First Lady Melania Trump’s self-titled documentary has drawn widespread attention not just for its release, but for the reactions surrounding it. During a recent CNN segment, the network briefly paused regular coverage to air commentary that openly mocked the film’s theatrical performance.
Appearing on CNN with anchor Abby Phillip, Democratic political commentator Adam Mockler offered a sarcastic take on the documentary’s value. While discussing whether the film was worth seeing in theaters, Mockler joked that it could actually work well as a first-date option precisely because of the lack of crowds.
According to him, an empty theater means no interruptions, the freedom to bring in snacks, and the ability to talk without bothering anyone. His remark was meant as humor, but it quickly went viral due to the contrast between public skepticism and the film’s financial results.
Despite heavy criticism, Melania has turned into an unexpected box-office success. Following its Washington, D.C., premiere on Thursday, January 29 where President Donald Trump appeared alongside the First Lady the documentary opened to an estimated $8 million. That performance places it on track to become the strongest documentary debut in the past decade.
Critics have not been kind. The film currently holds a 6% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Even so, it secured the number three spot at the box office, trailing only new releases Send Help and Iron Lung, while outperforming Jason Statham’s Shelter, which underwhelmed with a projected $5 million (box office update).
Amazon MGM Studios reportedly paid $40 million for global distribution rights, making Melania the most expensive documentary acquisition on record. Directed by Brett Ratner and rated PG, the film was backed by a $35 million marketing campaign aimed largely at conservative-leaning states. According to The Hollywood Reporter, nearly three-quarters of the opening-day audience consisted of women over 55 (marketing insight).
The film’s box-office performance has led to comparisons with earlier politically driven documentaries such as An Inconvenient Truth and Fahrenheit 9/11. Michael Moore’s 2004 release remains the highest-grossing documentary of all time, debuting at $23.9 million and earning $222 million worldwide (comparison).
Interestingly, audience reactions have been far more positive than critical reviews. The film holds a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and received an “A” CinemaScore, suggesting strong approval among ticket buyers.
Initial expectations were much lower. Some theaters reportedly scaled back their projections to around $2 million due to weak pre-sales and online skepticism. However, early Friday grosses forced studios to revise estimates upward to between $8 and $9 million (forecast update).
Amazon is expected to move the documentary to Prime Video in the near future, potentially aligning with President’s Day weekend. A limited theatrical run may continue, allowing the company to benefit from both box-office exposure and streaming engagement.
Despite doubts, criticism, and plenty of ridicule, Melania has clearly exceeded industry expectations at least financially highlighting once again how politically charged media can perform very differently with audiences than with critics.
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