Melania documentary ranks #1 on Amazon Prime after streaming premiere

The documentary “Melania” about first lady Melania Trump made a big splash on Amazon Prime after its recent debut. The film gives viewers a glimpse into 20 days of Melania’s life before her husband, President Donald Trump’s, second term in office. It quickly rose to the top of the streaming charts just a day after its premiere, becoming the most-watched movie on the platform and the most-streamed content in the United States, according to Flix Patrol.

Melania herself celebrated this achievement in a post on X. Despite facing some criticism from entertainment critics who called it propaganda for the Trump administration, the documentary received high praise from verified audience users on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 99% approval rating.

Initially released in theaters on January 30, “Melania” had an impressive opening weekend with over $7 million in ticket sales, marking the highest opening for a documentary in over a decade. Amazon MGM Studios reportedly invested $40 million in the documentary and an additional $35 million in marketing. The studio aims to recoup these costs through licensing deals and by adding the film to its Prime Video streaming service.

Even though the film is currently the third most-streamed overall on Amazon Prime, behind the series “Scarpetta” and “Young Sherlock,” it seems to be gaining momentum and has plans for a docuseries directed by Brett Ratner. Kevin Wilson, head of domestic theatrical distribution at Amazon MGM, expressed confidence in the long-term success of the documentary and docuseries, both in theaters and on Prime Video.