Melania Trump's $75 Million Documentary Faces Humiliating UK Box Office Failure
In what appears to be a spectacular box office disaster, Amazon's highly promoted documentary about former First Lady Melania Trump has recorded shockingly poor ticket sales in the United Kingdom. The film, which reportedly cost $75 million to produce and market, managed to sell just one ticket for its London premiere screening, raising serious questions about its commercial viability outside the United States.
Massive Investment Meets Minimal Interest
Amazon MGM Studios acquired the documentary for a staggering $40 million, with reports indicating that a substantial portion of this payment went directly to Melania Trump herself. The company then invested an additional $35 million in a global marketing campaign designed to position the film as a potential box office hit. This promotional blitz focused heavily on the American market, featuring television advertisements, large-scale billboards, and even a high-profile takeover of Las Vegas's immersive venue, The Sphere.
The documentary itself focuses on the crucial 20-day period leading up to Donald Trump's return to power in January 2025, offering what Amazon described as an intimate look at Melania Trump's experiences during this politically charged time.
Abysmal UK Ticket Sales Tell Different Story
Despite the massive financial backing and extensive promotion, early ticket sales in Britain have revealed a completely different reality. According to reports from The Guardian, ahead of its London premiere on Friday, only one ticket had been sold for a mid-afternoon screening at an Islington cinema. An evening show at the same location fared only slightly better, with just two tickets purchased.
The situation was equally dismal across major cinema chains. Vue cinemas throughout London reportedly recorded zero advance bookings for all scheduled screenings of the documentary, indicating a complete lack of audience interest despite the film receiving clearance from the British Board of Film Classification.
Cinema Chain Faces Backlash for Screening Decision
Vue CEO Tim Richards addressed the controversial situation in an interview with The Telegraph, confirming that the cinema chain had faced significant backlash for choosing to screen the politically charged documentary. Richards defended the decision by arguing that cinemas should not position themselves as arbiters of culture or political content.
"I have told everyone that, regardless of how we feel about the movie, if it is BBFC approved, we look at them and 99% of the time we will show it," Richards stated, adding that he had received a large volume of emails criticizing Vue's programming choice.
Contrasting Reception in Different Markets
The documentary's UK struggles stand in stark contrast to its reception in the United States, where it was screened at the White House on Saturday and is scheduled for an official premiere at Washington's Kennedy Center. The venue has been renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center by the president, though this move remains legally contested.
Following its American premiere, the documentary is scheduled for rollout in 27 countries worldwide, though the disastrous UK opening raises serious questions about its international appeal. The film's producers had clearly anticipated a different response, given the substantial investment in production and marketing.
This box office failure represents a significant setback for Amazon's documentary division and highlights the challenges of translating politically charged content across different cultural and geographical markets. The minimal ticket sales in London suggest that despite extensive promotion and clearance from British authorities, the documentary has failed to resonate with UK audiences who appear largely indifferent to its subject matter.
