‘Melania’ Documentary Becomes Most Expensive Ever, Records Strong Opening Weekend

The documentary Melania, based on the life of former U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, has made headlines with a record-breaking opening weekend at the North American box office. The film, which chronicles the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, is now being hailed as the most expensive documentary ever, with $35 million spent on marketing alone.

Box Office and Reception
Directed by Brett Ratner, Melania earned approximately $7 million during its opening weekend, primarily driven by Trump supporters. While this is considered an impressive number for a documentary, critics have not been as generous. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds just a 10% approval rating, and on Metacritic, it scores only 6%.

Despite critical reviews, the documentary has generated significant attention. First Lady Melania Trump herself shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), praising audience response and noting that Melania has already earned more than five films nominated for the 2025 Oscars.

Production and Controversy
Melania marks Ratner’s first feature in 12 years following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has consistently denied. Amazon MGM Studios acquired the distribution rights for $40 million and invested an additional $35 million in marketing. The Hollywood Reporter has described it as the most expensive documentary in history.

Amazon, however, defended its decision to back the film, citing anticipated audience interest. Ticket sales reflect a political divide, with higher turnout in conservative areas and lower engagement in liberal urban centers.

Audience Demographics
According to trade publication Variety, approximately 75% of the audience was from North America, followed by 11% Hispanic viewers. The documentary primarily traces Melania Trump’s life from her childhood in Slovenia to the 2024 election campaign.

Summary
While Melania may not have impressed critics, it has achieved significant commercial attention, breaking records for documentary marketing and generating strong audience engagement in politically aligned regions.