
39 Somewhere Between Aug 24, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $182,784 22,962
40 The House I Live In Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $181,782 22,836
41 The Waiting Room Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $176,277 22,145
42 Crazy Horse Jan 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $154,691 19,433
43 Hecho en México Nov 30, 2012 Documentary R $151,133 18,986
44 The Other Dream Team Sep 28, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $134,109 16,847
45 Kumaré Jun 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $131,909 16,571
46 How to Survive a Plague Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $123,814 15,554
47 Follow Me: The Yoni Netanya… May 4, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $112,679 14,155
48 Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview Nov 16, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $105,710 13,280
49 Wild Horse, Wild Ride Aug 24, 2012 Documentary PG $94,621 11,887
50 Escape Fire: The Fight to R… Oct 5, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $86,810 10,905
51 Marina Abramovic: The Artis… Jun 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $86,637 10,884
52 Hating Breitbart Oct 19, 2012 Documentary R $81,432 10,230
53 5 Broken Cameras May 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $75,607 9,498
54 The Island President Mar 28, 2012 Documentary PG $75,233 9,451
55 Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's J… Oct 21, 2011 Documentary PG $66,852 8,398
56 Never Stand Still May 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $63,811 8,016
57 Payback Mar 16, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $59,736 7,504
58 Side by Side Aug 17, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $58,825 7,390
59 The Invisible War Jun 22, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $58,492 7,348
60 Surviving Progress Apr 6, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $53,953 6,778
61 Beware of Mr. Baker Nov 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $53,371 6,704
62 Occupy Unmasked Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $52,768 6,629
63 An Inconsistent Truth Jan 27, 2012 Documentary PG $52,756 6,627
64 Runaway Slave Jul 6, 2012 Documentary PG $47,813 6,006
65 Sing Your Song Jan 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $47,718 5,994
66 The Pruitt-Igoe Myth Jan 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $44,883 5,638
67 Ballplayer: Pelotero Jul 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $44,689 5,614
68 OC87 May 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $43,583 5,475
69 Crazy Wisdom Nov 25, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $42,841 5,382
70 My Reincarnation Oct 28, 2011 Documentary R $41,080 5,160
71 El Bulli: Cooking in Progress Jul 27, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $41,054 5,157
72 Last Call at the Oasis May 4, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $40,846 5,131
73 West of Memphis Dec 25, 2012 Documentary R $39,159 4,919
74 Paul Williams Still Alive Jun 1, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $38,691 4,860
75 Death by China Aug 17, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $38,492 4,835
76 In Film Nist Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $37,706 4,736
77 Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan… Apr 6, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $34,665 4,354
78 Hit So Hard Apr 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $34,025 4,274
79 Gregory Crewdson: Brief Enc… Nov 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $33,902 4,259
80 Addiction Incorporated Dec 14, 2011 Documentary PG-13 $33,664 4,229
81 District of Corruption Oct 26, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $31,954 4,014
82 Flamenco, Flamenco Nov 18, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $29,435 3,697
83 Ouwehoeren Aug 8, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $29,357 3,688
84 Wagner & Me Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $29,187 3,666
85 You've Been Trumped Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $28,450 3,574
86 Pink Ribbons, Inc. Jun 1, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $26,608 3,342
87 Orchestra of Exiles Oct 26, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $24,710 3,104
88 Otter 501 May 11, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $24,449 3,071
89 Lost Bohemia May 20, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $23,584 2,962
90 Hellbound? Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $22,887 2,875
91 56 Up Jan 4, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $22,088 2,774
92 Girl Model Sep 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $21,154 2,657
93 Carol Channing: Larger Than… Jan 20, 2012 Documentary PG $20,370 2,559
94 Better Than Something: Jay … Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $20,327 2,553
95 Galapagos Oct 29, 1999 Documentary Not Rated $20,198 2,537
96 The Whale Sep 9, 2011 Documentary G $20,092 2,524
97 Radio Unnameable Sep 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $19,676 2,471
98 Magnificent Desolation Sep 23, 2005 Documentary Not Rated $19,662 2,470
99 Waiting for Lightning Dec 7, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $19,537 2,454
100 How to Grow a Band Apr 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $19,237 2,416
101 Chely Wright: Wish Me Away Jun 1, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $18,618 2,338
102 The Revisionaries Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $18,509 2,325
103 Mansome May 18, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $18,395 2,310
104 Inventing Our Life: The Kib… Apr 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $16,734 2,102
105 Head Games Sep 21, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $14,056 1,765
106 Eames: The Architect and th… Nov 18, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $13,275 1,667
107 How Much Does Your Building… Jan 25, 2012 Drama Not Rated $13,013 1,634
108 The End of Time Nov 29, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $12,835 1,612
109 The Man Nobody Knew: In Sea… Sep 23, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $12,454 1,564
110 Khodorkovsky Nov 30, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $11,804 1,482
111 Paul Goodman Changed My Life Oct 19, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $11,036 1,386
112 China Heavyweight Jul 6, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $10,550 1,325
113 Tchoupitoulas Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $10,431 1,310
114 Ultrasuede: In Search of Ha… Jan 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $10,357 1,301
115 Happy People: A Year in the… Dec 9, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $9,523 1,196
116 When the Iron Bird Flies Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $9,175 1,152
117 Putin's Kiss Feb 17, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $9,144 1,148
118 Decoding Deepak Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $9,050 1,136
119 Drei Sterne - Die Koche und… Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $8,942 1,123
120 Man on a Mission Jan 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $8,688 1,091
121 Photographic Memory Oct 12, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $7,711 968
122 Last Days Here Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $7,643 960
123 Bel Borba Aqui Oct 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $7,426 932
124 Only the Young Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $7,138 896
125 Meine Familie, die Nazis un… Nov 16, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $6,923 869
126 Charlotte Rampling: The Look Nov 4, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $6,817 856
127 Over Your Cities Grass Will… Aug 10, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $6,762 849
128 Dreams of a Life Aug 10, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $6,559 823
129 Windfall Feb 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $6,504 817
130 The Beat Hotel Mar 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $6,480 814
131 Inni Sep 27, 2011 Concert/Perfor… Not Rated $6,440 809
132 Garbo: El espía Nov 18, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $6,330 795
133 Hell and Back Again Oct 5, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $5,997 753
134 Booker's Place: A Mississip… Apr 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $5,549 697
135 Autobiografia lui Nicolae C… Sep 9, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $5,333 669
136 Sushi: The Global Catch Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,583 575
137 Art is...The Permanent Revo… Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,291 539
138 The Loving Story Dec 10, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,218 529
139 Granito: How to Nail a Dict… Sep 14, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $3,988 501
140 Free Radicals: A History of… Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $3,689 463
141 Yangsi Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $3,685 462
142 Jane's Journey Sep 16, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $3,507 440
143 Let Fury Have the Hour Dec 14, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $3,386 425
144 The Swell Season Oct 7, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $3,178 399
145 Pianomania May 27, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $2,524 317
146 Patagonia Rising Jun 8, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $2,064 259
147 Planet of Snail Jul 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $2,011 252
148 American Teacher Sep 30, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $2,004 251
149 Bestiaire Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,428 179
150 Fightville Apr 6, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,333 167
151 Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet Dec 14, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,294 162
152 Gottfried Helnwein and the … Nov 23, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $601 75
Total Gross of All Movies$173,000,485
Total Tickets Sold21,733,657

Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 2012. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 2012. 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.