Market Charts > 2016 > Sources > Based on Real Life Events

Box Office Performance for Based on Real Life Events Movies in 2016

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RankMovieRelease
Date		 GenreMPAA
Rating		2016 GrossTickets Sold
1 Hacksaw Ridge Nov 4, 2016 Drama R $64,606,565 7,468,967
2 Deepwater Horizon Sep 30, 2016 Thriller/Suspense PG-13 $61,433,527 7,102,141
3 Joy Dec 25, 2015 Drama PG-13 $28,141,138 3,253,310
4 The Finest Hours Jan 29, 2016 Thriller/Suspense PG $27,569,558 3,187,232
5 Florence Foster Jenkins Aug 12, 2016 Drama PG-13 $27,383,770 3,165,753
6 Kevin Hart: What Now? Oct 14, 2016 Concert/Perfor… R $23,591,043 2,727,288
7 Free State of Jones Jun 24, 2016 Drama R $20,810,036 2,405,784
8 Race Feb 19, 2016 Drama PG-13 $19,115,191 2,209,848
9 Spotlight Nov 6, 2015 Drama R $17,946,804 2,074,775
10 Masterminds Sep 30, 2016 Comedy PG-13 $17,356,894 2,006,577
11 The Birth of a Nation Oct 7, 2016 Drama R $15,861,566 1,833,707
12 Eddie the Eagle Feb 26, 2016 Drama PG-13 $15,789,389 1,825,362
13 A Beautiful Planet Apr 29, 2016 Documentary G $15,650,615 1,809,319
14 Hillary’s America: The Secr… Jul 15, 2016 Documentary PG-13 $13,099,931 1,514,442
15 Dangal Mar 17, 2017 Action Not Rated $9,225,794 1,066,565
16 Loving Nov 4, 2016 Drama PG-13 $7,482,608 865,041
17 Jackie Dec 2, 2016 Drama R $6,469,725 747,945
18 Bleed for This Nov 18, 2016 Drama R $5,083,906 587,734
19 Hands of Stone Aug 26, 2016 Drama R $4,712,792 544,831
20 Where to Invade Next Dec 23, 2015 Documentary R $3,827,261 442,457
21 Anthropoid Aug 12, 2016 Thriller/Suspense R $2,963,630 342,616
22 The Beatles: Eight Days a Week Sep 16, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $2,919,918 337,562
23 Yip Man 3 Jan 22, 2016 Action PG-13 $2,679,437 309,761
24 Miles Ahead Apr 1, 2016 Drama R $2,610,896 301,837
25 The Disappointments Room Sep 9, 2016 Horror R $2,423,467 280,169
26 The Eagle Huntress Nov 2, 2016 Documentary G $2,089,613 241,573
27 I’m Not Ashamed Oct 21, 2016 Drama PG-13 $2,082,980 240,806
28 Greater Aug 26, 2016 Drama PG $2,000,093 231,224
29 In the Heart of the Sea Dec 11, 2015 Adventure PG-13 $1,957,373 226,286
30 M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story Sep 30, 2016 Drama Not Rated $1,801,550 208,271
31 Weiner May 20, 2016 Documentary R $1,675,196 193,664
32 Neerja Feb 19, 2016 Drama Not Rated $1,585,687 183,316
33 El abrazo de la serpiente Feb 17, 2016 Drama Not Rated $1,329,249 153,670
34 The Music of Strangers: Yo-… Jun 10, 2016 Documentary PG-13 $1,169,214 135,169
35 Vaxxed: From Cover Up to Ca… Apr 1, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $1,163,265 134,481
36 Papa: Hemingway in Cuba Apr 29, 2016 Drama R $1,115,615 128,972
37 Elvis & Nixon Apr 22, 2016 Drama R $1,055,284 121,998
38 Dark Horse Apr 17, 2015 Documentary PG $940,715 108,753
39 Hubble 3D Mar 19, 2010 Documentary G $923,832 106,801
40 Trumbo Nov 6, 2015 Drama R $842,513 97,400
41 Operation Mekong Sep 30, 2016 Action Not Rated $800,012 92,486
42 Born to Be Blue Mar 4, 2016 Drama R $755,153 87,300
43 Born to be Wild 3D Apr 8, 2011 Documentary G $653,620 75,563
44 Patriots Day Dec 21, 2016 Thriller/Suspense R $628,789 72,692
45 Tickled Jun 17, 2016 Documentary R $613,956 70,977
46 City of Gold Mar 11, 2016 Documentary R $608,799 70,381
47 Lo And Behold, Reveries Of … Aug 19, 2016 Documentary PG-13 $594,912 68,775
48 Gleason Jul 29, 2016 Documentary R $585,233 67,656
49 Harry & Snowman May 20, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $552,614 63,886
50 The First Monday in May Apr 15, 2016 Documentary PG-13 $527,474 60,979
51 Himalaya Dec 18, 2015 Adventure Not Rated $439,816 50,845
52 Embrace Jul 15, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $412,340 47,669
53 Mr. Donkey Oct 22, 2016 Comedy Not Rated $356,255 41,185
54 Eat That Question: Frank Za… Jun 24, 2016 Documentary R $355,074 41,049
55 Under the Sea 3D Feb 13, 2009 Documentary G $335,961 38,839
56 Christine Oct 14, 2016 Drama R $297,530 34,396
57 Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer Apr 28, 2016 Drama R $288,434 33,344
58 Mimimalism: A Documentary A… May 24, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $261,865 30,273
59 Oasis: Supersonic Oct 26, 2016 Documentary R $242,867 28,077
60 Spirit of the Game Oct 7, 2016 Drama PG $222,565 25,730
61 Island of Lemurs: Madagascar Apr 4, 2014 Documentary G $214,339 24,779
