Melania Trump documentary’s lukewarm reception on streaming services
Melania Trump has certainly been in the spotlight lately, especially with the release of a new documentary about her life. Directed by Brett Ratner, “Melania” started strong with a successful theater release back in January. However, the buzz seems to be fading since its streaming debut on Amazon Prime Video on March 9th.
After hitting the streaming platform, “Melania” quickly climbed to the top of Amazon’s movie charts. In fact, it was the most-streamed film on the service a day after its premiere. According to Nielsen Streaming Content Ratings, the documentary racked up 230 million minutes of viewing in its first week on Prime, earning it a respectable seventh place in the top 10 streaming movies.
Despite its strong performance in terms of viewership, “Melania” has received mixed reviews from both critics and audiences. On RottenTomatoes.com, the movie has a low 10% score from reviewers, but an impressive 98% approval rating from viewers.
The documentary, which marks the debut project from the first lady’s production company Muse Films, had a lavish premiere at the Trump-Kennedy Center and has made $16.7 million worldwide. Amazon’s MGM Studios acquired the project for $40 million and reportedly spent an additional $35 million on marketing. While studios typically aim to recover costs or generate revenue from films once they move to streaming platforms, the financial success of “Melania” remains to be seen.
In addition to its financial performance, “Melania” has also sparked some controversy. Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, raised concerns about the deal between Amazon and the documentary, questioning whether it complied with federal anti-bribery laws.
Looking ahead, a companion docuseries to “Melania” is on the horizon, expected to be released on Prime Video soon. As the story of Melania Trump continues to unfold on our screens, it’s clear that this documentary has definitely made its mark, for better or for worse.
