A documentary on Melania Trump's life has generated surprisingly low box office numbers, trailing far behind even a re-release of a beloved fantasy epic! This film, an authorized look at the former first lady, focused on the crucial 20 days leading up to her husband's return to the White House. Titled simply 'Melania,' the nearly two-hour Amazon MGM studios production delves into Melania's experiences as she navigated the complexities of a presidential transition and prepared for her return to public life as first lady.
Opening in 155 cinemas across the UK and Ireland, the film brought in £32,974 (which equates to €37,992) during its initial weekend. This performance placed it at number 29 among the highest-grossing films from January 30th to February 1st, according to data from the British Film Institute (BFI). On average, each cinema site earned about €245.
But here's where it gets controversial... To put these figures into perspective, a re-release of 'The Lord of the Rings: Return Of The King' actually outperformed 'Melania,' raking in €248,555 from 169 cinemas and securing the 14th spot. The top-grossing film of that weekend was 'Hamnet,' which earned a staggering €1,623,988 – a figure 42 times greater than that of 'Melania.' 'Hamnet' has since accumulated €17 million in the UK and Ireland over its four-week run.
And this is the part most people miss... Critical reception for 'Melania' was decidedly lukewarm, with many reviewers questioning its journalistic integrity. Donald Clarke of The Irish Times famously described it as “shameless propaganda that could put you to sleep.” The Guardian awarded it zero stars, while The Telegraph characterized it as a “branding exercise” rather than a genuine documentary, even likening it to “North Korea-style propaganda with a dash of Ralph Lauren.” The New York Times offered a similarly critical assessment, calling it “a very circumscribed and carefully stage-managed chronicle.”
Given these reviews, it begs the question: Is a film that's heavily criticized as propaganda capable of capturing the public's interest, even when focusing on a prominent public figure? Or does the lack of critical acclaim directly correlate with box office performance? What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!
