What is the story about?
The documentary Melania, which follows the life of Melania Trump in the 20 days leading up to the second presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, is
officially heading to streaming. The film will begin streaming on Amazon Prime Video on March 9 (today), bringing the controversial but widely discussed project to audiences at home. The documentary made headlines due to the FLOTUS sharing her private life for the first time as well as for the massive distribution deal it secured and the filmmaker behind it. Despite mixed reactions from critics, the film managed to perform better than expected at the box office and among its target audience.
About Melania documentary
Directed by Brett Ratner, the documentary marks the filmmaker’s return to directing after nearly a decade. Ratner was previously known for helming the popular action-comedy franchise Rush Hour, but his career came to a halt in 2017 following multiple accusations of rape and s*xual misconduct. The allegations led to a silent boycott of sorts, making Melania his first directorial project since the controversy.
The film got huge attention even before its release after Amazon MGM Studios reportedly purchased the streaming rights for a staggering $75 million. The deal also sparked debate due to its connection with the Trump family and the large financial investment behind the documentary.
While Melania did not become a blockbuster in theaters, its performance still exceeded many expectations. The documentary debuted with $7 million during its opening weekend and ultimately went on to earn approximately $16.6 million at the box office. Given that documentaries typically have modest theatrical runs, the numbers were considered a solid showing.
Production for the project reportedly cost around $40 million, with an additional $35 million spent on marketing, bringing the total budget close to the price paid for its distribution rights. Despite the significant investment and the political controversy surrounding it, the documentary appears to have resonated strongly with its intended audience. Audience reception, in particular, has been notably positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an impressive 98% score on the Popcornmeter, which measures reactions from verified ticket buyers. This shows strong support from viewers and target audience.
What did Donald Trump say about the documentary?
Melania Trump herself shared the announcement on X, expressing excitement about the film’s streaming release. In her message, she wrote that audiences would now be able to gain 'unprecedented access' to her personal journey and watch never-before-seen footage from the documentary from the comfort of their homes.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump also commented on the project during a public appearance, jokingly describing his wife as a 'big movie star.' He claimed that theaters were packed and suggested that many women returned to watch the film multiple times.
