Amazon MGM Studios is taking a bold stance as the box office for 'Melania' hangs in the balance, with the documentary at risk of being axed after a disappointing performance. The film, directed by Brett Ratner and produced by Amazon MGM, opened to a modest $7.2 million last week, falling short of expectations and raising questions about its future at the box office. Despite the initial underperformance, Amazon MGM is confident in the film's potential, emphasizing its strong theatrical performance as a validation of their distribution strategy. The documentary, which chronicles Melania Trump's 20 days before her husband's second inauguration in 2025, has sparked a barrage of headlines and controversy. While the actual budget remains unknown, Amazon MGM's investment in the film was substantial, with a reported $40 million spent on both theatrical and streaming rights, and an additional $35 million on global marketing. The studio's enthusiasm led to an expansion of theaters for Super Bowl weekend, but the film's performance has been less than stellar, with a domestic total of $11.8 million after nine days. As 'Melania' prepares for its streaming debut, the question remains: will it be a success or a failure? The film's reception has been mixed, with critics panning it and audiences loving it, prompting speculation about the use of bots to inflate the audience score. With the Super Bowl weekend box office generally slow and a mix of indie movies taking over, 'Melania' faces an uphill battle to recover and secure a successful run. The outcome will be closely watched, as it could impact the future of Amazon MGM's distribution strategy and the success of similar films.
