Melania Trump Documentary Cost Amazon a Fortune – Will Anyone Actually Watch?
A lot of people are curious if Melania Trump’s new movie will actually draw a crowd this weekend. The new documentary follows the First Lady during the twenty days leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration. It is hitting over 1,500 theaters this Friday, which is a massive release for a documentary.
Usually, this kind of film doesn’t pull in big box office numbers compared to fictional movies, so having it on this many screens is rare. Experts are seeing projections climb, with initial guesses of $1 million to $2 million now being bumped up to a possible $5 million debut.
The real catch here is how much Amazon MGM Studios spent to get the film into theaters. They reportedly paid $40 million to secure the rights and another $35 million just to market it. Spending $75 million on a project that might only make $5 million in its first weekend is a huge gamble. Some industry insiders think even $5 million is a generous guess, noting that most documentaries about public figures usually go straight to streaming because that is where the value is.
Because everyone knows the movie will be on Prime Video in a few weeks, it might be easy for people to just wait and watch it at home. It also faces stiff competition from major thrillers and horror films that are opening at the same time. While some theaters in conservative areas are showing strong ticket sales, other major cities are seeing very little interest so far.
The film was directed by Brett Ratner, marking his return to the director’s chair for the first time in years. Donald Trump has been vocal on social media, telling his followers that the movie is a MUST WATCH and claiming that tickets are selling out, FAST! Whether that translates to a long-term hit or just a quick flash in the pan is the big question for the second week.
Melania Trump has been quite active lately, beyond just promoting the film. In January, she rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange and has been hosting high-profile screenings, including a VIP event at the White House attended by tech leaders and celebrities. She also recently teased a new legislative initiative titled Fostering the Future for American Children and Families, showing she plans to stay very busy in her second term as First Lady.
As for the director, Brett Ratner is reportedly looking to capitalize on this comeback by getting his Rush Hour 4 project finally moving. The documentary itself features exclusive footage of the Trump family and is expected to land on Amazon Prime by the end of February. With the film soon available in theaters across the country and the world, it serves as the first major test of Melania’s personal brand as a solo media draw.
Do you think a behind-the-scenes look at the First Lady’s life is enough to get people back into movie theaters, or would you rather wait for the streaming release? Share your thoughts in the comments.