Amazon’s ‘Melania’ Documentary Earns $7M During Opening Weekend

The documentary “Melania,” centered around First Lady Melania Trump, has significantly surpassed its initial box office forecasts. Preliminary estimates indicate that the film grossed approximately $7.04 million during its opening weekend, placing it third overall among weekend releases.

A Strong Opening Weekend Performance

“Melania” earned its revenue amid stiff competition from other films. It trailed behind the thriller “Send Help,” directed by Sam Raimi, which brought in $20 million. The video game adaptation “Iron Lung,” created by YouTuber Mark Fischbach, also performed well, earning $17.8 million.

Amazon’s Investment

• Amazon acquired “Melania” for $40 million.
• An additional $35 million has been allocated for promotional activities.
• Despite this, the film may struggle to generate profit based on its theatrical performance.

Prior estimates anticipated an opening weekend of only $3 to $5 million. Critics have suggested that Amazon’s substantial investment stemmed more from a desire to curry favor with the Trump administration than from the film’s box office potential. Disney was the next nearest bidder, falling $26 million short of Amazon’s offer.

Criticism and Controversy

The film marks the first directorial effort by Brett Ratner since 2017, following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Though Ratner has denied these accusations, the film’s personnel also reflect controversy. Reports indicate that two-thirds of the crew based in New York requested not to be credited for their work.

Reactions and Ratings

Advanced screenings for critics were not conducted, and the film has since received negative feedback. Current ratings include a mere 7% on Metacritic and 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting widespread disapproval.

Film critic Manohla Dargis from the New York Times described “Melania” as “a very circumscribed and carefully stage-managed chronicle of Mrs. Trump’s day-to-day life” leading up to President Trump’s inauguration in 2025.

Kevin Wilson, head of domestic theatrical distribution for Amazon MGM, characterized the opening weekend as a crucial “first step” for the film. He expressed optimism for its future, envisioning a “significant life” for both the documentary and the related docu-series on Amazon Prime.