Melania Documentary Outperforms Expectations with $7 Million Opening

The new documentary Melania beat box office projections during its opening weekend, earning approximately $7 million across North America.

Released on Friday, January 30, 2026, the film chronicling Melania Trump’s final 20 days before returning to the White House doubled the initial estimates of many industry analysts.

HGTV Cancels Rehab Addict After Nicole Curtis Racial Slur Video Surfaces

While the total remains a fraction of the film's massive $75 million budget, it marks the strongest opening for a non-concert documentary in over ten years.

Eva Longoria Taps Brooks Nader for Major Role in Netflix Comedy

Amazon MGM Studios sparked significant conversation last year when it paid $40 million for the distribution rights and committed another $35 million to a global marketing campaign.

Kandi Burruss Accuses Estranged Husband Todd Tucker of "Squatting" in Guest House

The promotional blitz included television spots during NFL playoff games and a high-profile projection on the Las Vegas Sphere.

Despite the heavy investment, the film finished third for the weekend, trailing behind the horror thriller Send Help and the science-fiction film Iron Lung.

Audiences and Critics Remain Deeply Divided

The documentary has highlighted a stark divide between professional reviewers and general audiences.

Critics have panned the film, resulting in a single-digit score on Rotten Tomatoes, with some calling it an "airbrushed infomercial."

In contrast, the movie earned an "A" CinemaScore from ticket buyers.

Demographic data reveals that the audience consisted largely of women and viewers over the age of 55, with the strongest ticket sales coming from conservative areas in Florida, Texas, and Arizona.

Directed by Brett Ratner, the project features a premiere that took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., attended by both the President and First Lady.

During the event, the director downplayed the film's financial goals, noting that documentaries rarely behave like blockbusters in theaters.

Industry observers suggest that Amazon’s record-breaking investment may have been motivated by a desire to strengthen corporate ties with the administration rather than pure box office profit.

The film will likely move to the Amazon Prime streaming platform later this month.