The documentary Melania, focusing on First Lady Melania Trump, achieved a strong debut at the North American box office, grossing $7.04 million during its opening weekend from January 30 to February 1, 2026. Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, the film outperformed pre-release expectations significantly and claimed the largest opening weekend for a non-fiction feature in the past decade, according to industry reports from Deadline and other outlets.
Initial projections had placed the film's opening in the $3 million to $5 million range, with some analysts forecasting even lower turnout given the niche appeal of political documentaries and mixed critical reception. However, final Sunday estimates confirmed the $7.04 million figure, placing Melania third overall for the weekend behind the thriller Send Help ($20 million) and the video game adaptation Iron Lung ($17.8–$17.9 million). The film screened in approximately 1,778 theaters across the U.S. and Canada, yielding a per-theater average of around $3,960.
This performance surpassed the previous benchmark for non-fiction openings in recent years, topping the $5 million debut of After Death in 2023, a faith-based documentary from Angel Studios. Industry observers noted that Melania's result stands out particularly when excluding concert films, which often draw larger crowds due to their event-like nature. For context, while some broader nonfiction releases like Jackass Forever (2022) opened higher in the past decade, Melania marks the strongest theatrical start for a traditional documentary-style project in that timeframe.
The film premiered on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.—recently referred to in some reports as the "newly rebranded" or "Trump Kennedy Center" amid political discussions. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the high-profile event, joined by Cabinet members, members of Congress, conservative influencers, and other guests. The premiere featured a charcoal-colored runway and positioned the film as a glamorous portrayal of Melania Trump's life. President Trump promoted it publicly as a "must watch," highlighting its appeal to supporters.
Melania chronicles selective moments from the weeks leading up to Donald Trump's second inauguration in January 2025, offering an intimate look at the First Lady's preparations and perspective during that transitional period. The project is executive produced by Melania Trump herself and directed by Brett Ratner, marking his return to feature filmmaking after a hiatus since 2017. Ratner stepped away from Hollywood following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct during the #MeToo movement; no criminal charges were ever filed against him, though the accusations led to significant professional repercussions at the time.
Amazon MGM Studios acquired worldwide rights to the film and a companion docuseries in a reported $40 million deal, the highest amount ever paid for a documentary project. The studio invested an additional $35 million in marketing and promotion, creating one of the most expensive rollouts in documentary history. This substantial backing included widespread theatrical distribution and heavy advertising to drive awareness.
Despite the commercial success, Melania has faced polarized reactions. Critics have largely panned the film, describing it as overly selective, promotional, and lacking critical depth—some outlets called it more of a "pro-Donald Trump" piece than an objective documentary. Reviews highlighted its polished production but questioned its journalistic value. Audience reception, however, appeared more favorable in certain demographics, with reports of an "A" CinemaScore from CinemaScore and strong performance in "red zone" cinemas (theaters in politically conservative areas).
The box office haul represents a notable win for Amazon MGM Studios in the theatrical space, though profitability remains uncertain given the high combined costs exceeding $75 million. The film is expected to transition to streaming on Prime Video after its theatrical window, where it could recoup additional revenue through subscriptions, ads, and global viewership. International box office figures have not been widely reported yet.
The success underscores the drawing power of high-profile political figures in entertainment, particularly amid Donald Trump's second term, which has been marked by turbulence and intense media scrutiny. Supporters viewed the film's performance as validation of public interest in Melania Trump's story, while skeptics pointed to the massive promotional spend and potential group sales or targeted turnout as factors inflating numbers.
As final audited figures are confirmed in the coming days, Melania stands as a surprising outlier in a genre that rarely generates blockbuster openings. Its debut has sparked discussions about the intersection of politics, celebrity, and cinema in 2026's cultural landscape.
