Melania Trump's $75M Documentary Flops Despite Lavish Marketing and Star Power
A new documentary about Melania Trump, titled The Art of the Melania, has premiered to sparse audiences. The film covers the 20 days before her husband's second inauguration but failed to draw crowds in key cities. Reports also highlight its unusually high production costs and modest marketing efforts.
The documentary opened in Boston and London with very few attendees. Even in Berlin, the afternoon screening at Cinemaxx Potsdamer Platz attracted mostly industry professionals rather than the general public. Despite the low turnout, the film's marketing budget reached $35 million—a figure that now seems disproportionate to its reception.
The Art of the Melania offers glimpses into the former first lady's life, including a moment where she suggests the word 'Unifier' during Donald Trump's inauguration speech rehearsal. It also reveals personal details, such as her favourite song being Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' and her staying awake for 22 hours straight on Inauguration Day. However, the film barely touches on her early years in Slovenia, leaving much of her background unexplored.
One scene shows Melania Trump discussing American children's excessive screen time with Brigitte Macron. Meanwhile, financial reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate she received $28 million of the $40 million Amazon MGM spent on the project.
The documentary's weak premiere contrasts sharply with its high production and marketing costs. With $35 million allocated to promotion and $40 million spent overall, the film's underwhelming attendance raises questions about its commercial viability. Melania Trump's involvement and the project's financial details remain key talking points.
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