Market Charts > 2013 > Sources > Based on Real Life Events

Box Office Performance for Based on Real Life Events Movies in 2013

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RankMovieRelease
Date		 GenreMPAA
Rating		2013 GrossTickets Sold
1 Lee Daniels' The Butler Aug 16, 2013 Drama PG-13 $116,293,662 14,304,263
2 Captain Phillips Oct 11, 2013 Drama PG-13 $104,834,734 12,894,801
3 Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa Oct 25, 2013 Comedy R $101,625,444 12,500,054
4 42 Apr 12, 2013 Drama PG-13 $95,020,213 11,687,603
5 Zero Dark Thirty Dec 19, 2012 Thriller/Suspense R $91,314,578 11,231,805
6 American Hustle Dec 13, 2013 Black Comedy R $87,903,772 10,812,272
7 Saving Mr. Banks Dec 20, 2013 Drama PG-13 $58,958,280 7,251,940
8 Pain & Gain Apr 26, 2013 Action R $49,875,291 6,134,722
9 Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain Jul 3, 2013 Concert/Perfor… R $32,244,051 3,966,057
10 One Direction: This is Us Aug 30, 2013 Concert/Perfor… PG $28,873,374 3,551,460
11 Rush Sep 20, 2013 Drama R $26,947,624 3,314,590
12 Dallas Buyers Club Nov 1, 2013 Drama R $16,300,843 2,005,023
13 Jobs Aug 16, 2013 Drama PG-13 $16,131,410 1,984,183
14 Fruitvale Station Jul 12, 2013 Drama R $16,098,998 1,980,196
15 The Impossible Dec 21, 2012 Drama PG-13 $15,607,469 1,919,737
16 Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Nov 29, 2013 Drama PG-13 $7,061,587 868,583
17 Yi dai zong shi Aug 23, 2013 Drama PG-13 $6,594,959 811,188
18 Justin Bieber’s Believe Dec 25, 2013 Documentary PG $5,962,982 733,454
19 Hubble 3D Mar 19, 2010 Documentary G $5,361,957 659,527
20 20 Feet From Stardom Jun 14, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $4,821,266 593,021
21 Emperor Mar 8, 2013 Drama PG-13 $3,346,264 411,594
22 The Fifth Estate Oct 18, 2013 Thriller/Suspense R $3,254,172 400,267
23 Hyde Park on Hudson Dec 7, 2012 Drama R $3,166,260 389,453
24 To the Arctic 3D Apr 20, 2012 Documentary G $2,930,286 360,428
25 Space Station Apr 19, 2002 Documentary Not Rated $2,436,846 299,735
26 The Gatekeepers Feb 1, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $2,408,553 296,254
27 No Feb 15, 2013 Drama R $2,341,226 287,973
28 Blackfish Jul 19, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $2,073,582 255,053
29 The Iceman May 3, 2013 Drama R $1,930,282 237,427
30 Flying Monsters 3D Oct 6, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $1,574,271 193,637
31 The Saratov Approach Oct 9, 2013 Thriller/Suspense PG-13 $1,573,124 193,496
32 Kon-Tiki Apr 26, 2013 Drama PG-13 $1,517,410 186,643
33 Stories We Tell Oct 12, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $1,358,516 167,099
34 Born to be Wild 3D Apr 8, 2011 Documentary G $1,334,377 164,130
35 Inequality for All Sep 27, 2013 Documentary PG $1,192,778 146,713
36 Under the Sea 3D Feb 13, 2009 Documentary G $1,142,800 140,565
37 Searching for Sugar Man Jul 27, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $906,423 111,491
38 En kongelig affære Nov 9, 2012 Drama R $887,413 109,152
39 Generation Iron Sep 20, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $849,521 104,492
40 Girl Rising Mar 7, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $849,484 104,487
41 Meerkats May 26, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $845,613 104,011
42 Hannah Arendt May 29, 2013 Drama Not Rated $717,205 88,217
43 Burn Jul 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $693,125 85,255
44 56 Up Jan 4, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $679,190 83,541
45 Muscle Shoals Sep 27, 2013 Documentary PG $671,810 82,633
46 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Documentary G $611,380 75,200
47 Salinger Sep 6, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $583,633 71,787
48 Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's May 3, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $516,719 63,557
49 Les saveurs du Palais Sep 20, 2013 Comedy PG-13 $510,587 62,802
50 The Act of Killing Jul 19, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $461,777 56,799
51 Sound City Jan 31, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $422,853 52,011
52 Dirty Wars Jun 7, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $371,245 45,663
53 Hava Nagila: The Movie Mar 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $368,724 45,353
54 Watermark Sep 27, 2013 Documentary PG $353,184 43,442
55 Lovelace Aug 9, 2013 Drama R $352,755 43,389
56 Mindless Behavior: All Arou… Mar 15, 2013 Concert/Perfor… G $344,500 42,373
57 Koch Feb 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $342,941 42,182
58 Diana Nov 1, 2013 Drama PG-13 $335,360 41,249
59 Happy People: A Year in the… Dec 9, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $329,464 40,524
60 West of Memphis Dec 25, 2012 Documentary R $270,705 33,297
61 Room 237 Mar 29, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $263,411 32,399
62 Linsanity Oct 4, 2013 Documentary PG $258,427 31,786
63 A Place at the Table Mar 1, 2013 Documentary PG $231,378 28,459
64 The Summit Oct 4, 2013 Documentary R $219,346 26,979
65 No Place on Earth Apr 5, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $200,238 24,629
66 The Armstrong Lie Nov 8, 2013 Documentary R $194,857 23,967
67 The Anonymous People Aug 16, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $187,459 23,057
68 Cinco de Mayo, La Batalla May 3, 2013 Action R $173,472 21,337
69 We Steal Secrets: The Story… May 24, 2013 Documentary R $166,243 20,448
70 Somm Jun 21, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $153,620 18,895
71 Deceptive Practice: The Mys… Apr 17, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $152,449 18,751
72 Snake and Mongoose Aug 9, 2013 Drama PG-13 $152,223 18,723
73 Narco Cultura Nov 22, 2013 Documentary R $145,088 17,846
74 Free the Mind May 3, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $142,008 17,467
