Market Charts > 2012 > Genres > Documentary

Box Office Performance for Documentary Movies in 2012

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RankMovieRelease
Date		 Theatrical
Distributor		MPAA
Rating		2012 GrossTickets Sold
1 2016: Obama’s America Jul 13, 2012 Rocky Mountain Pi… PG $33,349,941 4,189,691
2 Chimpanzee Apr 20, 2012 Walt Disney G $28,965,459 3,638,876
3 Born to be Wild 3D Apr 8, 2011 Warner Bros. G $17,203,348 2,161,224
4 To the Arctic 3D Apr 20, 2012 Warner Bros. G $15,183,579 1,907,484
5 Hubble 3D Mar 19, 2010 Warner Bros. G $5,557,365 698,161
6 Flying Monsters 3D Oct 6, 2011 National Geograph… Not Rated $4,176,870 524,732
7 Pina Jan 20, 2012 IFC Films PG $3,520,458 442,268
8 Bully Mar 30, 2012 Weinstein Co. PG-13 $3,483,795 437,662
9 Searching for Sugar Man Jul 27, 2012 Sony Pictures Cla… PG-13 $3,058,667 384,254
10 Samsara Aug 24, 2012 Oscilloscope Pict… PG-13 $2,639,616 331,610
11 Jiro Dreams of Sushi Mar 9, 2012 Magnolia Pictures PG $2,552,478 320,663
12 The Queen of Versailles Jul 20, 2012 Magnolia Pictures PG $2,401,999 301,758
13 Under the Sea 3D Feb 13, 2009 Warner Bros. G $2,272,907 285,541
14 Space Station Apr 19, 2002 IMAX Films Not Rated $2,084,978 261,931
15 Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Pr… May 28, 2010 3D Entertainment Not Rated $1,631,522 204,965
16 Marley Apr 20, 2012 Magnolia Pictures PG-13 $1,413,480 177,572
17 Air Racers 3D Apr 5, 2012 3D Entertainment Not Rated $1,309,987 164,571
18 Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has… Sep 21, 2012 Samuel Goldwyn Films PG-13 $963,138 120,997
19 First Position May 4, 2012 IFC Films Not Rated $908,235 114,099
20 The Imposter Jul 13, 2012 Indomina Releasing R $901,954 113,310
21 Bill W. May 18, 2012 Page 124 Productions Not Rated $768,518 96,547
22 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Warner Bros. G $722,464 90,761
23 Chasing Ice Nov 16, 2012 National Geograph… PG-13 $612,089 76,895
24 Undefeated Feb 17, 2012 Weinstein Co. PG-13 $561,054 70,484
25 Shut Up and Play the Hits Jul 18, 2012 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $510,334 64,112
26 Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry Jul 27, 2012 IFC Films R $489,074 61,441
27 The Flat Oct 19, 2012 IFC Films Not Rated $467,022 58,671
28 Burn Jul 20, 2012 Callbox, LLC Not Rated $416,151 52,280
29 Detropia Sep 7, 2012 Loki Films Not Rated $377,219 47,389
30 Whores’ Glory Apr 27, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $306,151 38,461
31 Something From Nothing: The… Jun 15, 2012 Indomina Releasing R $288,738 36,273
32 The Central Park Five Nov 23, 2012 IFC Films Not Rated $273,747 34,390
33 Gerhard Richter Painting Mar 14, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $242,646 30,483
34 Stories We Tell Oct 12, 2012 Mongrel Media PG-13 $241,629 30,355
35 Brooklyn Castle Oct 19, 2012 Producers Distrib… PG $198,664 24,957
36 Somewhere Between Aug 24, 2012 Long Shot Factory Not Rated $182,784 22,962
37 The House I Live In Oct 5, 2012 Abramorama Films Not Rated $181,782 22,836
38 The Waiting Room Sep 21, 2012 International Fil… Not Rated $176,277 22,145
39 Crazy Horse Jan 18, 2012 Zipporah Not Rated $154,691 19,433
40 Hecho en México Nov 30, 2012 Lionsgate R $151,133 18,986
41 The Other Dream Team Sep 28, 2012 Film Arcade Not Rated $134,109 16,847
42 Kumaré Jun 20, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $131,909 16,571
43 How to Survive a Plague Sep 21, 2012 IFC Films Not Rated $123,814 15,554
44 Follow Me: The Yoni Netanya… May 4, 2012 International Fil… Not Rated $112,679 14,155
45 Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview May 11, 2012 Landmark Theaters Not Rated $105,710 13,280
46 Wild Horse, Wild Ride Aug 24, 2012 Screen Media Films PG $94,621 11,887
47 Escape Fire: The Fight to R… Oct 5, 2012 Roadside Attractions PG-13 $86,810 10,905
48 Marina Abramovic: The Artis… Jun 13, 2012 Music Box Films Not Rated $86,637 10,884
