'Melania' Documentary: Price, Donald Trump's Reaction, and Everything to Know About the New Film

With rising box office buzz, "Melania" opens this Friday — promising a never-before-seen look at the First Lady.

Melania Trump is stepping onto the big screen this weekend as the subject of her own documentary. "Melania," which has a surprisingly wide theatrical release and high box office projections, is already defying expectations for a genre that rarely pulls crowds. Here is all we know about this bold new documentary.

A Close Look at the New 'Melania' Documentary

"Melania" follows the First Lady during the final 20 days before President Donald Trump's 2024 re-election. "Everyone wants to know, so here it is," the First Lady says in the trailer for the documentary.

The preview intercuts scenes of Melania preparing for her husband's inauguration, attending rallies, and participating in meetings. In one moment, she is shown in a hotel room on the phone with Donald, congratulating him.

"Did you watch it?" Donald asks. "I did not, no, yeah, I will see it on the news," Melania replies. The documentary traces Melania's life, following her from Trump Tower in New York City to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.

It also offers behind-the-scenes access in Washington, D.C. The idea for the film originated from Melania in November 2024, shortly after Donald's election victory.

A Competitive Bidding Process

Marc Beckman, who serves as Melania's agent and exclusive senior advisor, began negotiating with Amazon on her behalf starting on November 18, 2024.

"I'm honored to be working with Amazon — they've been great partners from the minute we started to negotiate the deal, through production, and now as we gear up for the film's release," said Marc.

Marc said the bidding process drew interest from studios with different priorities. Some were focused solely on a standalone film, and others were interested only in a series.

Amazon ultimately pursued both formats, which he indicated aligned with Melania's goals. The company was also ideal, particularly because it was able to support a theatrical release in addition to other content.

Marc pushed back on reports suggesting Amazon paid nearly triple the next highest offer, calling those claims inaccurate. He reiterated that the negotiations were highly competitive, involving multiple bidding rounds and several interested parties.

While acknowledging that Amazon submitted the highest offer, Marc emphasized that the bid covered more material than competing proposals, encompassing both a film and a series. He also noted that he worked directly with the studios throughout the process.

A Cinematic Approach to Storytelling

Filming for the documentary began in December 2024. The project is executive-produced by Melania, alongside Fernando Sulichin of New Element Media, with Brett Ratner of RatPac Entertainment directing.

The documentary was crafted to be visually striking and cinematic. Sources familiar with the production explained that Melania sought an elevated, film-like quality rather than the traditional documentary look. She aimed for a more polished and immersive presentation.

The film arrives roughly a year after the release of her first memoir, "Melania," which offered an intimate look at her life. It included personal stories and family photos that had not been previously shared with the public.

The documentary hits theaters in the U.S. on January 30, opening in over 1,500 locations. With a rollout this wide, the documentary will be far easier to catch on the big screen than most documentaries, which typically see much smaller releases.

Hands-on Leadership from Start to Finish

Melania is looking forward to its premiere, saying, "History is set in motion during the 20 days of my life prior to the U.S. Presidential Inauguration.

She continues, "For the first time, global audiences are invited into theaters to witness this pivotal chapter unfold — a private, unfiltered look as I navigate family, business, and philanthropy on my remarkable journey to becoming First Lady of the United States of America."

The First Lady played an active role in every stage of the project, shaping its creative direction. She also oversaw how the film was marketed after production to ensure the rollout aligned with her vision.

"The 20 days of my life, preceding the U.S. Presidential inauguration, constitute a rare and defining moment — one that warrants meticulous care, integrity, and uncompromising craftsmanship. I am proud to share this very specific moment of my life — 20 days of intense transition and planning — with moviegoers and fans across the globe," she gushed.

The Cost of the Spotlight

Early estimates for the film's premiere weekend are trending upward. BoxOfficePro initially projected a $1–2 million opening but now expects $2–5 million. For context, documentaries rarely surpass $3 million over their entire theatrical run.

Yet Amazon MGM Studios invested heavily to bring the film to cinemas. The studio reportedly paid around $40 million to acquire "Melania," the largest documentary deal in history. This is on top of roughly $35 million spent on marketing and promotion.

That's a total outlay of $75 million for a film projected to earn, at best, $5 million in its opening weekend — with box office returns likely to taper off in an otherwise slow January.

Daniel Loria, senior vice president and editorial director at BoxOfficePro, calls even the $5 million figure "a reach." With the documentary set to stream on a platform already subscribed to by millions, viewers may find it easier to wait for home viewing rather than seeing it in theaters.

A Packed Weekend Puts Pressure on 'Melania'

Even for moviegoers willing to leave the couch this weekend, "Melania" faces a crowded field. Chris Pratt headlines "Mercy," a dystopian thriller aiming for mainstream appeal.

Meanwhile, Sam Raimi returns to horror with "Send Help," bolstered by the combined draw of Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien. Action fans also have Jason Statham's latest thriller, "Shelter," to choose from.

And then there's "Iron Lung," an independently produced sci-fi horror title that Daniel Loria has flagged as a potential dark horse.

