A film about Melania Trump, which cost Amazon MGM Studios a significant amount, includes about 40 million dollars for the rights to the film and approximately 35 million for marketing and distribution. After its theatrical run, it will be available on the Amazon Prime Video platform.
However, questions about the commercial prospects of the film persist. Experts predict low opening box office numbers, and critics point out that the advertising expenses are comparable to those of major film releases, which is unusual for documentary films. Against the backdrop of weak ticket sales, there is discussion about whether the project will justify its costs. Predictions for the first weekend's earnings range from 1 to 5 million dollars.
Donald Trump, for his part, urged people to watch it, writing on TruthSocial on January 26: "MELANIA, the movie, is a MUST-SEE. Buy your tickets today — they are selling out VERY fast!"
According to Daniel Loria, senior vice president of Boxoffice Company, "This film is a dark horse. Films of this kind rarely get a wide release in theaters."
The political context adds additional resonance. Some experts question whether such an expensive deal is a manifestation of support from a major corporation for the current administration. However, Amazon denies such assumptions, emphasizing that the decision to purchase was based solely on commercial interests and expectations of audience interest.
"We acquired the rights to this documentary film and series about Melania Trump solely because we believe in its appeal to viewers," said Amazon.
At the premiere on Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson noted that he sees nothing objectionable in Amazon's actions. "Amazon is a business, and they are looking to make money. I think they will profit from this film, but it also has enormous cultural significance," Johnson added.
