Market Charts > 2012 > Creative Types > Factual

Domestic 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 3,638,877
3 Katy Perry: Part of Me Jul 5, 2012 Concert/Perfor… PG $25,326,071 3,181,667
4 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Documentary G $18,322,703 2,301,847
5 To the Arctic 3D Apr 20, 2012 Documentary G $10,518,625 1,321,435
6 Born to be Wild 3D Apr 8, 2011 Documentary G $6,448,926 810,167
7 Hubble 3D Mar 19, 2010 Documentary G $5,396,448 677,946
8 Flying Monsters 3D Oct 6, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $4,176,870 524,732
9 Bully Mar 30, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $3,483,795 437,663
10 Nitro Circus: The Movie 3D Aug 8, 2012 Reality PG-13 $3,377,000 424,246
11 Pina Jan 20, 2012 Documentary PG $3,291,466 413,501
12 Searching for Sugar Man Jul 27, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $3,007,341 377,807
13 The Met: Live in HD - Aida Dec 15, 2012 Concert/Perfor… Not Rated $2,800,000 351,759
14 Samsara Aug 24, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $2,627,326 330,066
15 Jiro Dreams of Sushi Mar 9, 2012 Documentary PG $2,552,478 320,663
16 The Queen of Versailles Jul 20, 2012 Documentary PG $2,401,999 301,759
17 Under the Sea 3D Feb 13, 2009 Documentary G $2,256,829 283,521
18 Space Station Apr 19, 2002 Documentary Not Rated $2,084,978 261,932
19 Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Pr… May 28, 2010 Documentary Not Rated $1,631,522 204,965
20 Marley Apr 20, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $1,413,480 177,573
21 Air Racers 3D Apr 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,309,987 164,571
22 Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has… Sep 21, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $945,959 118,839
23 First Position May 4, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $908,235 114,100
24 The Imposter Jul 13, 2012 Documentary R $901,954 113,311
25 Bill W. May 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $768,518 96,547
26 Chasing Ice Nov 16, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $612,089 76,896
27 Undefeated Feb 17, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $561,054 70,484
28 Shut Up and Play the Hits Jul 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $510,334 64,112
29 Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry Jul 27, 2012 Documentary R $489,074 61,441
30 The Flat Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $460,507 57,853
31 Burn Jul 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $416,151 52,280
32 Detropia Sep 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $377,219 47,389
33 Whores’ Glory Apr 27, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $306,151 38,461
34 Something From Nothing: The… Jun 15, 2012 Documentary R $288,738 36,274
35 The Central Park Five Nov 23, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $257,312 32,326
36 Gerhard Richter Painting Mar 14, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $242,646 30,483
37 Stories We Tell Oct 12, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $241,031 30,280
38 Neil Young Journeys Jun 29, 2012 Concert/Perfor… PG $214,588 26,958
39 Brooklyn Castle Oct 19, 2012 Documentary PG $194,426 24,425
40 The House I Live In Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $181,782 22,837
41 Somewhere Between Aug 24, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $179,726 22,579
42 The Waiting Room Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $175,987 22,109
43 Crazy Horse Jan 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $154,691 19,434
44 Hecho en México Nov 30, 2012 Documentary R $151,133 18,987
45 The Other Dream Team Sep 28, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $134,109 16,848
46 Kumaré Jun 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $131,909 16,571
47 How to Survive a Plague Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $123,814 15,555
48 Follow Me: The Yoni Netanya… May 4, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $112,679 14,156
49 Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview Nov 16, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $105,710 13,280
50 Wild Horse, Wild Ride Aug 24, 2012 Documentary PG $94,621 11,887
51 Marina Abramovic: The Artis… Jun 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $86,637 10,884
52 Escape Fire: The Fight to R… Oct 5, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $84,898 10,666
53 Hating Breitbart Oct 19, 2012 Documentary R $81,432 10,230
54 5 Broken Cameras May 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $75,607 9,498
55 The Island President Mar 28, 2012 Documentary PG $75,233 9,451
56 Never Stand Still May 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $63,811 8,016
57 Sholem Aleichem: Laughing i… Jul 8, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $61,478 7,723
58 Payback Mar 16, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $59,736 7,505
59 Side by Side Aug 17, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $58,825 7,390
60 The Invisible War Jun 22, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $58,492 7,348
61 Surviving Progress Apr 6, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $53,953 6,778
62 Occupy Unmasked Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $52,768 6,629
63 An Inconsistent Truth Jan 27, 2012 Documentary PG $52,756 6,628
64 Beware of Mr. Baker Nov 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $52,467 6,591
65 Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's J… Oct 21, 2011 Documentary PG $50,608 6,358
66 Runaway Slave Jul 6, 2012 Documentary PG $47,813 6,007
67 Sing Your Song Jan 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $47,718 5,995
68 The Pruitt-Igoe Myth Jan 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $44,883 5,639
69 Ballplayer: Pelotero Jul 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $44,689 5,614
70 OC87 May 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $43,583 5,475
71 Crazy Wisdom Nov 25, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $42,841 5,382
72 Last Call at the Oasis May 4, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $40,846 5,131
73 Paul Williams Still Alive Jun 1, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $38,691 4,861
74 Death by China Aug 17, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $38,492 4,836
75 In Film Nist Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $37,706 4,737
76 Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan… Apr 6, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $34,665 4,355
