Melania Documentary Achieves Strong $8 Million Opening Weekend
The documentary film Melania, which chronicles twenty days in the life of former First Lady Melania Trump before President Donald Trump began his second term last year, is performing significantly better than anticipated at the box office. According to recent reports, the film is projected to earn approximately $8 million during its opening weekend. This impressive figure marks the strongest debut for a documentary in more than ten years, highlighting its unexpected commercial success.
Box Office Rankings and Distribution Details
Despite its robust performance, the documentary is expected to secure the third position at the box office. It trails behind the horror film Iron Lung and the Rachel McAdams-starring movie Send Help, while surpassing Jason Statham's action film Shelter, as reported by Fox News. The documentary's release has been extensive, with screenings across 27 countries and a nationwide rollout this weekend.
Amazon reportedly invested a substantial $75 million to acquire distribution rights and fund marketing efforts for the Brett Ratner-directed project. This investment has positioned Melania as the most expensive documentary ever produced, according to Fox News, underscoring the high stakes involved in its release.
Audience Demographics and Regional Performance
The film's box office success has been largely driven by older viewers. Data indicates that Americans aged 55 and above accounted for 78% of ticket buyers, with women over 55 making up 72% of this demographic. This audience composition is notable for its skew toward mature audiences, which is somewhat unusual for a new release.
In terms of regional performance, rural theaters contributed a significant 46% of the opening weekend audience, an unusually high share that reflects broad appeal beyond urban centers. The strongest markets in ticket sales were Florida, Texas, and Arizona, indicating concentrated interest in these states.
Mixed Critical Reception and Audience Reactions
Critical reception for Melania has been divided. While some reviewers praised the film's access and focus on the First Lady, others criticized it sharply, accusing it of serving as propaganda for the Trump administration. This polarization in reviews highlights the documentary's controversial nature and its potential to spark debate.
Audience reactions have varied as well. For instance, a 60-year-old Staten Island resident told The New York Times that he rarely visits theaters but bought a ticket to watch Melania because he wanted to see it "kick Hollywood's a--." According to The Times, certain screenings saw audiences applauding during the president's swearing-in ceremony, accompanied by chants of "Trump 2028!"
Variety offered a particularly critical assessment, describing the film as a "documentary that never comes to life. It's a 'portrait' of the First Lady of the United States, but it's so orchestrated and airbrushed and stage-managed that it barely rises to the level of a shameless infomercial."
Support from Admirers and Industry Insights
At the premiere, US Attorney Alina Habba shared her admiration for the First Lady with Fox News Digital, saying, "I hope they get to see what I see." She added, "She is incredibly astute. She is incredibly involved. She does everything with grace. She has taken the punches right next to him and always held herself out with such grace. And I'm happy that for a woman who's a girl boss, who's literally a legend, and should have been on the cover of Vogue, she's going to have her time to shine."
Overall, the documentary Melania has made a significant impact at the box office, defying expectations with its strong opening weekend performance. Its success among older audiences and in rural areas, combined with its high production costs and mixed critical reception, positions it as a notable entry in the documentary genre, sparking discussions about its content and appeal.
