Los Angeles buzzed this weekend as the documentary ‘Melania,’ centered on America’s former First Lady Melania Trump, stormed North American box offices with a robust $7 million opening. Directed by Brett Ratner, the film captures the intimate lead-up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, offering a glimpse into the life of one of the most enigmatic figures in recent political history.
Trump supporters propelled the documentary to this impressive figure, a rare feat for the genre. Industry watchers predict it could become the top-performing documentary in nearly a decade, fueled by grassroots enthusiasm. Melania herself celebrated the news on social media, highlighting an ‘A’ CinemaScore from audiences who flocked to theaters.
Yet, the critical reception tells a starkly different story. On Metacritic, it scraped just 6% approval, while Rotten Tomatoes clocked in at a dismal 10%. Critics dismissed it as lacking depth, with few finding merit in its portrayal.
This marks Ratner’s feature directorial return after 12 years, shadowed by past sexual misconduct allegations he has vehemently denied—no criminal charges ever materialized. The film’s hefty budget, reportedly exceeding $75 million including distribution and marketing by Amazon MGM Studios, positions it as one of Hollywood’s priciest documentaries ever.
Amazon downplayed the costs, insisting the project was licensed for its audience appeal. Ticket sales mirrored America’s political divide: conservative regions showed strong turnout, while liberal urban centers remained tepid. Variety reported 75% of viewers were North American, with 11% Hispanic audiences, reflecting a polarized yet commercially promising debut.
As ‘Melania’ navigates this divide, its box office trajectory will test whether public curiosity can outweigh critical scorn in a fragmented media landscape.