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Amazon Pulls 'Melania' From Oregon Theater After Marquee Jokes as 'Becoming' Viewership Surges

The studio’s decision highlights a polarized rollout for the $75 million Brett Ratner film.

Overview

  • Amazon MGM revoked screenings at the Lake Theater & Café in Lake Oswego, Oregon after the venue used cheeky marquee lines to promote the film, the theater’s manager said.
  • Michelle Obama’s 2020 Netflix documentary Becoming spiked more than 13,000 percent to 47.5 million minutes viewed over the Jan. 30–Feb. 1 weekend, driven by social media counter‑programming, per Luminate data.
  • Melania opened to $7.1 million domestically against a reported ~$40 million production/acquisition cost and ~$35 million in marketing, a strong documentary debut that still raises questions about long‑term profitability.
  • Critical reception has been overwhelmingly negative (about 5 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5/100 on Metacritic) even as audiences reported an A CinemaScore and a 99 percent Rotten Tomatoes audience rating.
  • Turnout skewed heavily toward older women in conservative markets, and analysts flagged possible bulk ticket buys to boost attendance, while major chains reported no clear anomalies; the UK opening ranked No. 29 with £32,974 across 155 cinemas.