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

Domestic 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 $116,180,128 14,290,299
2 Captain Phillips Oct 11, 2013 Drama PG-13 $104,638,057 12,870,610
3 Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa Oct 25, 2013 Comedy R $101,337,759 12,464,669
4 42 Apr 12, 2013 Drama PG-13 $95,020,213 11,687,603
5 Zero Dark Thirty Dec 19, 2012 Thriller/Suspense R $94,277,984 11,596,308
6 American Hustle Dec 13, 2013 Black Comedy R $67,499,173 8,302,481
7 Pain & Gain Apr 26, 2013 Action R $49,875,291 6,134,722
8 Saving Mr. Banks Dec 20, 2013 Drama PG-13 $44,087,469 5,422,813
9 Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain Jul 3, 2013 Concert/Perfor… R $32,244,051 3,966,058
10 One Direction: This is Us Aug 30, 2013 Concert/Perfor… PG $28,873,374 3,551,461
11 Rush Sep 20, 2013 Drama R $26,947,624 3,314,591
12 The Impossible Dec 21, 2012 Drama PG-13 $18,491,079 2,274,425
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 1,980,197
15 Dallas Buyers Club Nov 1, 2013 Drama R $15,847,213 1,949,227
16 Yi dai zong shi Aug 23, 2013 Drama PG-13 $6,594,959 811,188
17 Hubble 3D Mar 19, 2010 Documentary G $5,503,035 676,880
18 Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Nov 29, 2013 Drama PG-13 $5,236,120 644,049
19 Justin Bieber’s Believe Dec 25, 2013 Documentary PG $4,881,436 600,423
20 20 Feet From Stardom Jun 14, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $4,813,485 592,065
21 Hyde Park on Hudson Dec 7, 2012 Drama R $4,486,248 551,814
22 Emperor Mar 8, 2013 Drama PG-13 $3,346,264 411,595
23 The Fifth Estate Oct 18, 2013 Thriller/Suspense R $3,254,172 400,267
24 To the Arctic 3D Apr 20, 2012 Documentary G $3,071,884 377,846
25 Space Station Apr 19, 2002 Documentary Not Rated $2,436,846 299,735
26 The Gatekeepers Feb 1, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $2,408,553 296,255
27 No Feb 15, 2013 Drama R $2,341,226 287,974
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 Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Jul 12, 2013 Drama Not Rated $1,626,289 200,036
31 Stories We Tell Oct 12, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $1,600,145 196,820
32 Flying Monsters 3D Oct 6, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $1,574,271 193,637
33 The Saratov Approach Oct 9, 2013 Thriller/Suspense PG-13 $1,552,680 190,982
34 Kon-Tiki Apr 26, 2013 Drama PG-13 $1,517,410 186,643
35 Born to be Wild 3D Apr 8, 2011 Documentary G $1,393,803 171,439
36 Inequality for All Sep 27, 2013 Documentary PG $1,191,352 146,538
37 Under the Sea 3D Feb 13, 2009 Documentary G $1,164,793 143,271
38 Searching for Sugar Man Jul 27, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $957,749 117,804
39 En kongelig affære Nov 9, 2012 Drama R $922,249 113,438
40 Generation Iron Sep 20, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $849,521 104,492
41 Girl Rising Mar 7, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $849,484 104,488
42 Meerkats May 26, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $845,613 104,011
43 Hannah Arendt May 29, 2013 Drama Not Rated $717,205 88,217
44 56 Up Jan 4, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $701,278 86,258
45 Burn Jul 20, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $693,125 85,255
46 Muscle Shoals Sep 27, 2013 Documentary PG $666,862 82,025
47 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Documentary G $611,380 75,200
48 Salinger Sep 6, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $583,633 71,788
49 Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's May 3, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $516,719 63,557
50 Les saveurs du Palais Sep 20, 2013 Comedy PG-13 $510,587 62,803
51 The Act of Killing Jul 19, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $459,061 56,465
52 Sound City Jan 31, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $422,853 52,011
53 Dirty Wars Jun 7, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $371,245 45,664
54 Hava Nagila: The Movie Mar 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $368,724 45,354
55 Watermark Sep 27, 2013 Documentary PG $353,184 43,442
56 Lovelace Aug 9, 2013 Drama R $352,755 43,389
57 Mindless Behavior: All Arou… Mar 15, 2013 Concert/Perfor… G $344,500 42,374
58 Koch Feb 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $342,941 42,182
59 Happy People: A Year in the… Dec 9, 2011 Documentary Not Rated $338,987 41,696
60 Diana Nov 1, 2013 Drama PG-13 $335,360 41,250
61 West of Memphis Dec 25, 2012 Documentary R $287,012 35,303
62 Room 237 Mar 29, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $263,411 32,400
63 Linsanity Oct 4, 2013 Documentary PG $258,427 31,787
64 A Place at the Table Mar 1, 2013 Documentary PG $231,378 28,460
65 The Summit Oct 4, 2013 Documentary R $219,346 26,980
66 No Place on Earth Apr 5, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $200,238 24,630
67 The Armstrong Lie Nov 8, 2013 Documentary R $194,857 23,968
68 The Anonymous People Aug 16, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $187,459 23,058
69 Cinco de Mayo, La Batalla May 3, 2013 Action R $173,472 21,337
70 We Steal Secrets: The Story… May 24, 2013 Documentary R $166,243 20,448
71 Somm Jun 21, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $153,620 18,895
72 Deceptive Practice: The Mys… Apr 17, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $152,449 18,751
73 Snake and Mongoose Aug 9, 2013 Drama PG-13 $152,223 18,724
74 Narco Cultura Nov 22, 2013 Documentary R $145,088 17,846
75 Free the Mind May 3, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $142,008 17,467
76 Good Ol' Freda Sep 6, 2013 Documentary PG $138,811 17,074
