With less than a day to go before its release, doubts are mounting over the commercial prospects of Melania, a documentary centered on former First Lady Melania Trump, despite claims from Donald Trump that tickets are “selling out fast.”
The film, directed by Brett Ratner, is scheduled for global release on January 30 and follows Melania Trump, 55, over a 20-day period leading up to Donald Trump’s 2025 presidential inauguration. According to the official synopsis, the documentary offers behind-the-scenes access to private meetings, personal moments, and previously unseen locations, portraying Melania’s return to one of the world’s most prominent public roles.
In an interview with Fox News, Melania Trump described the project as a rare and intimate look at her life, saying viewers would see her navigate family responsibilities, business ventures, and philanthropic work as she prepares once again to serve as First Lady.
The documentary is set to open in at least 1,400 theaters across the United States and in more than 27 countries worldwide.
In the lead-up to the premiere, Donald Trump has actively promoted the film. On January 26, he posted on Truth Social calling it a “must watch” and claimed tickets were rapidly selling out. Earlier this month, he also suggested that tickets would be difficult to obtain and said prominent figures were eager to attend its premiere at the Trump Kennedy Center.
Those claims, however, have been widely questioned online. Social media users shared screenshots from cinema booking websites showing large numbers of unsold seats.
According to Forbes, Amazon MGM Studios paid approximately $40 million for the documentary’s rights and invested an additional $35 million in marketing and distribution. Despite that substantial backing, early box office forecasts point to a weak opening. Market research firm National Research Group projects a $5 million opening weekend, according to Puck, while Boxoffice Pro estimates even lower figures of between $1 million and $2 million.
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