Market Charts > 2012 > Sources > Based on Real Life Events

Box Office Performance for Based on Real Life Events Movies in 2012

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RankMovieRelease
Date		 GenreMPAA
Rating		2012 GrossTickets Sold
1 The Vow Feb 10, 2012 Drama PG-13 $125,014,030 15,705,280
2 Red Tails Jan 20, 2012 Action PG-13 $49,876,377 6,265,876
3 The Iron Lady Jan 13, 2012 Drama PG-13 $29,959,436 3,763,748
4 Chimpanzee Apr 20, 2012 Documentary G $28,965,459 3,638,876
5 Katy Perry: Part of Me Jul 5, 2012 Concert/Perfor… PG $25,326,071 3,181,667
6 Big Miracle Feb 3, 2012 Drama PG $20,157,300 2,532,324
7 Born to be Wild 3D Apr 8, 2011 Documentary G $17,203,348 2,161,224
8 To the Arctic 3D Apr 20, 2012 Documentary G $15,183,579 1,907,484
9 Chasing Mavericks Oct 26, 2012 Drama PG $5,977,302 750,917
10 For Greater Glory: The True… Jun 1, 2012 Drama R $5,669,081 712,196
11 My Week with Marilyn Nov 23, 2011 Drama R $5,661,684 711,266
12 Hubble 3D Mar 19, 2010 Documentary G $5,557,365 698,161
13 Zero Dark Thirty Dec 19, 2012 Thriller/Suspense R $4,406,138 553,534
14 Flying Monsters 3D Oct 6, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $4,176,870 524,732
15 Pina Jan 20, 2012 Documentary PG $3,520,458 442,268
16 Bully Mar 30, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $3,483,795 437,662
17 The Impossible Dec 21, 2012 Drama PG-13 $3,412,413 428,695
18 Nitro Circus: The Movie 3D Aug 8, 2012 Reality PG-13 $3,377,000 424,246
19 Hyde Park on Hudson Dec 7, 2012 Drama R $3,209,885 403,251
20 Searching for Sugar Man Jul 27, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $3,058,667 384,254
21 Samsara Aug 24, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $2,639,616 331,610
22 Jiro Dreams of Sushi Mar 9, 2012 Documentary PG $2,552,478 320,663
23 The Queen of Versailles Jul 20, 2012 Documentary PG $2,401,999 301,758
24 Under the Sea 3D Feb 13, 2009 Documentary G $2,272,907 285,541
25 Space Station Apr 19, 2002 Documentary Not Rated $2,084,978 261,931
26 Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Pr… May 28, 2010 Documentary Not Rated $1,631,522 204,965
27 Marley Apr 20, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $1,413,480 177,572
28 Air Racers 3D Apr 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,309,987 164,571
29 Rampart Feb 10, 2012 Drama R $969,239 121,763
30 Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has… Sep 21, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $963,138 120,997
31 First Position May 4, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $908,235 114,099
32 The Imposter Jul 13, 2012 Documentary R $901,954 113,310
33 Bill W. May 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $768,518 96,547
34 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Documentary G $722,464 90,761
35 En kongelig affære Nov 9, 2012 Drama R $659,348 82,832
36 J. Edgar Nov 9, 2011 Drama R $655,199 82,311
37 Chasing Ice Nov 16, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $612,089 76,895
38 W.E. Feb 3, 2012 Drama R $582,075 73,125
39 Undefeated Feb 17, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $561,054 70,484
40 Shut Up and Play the Hits Jul 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $510,334 64,112
41 Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry Jul 27, 2012 Documentary R $489,074 61,441
42 The Flat Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $467,022 58,671
43 Burn Jul 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $416,151 52,280
44 Detropia Sep 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $377,219 47,389
45 Whores’ Glory Apr 27, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $306,151 38,461
46 Something From Nothing: The… Jun 15, 2012 Documentary R $288,738 36,273
47 The Central Park Five Nov 23, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $273,747 34,390
48 Dolphin Tale Sep 23, 2011 Drama PG $270,810 34,021
49 Gerhard Richter Painting Mar 14, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $242,646 30,483
50 Stories We Tell Oct 12, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $241,629 30,355
51 Neil Young Journeys Jun 29, 2012 Concert/Perfor… PG $214,588 26,958
52 Brooklyn Castle Oct 19, 2012 Documentary PG $198,664 24,957
53 Somewhere Between Aug 24, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $182,784 22,962
54 The House I Live In Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $181,782 22,836
55 The Waiting Room Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $176,277 22,145
56 Crazy Horse Jan 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $154,691 19,433
57 Hecho en México Nov 30, 2012 Documentary R $151,133 18,986
58 The Lady Apr 11, 2012 Drama R $135,985 17,083
59 The Other Dream Team Sep 28, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $134,109 16,847
60 Kumaré Jun 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $131,909 16,571
61 How to Survive a Plague Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $123,814 15,554