62 Kaptaan May 20, 2016 Drama Not Rated $203,790 23,559
63 El Clan Aug 13, 2015 Drama R $201,227 23,263
64 Deep Sea 3D Mar 3, 2006 Documentary G $185,453 21,440
65 Jheronimus Bosch, Touched b… Jul 27, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $172,533 19,946
66 De Palma Jun 10, 2016 Documentary R $165,237 19,102
67 The Witness Jun 3, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $158,527 18,326
68 Eva Hesse Apr 27, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $157,481 18,205
69 Generation Found Aug 29, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $151,751 17,543
70 Michael Moore in TrumpLand Oct 19, 2016 Concert/Perfor… Not Rated $149,090 17,235
71 Seed: The Untold Story Aug 22, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $145,001 16,763
72 Janis: Little Girl Blue Nov 27, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $141,679 16,379
73 Neruda Dec 16, 2016 Drama R $140,451 16,237
74 Requiem for the American Dream Jan 29, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $130,152 15,046
75 Miss Sharon Jones Jul 29, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $120,880 13,974
76 Hockney Apr 22, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $120,745 13,958
77 Les Saisons Mar 10, 2016 Documentary PG $109,755 12,688
78 Zero Days Jul 8, 2016 Documentary PG-13 $109,649 12,676
79 Por Siempre Feb 12, 2016 Drama Not Rated $106,833 12,350
80 Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict Nov 6, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $104,844 12,120
81 Best Worst Thing That Ever … Nov 18, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $102,233 11,818
82 Cameraperson Sep 9, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $102,033 11,795
83 Un tango mas Apr 15, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $100,086 11,570
84 V paprscích slunce Apr 27, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $99,436 11,495
85 Tower Oct 12, 2016 Drama Not Rated $98,814 11,423
86 Hitchcock/Truffaut Dec 2, 2015 Documentary PG-13 $98,108 11,341
87 Heart of a Dog Oct 21, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $98,070 11,337
88 Jag är Ingrid Nov 13, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $95,767 11,071
89 Space Station Apr 19, 2002 Documentary Not Rated $94,440 10,917
90 My Love, Don't Cross That R… Jun 17, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $88,018 10,175
91 Author: The JT LeRoy Story Sep 9, 2016 Documentary R $85,999 9,942
92 Los sures Apr 15, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $83,992 9,710
93 Vita Activa: The Spirit of … Apr 6, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $82,143 9,496
94 For the Love of Spock Sep 9, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $80,141 9,264
95 Colliding Dreams Mar 4, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $78,288 9,050
96 Don’t Blink: Robert Frank Jul 13, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $76,134 8,801
97 King Cobra Oct 21, 2016 Drama PG-13 $74,712 8,637
98 Raiders! The Story of the G… Jun 17, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $71,916 8,313
99 Do Not Resist Sep 30, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $71,195 8,230
100 Norman Lear: Just Another V… Jul 8, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $70,950 8,202
101 The Messenger Dec 4, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $67,816 7,840
102 Fuocoammare Jun 10, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $66,419 7,678
103 Trapped Mar 4, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $63,240 7,310
104 Dancer Sep 9, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $62,578 7,234
105 The Dark Horse Apr 1, 2016 Drama R $61,505 7,110
106 Presenting Princess Shaw May 27, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $60,197 6,959
107 Command and Control Sep 14, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $57,635 6,663
108 DONGJU; The Portrait of A Poet Feb 17, 2016 Drama Not Rated $56,184 6,495
109 The Lovers And The Despot Sep 23, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $55,511 6,417
110 Journey to the South Pacific Nov 27, 2013 Documentary G $53,171 6,146
111 The Last Man on the Moon Feb 26, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $52,482 6,067
112 King Georges Feb 26, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $51,663 5,972
113 Fatima Jun 3, 2016 Drama Not Rated $50,105 5,792
