Amazon has pulled the documentary “Melania” from a theater in Oregon following a billboard that featured humor about the film, including a line that asked, “Is Melania Wearing Prada? Find out Friday!”
Lake Oswego’s Lake Theater and Cafe stated that Amazon was not pleased with another ad that quoted Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War,” saying, “To defeat your enemy, you must know your enemy. Melania starts on Friday.”
The manager, Jordan Perry, mentioned in a statement that he received a call indicating that Amazon’s higher-ups were upset over how the theater was advertising their film. They announced that Sunday would be the last day for the movie, which could be considered surprising, perhaps even a bit harsh.
Amazon MGM Studios had acquired the rights to produce and distribute the film directed by Brett Ratner for $40 million back in 2025.
Perry expressed that he wasn’t entirely unhappy with the decision to withdraw the film. In his Instagram post, he noted that the theater had received various emails and reviews asking why the film was even being shown, which seemed to hint at a lack of public interest.
A photo shared on social media depicted the marquee with a new message: “We got a call from Amazon. The marquee has upset them. All ‘Melania’ screenings have been canceled. Show your support at Whole Foods instead. Join Amazon Prime for free 2-day shipping.”
Perry added in a blog post that his choice to showcase “Melania” was an attempt to create some buzz during a typically slow time for cinema. He wondered why not display a film that many might consider a piece of vanity regarding the current first lady amidst a context of disruption.
The film “Melania” was released on around 1,800 screens across the U.S. last week, and it has managed to become the highest-grossing documentary in a decade.
Amazon did not provide immediate comments in response to inquiries regarding the situation.
Perry pointed out that from an $11 ticket purchase, roughly $5.50 would go to Amazon. He humorously noted in his blog that they made a donation of $196 to the Jeff Bezos Trust Fund, joking that while Bezos might not notice the amount, his team surely would have seen the marquee.
