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Melania documentary sets box office record despite criticism
'Melania: 20 Days to History' follows the US First Lady in the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s January 2025 presidential inauguration
- PUBLISHED: Tue 3 Feb 2026, 12:06 PM
- By:
- Husain Rizvi
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Melania: 20 Days to History has defied industry expectations, breaking box office records in the US despite negative reviews and widespread controversy. The new Melania Trump documentary earned more than $7 million in its opening weekend, making it the biggest debut for a non-fiction feature in the past decade, according to Deadline.
The Amazon-backed project was initially forecast to take about $5m, but trade publications were caught off guard by the final numbers. Variety called it “a huge start for a documentary”, while The Hollywood Reporter said “no one saw that coming”.
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The film follows the US First Lady in the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s January 2025 presidential inauguration, offering what producers describe as an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at her life. Melania Trump is listed as one of the producers.
Watch the trailer below:
Industry attention has also focused on the documentary’s budget. Amazon reportedly spent $40m to acquire the rights and a further $35m on marketing, making it the most expensive documentary ever made. Analysts say the film will need a lengthy theatrical run and strong ancillary revenue to break even, with some suggesting the deal may be politically motivated rather than purely commercial.
Audience response has been sharply divided. The film received an A CinemaScore and boasts a 99 per cent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which Melania Trump said proves it has been “loved by all”. However, critics were far less impressed, giving it just a 10 per cent score on the same platform.
A BBC report noted the film overperformed with older white women in pro-Trump strongholds such as Texas and Florida. The documentary has also opened in UK cinemas, though box office figures there are yet to be released.
Directed by Brett Ratner, the film marks his first project since sexual misconduct allegations in 2017, which he denied, adding another layer of controversy to the documentary.
