Documentary films have often struggled to make a significant impact at the box office, but a recent release is challenging that trend. “You Can See Everything,” directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, has captivated audiences with its gripping portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes, drawing an impressive $15.6 million in the US and Canada during its opening weekend.
This achievement ranks it as the second-largest opening for a documentary in history, trailing only Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which opened to nearly $24 million in 2004. “You Can See Everything” provides an intimate look at Holmes, the former CEO of the now-defunct blood-testing company, Theranos, as she navigates the final days before beginning her prison sentence for investor fraud.
The success of this documentary is particularly noteworthy amid the current trend favoring streaming platforms over theatrical releases. Since the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, few documentaries have achieved significant box office numbers. In recent years, only “Melania” and “After Death” have managed to break into the top openings for the genre, with the former grossing $7.1 million in early 2026 and the latter $5 million in 2023.
Theatrical documentaries once enjoyed a golden era, particularly in the 2000s and 2010s, when films focusing on nature, politics, and celebrity captivated audiences. Despite the current shift towards digital platforms, the success of “You Can See Everything” highlights the enduring appeal of documentaries when they resonate with timely and significant subject matter.
For those curious about the top-grossing documentaries of all time, here is a list of the 25 highest-grossing traditional documentary film openings, as compiled by Box Office Mojo. Notably, this list excludes concert documentaries like “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,” focusing instead on traditional nonfiction narratives.
