‘Melania’ documentary surprises Hollywood press with strong box office opening
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“Melania,” a documentary about 20 days in the life of the First Lady until President Donald Trump’s second term, shocked the Hollywood press with its surprise opening weekend.
Reports stated that “Melania” posted the best opening weekend for a documentary in over a decade, in stark contrast to its low critical score.
“No one saw it coming; many were suggesting that ‘Melania’ was a bomb before it even opened, based on maps of empty or nearly empty seats at theaters across the country.” Hollywood Reporter It was reported on Saturday.
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The documentary “Melania” had the highest box office opening for a documentary in over a decade. (Melania Trump)
It continued like this”[E]Attendees were not as convinced due to a stagnation in ticket sales and an endless stream of social posts showing auditoriums with very few tickets sold (it’s hard to remember a non-concert documentary being so scrutinized for its opening number).”
Other entertainment outlets also expressed surprise at the box office performance of the “Melania” documentary.
“‘Melania: Twenty Days to History’ Proving the haters and losers wrong. “The documentary, directed by Brett Ratner, about three weeks in the life of the incoming First Lady, exceeded expectations.” Rolling Stone magazine It was reported on Sunday.
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Hollywood press outlets were largely shocked by the box office numbers for “Melania.” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Variety reported that the film “dwarfed box office expectations.” Deadline requested Despite concerns about “plenty of juice” at the box office, “Melania” had “crushed it exactly where it needed to be” in the red areas.
New York Times She called the numbers a “redemptive outcome for the First Lady” after initial estimates predicted the film would only make $5 million, but contextualized that big opening.
“Analysts on Saturday predicted domestic ticket sales for the nearly two-hour movie would be about $8 million. The actual amount of $7 million suggests opening day was packed with Mrs. Trump’s fans,” the New York Times wrote.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Amazon MGM Studios for comment.
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Reports also revealed that Amazon MGM Studios spent $40 million on the documentary and $35 million on marketing. But the studio reportedly plans to recoup those costs through licensing deals and upcoming plans to add the film to the Prime Video streaming service.
Amazon was reportedly pleased with the weekend opening numbers for the “Melania” documentary, despite its high costs. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
“While early box office returns for ‘Melania’ exceeded our expectations, we are very encouraged by the strong start and positive audience response,” Kevin Wilson, head of domestic theatrical distribution for Amazon MGM, said in a speech. Statement to Variety. “This momentum is an important first step in what we see as a long-tail lifecycle for both the film and the upcoming docuseries, extending well beyond the theatrical window and what we believe will be a significant effort for both services. We are confident in the long-term value this rollout will deliver to customers both in theaters and on Prime Video for years to come.”
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The “Melania” documentary was also widely criticized by entertainment critics as a form of “propaganda” for the Trump administration. In contrast, verified audience users on the website Rotten Tomatoes largely praised the film, giving it a 99% approval rating.
