A documentary chronicling the life of First Lady Melania Trump, titled 'Melania,' is scheduled for a limited global release following its premiere at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, according to reports from Al Jazeera. The 104-minute film offers an intimate look at the Slovenian-American first lady in the three weeks leading up to the 2025 inauguration, a period marked by rising domestic economic concerns and international geopolitical friction.
The feature film's substantial financial backing is drawing immediate attention, given the political climate surrounding the administration. Amazon MGM Studios reportedly purchased the rights for $40 million, an amount that significantly outpaced competing bids, alongside an estimated $35 million allocated for promotion, according to The New York Times. This large outlay is fueling speculation that the acquisition may function as a gesture to curry favor with the current White House.
Film producer Marc Beckman stated that the documentary maintains a strictly non-political focus, emphasizing diplomatic engagements and fashion choices, though Melania Trump served as an executive producer, granting her editorial control. Reports suggest that the First Lady is slated to receive seventy percent of the $40 million acquisition fee, a detail AFP cites, further complicating the narrative surrounding the film’s intent and funding structure.
Market expectations for the documentary's box office performance appear muted, with projections from the National Research Group (NRG) estimating opening weekend earnings of about $5 million in North America. This figure, alongside lower estimates from Boxoffice, suggests the film may not approach breakeven based solely on ticket sales, drawing comparisons to past politically charged documentaries with vastly different financial profiles.
Further controversy stems from the involvement of director Brett Ratner, whose career was largely sidelined following sexual assault allegations in 2017, though he reportedly denies these claims. Ratner is also set to direct a new installment of the *Rush Hour* franchise, a project reportedly encouraged by the President, and his involvement in this film has drawn commentary from industry analysts.
Geopolitical ramifications are also evident, as South African cinema chains reportedly pulled the documentary, citing “the current climate” without specific elaboration, amidst strained diplomatic relations between Pretoria and the Trump administration. This decision underscores how the film’s association with the administration is influencing international distribution decisions.
Analysts, including former Amazon film division staffer Ted Hope, suggest the premium paid by Amazon MGM equates to attempting to gain influence within the administration, particularly as the administration faces scrutiny over its close ties to major donors and crypto ventures. This context positions the high-cost documentary as potentially more of a political transaction than a standard entertainment acquisition.
