WASHINGTON, DC — A new documentary titled "Melania" is making waves with a surprising theatrical debut, defying early predictions of failure.
The film, which premiered on January 29, 2026, at The Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, is projected to secure third place at the weekend box office with an $8 million opening, according to Deadline. This result positions it as the strongest documentary debut in a decade. First Lady Melania Trump and producer Marc Beckman attended the world premiere, hosted by Amazon MGM, as captured in photos by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
Supporters of the film point to its unexpected success as a rebuttal to early media skepticism. Many in the corporate press had forecasted empty theaters and a box office flop, with reports of negligible advance ticket sales. Now, with presales overindexing in rural areas under 500,000 in population per EntTelligence data, the narrative has shifted dramatically.
Let’s talk numbers that sting the so-called experts. "Melania" not only pulled in $8 million on just 1,500 screens but also outdid a Dwayne Johnson flick that had over double the screen count at 3,345. It’s a clear signal that audience interest can trump media predictions.
Compare that to other big names, and the story gets juicier. This documentary has already outgrossed recent domestic releases tied to Jennifer Lawrence, Stephen King, and even a Coen brothers project, not to mention surpassing opening weekend ticket sales of films starring Russell Crowe and Benedict Cumberbatch on far more screens, as Breitbart reports.
Deadline nailed it with their assessment: "result that would mark the best start for a doc in the last decade." That’s not just a win; it’s a historic benchmark for a genre often overlooked at the box office. And yet, the naysayers didn’t see this coming.
Here’s the kicker—unlike those other titles, which often got glowing reviews and even Oscar buzz, "Melania" faced what many see as a coordinated barrage of criticism from powerful media outlets. None of those Hollywood projects endured such a relentless pushback from multinational corporate voices in entertainment and politics. Yet, people are still flocking to theaters.
Even with license fees and marketing costs reportedly hitting $75 million—a figure that wouldn’t add up for a typical studio’s bottom line—Amazon can shoulder the expense. What’s telling is that everyone knows this film is basically a straight-to-streaming project, yet audiences are choosing the big screen experience anyway.
Some might quip, as old-school Variety could have, "Stix Hix Nix MSM Prix Lift Melania Pix." Translation: rural folks are ignoring mainstream media disdain and boosting this picture’s success. It’s a cultural pushback worth noting.
Questions linger about who’s driving these ticket sales. While it’s unclear if specific political groups are fueling the numbers, the data suggests rural communities are showing up in force, and more insights may emerge over the weekend.
This isn’t framed as a fan-driven release like some Angel Studios projects, nor is it marketed as a premium Amazon Prime ticket. Still, within the documentary space, "Melania" is already deemed a success, proving that audience demand can defy industry norms.
Hollywood’s other releases, many costing upwards of $75 million, had the red carpet rolled out with critical praise. Meanwhile, "Melania" took on a tougher road, facing skepticism at every turn, yet outperformed a Darren Aronofsky and Austin Butler title that opened on over 3,500 screens.
What does this mean for the broader entertainment landscape? It’s a reminder that audiences, especially those outside urban bubbles, can reshape narratives when given content that resonates with their values.
The premiere event itself, graced by First Lady Melania Trump and producer Marc Beckman, symbolized more than just a film launch. It was a statement that stories dismissed by elite gatekeepers can still find a powerful audience.
In the end, "Melania" stands as a testament to the unpredictable nature of public taste. While media outlets may predict doom, the box office tells a different story—one of success, defiance, and a hunger for alternative perspectives.
