Amazon's 'Melania' Documentary Earns $7M Opening Weekend

Amazon MGM Studios' documentary "Melania" generated an estimated $7 million in domestic box office revenue during its opening weekend.

Amazon MGM Studios' new documentary film "Melania" generated an estimated $7 million in domestic box office revenue during its opening weekend in wide theatrical release. The film, which provides an in-depth biographical portrait of former First Lady Melania Trump, represents a significant foray into theatrical documentary distribution for the streaming giant. The strong opening indicates substantial public interest and demonstrates Amazon's strategy to leverage its MGM acquisition to compete in the traditional cinema market, even for non-fiction content.

The documentary was released on approximately 1,200 screens across the United States, a sizable count for a documentary, supported by a targeted marketing campaign. Industry analysts note the opening figure is strong for a political documentary, suggesting it tapped into both curiosity and the current cultural moment. The revenue adds to Amazon's expanding theatrical revenue stream as it continues to blend streaming premieres with exclusive theatrical windows for select titles.

"The opening weekend performance of 'Melania' confirms there is a robust market for high-profile, theatrical documentary events," said an Amazon MGM Studios distribution executive. A box office analyst added, "This isn't just a streaming play. It's a statement that Amazon is a full-spectrum studio capable of driving audiences to theaters for a wide range of content, which in turn fuels eventual viewership on Prime Video."

This box office success highlights the growing commercial viability of feature-length documentaries when released with studio-level marketing and distribution muscle. It also reflects Amazon's broader content strategy to produce and acquire titles that generate cultural conversation and cross-over appeal beyond niche streaming audiences. The performance is being closely watched as an indicator of audience appetite for political documentaries in the current media landscape.

Following its theatrical run, "Melania" is scheduled to begin streaming globally on Amazon Prime Video later this spring. Amazon has not yet announced international theatrical release dates, but the domestic opening suggests potential for a staggered global rollout.