Will the 'Melania' documentary be an opening weekend flop?

Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News on Jan 27, 2026

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The “Melania” documentary purchased by Amazon for $40 million is on track to recover as little as $1 million on its opening weekend, according to at least one projection.

But optimists say the movie following Melania Trump in the weeks leading up to her husband’s second inauguration will do a little better than that when it opens around the world on Friday.

According to Puck, the National Research Group expects “Melania” to gross $5 million in North America, despite cold weather throughout much of the country and demonstrations opposing the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

Boxoffice Pro projects even more conservation earnings of between $1 million and $2 million when the movie plays on roughly 1,500 screens over the weekend.

Despite Amazon reportedly sinking an additional $35 million into a global marketing push to pack theaters overseas, early indications show that interest in the film abroad is “soft,” reported British publication The Guardian.

President Donald Trump held a private screening of “Melania” in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, hours after federal agents fatally shot Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti during protests opposing the presence of ICE in Minnesota.Trump reportedly called the film “incredible.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted on social media that the timing of Trump’s “movie night at the White House” proves he’s “unfit” to lead the country.

Rolling Stone reported Monday that people who worked on the movie aren’t excited about it either. One source said “I would really feel great” if “Melania” is a box office bomb. Others complained about working with director Brett Ratner, who largely retreated from Hollywood during the height of the #MeToo movement after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct.

An AMC listing shows that advance tickets for “Melania” are available at several of its New York City area theaters. Tickets are discounted by 20% for multiple daytime screenings.

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