77 My Reincarnation Oct 28, 2011 Documentary R $34,574 4,343
78 El Bulli: Cooking in Progress Jul 27, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $34,241 4,302
79 Hit So Hard Apr 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $34,025 4,274
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 Gregory Crewdson: Brief Enc… Nov 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $29,764 3,739
83 Flamenco, Flamenco Nov 18, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $29,435 3,698
84 Ouwehoeren Aug 8, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $29,357 3,688
85 Wagner & Me Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $29,187 3,667
86 You've Been Trumped Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $28,450 3,574
87 Pink Ribbons, Inc. Jun 1, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $26,608 3,343
88 Orchestra of Exiles Oct 26, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $24,710 3,104
89 Otter 501 May 11, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $24,449 3,071
90 Lost Bohemia May 20, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $23,584 2,963
91 Hellbound? Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $22,887 2,875
92 West of Memphis Dec 25, 2012 Documentary R $22,852 2,871
93 56 Up Jan 4, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $22,088 2,774
94 Girl Model Sep 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $21,154 2,658
95 Carol Channing: Larger Than… Jan 20, 2012 Documentary PG $20,370 2,559
96 Better Than Something: Jay … Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $20,327 2,554
97 Galapagos Oct 29, 1999 Documentary Not Rated $20,198 2,537
98 The Whale Sep 9, 2011 Documentary G $20,092 2,524
99 Radio Unnameable Sep 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $19,676 2,472
100 Magnificent Desolation Sep 23, 2005 Documentary Not Rated $19,662 2,470
101 Waiting for Lightning Dec 7, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $19,537 2,454
102 How to Grow a Band Apr 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $19,237 2,417
103 Chely Wright: Wish Me Away Jun 1, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $18,618 2,339
104 The Revisionaries Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $18,509 2,325
105 Mansome May 18, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $18,395 2,311
106 Inventing Our Life: The Kib… Apr 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $16,734 2,102
107 Head Games Sep 21, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $14,056 1,766
108 Eames: The Architect and th… Nov 18, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $13,275 1,668
109 How Much Does Your Building… Jan 25, 2012 Drama Not Rated $13,013 1,635
110 The End of Time Nov 29, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $12,835 1,612
111 The Man Nobody Knew: In Sea… Sep 23, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $12,454 1,565
112 Khodorkovsky Nov 30, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $11,804 1,483
113 Paul Goodman Changed My Life Oct 19, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $11,036 1,386
114 China Heavyweight Jul 6, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $10,550 1,325
115 Ultrasuede: In Search of Ha… Jan 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $10,357 1,301
116 Happy People: A Year in the… Dec 9, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $9,523 1,196
117 When the Iron Bird Flies Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $9,175 1,153
118 Putin's Kiss Feb 17, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $9,144 1,149
119 Decoding Deepak Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $9,050 1,137
120 Drei Sterne - Die Koche und… Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $8,942 1,123
121 Man on a Mission Jan 13, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $8,688 1,091
122 Photographic Memory Oct 12, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $7,711 969
123 Last Days Here Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $7,643 960
124 Bel Borba Aqui Oct 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $7,426 933
125 Charlotte Rampling: The Look Nov 4, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $7,163 900
126 Meine Familie, die Nazis un… Nov 16, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $6,923 870
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 $6,559 824
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 Tchoupitoulas Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $6,011 755
134 Hell and Back Again Oct 5, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $5,997 753
135 Booker's Place: A Mississip… Apr 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $5,549 697
136 Autobiografia lui Nicolae C… Sep 9, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $5,333 670
137 Sushi: The Global Catch Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,583 576
138 Art is...The Permanent Revo… Mar 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,291 539
139 The Loving Story Dec 10, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,218 529
140 Only the Young Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,038 507
141 Granito: How to Nail a Dict… Sep 14, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $3,988 501
142 Free Radicals: A History of… Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $3,689 463
143 Yangsi Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $3,685 463
144 Jane's Journey Sep 16, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $3,507 441
145 Let Fury Have the Hour Dec 14, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $3,386 425
146 The Swell Season Oct 7, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $3,178 399
147 Pianomania May 27, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $2,524 317
148 Patagonia Rising Jun 8, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $2,064 259
149 Planet of Snail Jul 25, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $2,011 253
150 American Teacher Sep 30, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $2,004 252
151 Bestiaire Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,428 179
152 Fightville Apr 6, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,333 167
153 Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet Dec 14, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,094 137
154 Gottfried Helnwein and the … Nov 23, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $601 76
Total Gross of All Movies$177,464,712
Total Tickets Sold22,294,556

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.