49 Hating Breitbart Oct 19, 2012 Freestyle Releasing R $81,432 10,230
50 5 Broken Cameras May 30, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $75,607 9,498
51 The Island President Mar 28, 2012 Samuel Goldwyn Films PG $75,233 9,451
52 Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's J… Oct 21, 2011 Submarine Deluxe PG $66,852 8,398
53 Never Stand Still May 18, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $63,811 8,016
54 Payback Mar 16, 2012 Mongrel Media Not Rated $59,736 7,504
55 Side by Side Aug 17, 2012 TriBeca Films Not Rated $58,825 7,390
56 The Invisible War Jun 22, 2012 Cinedigm Not Rated $58,492 7,348
57 Surviving Progress Apr 6, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $53,953 6,778
58 Beware of Mr. Baker Nov 30, 2012 SnagFilms Not Rated $53,371 6,704
59 Occupy Unmasked Sep 21, 2012 Magnet Pictures Not Rated $52,768 6,629
60 An Inconsistent Truth Jan 27, 2012 Rocky Mountain Pi… PG $52,756 6,627
61 Runaway Slave Jul 6, 2012 Rocky Mountain Pi… PG $47,813 6,006
62 Sing Your Song Jan 13, 2012 S2BN Not Rated $47,718 5,994
63 The Pruitt-Igoe Myth Jan 20, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $44,883 5,638
64 Ballplayer: Pelotero Jul 13, 2012 Strand Releasing Not Rated $44,689 5,614
65 OC87 May 25, 2012 Fisher-Klingenste… Not Rated $43,583 5,475
66 Crazy Wisdom Nov 25, 2011 Alive Mind Not Rated $42,841 5,382
67 My Reincarnation Oct 28, 2011 Long Shot Factory R $41,080 5,160
68 El Bulli: Cooking in Progress Jul 27, 2011 Alive Mind Not Rated $41,054 5,157
69 Last Call at the Oasis May 4, 2012 Participant Media PG-13 $40,846 5,131
70 West of Memphis Dec 25, 2012 Sony Pictures Cla… R $39,159 4,919
71 Paul Williams Still Alive Jun 1, 2012 Abramorama Films PG-13 $38,691 4,860
72 Death by China Aug 17, 2012 Area 23a Not Rated $38,492 4,835
73 In Film Nist Mar 2, 2012 Palisades Not Rated $37,706 4,736
74 Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan… Apr 6, 2012 Wrekin Hill Enter… PG-13 $34,665 4,354
75 Hit So Hard Apr 13, 2012 Variance Films Not Rated $34,025 4,274
76 Gregory Crewdson: Brief Enc… Nov 2, 2012 Zeitgeist Not Rated $33,902 4,259
77 Addiction Incorporated Dec 14, 2011 Variance Films PG-13 $33,664 4,229
78 District of Corruption Oct 26, 2012 Rocky Mountain Pi… Not Rated $31,954 4,014
79 Flamenco, Flamenco Nov 18, 2011 Mongrel Media Not Rated $29,435 3,697
80 Ouwehoeren Aug 8, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $29,357 3,688
81 Wagner & Me Dec 7, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $29,187 3,666
82 You've Been Trumped Aug 3, 2012 International Fil… Not Rated $28,450 3,574
83 Pink Ribbons, Inc. Jun 1, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $26,608 3,342
84 Orchestra of Exiles Oct 26, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $24,710 3,104
85 Otter 501 May 11, 2012 Paladin Not Rated $24,449 3,071
86 Lost Bohemia May 20, 2011 Long Shot Factory Not Rated $23,584 2,962
87 Hellbound? Sep 21, 2012 Area 23a Not Rated $22,887 2,875
88 56 Up Jan 4, 2013 First Run Features Not Rated $22,088 2,774
89 Girl Model Sep 5, 2012 Not Rated $21,154 2,657
90 Carol Channing: Larger Than… Jan 20, 2012 Entertainment One PG $20,370 2,559
91 Better Than Something: Jay … Mar 2, 2012 Not Rated $20,327 2,553
92 Galapagos Oct 29, 1999 IMAX Films Not Rated $20,198 2,537
93 The Whale Sep 9, 2011 Paladin G $20,092 2,524
94 Radio Unnameable Sep 19, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $19,676 2,471
95 Magnificent Desolation Sep 23, 2005 IMAX Films Not Rated $19,662 2,470
96 Waiting for Lightning Dec 7, 2012 Samuel Goldwyn Films PG-13 $19,537 2,454
97 How to Grow a Band Apr 13, 2012 International Fil… Not Rated $19,237 2,416
98 Chely Wright: Wish Me Away Jun 1, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $18,618 2,338
99 The Revisionaries Oct 5, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $18,509 2,325
100 Mansome May 18, 2012 Paladin PG-13 $18,395 2,310