75 Good Ol' Freda Sep 6, 2013 Documentary PG $138,811 17,073
76 American Promise Oct 18, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $136,385 16,775
77 Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy? Nov 22, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $132,409 16,286
78 Free Angela & All Political… Apr 5, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $129,102 15,879
79 A Band Called Death Jun 28, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $127,257 15,652
80 Cutie and the Boxer Aug 16, 2013 Documentary R $125,382 15,422
81 Spark: A Burning Man Story Aug 16, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $120,459 14,816
82 Storm Surfers 3D Apr 26, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $117,090 14,402
83 The Punk Singer Nov 29, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $115,814 14,245
84 Ain't in It for My Health: … Mar 31, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $111,794 13,750
85 Augustine May 17, 2013 Drama Not Rated $107,352 13,204
86 Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me Jul 3, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $105,998 13,037
87 One Track Heart: The Story … May 8, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $100,401 12,349
88 Spinning Plates Oct 25, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $99,127 12,192
89 Blue Caprice Sep 13, 2013 Drama R $92,336 11,357
90 Bettie Page Reveals All Nov 22, 2013 Documentary R $81,776 10,058
91 Harvest of Empire Sep 28, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $79,627 9,794
92 Money for Nothing: Inside t… Sep 6, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $77,619 9,547
93 Leviathan Mar 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $76,202 9,372
94 More Than Honey Jun 12, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $71,977 8,853
95 The Waiting Room Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $67,815 8,341
96 After Tiller Sep 20, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $67,414 8,292
97 Pandora's Promise Jun 12, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $66,680 8,201
98 Violette Nov 29, 2013 Drama Not Rated $65,635 8,073
99 Beware of Mr. Baker Nov 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $63,105 7,761
100 Traviata et nous May 15, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $62,652 7,706
101 Don't Stop Believin': Every… Mar 8, 2013 Documentary R $61,018 7,505
102 The Trials of Muhammad Ali Aug 23, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $57,641 7,089
103 Terms and Conditions May Apply Jul 12, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $55,824 6,866
104 Leonie Mar 15, 2013 Drama PG-13 $53,692 6,604
105 The Square Oct 25, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $52,954 6,513
106 The Central Park Five Nov 23, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $51,906 6,384
107 Venus and Serena May 10, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $51,271 6,306
108 God Loves Uganda Oct 11, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $51,229 6,301
109 Let the Fire Burn Oct 2, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $49,128 6,042
110 The Pervert's Guide to Ideo… Nov 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $49,072 6,035
111 Flores Raras Nov 8, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $45,502 5,596
112 American Made Movie Aug 30, 2013 Documentary G $45,175 5,556
113 Greedy Lying Bastards Mar 8, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $45,000 5,535
114 Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has… Sep 21, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $41,683 5,127
115 The Human Scale Sep 20, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $41,098 5,055
116 Bill W. May 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $41,072 5,051
117 GMO OMG Sep 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $39,901 4,907
118 Escape Fire: The Fight to R… Oct 5, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $39,428 4,849
119 How to Make Money Selling D… Jun 26, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $39,192 4,820
120 Herb & Dorothy 50X50 Sep 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $38,933 4,788
121 The Short Game Sep 20, 2013 Documentary PG $38,856 4,779
122 Yip Man: Jung gik yat jin Sep 20, 2013 Action PG-13 $37,884 4,659
123 Mumia: Long Distance Revolu… Feb 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $37,731 4,640
124 Rising From Ashes Jul 26, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $37,673 4,633
125 Savannah Aug 23, 2013 Drama PG-13 $36,746 4,519
126 Far Out Isn't Far Enough: T… Jun 14, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $35,431 4,358
127 5 Broken Cameras May 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $34,376 4,228
128 Bert Stern: Original Mad Man Apr 5, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $34,005 4,182
129 Running from Crazy Nov 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $33,300 4,095
130 Dislecksia: The Movie Oct 4, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $33,066 4,067
131 Samsara Aug 24, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $32,797 4,034
132 Somewhere Between Aug 24, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $30,515 3,753
133 Long Shot: The Kevin Laue S… Oct 25, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $29,863 3,673
134 A Fierce Green Fire Mar 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $29,817 3,667
135 The House I Live In Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $28,970 3,563
136 Camille Claudel: 1915 Oct 16, 2013 Drama Not Rated $28,355 3,487
137 Broadway Idiot Oct 11, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $27,595 3,394
138 At Berkeley Nov 8, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $26,482 3,257
139 Gregory Crewdson: Brief Enc… Nov 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $26,162 3,217
