“Melania,” a film documenting the life of First Lady Melania Trump, has surpassed expectations at the box office, with estimates indicating a strong opening weekend revenue of $7.04 million.
Coming in third for the weekend, “Melania” trails behind the thriller “Send Help” and the video game adaptation “Iron Lung.” Amazon acquired the documentary for $40 million and is investing $35 million in promotional efforts, despite initial estimates predicting a lower opening weekend revenue.
Critics speculate that Amazon’s generous bid, which surpassed Disney’s offer by $26 million, was aimed at gaining favor with the Trump administration rather than purely based on the film’s commercial potential. The documentary, directed by Brett Ratner, faces controversy due to his past allegations of misconduct.
Despite a screening attended by Apple CEO Tim Cook, “Melania” has received harsh reviews, currently holding a low rating on Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s narrative focuses on Melania Trump’s activities leading up to her husband’s inauguration in 2025.
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Kevin Wilson, Amazon MGM’s head of domestic theatrical distribution, views the film’s opening weekend as a crucial starting point for its future success as both a standalone film and an upcoming docu-series on Amazon Prime.
