Brett Ratner Reflects on Documenting Melania Trump

Brett Ratner recently expressed strong confidence in the success of his first major documentary, asserting that the “validation” from audiences has been clear. In a conversation with a media outlet, he discussed the opening weekend of “Melania,” indicating he felt like he had already won before filming even started.

“Honestly, when Melania reached out and asked me to direct this film, I felt victorious right then. Meeting the president for the first time, I remarked, ‘That bullet that took you out was divine intervention,’ and he seemed to agree,” Ratner recounted. He emphasized that getting the opportunity to produce the documentary felt like a stroke of luck. “Access like this was beyond my wildest dreams—I felt like I’d already succeeded,” he added.

Ratner highlighted how infrequently documentaries are shown in theaters globally, describing it as precisely why Melania wanted him involved. “She approached me saying she wanted a feature filmmaker, not just a documentary specialist. I was thrilled because she had big aspirations, not limiting it to just a streaming audience,” he noted. The director seemed genuinely excited about the broader vision she had for the project.

Though the film faced critical backlash, Ratner remarked that audience turnout has been strong. People have returned multiple times, which he found commendable. “I just spoke with the president, and he mentioned his friends’ wives have seen it several times over the weekend,” Ratner said, still processing the film’s impact. The documentary earned $7.1 million in its debut weekend, targeting a conservative audience, especially women over 55, and even became the top documentary opener in Japan in over a decade.

Amazon MGM Studios invested $40 million for the rights to the film and an additional series about Melania that Ratner will also direct, spending another $35 million on marketing.

Ratner shared that he had comprehensive access to the first lady leading up to the president’s second inauguration. Interestingly, he felt the term “documentary” didn’t capture the essence of what he had created. “We’re not documenting history; we’re making it,” he argued, explaining that the film refrained from political footage, focusing instead on the first lady’s role from her perspective.

He observed her commitment while filming—unlike actors who took breaks, she was busy with important meetings. “She’s dedicated, and it was impressive to see her serving the people without rest,” he expressed. Ratner also felt a deep sense of compassion from Melania during shoots in disaster-stricken areas. He described the premiere experience alongside the Trumps as unforgettable, saying, “I doubt I’ll ever have a movie experience like that again.”

President Trump praised the film as “phenomenal” and “sophisticated,” which Ratner interpreted as a sincere compliment, emphasizing the president’s pride in the work. Ratner also shared that Trump intends to show the film to global leaders.

Having explored almost all genres in his career, Ratner felt “Melania” was a fitting return to storytelling in documentary form, crediting Melania for her vision in having him direct. “She recognized something in me that I hadn’t seen myself, which I’m grateful for,” he concluded.