Congradulations to director Raoul Peck as his documentary ‘I am Not Your Negro’ not only became his highest grossing film, but also joined the list of one of the highest grossing documentaries of all time:
“Two noteworthy accomplishments worth calling attention to.
First, a 2017 Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary to its credit, Raoul Peck’s universally critically-acclaimed, and much-discussed I Am Not Your Negro, ended its USA theatrical run over the summer after 126 days, with a total box office gross of $7,123,919, earning it the number 33 ranking on the all-time USA box office of the highest grossing documentaries of all time.
The list is topped by provocateur Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 which grossed $119 million over the course of its entire theatrical run in 2004.
Three key things to keep in mind: Fahrenheit 9/11 was something of an outlier. Documentaries just don’t earn that kind of box office; not even close to that. It’s the only documentary to have grossed over $100 million (not adjusted for inflation). The next film on the list is March of the Penguins with $77 million – a significant $40+ million separating number 1 from number 2. Also note that the vast majority of films on the list (75% of them) grossed between $2 and $9 million, putting I Am Not Your Negro above the average. And finally, it’s should be pointed out that I Am Not Your Negro’s widest theatrical release was just 320 screens – nowhere near the 2,000 to 3,500 screens that most of the films in the top 10 were released on.”
(Source: Shadowandact.com)
Originally published: 11/27/2017