77 American Promise Oct 18, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $136,385 16,776
78 Free Angela & All Political… Apr 5, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $129,102 15,880
79 A Band Called Death Jun 28, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $127,257 15,653
80 Cutie and the Boxer Aug 16, 2013 Documentary R $124,567 15,322
81 Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy? Nov 22, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $123,357 15,173
82 Spark: A Burning Man Story Aug 16, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $120,459 14,817
83 Storm Surfers 3D Apr 26, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $117,090 14,402
84 Ain't in It for My Health: … Mar 31, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $111,794 13,751
85 The Punk Singer Nov 29, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $108,289 13,320
86 Augustine May 17, 2013 Drama Not Rated $107,352 13,204
87 Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me Jul 3, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $105,998 13,038
88 One Track Heart: The Story … May 8, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $100,401 12,349
89 Spinning Plates Oct 25, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $99,127 12,193
90 Blue Caprice Sep 13, 2013 Drama R $92,336 11,357
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 9,373
94 Bettie Page Reveals All Nov 22, 2013 Documentary R $73,372 9,025
95 More Than Honey Jun 12, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $71,977 8,853
96 The Central Park Five Nov 23, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $68,341 8,406
97 The Waiting Room Sep 21, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $68,105 8,377
98 After Tiller Sep 20, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $67,414 8,292
99 Pandora's Promise Jun 12, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $66,680 8,202
100 Beware of Mr. Baker Nov 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $64,009 7,873
101 Violette Nov 29, 2013 Drama Not Rated $63,256 7,781
102 Traviata et nous May 15, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $62,652 7,706
103 Don't Stop Believin': Every… Mar 8, 2013 Documentary R $61,018 7,505
104 Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has… Sep 21, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $58,862 7,240
105 Chasing Mavericks Oct 26, 2012 Drama PG $57,886 7,120
106 The Trials of Muhammad Ali Aug 23, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $57,641 7,090
107 Terms and Conditions May Apply Jul 12, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $55,824 6,866
108 Leonie Mar 15, 2013 Drama PG-13 $53,692 6,604
109 The Square Oct 25, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $52,954 6,513
110 Venus and Serena May 10, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $51,271 6,306
111 God Loves Uganda Oct 11, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $51,229 6,301
112 Let the Fire Burn Oct 2, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $49,128 6,043
113 The Pervert's Guide to Ideo… Nov 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $49,072 6,036
114 Flores Raras Nov 8, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $45,502 5,597
115 American Made Movie Aug 30, 2013 Documentary G $45,175 5,557
116 Samsara Aug 24, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $45,087 5,546
117 Greedy Lying Bastards Mar 8, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $45,000 5,535
118 Escape Fire: The Fight to R… Oct 5, 2012 Documentary PG-13 $41,340 5,085
119 The Human Scale Sep 20, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $41,098 5,055
120 Bill W. May 18, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $41,072 5,052
121 GMO OMG Sep 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $39,901 4,908
122 How to Make Money Selling D… Jun 26, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $39,192 4,821
123 Herb & Dorothy 50X50 Sep 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $38,933 4,789
124 The Short Game Sep 20, 2013 Documentary PG $38,856 4,779
125 Yip Man: Jung gik yat jin Sep 20, 2013 Action PG-13 $37,884 4,660
126 Mumia: Long Distance Revolu… Feb 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $37,731 4,641
127 Rising From Ashes Jul 26, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $37,673 4,634
128 Savannah Aug 23, 2013 Drama PG-13 $36,746 4,520
129 Far Out Isn't Far Enough: T… Jun 14, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $35,431 4,358
130 5 Broken Cameras May 30, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $34,376 4,228
131 Bert Stern: Original Mad Man Apr 5, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $34,005 4,183
132 Somewhere Between Aug 24, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $33,573 4,130
133 Running from Crazy Nov 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $33,300 4,096
134 Dislecksia: The Movie Oct 4, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $33,066 4,067
135 Gregory Crewdson: Brief Enc… Nov 2, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $30,300 3,727
136 Long Shot: The Kevin Laue S… Oct 25, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $29,863 3,673
137 A Fierce Green Fire Mar 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $29,817 3,668
138 The House I Live In Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $28,970 3,563
139 Camille Claudel: 1915 Oct 16, 2013 Drama Not Rated $28,355 3,488
140 Broadway Idiot Oct 11, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $27,595 3,394
141 At Berkeley Nov 8, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $26,482 3,257
142 Brooklyn Castle Oct 19, 2012 Documentary PG $24,981 3,073
