Amazon’s “Melania” Documentary Sees Dramatic Box Office Drop After Promising Launch
The documentary produced by Amazon, centered on Melania Trump, witnessed a sharp decline in ticket sales during it’s second weekend in cinemas. Following an unexpectedly strong opening, the film’s revenue plunged by 67%, generating roughly $2.37 million in its follow-up weekend.
Box Office Results and Industry Landscape
So far, the documentary has grossed about $13.5 million domestically, a figure that falls well short of covering Amazon’s combined acquisition and promotional costs estimated at $75 million. this significant deficit makes it unlikely for the project to break even through theatrical earnings alone.
The release coincided wiht Super Bowl weekend-a period typically associated with lower movie attendance. Yet other films like “Send Help” experienced only a moderate 47% drop during this timeframe, underscoring how “Melania” suffered a steeper decline as it slipped from third place to ninth on box office charts within just seven days.
Industry Perspectives and theories
Before the film premiered, industry insiders expressed doubts about Amazon’s substantial financial commitment. Some speculated that motivations behind the high expenditure might extend beyond pure commercial interests-hinting at possible political incentives or reciprocal arrangements involving government officials.
Addressing concerns over dwindling theater turnout and mixed critical feedback,Kevin Wilson-head of domestic theatrical distribution at Amazon Studios-highlighted that combining customary cinema releases with streaming availability offers multiple avenues for audience engagement and influence beyond mere box office numbers.
Divergent Responses: Critics Versus Viewers
The documentary faced predominantly negative reviews from professional critics across major platforms; however, it astonishingly achieved a 99% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. this stark contrast between critic assessments and viewer scores prompted Rotten Tomatoes to publicly verify the legitimacy of these user-generated ratings.
The Changing Dynamics of Political Documentaries
This example illustrates how politically charged documentaries can deeply divide audiences while challenging conventional measures of success within today’s entertainment landscape. With streaming services driving over 30% annual growth globally in content distribution models, such films’ impact is increasingly gauged through digital reach rather than solely theatrical revenue streams.
