NEW: ‘Melania’ Storms Box Office With Strongest Documentary Opening In A Decade

The documentary film Melania, which provides an inside look at Melania Trump’s experiences during the 20 days leading up to her husband’s second presidential inauguration last January, has turned in the strongest box office opening for a documentary in nearly a decade.

Directed by Brett Ratner, the film was released in theaters on Friday, immediately following its premiere at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. the previous day. Additional premieres occurred simultaneously in New York City and Los Angeles.

The film opened in approximately 1,700 to 1,778 theaters across the United States and Canada, with simultaneous releases in about 25 to 27 international markets. Initial projections estimated an opening weekend gross of between $1 million and $5 million, based on pre-release tracking and advance ticket sales.

However, early box office returns exceeded these expectations. On its opening day, Friday, January 30, 2026, the film earned $2.9 million

By February 1, 2026, estimates indicated the documentary was on track to gross around $7 million to $8.1 million over the three-day weekend. This performance marks the strongest opening weekend for a documentary in over a decade, surpassing the $5 million debut of previous films in the genre, according to figures analyzed by the Hollywood Reporter.

Some theaters, such as the AMC Classic Indian River 24 in Vero Beach, Florida, and the AMC Independence Commons 20 in Independence, Missouri, reported sold-out screenings on opening day.

MELANIA TRUMP at the premiere of her new film "Melania": "I want to show the people what it takes to go from private citizen to being a First Lady again." pic.twitter.com/iMJTKYzAZF

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 30, 2026

The marketing campaign for Melania was extensive, including television commercials during NFL playoff games and a global rollout in over 3,300 theaters worldwide. The film’s production involved a competitive bidding process, with Amazon outbidding competitors like Disney by $26 million.

A related docuseries is also part of the $75 million production deal, though details on its release remain undisclosed.

Critical reception has been largely negative, with a 12 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 17 reviews. Audience scores, however, are significantly higher, at 99% positive on the same platform, suggesting strong support from viewers who have seen the film.

“It’s beautiful, it’s emotional, it’s fashionable, it’s cinematic, and I’m very proud of it,” the first lady said during Thursday’s red carpet premiere. “Some have called this a documentary. It is not. It is a creative experience that offers perspectives, insights and moments.”

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