South Africa’s leading cinema chains have pulled the documentary Melania from their schedules just one day before its planned international release, with the local distributor citing “the current climate” as the reason for the abrupt decision.
The film, directed by Brett Ratner and featuring extensive interviews with US First Lady Melania Trump, was set to open in South African cinemas on January 30, 2026. However, on Thursday, January 29, 2026, the movie disappeared from the online listings and booking systems of both Nu Metro and Ster-Kinekor, the country’s two dominant cinema operators.
The South African distributor, Filmfinity, confirmed it had withdrawn the film from release. In a brief statement to local media, Filmfinity’s head of marketing, Thobashan Govindarajulu, said: “Due to the current climate in the country, we have decided not to proceed with the theatrical release of Melania at this time.” No further details were provided, and attempts by journalists to obtain additional clarification from the company were unsuccessful.
Nu Metro issued a short statement confirming that the decision originated with Filmfinity. “The rights to the film are held by the distributor. The withdrawal was made at their request, and we have complied accordingly,” the cinema chain said.
Ster-Kinekor did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but its website and app also showed no screenings for the documentary.
The withdrawal occurs against a backdrop of significantly strained diplomatic and public relations between South Africa and the administration of US President Donald Trump. In recent months, Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims on social media and in public statements that the South African government is engaged in a “genocide” against white Afrikaans farmers and that land expropriation policies amount to racial persecution. Pretoria has categorically rejected these allegations as false and inflammatory, accusing the former US president of spreading disinformation and interfering in South Africa’s domestic affairs.
The South African government, through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, has described Trump’s remarks as “baseless and irresponsible,” noting that they misrepresent the country’s land reform programme, which aims to address historical inequalities stemming from apartheid-era dispossession. Pretoria has emphasised that no systematic violence or genocide against any racial group is taking place.
The timing of the film’s cancellation has led to speculation in local media and on social platforms that political sensitivities may have influenced Filmfinity’s decision. However, neither the distributor nor the cinema chains have cited diplomatic tensions or government pressure as the reason. Filmfinity’s reference to “the current climate” has been interpreted by some commentators as a cautious allusion to the broader political atmosphere, including public sentiment and potential backlash.
Melania is a feature-length documentary that provides an intimate look at the former model and First Lady’s life, from her childhood in Slovenia to her role in the White House during Donald Trump’s presidency. The film includes rare personal interviews with Melania Trump, family members, and close associates. It was produced by Ratner’s RatPac Documentary Films and acquired for international distribution by various partners, including Filmfinity in South Africa.
The documentary had already faced criticism in some international markets for its perceived sympathetic portrayal of the subject. In the United States, reviewers described it as a polished but largely uncritical biography, while some commentators questioned the timing of its release during a period of heightened political polarisation.
In South Africa, the decision to withdraw has drawn mixed reactions. Some online commentators welcomed the move, citing concerns over the optics of screening a film about Melania Trump amid ongoing diplomatic friction. Others criticised the cancellation as an example of excessive caution or self-censorship, arguing that audiences should be trusted to decide for themselves.
The withdrawal is not believed to be the result of any formal government directive. South Africa’s film classification body, the Film and Publication Board (FPB), had already classified Melania for general viewing (PG-13 equivalent) with no restrictions, according to industry sources familiar with the process.
The incident highlights the complex interplay between entertainment, politics, and international relations in South Africa’s cultural space. Cinema operators and distributors in the country have occasionally adjusted release plans in response to public sentiment or geopolitical sensitivities, though outright cancellations of major titles remain rare.
Neither the US Embassy in Pretoria nor the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation has commented on the film’s withdrawal as of January 29, 2026.
The documentary remains available on select international streaming platforms in other territories, but its theatrical rollout in South Africa has now been indefinitely postponed.
