Melania Trump Discusses Her New Documentary
Melania Trump recently joined Rachel Campos-Duffy on “Fox & Friends Weekend” to discuss her new documentary titled “Melania.” The film chronicles the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s inauguration for his second term last year. It’s reportedly performing quite well, with projections estimating it will earn around $8 million during its opening weekend, making it one of the most successful documentaries in over a decade.
The Hollywood Reporter suggests that while “Melania” might rank third in box office performance, it is expected to outpace Jason Statham’s “Shelter,” falling just behind the horror flick “Iron Lung” and “Send Help” starring Rachel McAdams. Notably, Amazon acquired the distribution rights for a whopping $75 million, making this documentary the most expensive of its kind to date. Melania also took on the role of executive producer, through Muse Films, a production company she founded last year.
In light of rising tensions in Minneapolis following a federal shooting, President Melania Trump has called for national unity.
Interestingly, audience demographics indicate that adults over 55 made up a significant 78% of ticket sales, with 72% of that group being women. This unique trend helped local theaters achieve an impressive 46% attendance rate, which is quite rare for a film’s debut. The leading ticket sales came from Florida, Texas, and Arizona.
However, the documentary hasn’t escaped criticism. Some reviewers labeled it as propaganda for the Trump administration. A man from Staten Island, who typically doesn’t visit theaters, told The New York Times that he bought a ticket to support Melania as a way to “kick Hollywood.” Applause and chants of “Trump 2028!” reportedly erupted during one screening when the documentary showed the president’s swearing-in.
While the film has its advocates, Variety magazine described it as overly orchestrated, more akin to an infomercial than a genuine portrait of the first lady.
The premiere took place at the newly renamed Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., drawing a diverse crowd that included figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Mehmet Oz, and rapper Nicki Minaj.
U.S. attorney Alina Haba expressed her hopes for the audience’s perception of Melania, emphasizing her intelligence and grace in navigating public life alongside her husband. She described Melania as someone whose time to shine has finally arrived.
For context, the highest-grossing documentary remains “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which made $119 million back in 2004, equivalent to about $208 million today when adjusted for inflation.
