Melania Documentary Debuts with Low Ticket Sales

The documentary film "Melania," offering an inside look at First Lady Melania Trump during the weeks leading to President Donald Trump's second inauguration, is set to open in theaters worldwide on Friday amid reports of dismal advance ticket sales and widespread online ridicule. Directed by Brett Ratner and distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, the project follows Trump as she prepares for the White House return, capturing meetings, family moments and transition activities. Despite a reported investment exceeding $75 million, including $40 million for acquisition rights and $35 million in marketing, industry projections estimate an opening weekend box office of just $1 million to $2 million in the United States, far below expectations for a high-profile release.

The film had its world premiere scheduled for Thursday at the Trump-Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., following a private screening at the White House on Saturday evening. That event, held in the East Room with guests seated in rows for a projected viewing, drew an array of prominent figures including President Trump, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon MGM Studios head Mike Hopkins, New York Stock...