143 Greenwich Village: Music Th… Jan 18, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $23,701 2,915
144 Evocateur: The Morton Downe… Jun 7, 2013 Documentary R $21,652 2,663
145 Violeta se fue a los cielos Mar 29, 2013 Drama Not Rated $21,496 2,644
146 The Ghosts in Our Machine Nov 8, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $20,709 2,547
147 Our Nixon Aug 30, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $20,486 2,520
148 Meine Familie, die Nazis un… Nov 16, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $19,160 2,357
149 Smash & Grab: The Story of … Jul 31, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $18,938 2,329
150 Jamel Shabazz: Street Photo… Aug 2, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $17,378 2,138
151 Love, Marilyn Apr 5, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $16,164 1,988
152 The Look of Love Jul 5, 2013 Drama Not Rated $16,119 1,983
153 The Pardon Mar 22, 2013 Drama PG-13 $16,100 1,980
154 Out of the Clear Blue Sky Sep 6, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $16,050 1,974
155 Hating Breitbart Oct 19, 2012 Documentary R $15,296 1,881
156 Design is One Oct 11, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $14,078 1,732
157 These Birds Walk Nov 1, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $14,000 1,722
158 The Invisible War Jun 22, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $13,476 1,658
159 Tchoupitoulas Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $13,364 1,644
160 The End of Time Nov 29, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $13,056 1,606
161 Detropia Sep 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $12,805 1,575
162 A Green Story Nov 16, 2012 Drama Not Rated $11,506 1,415
163 The Flat Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $11,335 1,394
164 Only the Young Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $11,274 1,387
165 Greetings from Tim Buckley May 3, 2013 Drama Not Rated $11,157 1,372
166 Liv & Ingmar Dec 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $10,347 1,273
167 Shepard & Dark Sep 25, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $10,278 1,264
168 Informant Sep 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $10,068 1,238
169 Red Obsession Sep 6, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $9,939 1,223
170 Orchestra of Exiles Oct 26, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $9,867 1,214
171 Birth of the Living Dead Oct 18, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $9,802 1,206
172 Caucus Oct 25, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $9,796 1,205
173 Call Me Kuchu Jun 14, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $8,941 1,100
174 Wagner & Me Dec 7, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $8,558 1,053
175 Downloaded Jun 21, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $8,377 1,030
176 La maison de la radio Sep 4, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $8,060 991
177 Assaulted: Civil Rights Und… Jun 20, 2013 Documentary PG-13 $7,054 868
178 Sal Nov 1, 2013 Drama Not Rated $6,883 847
179 In Search of Blind Joe Deat… Aug 16, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $6,132 754
180 In No Great Hurry: 13 Lesso… Jan 3, 2014 Documentary Not Rated $6,100 750
181 Bidder 70 May 17, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $5,074 624
182 Nuclear Nation Dec 11, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $4,960 610
183 Herman's House Apr 19, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $4,956 610
184 Ferlinghetti: A Rebirth of … Feb 8, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,816 592
185 People of a Feather Nov 8, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $4,483 551
186 When the Iron Bird Flies Oct 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,423 544
187 Radio Unnameable Sep 19, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,414 543
188 Maidentrip Dec 20, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $4,216 519
189 The Revisionaries Oct 5, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $4,155 511
190 Magnificent Desolation Sep 23, 2005 Documentary Not Rated $3,929 483
191 Tricked Dec 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $3,533 435
192 Drew: The Man Behind the Po… Aug 16, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $3,078 379
193 A Girl and a Gun Jul 4, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $3,018 371
194 Which Way is the Front Line… Jun 21, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $2,945 362
195 Men at Lunch Sep 20, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $2,483 305
196 Blood Brother Dec 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $2,254 277
197 You Don't Need Feet to Dance Mar 22, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $1,719 211
198 Ouwehoeren Aug 8, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,453 179
199 Sushi: The Global Catch Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $1,174 144
200 Monsieur Verdoux Apr 11, 1947 Black Comedy Not Rated $1,171 144
201 Jerusalem Sep 13, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $962 118
202 Putin's Kiss Feb 17, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $938 115
203 Triumph of the Wall May 31, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $476 59
204 Diaz: Don't Clean Up This B… Jul 12, 2013 Drama Not Rated $398 49
205 Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet Dec 14, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $200 25
206 Free Radicals: A History of… Aug 3, 2012 Documentary Not Rated $115 14
Total Gross of All Movies$912,383,209
Total Tickets Sold112,224,261

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.