140 Chasing Mavericks Oct 26, 2012 Drama PG $25,454 3,130
141 Greenwich Village: Music Th… Jan 18, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $23,701 2,915
142 Evocateur: The Morton Downe… Jun 7, 2013 Documentary R $21,652 2,663
143 Violeta se fue a los cielos Mar 29, 2013 Drama Not Rated $21,496 2,644
144 Brooklyn Castle Oct 19, 2012 Documentary PG $20,743 2,551
145 The Ghosts in Our Machine Nov 8, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $20,709 2,547
146 Our Nixon Aug 30, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $20,486 2,519
147 Meine Familie, die Nazis un… Nov 16, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $19,160 2,356
148 Smash & Grab: The Story of … Jul 31, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $18,938 2,329
149 Jamel Shabazz: Street Photo… Aug 2, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $17,378 2,137
150 Love, Marilyn Apr 5, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $16,164 1,988
151 The Look of Love Jul 5, 2013 Drama Not Rated $16,119 1,982
152 The Pardon Mar 22, 2013 Drama PG-13 $16,100 1,980
153 Out of the Clear Blue Sky Sep 6, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $16,050 1,974
154 Hating Breitbart Oct 19, 2012 Documentary R $15,296 1,881
155 Design is One Oct 11, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $14,078 1,731
156 These Birds Walk Nov 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $14,000 1,722
157 The Invisible War Jun 22, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $13,476 1,657
158 A Green Story Nov 16, 2012 Drama Not Rated $12,901 1,586
159 Detropia Sep 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $12,805 1,575
160 Greetings from Tim Buckley May 3, 2013 Drama Not Rated $11,157 1,372
161 Liv & Ingmar Dec 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $10,347 1,272
162 Shepard & Dark Sep 25, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $10,278 1,264
163 Informant Sep 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $10,068 1,238
164 Red Obsession Sep 6, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $9,939 1,222
165 Orchestra of Exiles Oct 26, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $9,867 1,213
166 Birth of the Living Dead Oct 18, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $9,802 1,205
167 Caucus Oct 25, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $9,796 1,204
168 Tchoupitoulas Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $8,944 1,100
169 Call Me Kuchu Jun 14, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $8,941 1,099
170 Wagner & Me Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $8,558 1,052
171 Downloaded Jun 21, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $8,377 1,030
172 Only the Young Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $8,174 1,005
173 La maison de la radio Sep 4, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $8,060 991
174 Maidentrip Dec 20, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $7,258 892
175 Assaulted: Civil Rights Und… Jun 20, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $7,054 867
176 Sal Nov 1, 2013 Drama Not Rated $6,883 846
177 In Search of Blind Joe Deat… Aug 16, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $6,132 754
178 In No Great Hurry: 13 Lesso… Jan 3, 2014 Documentary Not Rated $6,100 750
179 Bidder 70 May 17, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $5,074 624
180 Nuclear Nation Dec 11, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $4,960 610
181 Herman's House Apr 19, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $4,956 609
182 The Flat Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,820 592
183 Ferlinghetti: A Rebirth of … Feb 8, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,816 592
184 People of a Feather Nov 8, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $4,483 551
185 When the Iron Bird Flies Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,423 544
186 Radio Unnameable Sep 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,414 542
187 The Revisionaries Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,155 511
188 Magnificent Desolation Sep 23, 2005 Documentary Not Rated $3,929 483
189 Tricked Dec 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $3,533 434
190 Drew: The Man Behind the Po… Aug 16, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $3,078 378
191 A Girl and a Gun Jul 4, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $3,018 371
192 Which Way is the Front Line… Jun 21, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $2,945 362
193 Men at Lunch Sep 20, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $2,483 305
194 Blood Brother Dec 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $2,254 277
195 You Don't Need Feet to Dance Mar 22, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $1,719 211
196 Ouwehoeren Aug 8, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,453 178
197 Sushi: The Global Catch Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,174 144
198 Monsieur Verdoux Apr 11, 1947 Black Comedy Not Rated $1,171 144
199 Jerusalem Sep 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $962 118
200 Putin's Kiss Feb 17, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $938 115
201 Triumph of the Wall May 31, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $476 58
202 Diaz: Don't Clean Up This B… Jul 12, 2013 Drama Not Rated $398 48
203 The End of Time Nov 29, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $221 27
204 Free Radicals: A History of… Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $115 14
Total Gross of All Movies$942,034,042
Total Tickets Sold115,871,252

Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 2013. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 2013. 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.