101 Inventing Our Life: The Kib… Apr 25, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $16,734 2,102
102 This Binary Universe May 4, 2012 Indican Pictures Not Rated $15,875 1,994
103 Avant que mon coeur bascule Nov 16, 2012 Mongrel Media Not Rated $15,753 1,979
104 Head Games Sep 21, 2012 Variance Films PG-13 $14,056 1,765
105 Eames: The Architect and th… Nov 18, 2011 First Run Features Not Rated $13,275 1,667
106 The End of Time Dec 14, 2012 Mongrel Media Not Rated $12,835 1,612
107 The Man Nobody Knew: In Sea… Sep 23, 2011 First Run Features Not Rated $12,454 1,564
108 Khodorkovsky Nov 30, 2011 Kino Lorber Not Rated $11,804 1,482
109 Paul Goodman Changed My Life Oct 19, 2011 Zeitgeist Not Rated $11,036 1,386
110 China Heavyweight Jul 6, 2012 Zeitgeist Not Rated $10,550 1,325
111 Tchoupitoulas Dec 7, 2012 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $10,431 1,310
112 Ultrasuede: In Search of Ha… Jan 20, 2012 TriBeca Films Not Rated $10,357 1,301
113 Happy People: A Year in the… Dec 9, 2011 Mongrel Media Not Rated $9,523 1,196
114 When the Iron Bird Flies Oct 19, 2012 Alive Mind Not Rated $9,175 1,152
115 Putin's Kiss Feb 17, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $9,144 1,148
116 Decoding Deepak Oct 5, 2012 SnagFilms Not Rated $9,050 1,136
117 Drei Sterne - Die Koche und… Sep 21, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $8,942 1,123
118 Man on a Mission Jan 13, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $8,688 1,091
119 Photographic Memory Oct 12, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $7,711 968
120 Last Days Here Mar 2, 2012 IFC Films Not Rated $7,643 960
121 Bel Borba Aqui Oct 3, 2012 Abramorama Films Not Rated $7,426 932
122 Only the Young Dec 7, 2012 Oscilloscope Pict… Not Rated $7,138 896
123 Meine Familie, die Nazis un… Nov 16, 2012 Film Movement Not Rated $6,923 869
124 Charlotte Rampling: The Look Nov 4, 2011 Kino Lorber Not Rated $6,817 856
125 Over Your Cities Grass Will… Aug 10, 2011 Alive Mind Not Rated $6,762 849
126 Dreams of a Life Aug 10, 2012 Strand Releasing Not Rated $6,559 823
127 Windfall Feb 3, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $6,504 817
128 The Beat Hotel Mar 30, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $6,480 814
129 Garbo: El espía Nov 18, 2011 First Run Features Not Rated $6,330 795
130 Hell and Back Again Oct 5, 2011 Docurama Not Rated $5,997 753
131 Booker's Place: A Mississip… Apr 25, 2012 TriBeca Films Not Rated $5,549 697
132 Autobiografia lui Nicolae C… Sep 9, 2011 The Film Desk Not Rated $5,333 669
133 Sushi: The Global Catch Aug 3, 2012 Alive Mind Not Rated $4,583 575
134 Art is...The Permanent Revo… Mar 2, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $4,291 539
135 The Loving Story Dec 10, 2012 Icarus Films Not Rated $4,218 529
136 Granito: How to Nail a Dict… Sep 14, 2011 Skylight Pictures Not Rated $3,988 501
137 Free Radicals: A History of… Aug 3, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $3,689 463
138 Yangsi Dec 7, 2012 Alive Mind Not Rated $3,685 462
139 Jane's Journey Sep 16, 2011 First Run Features Not Rated $3,507 440
140 Let Fury Have the Hour Dec 14, 2012 CAVU Releasing Not Rated $3,386 425
141 The Swell Season Oct 7, 2011 Seventh Art Relea… Not Rated $3,178 399
142 Pianomania May 27, 2011 First Run Features Not Rated $2,524 317
143 Patagonia Rising Jun 8, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $2,064 259
144 Planet of Snail Jul 25, 2012 Cinema Guild Not Rated $2,011 252
145 American Teacher Sep 30, 2011 First Run Features Not Rated $2,004 251
146 Bestiaire Oct 19, 2012 Zeitgeist Not Rated $1,428 179
147 Fightville Apr 6, 2012 Mongrel Media Not Rated $1,333 167
148 Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet Dec 14, 2012 Kino Lorber Not Rated $1,294 162
149 Gottfried Helnwein and the … Nov 23, 2012 First Run Features Not Rated $601 75
Total Gross of All Movies$144,095,001
Total Tickets Sold18,102,316

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.