Director Brett Ratner says his involvement in the documentary “Melania” felt like a moment of providence, describing First Lady Melania Trump’s decision to hire him as “divine intervention” following the film’s strong opening weekend.
“That was my divine intervention,” he said. “So, for me, I got to pinch myself. I mean, the access that they gave me, the opportunity that they gave me was just beyond my wildest imagination. So I already felt like I won.”
The documentary’s theatrical debut quickly translated into commercial success. “Melania” earned more than $7 million during its opening weekend, exceeding initial projections and securing the third-highest position at the domestic box office.
The film also recorded the strongest opening for a nonfiction feature in more than a decade, surpassing Angel Studios’ 2023 release “After Death,” which debuted with about $5 million.
The film centers on the first lady’s return to public life during the weeks leading up to President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20, 2025, inauguration. The documentary chronicles a range of personal and professional responsibilities, including preparations for the inaugural transition, overseeing business and philanthropic initiatives, relocating to the White House, and establishing operations in the East Wing while assembling her staff.
“Melania” premiered Jan. 29 at the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, with the screening simultaneously broadcast to invited audiences at 21 theaters nationwide. The event marked the beginning of a theatrical rollout that is expected to be followed by an exclusive streaming release on Amazon Prime Video.
“I want to show the audience my life, what it takes to be a first lady again and [the] transition from private citizen back to the White House,” Melania Trump told reporters as she and the president arrived at the event. The premiere was attended by Cabinet members, lawmakers, and commentators.
Amazon MGM Studios has made a significant financial commitment to the project. The company paid approximately $40 million to acquire distribution rights to the documentary and a forthcoming docuseries focusing on the first lady, both directed by Ratner.
The studio has also reportedly allocated an additional $35 million toward marketing and promotional efforts to support the film’s release.
Ratner credited Melania Trump with identifying him as the right creative partner for the documentary, saying her confidence shaped the project’s direction. “I think she saw something that I didn’t think of myself,” he said. “She saw in my work and in me that I was capable of doing this. And that’s why I have to give her full credit, because she’s just—she had the vision for sure.”
