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Melania Opens to $7 Million, Best Documentary Debut in Years, Third at U.S. Box Office

Analysts say Amazon’s outsized spend signals a strategic play beyond near-term box-office returns.

Overview

  • Amazon MGM estimates the film earned about $7 million in its opening weekend from 1,778 U.S. theaters, ranking No. 3 domestically.
  • Audience polling was highly favorable, with an A from CinemaScore and near‑perfect viewer scores, as critics posted very low marks on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.
  • Industry reports put Amazon’s outlay at roughly $40 million for rights plus about $35 million for marketing, making a theatrical break‑even unlikely.
  • Turnout was strongest among older viewers in conservative‑leaning U.S. markets, while international results lagged, including £32,974 in the U.K. and $22,284 in Australia on opening weekend.
  • Directed by Brett Ratner in his first feature since 2017 misconduct allegations he denies, the film skipped advance critic screenings after high‑profile White House and Kennedy Center premieres.