Share this @internewscast.com
Melania Trump has largely been absent from the public eye during Donald Trump’s second term, making the release of the “Melania” documentary on January 30 a rare moment of spotlight for her. However, the film struggled to make an impact, grossing just over $7 million in its opening weekend—a figure that suggests it hasn’t been on many people’s radar. Looper’s video delves into the details behind this box office disappointment.
To put the $7 million opening into perspective, while some reports view it as surpassing expectations, it’s far from profitable. Amazon MGM Studios invested a hefty $40 million to secure the film rights and an additional $35 million in marketing, totaling $75 million. The film’s financial outlook is bleak, echoing the poor performance of another Trump-related film, “The Apprentice,” which also flopped in 2024 despite featuring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump.
Insiders suggest that Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, may have seen distributing “Melania” as a strategic move to gain favor with the Trump administration for business reasons. Despite Amazon’s deep pockets, the financial loss alone doesn’t fully explain the lack of audience interest. Several factors contributed to this outcome.
One significant factor was the severe snowstorm gripping much of the eastern United States during the film’s debut weekend, potentially discouraging theater attendance. Yet, the box office overall remained robust, with “Melania” trailing behind the horror thrillers “Iron Lung” and “Send Help.” It appears audiences preferred the thrill of fictional terror over political narratives.
Compounding the film’s challenges was the involvement of Brett Ratner, the director known for the “Rush Hour” series, who made his return to filmmaking with “Melania” following allegations of sexual misconduct. His association may have turned away potential viewers. Like Bezos, Ratner might have hoped for a reciprocal benefit in getting “Rush Hour 4” underway at Paramount, a project reportedly initiated at Donald Trump’s request.
Snowstorms and Brett Ratner didn’t do Melania any favors
Regine Mahaux/Amazon MGM Studios
Critically, “Melania” fared poorly. It holds a mere 8% score on Rotten Tomatoes from professional critics, contrasted by a striking 98% audience rating on the Popcornmeter. Critics generally agree that the film leans more towards a flattering portrayal of Melania Trump rather than an insightful documentary. Consequently, “Melania” is unlikely to earn a place among esteemed documentaries. For a detailed breakdown of the film’s box office failure, our video at the beginning of this article offers further insights.
There’s also the Brett Ratner of it all. Best known for making the “Rush Hour” trilogy, this is the first film Ratner directed since being accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. Some people on the fence about watching the film might have been deterred by his involvement. Like Jeff Bezos, it’s possible Ratner was hoping for a little quid pro quo to get “Rush Hour 4” off the ground, which is reportedly in the works at Paramount after Donald Trump specifically requested it.
“Melania” also didn’t do well critically. As of this writing, it has an 8% score on Rotten Tomatoes with 26 professional reviews counted. The audience score is far more favorable, with the film having a 98% rating on the Popcornmeter. Most of the critics’ reviews seem to be on the same page: This is less of a documentary and more of a puff piece to boost Melania Trump’s ego. It’s safe to say that “Melania” isn’t making any lists of the best documentaries of all time. If you want a more in-depth look at how “Melania” bombed at the box office, make sure to check out our video at the top of this piece.