With so many high-profile options competing for attention, the documentary won't just be battling streaming convenience. It will also be fighting for space in an unusually busy weekend lineup.

Donald Praises 'Melania' Ahead of High-Profile Premiere

Despite the hurdles facing the release, reactions are already rolling in — including from Donald himself. He has offered the film its earliest and most enthusiastic endorsement, saying, "It's incredible."

Even so, Donald acknowledged that he had not watched the full film. The president said he has only seen selected clips so far, but is eager to view the finished project once it is released.

"I've seen pieces of it, it's incredible. She did a book, and the book was a big number one best seller, and this is a movie, and it seems to be captivating a lot of people's attention," he declared.

Donald Trump added that the premiere is set to take place at the Kennedy Center. He described the event as highly anticipated, saying it is expected to be difficult to secure tickets.

The president suggested interest in attending is widespread, even noting that sports legend Wayne Gretzky and his wife, Janet, have expressed a desire to go.

According to the president, demand for tickets has been strong, and he predicted the premiere would be a major event.

Star-Studded Premiere Set in D.C.

Melania's documentary is set for a high-profile world premiere in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, January 29. The First Lady will be joined by director Brett and producers Fernando Sulichin and Marc.

The guest list is expected to include a mix of political figures, celebrities, and influencers. Among the VIP attendees are Donald Trump Jr., musician A.R. Rahman, and Jordan Belfort, the real-life inspiration for "The Wolf of Wall Street."

Producer Arthur Sarkissian, former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, and reality stars Todd, Julie, Savannah, and Chase Chrisley will also be in attendance.

Media personalities such as Fox News host Maria Bartiromo and social media creators, including rapper Waka Flocka Flame and magician Pete Anthony Sciarrino III (PAS Magic), are also anticipated. Several former NFL players and UFC fighters are on the list as well.

Members of the Trump administration are expected to attend in significant numbers, including Second Lady Usha Vance, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

They will also be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FBI Director Kash Patel, and Border Czar Tom Homan.

Skepticism from the Documentary World

The scale and cost of "Melania" have raised eyebrows well beyond political circles. It has drawn sharp criticism from figures across the documentary industry.

Ted Hope, a former Amazon executive who helped launch the company's film division during his tenure from 2015 to 2020, questioned how the project's price tag could be justified. He argued, "How can it not be equated with currying favor or an outright bribe? How can that not be the case?"

Thom Powers, a prominent documentary programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival and host of the "Pure Nonfiction" podcast, similarly described the acquisition as startling.

He pointed to both Brett's involvement and the lack of alignment between the reported price and any realistic market valuation for a documentary release.

Concerns have also focused on creative control. Julie Cohen, an award-winning documentary director, noted that Melania Trump's editorial authority over the film undermines its credibility as either journalism or art.

While acknowledging past positive collaborations with Amazon, Julie said the company's spending on "Melania" was highly irregular for the genre. "So I think that would suggest that Amazon is buying something else for their money. That's a big problem," she added.

Belief the Film Will Pay Off

The film's unusually large marketing push may be rooted in Amazon's confidence in its internal data, according to documentary filmmaker Stefano Da Frè.

While not involved with "Melania," Stefano has directed several films that stream on Amazon as well as other platforms, giving him familiarity with how the company evaluates projects.

He suggested that Amazon's investment reflects more than speculation. The company relies on analytics, artificial intelligence, and its broader Amazon Web Services infrastructure. In Stefano's view, the budget was not arbitrarily assigned.

Instead, it was informed by metrics that led Amazon to believe the documentary could perform strongly both in theaters and on streaming. Hence, the film's commercial potential justifies the cost, even if that level of investment is rare for the documentary space.

Unease Inside Amazon Studios

Questions about the project were not limited to outsiders. According to three sources familiar with internal discussions, some employees within Amazon's entertainment division expressed similar discomfort with the film's production and rollout.

Those employees were reportedly told the project was mandated by senior leadership and that opting out for political reasons was not permitted.

The concerns surfaced as Amazon leadership appeared to embrace the film at the highest levels. Chief executive Andy Jassy and Amazon Studios head Mike Hopkins both attended a private screening of "Melania" at the White House, further fueling scrutiny around the company’s involvement.

When asked to respond to criticism surrounding the film's promotion and cost, Amazon reiterated a previously issued statement. "We licensed the film for one reason and one reason only — because we think customers are going to love it," they said.

The Buzz: Fans Debate Cost and Worth

Fans have also jumped into the conversation, weighing in on whether the film's cost was justified and how it stacked up against other celebrity projects.

Some are excited for the release, saying, "The new Melania movie comes out one week from today - and it looks AMAZING." Others took a more pragmatic view of the project, arguing, "It's business, not personal."

A few compared it to other memoir deals, "Only? Netflix paid 100 to the less interesting memoir of harry😢 [sic]." And some people felt it was undervalued, adding, "I think it's worth much more."

The documentary has already stirred conversation ahead of its official premiere, signaling that it could both surprise skeptics and reinforce the opinions of those who have praised it.