62 Follow Me: The Yoni Netanya… May 4, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $112,679 14,155
63 Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview Nov 16, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $105,710 13,280
64 Wild Horse, Wild Ride Aug 24, 2012 Documentary PG $94,621 11,887
65 Escape Fire: The Fight to R… Oct 5, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $86,810 10,905
66 Marina Abramovic: The Artis… Jun 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $86,637 10,884
67 Hating Breitbart Oct 19, 2012 Documentary R $81,432 10,230
68 5 Broken Cameras May 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $75,607 9,498
69 The Island President Mar 28, 2012 Documentary PG $75,233 9,451
70 Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's J… Oct 21, 2011 Documentary PG $66,852 8,398
71 Never Stand Still May 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $63,811 8,016
72 Side by Side Aug 17, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $58,825 7,390
73 The Invisible War Jun 22, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $58,492 7,348
74 Surviving Progress Apr 6, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $53,953 6,778
75 Beware of Mr. Baker Nov 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $53,371 6,704
76 Occupy Unmasked Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $52,768 6,629
77 An Inconsistent Truth Jan 27, 2012 Documentary PG $52,756 6,627
78 Runaway Slave Jul 6, 2012 Documentary PG $47,813 6,006
79 Sing Your Song Jan 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $47,718 5,994
80 La guerre est déclarée Jan 27, 2012 Drama Not Rated $46,225 5,807
81 The Pruitt-Igoe Myth Jan 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $44,883 5,638
82 Ballplayer: Pelotero Jul 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $44,689 5,614
83 OC87 May 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $43,583 5,475
84 Crazy Wisdom Nov 25, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $42,841 5,382
85 My Reincarnation Oct 28, 2011 Documentary R $41,080 5,160
86 El Bulli: Cooking in Progress Jul 27, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $41,054 5,157
87 Last Call at the Oasis May 4, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $40,846 5,131
88 Paan Singh Tomar Mar 2, 2012 Action Not Rated $40,311 5,064
89 West of Memphis Dec 25, 2012 Documentary R $39,159 4,919
90 Paul Williams Still Alive Jun 1, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $38,691 4,860
91 Death by China Aug 17, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $38,492 4,835
92 In Film Nist Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $37,706 4,736
93 Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan… Apr 6, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $34,665 4,354
94 Hit So Hard Apr 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $34,025 4,274
95 Gregory Crewdson: Brief Enc… Nov 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $33,902 4,259
96 Addiction Incorporated Dec 14, 2011 Documentary PG-13 $33,664 4,229
97 La conquête Nov 11, 2011 Drama Not Rated $33,344 4,188
98 District of Corruption Oct 26, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $31,954 4,014
99 Flamenco, Flamenco Nov 18, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $29,435 3,697
100 Ouwehoeren Aug 8, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $29,357 3,688
101 Wagner & Me Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $29,187 3,666
102 You've Been Trumped Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $28,450 3,574
103 Pink Ribbons, Inc. Jun 1, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $26,608 3,342
104 Orchestra of Exiles Oct 26, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $24,710 3,104
105 Otter 501 May 11, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $24,449 3,071
106 Lost Bohemia May 20, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $23,584 2,962
107 Hellbound? Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $22,887 2,875
108 56 Up Jan 4, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $22,088 2,774
109 Girl Model Sep 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $21,154 2,657
110 Carol Channing: Larger Than… Jan 20, 2012 Documentary PG $20,370 2,559
111 Better Than Something: Jay … Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $20,327 2,553
112 The Whale Sep 9, 2011 Documentary G $20,092 2,524
113 Radio Unnameable Sep 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $19,676 2,471
114 Magnificent Desolation Sep 23, 2005 Documentary Not Rated $19,662 2,470
115 Waiting for Lightning Dec 7, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $19,537 2,454
116 How to Grow a Band Apr 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $19,237 2,416
117 Chely Wright: Wish Me Away Jun 1, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $18,618 2,338
118 The Revisionaries Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $18,509 2,325
119 Mansome May 18, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $18,395 2,310
