US EditionSix Takeaways From ‘Melania,’ Amazon MGM’s Documentary About The First Lady
The $40 million film offers a controlled, nonpolitical view of Melania Trump’s life centered on fashion and ritual, filmed over 20 days before the 2026 inauguration.
- At the Kennedy Center on Thursday, the documentary premiered with limited press access and opened in theaters Friday without advance screenings.
- Amazon financed and promoted the project, paying $40 million to distribute and $35 million to promote, while Brett Ratner directed despite his 2017 allegations.
- Ratner punctuates the film with odd soundtrack choices and staged intimate moments, showing Melania at Trump Tower fittings, selecting inaugural invitations and tableware, and mouthing 'Billie Jean' in a limo.
- Critics called the film an orchestrated, propaganda-like portrait, while a White House screening with Ratner in attendance occurred amid Minneapolis protests and a struggling theatrical market.
- Observers question whether Ratner's proximity to power will prompt an industry welcome-back, as he films Trump projects from Mar-a-Lago and Amazon bought a related docuseries.
22 Articles
22 Articles
The Independent
The Independent (US)Melania box office results revealed as divisive documentary defies predictions
Brett Ratner’s film about the first lady performed better than expected on its opening day
Variety's review of Melania: a "Cheeseball Infomercial of Staggering Inertia"
"There's no drama to it. It should have been called 'Day of the Living Tradwife.'" That's Variety's Owen Gleiberman reviewing Melania, Brett Ratner's documentary about the First Lady, which cost $40 million to make (plus $35 million on marketing) and is projected to gross around $1 million in its first week. — Read the rest The post Variety's review of Melania: a "Cheeseball Infomercial of Staggering Inertia" appeared first on Boing Boing.
The film Melania, directed by Brett Ratner, provides a brief glimpse into the life of the enigmatic first lady. What do the critics say?
The First Lady Really Doesn’t Care. Do U?
Welcome back to Second Thought. Today we dive into Melania, the documentary about our First Lady that has everyone talking; yet another Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) apology; and why you should just ignore the Doomsday Clock.Melania’s Version Is Tight-Lipped, If LavishWhen the Slovenian-born First Lady Melania Trump, in a smoky eye and a false lash, is getting a benediction from a priest at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on the ann…
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