Melania Trump’s Documentary Heads For Poor UK Opening

The Amazon-backed documentary Melania, which follows First Lady Melania Trump in the 20 days leading up to the 2025 inauguration, is facing a cold reception as it hits UK cinemas today, Friday, January 30, 2026.

Despite a massive $75 million total investment by Amazon—including a record-breaking $40 million acquisition fee (of which Melania reportedly pocketed $28 million) and $35 million in marketing—advance ticket sales in Britain have been described as “soft” and “lacklustre.”

The UK “Box Office Bomb” Warning

Reports from major British cinema chains suggest the film may struggle to find an audience:

The “One Ticket” Premiere: In London, Vue’s flagship Islington branch reportedly sold only one ticket for its mid-afternoon screening and just two for the evening show ahead of opening day.
Exhibitor Backlash: Vue CEO Tim Richards confirmed the chain had been “flooded with emails” criticizing the decision to screen the film. He defended the move, stating that Vue does not “play judge and jury” for BBFC-approved content.
The “Four-Walling” Theory: Industry analysts suggest Amazon may be paying cinemas a flat fee (four-walling) to ensure the film stays on screens despite low organic demand.

Production Controversies

The documentary has been a lightning rod for criticism since its announcement:

The Director: The film marks the return of Brett Ratner, his first project since facing multiple sexual misconduct allegations in 2017 (which he denied).
Editorial Control: Melania Trump served as an Executive Producer and reportedly held full editorial control, influencing everything from the trailer’s “cliffhangers” to the music and color correction.
Crew Walkouts: Reports indicate that two-thirds of the New York production crew asked to be removed from the credits, and Amazon employees were told they could not opt out of working on the film for “political reasons.”

Quick Facts: “Melania” (2026)

Feature	Details
Budget	$40 Million (Production) + $35 Million (Marketing)
Director	Brett Ratner
Runtime	104 Minutes
Global Release	~1,600 screens (1,500 in the US; 100+ in the UK)
Streaming	Expected on Amazon Prime Video in late February 2026