120 Inventing Our Life: The Kib… Apr 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $16,734 2,102
121 This Binary Universe May 4, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $15,875 1,994
122 17 filles Sep 21, 2012 Drama Not Rated $15,002 1,884
123 Eames: The Architect and th… Nov 18, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $13,275 1,667
124 How Much Does Your Building… Jan 25, 2012 Drama Not Rated $13,013 1,634
125 The End of Time Nov 29, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $12,835 1,612
126 The Man Nobody Knew: In Sea… Sep 23, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $12,454 1,564
127 Khodorkovsky Nov 30, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $11,804 1,482
128 Paul Goodman Changed My Life Oct 19, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $11,036 1,386
129 China Heavyweight Jul 6, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $10,550 1,325
130 Tchoupitoulas Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $10,431 1,310
131 Ultrasuede: In Search of Ha… Jan 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $10,357 1,301
132 Happy People: A Year in the… Dec 9, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $9,523 1,196
133 When the Iron Bird Flies Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $9,175 1,152
134 Putin's Kiss Feb 17, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $9,144 1,148
135 Decoding Deepak Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $9,050 1,136
136 Drei Sterne - Die Koche und… Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $8,942 1,123
137 Man on a Mission Jan 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $8,688 1,091
138 Snowtown Mar 2, 2012 Thriller/Suspense Not Rated $8,452 1,061
139 Photographic Memory Oct 12, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $7,711 968
140 Last Days Here Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $7,643 960
141 Bel Borba Aqui Oct 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $7,426 932
142 Only the Young Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $7,138 896
143 Meine Familie, die Nazis un… Nov 16, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $6,923 869
144 Charlotte Rampling: The Look Nov 4, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $6,817 856
145 Over Your Cities Grass Will… Aug 10, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $6,762 849
146 Dreams of a Life Aug 10, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $6,559 823
147 Windfall Feb 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $6,504 817
148 The Beat Hotel Mar 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $6,480 814
149 Garbo: El espía Nov 18, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $6,330 795
150 Hell and Back Again Oct 5, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $5,997 753
151 The Last Ride Oct 21, 2011 Drama PG-13 $5,887 739
152 Booker's Place: A Mississip… Apr 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $5,549 697
153 Autobiografia lui Nicolae C… Sep 9, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $5,333 669
154 Sushi: The Global Catch Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,583 575
155 Art is...The Permanent Revo… Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,291 539
156 The Loving Story Dec 10, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,218 529
157 Kongen av Bastøy Jan 6, 2012 Drama Not Rated $4,162 522
158 Amigo Aug 19, 2011 Drama R $4,123 517
159 Granito: How to Nail a Dict… Sep 14, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $3,988 501
160 Free Radicals: A History of… Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $3,689 463
161 Yangsi Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $3,685 462
162 Jane's Journey Sep 16, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $3,507 440
163 Let Fury Have the Hour Dec 14, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $3,386 425
164 The Swell Season Oct 7, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $3,178 399
165 Pianomania May 27, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $2,524 317
166 Serge Gainsbourg vie heroique Aug 31, 2011 Drama Not Rated $2,240 281
167 Patagonia Rising Jun 8, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $2,064 259
168 Planet of Snail Jul 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $2,011 252
169 Bestiaire Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,428 179
170 Fightville Apr 6, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,333 167
171 Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet Dec 14, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,294 162
172 Monsieur Verdoux Apr 11, 1947 Black Comedy Not Rated $1,218 153
173 Citizen Gangster Apr 27, 2012 Drama Not Rated $625 78
174 Gottfried Helnwein and the … Nov 23, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $601 75
Total Gross of All Movies$396,341,876
Total Tickets Sold49,791,610

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.