The documentary film on former First Lady Melania Trump has received a lukewarm response even before hitting theaters in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The $75 million production, titled Melania, is set to release on January 30, but ticket sales in major cinemas in New York and London remain extremely low, with many showing only one or two tickets sold. In some Times Square theaters, not a single $25 ticket for the 7:30 pm show had been purchased.
Despite heavy promotion on former President Donald Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, users have begun posting images of nearly empty cinemas.
The documentary covers the 20 days leading up to President Trump’s inauguration. It has been reported that Melania Trump received $28 million for her participation in the film.
Streaming rights were purchased by Amazon for $40 million, with an additional $35 million spent on marketing, promotion, and distribution.
Melania has described the film as revealing previously unknown aspects of her life, including managing her business, philanthropic work, family, and the preparation of the White House East Wing.
However, critics have mocked the film, noting that the historic East Wing no longer exists as it has been converted into a ballroom. Several crew members have publicly labeled the documentary as propaganda, and two-thirds of the team requested their names be removed from the credits due to reputational concerns.
The film has also drawn criticism for its timing, as Melania promoted the documentary while a shooting incident occurred in Minnesota, raising questions about priorities.
The documentary’s poor pre-release reception has sparked debates over its potential impact on the Trump brand, particularly ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