114 Pele: Birth of a Legend May 13, 2016 Drama PG $49,979 5,777
115 Mifune: The Last Samurai Nov 25, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $49,438 5,715
116 To the Arctic 3D Apr 20, 2012 Documentary G $46,545 5,381
117 We are X Oct 21, 2016 Documentary R $45,270 5,233
118 Nuts! Jun 22, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $44,230 5,113
119 Danny Says Sep 30, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $44,213 5,111
120 Catching the Sun Apr 1, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $38,613 4,463
121 Germans and Jews Jun 10, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $38,100 4,404
122 How to Let Go of the World … Apr 20, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $36,386 4,206
123 Eisenstein In Guanajuato Feb 5, 2016 Drama Not Rated $34,282 3,963
124 Off the Rails Nov 4, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $34,249 3,959
125 The Map Against the World Sep 9, 2016 Drama Not Rated $32,893 3,802
126 Taxi Oct 2, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $30,554 3,532
127 The Best Democracy Money Ca… Sep 23, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $29,500 3,410
128 Troublemakers: The Story of… Jan 8, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $29,462 3,406
129 The Seventh Fire May 13, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $29,361 3,394
130 The Unknowns May 23, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $29,284 3,385
131 Time to Choose Jun 3, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $29,233 3,379
132 Rabin, The Last Day Jan 29, 2016 Drama Not Rated $28,411 3,284
133 Kang rinpoche May 13, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $28,184 3,258
134 Bikes vs Cars Dec 4, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $28,072 3,245
135 Rabin, in His Own Words May 6, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $27,941 3,230
136 The Last Princess Jul 26, 2016 Drama Not Rated $25,753 2,977
137 Kate Plays Christine Aug 26, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $25,564 2,955
138 Disturbing the Peace Nov 11, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $25,287 2,923
139 No Home Movie Apr 1, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $24,132 2,789
140 Gridiron Heroes Apr 15, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $23,237 2,686
141 Generation Startup Sep 23, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $22,271 2,574
142 The Winding Stream Dec 16, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $21,683 2,506
143 Thank You For Your Service Oct 7, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $21,497 2,485
144 Crocodile Gennadiy May 20, 2016 Documentary R $21,142 2,444
145 Legend Nov 20, 2015 Thriller/Suspense R $20,870 2,412
146 Art Bastard Jun 3, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $19,600 2,265
147 Revelation: Dawn of Global … Apr 15, 2016 Documentary PG $19,107 2,208
148 In Jackson Heights Nov 4, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $18,619 2,152
149 Peter and the Farm Nov 4, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $18,123 2,095
150 Holy Hell May 27, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $18,051 2,086
151 Streit’s: Matzo and the Ame… Apr 20, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $17,506 2,023
152 Landfill Harmonic Sep 9, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $17,205 1,989
153 Sembene! Nov 13, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $17,114 1,978
154 The Lion in Winter Oct 30, 1968 Drama PG $17,024 1,968
155 The Seasons in Quincy: Four… Aug 31, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $16,738 1,935
156 The Letters Dec 4, 2015 Drama PG $14,952 1,728
157 Argentina Jun 17, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $14,869 1,718
158 The Uncondemned Oct 21, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $14,393 1,663
159 Newtown Oct 7, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $14,109 1,631
160 A Space Program Mar 18, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $13,739 1,588
161 Woodlawn Oct 16, 2015 Drama PG $13,498 1,560
162 Siakh lokhamim: ha'slilim h… Oct 15, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $13,029 1,506
163 Elstree 1976 May 6, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $12,173 1,407
164 Hot Water May 5, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $12,101 1,398
