Here we go again: The $75m Melania film embodies the venal spirit of Trump 2.0, with the US President's wife pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a First Lady.
The Trumps' latest cash grab is the big-budget documentary "Melania," which chronicles the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump's second inauguration in January 2025. With an estimated opening weekend box office haul of up to $5m, this production seems more like a vanity project than a serious exploration of Melania's life and work.
The film's marketing campaign has been nothing short of over-the-top, with TV ads running during NFL playoff games, billboards plastered across US cities, and a promotional video projected onto the exterior of Las Vegas's Sphere. Amazon MGM Studios shelled out a staggering $40m to license the documentary for Prime Video, while an additional $35m was spent on promotion and distribution - meaning Melania herself will pocket a whopping $28m from this deal.
Critics are divided about the film's intentions, with some seeing it as an opportunity for Melania to showcase her personality and policy interests, while others dismiss it as a self-serving exercise in branding. The documentary's director, Brett Ratner, claims that his motivation was not personal enrichment but rather to tell Melania's story "beautifully" and give viewers insight into the life of this enigmatic figure.
However, many have questioned whether Amazon's involvement is more about courting favor with Trump 2.0 than genuine artistic interest. The fact that Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder and chair, contributed to Trump's inaugural fund last year has raised eyebrows among some observers.
As historians note, this is unprecedented for a sitting First Lady - previous presidents have shied away from commercial ventures during their time in office due to conflicts of interest concerns. Melania Trump has been deeply involved in the film's development over the past year, but critics argue that she is still exploiting her position for personal gain.
The verdict on "Melania" remains to be seen, with some expecting a lackluster reception from audiences and others possibly finding value in this unusual behind-the-scenes look at one of America's most reclusive First Ladies.
The Trumps' latest cash grab is the big-budget documentary "Melania," which chronicles the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump's second inauguration in January 2025. With an estimated opening weekend box office haul of up to $5m, this production seems more like a vanity project than a serious exploration of Melania's life and work.
The film's marketing campaign has been nothing short of over-the-top, with TV ads running during NFL playoff games, billboards plastered across US cities, and a promotional video projected onto the exterior of Las Vegas's Sphere. Amazon MGM Studios shelled out a staggering $40m to license the documentary for Prime Video, while an additional $35m was spent on promotion and distribution - meaning Melania herself will pocket a whopping $28m from this deal.
Critics are divided about the film's intentions, with some seeing it as an opportunity for Melania to showcase her personality and policy interests, while others dismiss it as a self-serving exercise in branding. The documentary's director, Brett Ratner, claims that his motivation was not personal enrichment but rather to tell Melania's story "beautifully" and give viewers insight into the life of this enigmatic figure.
However, many have questioned whether Amazon's involvement is more about courting favor with Trump 2.0 than genuine artistic interest. The fact that Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder and chair, contributed to Trump's inaugural fund last year has raised eyebrows among some observers.
As historians note, this is unprecedented for a sitting First Lady - previous presidents have shied away from commercial ventures during their time in office due to conflicts of interest concerns. Melania Trump has been deeply involved in the film's development over the past year, but critics argue that she is still exploiting her position for personal gain.
The verdict on "Melania" remains to be seen, with some expecting a lackluster reception from audiences and others possibly finding value in this unusual behind-the-scenes look at one of America's most reclusive First Ladies.
they're literally making money off their wife's "story" like it's some kinda reality tv show lol, and amazon is just enabling them with that $40m license fee 
. i mean, can't we get a more authentic look at melania's life without all the drama & self-promotion? 
and btw, what's up with jeff bezos trying to curry favor with trump 2.0 
. shouldn't they just focus on making good content instead of lining their pockets? 
This whole thing just smells like money 
. It looks like they're more interested in securing favor with the White House than promoting some sort of artistic endeavor.
. Will we get some insight into Melania's life and policies? Maybe. But at the end of the day, it's still just a cash grab 
? It's all just another example of how politicians and their families are making bank off of public interest. And now Amazon is jumping in on the bandwagon, I guess that's just how business works... but still 
can't believe they're making a whole film about Melania for $75m 
like, I get it, she's her own brand now 
but does she have to exploit her position as First Lady to make a profit? 
anyway, I'm not holding my breath for this film... might be a total cash grab