“Melania’s Box Office Revenue Plummets Dramatically”
Hollywood faced a slow box-office weekend as the focus shifted towards football, particularly during Super Bowl weekend. The survival thriller “Send Help” maintained its top position, while the documentary “Melania” experienced a significant drop in revenue.
Melania’s Box Office Revenue Plummets Dramatically
During the second weekend of its release, “Melania,” directed by Brett Ratner and produced by Amazon MGM, saw a staggering 67% decline in ticket sales. The film earned only $2.4 million, bringing its North American total to $13.4 million.
Super Bowl Impact on Box Office
Historically, Super Bowl weekend is one of the weakest times for cinema attendance. Last year, it recorded the second lowest box office figures, and this year, it placed last again. Major studios refrained from releasing new films, instead concentrating on advertising their movies during the Super Bowl broadcast, which attracts a massive television audience.
Box Office Performance
Despite “Melania” adding 300 theaters to its distribution, the film’s revenues indicate a looming flop, especially following Amazon MGM’s hefty investments. The company spent $40 million for the rights to the film, coupled with a $35 million marketing budget. Kevin Wilson, the head of domestic distribution, emphasized that the box office figures were a crucial moment for the overall marketing strategy ahead of the film’s release on Prime Video.
Other Box Office Highlights
Meanwhile, “Send Help,” directed by Sam Raimi, led with $10 million and has grossed $53.7 million worldwide. Other notable releases included:
- “Solo Mio” – $7.2 million
- “Iron Lung” – $6.2 million, totaling $31.2 million over two weeks
- “Stray Kids: The Dominate Experience” – $5.6 million
- “Dracula” – $4.5 million
The animated feature “Zootopia 2” continued its strong performance, surpassing $1.8 billion globally in its 11th week of release.
Late-Night Commentary
The performance of “Melania” drew significant media attention. Late-night hosts, including Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, frequently mentioned the film’s disappointing sales, with Kimmel labeling them a “rigged outcome.”
The dismal performance of “Melania” highlights the unpredictable nature of box office success, particularly during competitive times like the Super Bowl weekend.
