Amazon Is Actually Sinking Whopping $75 Million Into Melania Trump Documentary -- Box Office Looking Dismal: Report

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: MEDIAite

Jan 24th, 2026, 10:54 am


Amazon is actually sinking $75 million to their new Melania Trump documentary rather than just the initially reported $40 million that was paid for the distribution rights, according to a new report.

Puck’s Matthew Belloni reported that Amazon MGM Studios is sinking $35 million into its prints and advertising budget for the Brett Ratner-directed Melania, which opens in more than 1,0000 theaters on January 30. It is also opening in more than a dozen international territories.

A $35 million advertising budget for a documentary is about as unusual as paying $40 million for the rights to one. Documentaries typically don’t pull in big dollars at the box office, unless the documentary happens to be a Taylor Swift concert. Films typically need to make about twice their total cost to turn a profit.

The Melania movie will be holding a premiere, which will be attended by President Donald Trump and the first lady, at the recently-renamed Kennedy Center. The first lady will also be holding a private screening of the movie on Saturday at the White House.

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/media/entertainment/amazon-is-actually-sinking-whopping-75-million-into-melania-trump-documentary-box-office-looking-dismal-report/

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The first lady will also be holding a private screening of the movie on Saturday at the White House.

I thought the WH theater was in the East Room building that got demolished.

[Klarkashton]

1. It's a bribe they didn't expect to make box office with it

They are looking at it as in investment.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

2. Yes..half the money went to Melania.

[Roy Rolling]

22. $40 million paid for the rights to the story--CAUTION! NSFW

$75 million total budget.

Of course there will be no box office, nobody wants to see this piece of shit.

Unless they add the whole story of her sham marriage, questionable immigration background, x-rated model career, and what happened to her face.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. There's a showing at the White House tonight. It starts at 8:00. NT

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

4. People boo the trailer when it shows before movies

[Jimvanhise]

5. SOMETHING SIMILAR WAS TRIED BEFORE

When Sarah Palin was running for vice-president, someone made a documentary about her but the story it told ended before her controversial attempt at being VP in order to avoid the negative publicity for her stunts. The film wasn't expensive to make but still lost money and got something like 3% on Rotten Tomatoes. I look forward to the reviews for Melania. On a site which ran the trailer for the film I suggested it would have helped the film more had it included pictures of her wearing her Vampirella costume, but I expect that isn't in the film either.

[wcmagumba]

6. I'm gonna cut back spending on Amazon...

[Jacson6]

7. I think Bezos wants to buy a grocery store chain.

Whole foods is too small for his plans.

[bamagal62]

8. All I can say is..

😂

[twodogsbarking]

9. Didn't I just read that Amazon finally is feeling the full impact of tariffs and will raise prices? Coincidence?

[2naSalit]

11. Coincidences...

Take a lot of planning, according to Malcolm Nance.

[2naSalit]

10. An ad jsut played...

On MSNOW a few minutes ago. I was in another tab so I missed the visuals, not that I wanted to see any of it. I hope it tanks.

[yonder]

12. ". . .at the recently-renamed Kennedy Center."

Clever and potentially useful change of description style by the MEDIAite staff, I think. As in: 'the recently-renamed Gulf of Mexico', 'the recently-renamed Dept. of Defense', etc.

I'll look forward to more of that.

[oberle]

19. WETA the classical music public radio station in Northern Virginia

is calling it the Trump Kennedy Center. I e-mailed them and told them I would no longer send them money or listen to them as long a they call it that. I hope others do the same thing.

[Skittles]

13. seriously, who the FUCK would be interested in that gold digger?

WTF, she is one seriously BORING person

[VMA131Marine]

14. It's a bribe!

This is probably at least $100 for every person who will actually pay to see this movie.

[onenote]

15. The screening was held in the East Room -- not to be confused with the demolished East Wing.

It was attended by around 70 people, reportedly, including the following --director Brett Ratner; Queen Rania of Jordan; Zoom CEO Eric Yuan; Apple CEO Tim Cook; New York Stock Exchange CEO Lynn Martin; AMD CEO Linsa Su; Mike Tyson; socialite and Fiat heiress Azzi Agnelli; self-help guru Tony Robbins; and photographer Ellen von Unwerth, who shot the movie poster for the film.Also atttending --Barron Trump and Ratner’s mother along with Mike Hopkins of Amazon Studios, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and Marc Beckman, a senior adviser and longtime manager to Melania.

More info here: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/white-house-vip-melania-screening-mike-tyson-tim-cook-1236484037/

[chowder66]

16. WTF do they have on Bezos?

[cstanleytech]

21. Enough control over the government to potentially destroy Amazon for one thing.

[Talitha]

17. Well that sounds like a tantalizing evening.

[kacekwl]

18. Money well spent right

Bozos. 75 million is a lot to pay to kiss someone's ass.

[cstanleytech]

20. I smell the rotten fruit of a potential Golden Raspberry Award.