Here’s a shocking truth: despite the media frenzy surrounding Melania, the documentary about former First Lady Melania Trump, the film failed to crack the UK’s top 25 box office rankings in its opening weekend, landing at a disappointing No. 29. But here’s where it gets controversial—while the film’s earnings of £32,974 across 155 cinemas might seem underwhelming, especially compared to Amazon’s reported $75 million (£54.6 million) investment, it’s not the catastrophic flop some predicted. So, what’s the real story behind this polarizing release?
Directed by Brett Ratner, the film averaged just £212.80 per screen, with many UK screenings playing to nearly empty rooms. Vue CEO Tim Richards had already labeled ticket sales as “soft” ahead of the premiere, and the reality matched the prediction. However, there were exceptions—Vue Islington, for instance, saw packed houses, largely filled with journalists eager to dissect the film’s portrayal of Trump’s wife. And this is the part most people miss—while the UK reception was tepid, the film actually exceeded expectations in the US, grossing $2.9 million (£2.1 million) on its opening day. Yet, it still couldn’t outshine Iron Lung, a low-budget horror film made by YouTuber Mark Fischbach, which raked in $21 million (£15.3 million) on a mere $3 million budget.
Speaking of surprises, Iron Lung secured the No. 4 spot in the UK box office, outperforming even Jason Statham’s Shelter. Meanwhile, Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet claimed the top spot with £1.4 million in earnings, bringing its total to £14.8 million. But let’s circle back to Melania—the film follows the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s hypothetical second inauguration in January 2025, a premise that’s as intriguing as it is divisive.
Critically, the documentary has been panned, holding a dismal 10% score on review platforms. Yet, audience ratings tell a different story, with viewers awarding it a staggering 99%, seemingly as a show of support for Trump. Is this a case of art imitating politics, or politics hijacking art? In his scathing one-star review for The Independent, Nick Hilton questioned whether Melania is even a documentary, calling it “post-modern post-entertainment” and criticizing its staged, reality TV-esque approach. “This is somewhere between reality TV and pure fiction,” he wrote, echoing the film’s blurred lines between truth and performance.
So, where do you stand? Is Melania a failed attempt at storytelling, a political statement, or something else entirely? Let’s spark a debate—does the film’s reception say more about its quality, or about the audience’s divided loyalties? Share your thoughts below!
