“Melania,” the self-titled documentary centered on First Lady Melania Trump, officially opens in theaters today, following a high-profile premiere and a global marketing campaign.
The documentary, which gives a behind-the-scenes look at the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, marks the latest chapter in the public profile of the first lady.
Melania Trump’s documentary, produced by Amazon MGM Studios and directed by Brett Ratner, debuted in 1,400 theaters and is scheduled to screen in 27 countries. According to CNN, 21 invitation-only showings were also held across the U.S. on opening day.
A wide release deal was reportedly secured after a dinner at Mar-a-Lago between the Trumps and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The documentary runs 104 minutes and is expected to earn around $5 million in its opening weekend, according to forecasting data from the National Research Group cited by Puck. That figure would double the opening weekend of “The Apprentice,” the Sebastian Stan-led portrayal of Donald Trump, which earned less than $2 million in 2024.
Mixed box office outlook and international setback
Despite President Trump claiming on Instagram that tickets are “selling out fast,” reports from Forbes and AMC’s website suggest ticket sales in cities like Boston, New York and Los Angeles remain modest.
Some Canadian theaters have also reported low sales, and Filmfinity, the documentary’s distributor in South Africa, pulled the documentary from local release. The company cited internal decisions but gave no specific explanation.
President Donald Trump was right by First Lady Melania's side at the premiere of her new movie.
Will you be watching? (📸: MEGA) pic.twitter.com/nVEFnoNbM8
— OK! Magazine USA (@OKMagazine) January 30, 2026
Ahead of today’s release, Melania Trump and President Trump attended a red carpet screening at the newly renamed Trump Kennedy Center.
The first lady spoke briefly before the screening, highlighting how personal storytelling can shape collective memory. She thanked President Trump for the life experiences that made the documentary possible and called the project an ambitious undertaking.
Behind the scenes of Melania Trump’s documentary
As executive producer, Melania Trump maintained full editorial control over the documentary. Her senior adviser, Marc Beckman, said she oversaw every aspect, from production and editing to music selection and international ad campaigns. Beckman noted that the entire project was filtered through her vision.
The marketing team spent $35 million promoting the documentary globally, CNN reported. Ads featuring the first lady appeared on billboards, subways, buses, and television. A trailer was also projected on the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Last weekend, the Trumps hosted a private, black-tie screening at the White House with about 70 guests, including Queen Rania of Jordan, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Barron Trump and others. The event drew criticism online, including from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who questioned the timing amid national emergencies.
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