Melania Trump’s self-titled documentary debuted in theaters over the weekend, landing in third place at the box office with a domestic gross of approximately $7 million. While the film surpassed expectations, it faced stiff competition from the horror thriller Send Help, starring Rachel McAdams, which brought in around $20 million, and the self-distributed video game adaptation Iron Lung, which earned $17.9 million.
Fox News paused its regular programming to cover President Donald Trump, 79, signing a bill to reopen the government after a partial shutdown. During the broadcast, Trump praised his wife’s documentary, calling attention to her accomplishments and charisma. “Movie star! Melania Trump,” he exclaimed, adding, “She really loves the children… And she's had tremendous success. So it's the number one documentary in 19 years. Can you believe this?”
The president, addressing the assembled journalists, emphasized that he received no personal benefit from the film. “So I had a top model. Now I have a top movie star,” he said, referring to Melania’s international modeling career before entering the White House.
For readers interested in more behind-the-scenes insights, you can explore Melania’s revealing thoughts after Donald Trump’s presidency and her detailed interactions documented in emails.
Directed by Brett Ratner, the documentary follows Melania Trump in the months leading up to her husband’s second inauguration, showcasing her meticulous attention to detail as she selects and fits her inaugural coat, gown, and hat. Despite being third at the box office, the documentary exceeded pre-release projections, which had estimated earnings between $2 million and $5 million.
At the Kennedy Center premiere in Washington, D.C., Ratner addressed the film’s box office performance, noting that documentaries traditionally do not achieve blockbuster results. “It’s a documentary, and documentaries historically have not been huge box office smashes,” he explained. “You can’t expect a documentary to play in theaters like a standard feature film.” You can read more about Ratner’s thoughts on the film’s reception in this detailed post.
President Trump, who also attended the premiere, shared his enthusiasm for the film. “It really brings back a glamour that you just don’t see anymore. Our country can use a little bit of that, right?” he remarked. For additional reactions and key takeaways from the documentary, check out this analysis.
After its theatrical run, Melania is slated to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video sometime later in 2026, giving audiences nationwide the chance to experience the First Lady’s story from the comfort of home. You can also see early reviews and critiques in this coverage.
Comments
Post a Comment