A highly anticipated documentary about Melania Trump, focusing on her life and activities around the 2025 U.S. presidential inauguration, has struggled to attract moviegoers ahead of and during its theatrical rollout. The film, titled Melania, was produced by Amazon MGM Studios and directed by Brett Ratner, marking his return to feature filmmaking after years away from the spotlight.
Despite being backed by a significant promotional campaign and a major acquisition price tag — widely reported to total around $75 million, including marketing costs — early ticket sales in several major markets have been notably weak.
Reports of “Zero Tickets Sold”
Late-night comedy hosts and social media commentators have drawn attention to the film’s box office performance with dramatic language. On The Late Show, host Stephen Colbert joked that the movie had “zero tickets sold” for certain showings in major cities like New York and Jacksonville, displaying screenshots of empty booking pages during advance sales. Colbert’s monologue highlighted that even theatres in locations closely associated with Mrs. Trump, such as New York City’s Times Square, appeared to show no tickets sold for some screenings. These remarks fueled a wider narrative on social media about audience disinterest — though it’s important to note that these reports reflect snapshots of early advance sales and do not yet represent final nationwide totals. In Boston, reports also emerged that the documentary had opened with no attendees at one of the largest theater venues during early showtimes, an outcome that has been widely shared and discussed online.
What the Numbers Really Show
While viral claims of “zero tickets” have spread rapidly, more detailed box office data suggests a slightly more nuanced picture. In some U.S. cities and international markets, advance sales show minimal purchases, though not literally zero in every case. For example, data from early screenings in the San Francisco Bay Area indicated that several showings had unsold seats, with very few purchases in advance at certain cinemas. Likewise, in the United Kingdom, reports from major theater chains showed extremely limited interest, with some locations selling only a handful of tickets — for instance, one ticket sold at a London screening and zero in others — indicating an underwhelming response relative to expectations. Industry estimates project a modest box office performance for Melania. Trade analysts have suggested that the film could gross $1–$5 million in its opening weekend in North America — far below what would be considered a strong debut for a documentary with this level of investment.
Cultural and Promotional Context
Melania premiered at locations like the Kennedy Center and even received a private screening at the White House prior to its wider release, attended by a range of high-profile guests from business and entertainment sectors. Critics and commentators have noted the contrast between this star-studded promotional context and the muted public interest reflected in ticket sales. Social media commentary has been mixed, with some users mocking the lack of turnout and others defending the film or questioning the accuracy of early sales screenshots.
Early Reactions and What Comes Next
Ahead of its release, the film has also faced unusual online dynamics, including review bombing on film-rating platforms and heated debates over its artistic and political merits. Despite the initial challenges at the box office, Melania will continue to play in cinemas and is scheduled for streaming release on Prime Video shortly after its theatrical window closes. Whether public interest increases post-release or remains limited will become clearer as final ticket sales and viewer numbers are reported in the coming days and weeks.