165 When Two Worlds Collide Aug 17, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $12,080 1,396
166 Oxygen for the Ears: Living… Aug 31, 2013 Documentary Not Rated $11,755 1,358
167 Lucha Mexico Jul 15, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $11,722 1,355
168 The Ruins of Lifta Sep 23, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $11,548 1,335
169 Harry Benson: Shoot First Dec 9, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $11,398 1,317
170 Theo Who Lived Sep 30, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $11,271 1,303
171 Hacker Dec 2, 2016 Drama R $11,239 1,299
172 National Bird Nov 11, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $10,470 1,210
173 L'affaire SK1 Jun 17, 2016 Drama Not Rated $10,330 1,194
174 Birkebeinerne Jun 17, 2016 Action R $8,905 1,029
175 Butterfly Girl Feb 27, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $8,547 988
176 We Are Twisted F***ing Sister! Feb 15, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $8,277 956
177 Silicon Cowboys Sep 16, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $8,239 952
178 The Other Side May 20, 2016 Documentary PG $8,074 933
179 Talent Has Hunger Mar 11, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $7,998 924
180 Portret van een tuin Oct 26, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $7,914 914
181 The Lost Arcade Aug 12, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $7,500 867
182 Tab Hunter Confidential Oct 15, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $7,489 865
183 Indian Point Jul 8, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $7,251 838
184 El boton de nacar Oct 23, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $7,237 836
185 Rosenwald Aug 14, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $7,033 813
186 The Brainwashing of My Dad Mar 18, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $7,028 812
187 Magnus Nov 18, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $6,921 800
188 Boom Bust Boom Mar 11, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $6,896 797
189 Behind the White Glasses: P… Mar 4, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $6,840 790
190 Mad Tiger Mar 18, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $6,823 788
191 The Dying of the Light Apr 7, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $6,627 766
192 Tanna Nov 6, 2015 Drama Not Rated $5,711 660
193 Call Her Applebroog Jun 10, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $4,842 559
194 Roseanne for President! Jul 1, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $4,734 547
195 Marinoni: The Fire in the F… Apr 1, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $4,696 542
196 Blood on the Mountain Nov 18, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $4,664 539
197 Noma: My Perfect Storm Dec 18, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $4,430 512
198 Breaking a Monster Jun 24, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $4,212 486
199 Among the Believers Sep 30, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $4,189 484
200 I Don’t Belong Anywhere: Th… Mar 30, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $4,069 470
201 Amy Jul 3, 2015 Documentary R $3,528 407
202 Chosen Dec 16, 2016 Drama R $3,057 353
203 Best and Most Beautiful Things Dec 2, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $3,016 348
204 Hooligan Sparrow Jul 22, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $3,000 346
205 Moana Jan 7, 1926 Documentary Not Rated $2,993 346
206 The Bad Kids Dec 16, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $2,977 344
207 The Professor: Tai Chi's Jo… May 6, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $2,852 329
208 Homeland: Iraq Year Zero Oct 6, 2016 Documentary NC-17 $2,491 287
209 Au nom de ma fille Jun 10, 2016 Drama Not Rated $1,623 187
210 A Small Good Thing Aug 19, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $1,196 138
211 Yalom’s Cure Mar 11, 2016 Documentary Not Rated $1,164 134
212 Dark Star: H.R. Giger's World May 13, 2015 Documentary Not Rated $542 62
Total Gross of All Movies$457,146,291
Total Tickets Sold52,849,182

Note: This chart ranks movies by the amount they earned during 2016. It includes movies released in previous years that earned money during 2016. 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.