Prominent venture capitalist Vinod Khosla recently disclosed an innovative application of artificial intelligence, utilizing OpenAI's ChatGPT to monitor the commercial performance of the highly anticipated biopic Melania, which chronicles the life of the former First Lady of the United States. In a detailed post on the social media platform X, Khosla shared the AI chatbot's comprehensive analysis of ticket sales data, providing insights into the film's momentum as it prepared for its theatrical release in the United States and the United Kingdom on January 30, 2026.
ChatGPT's Analysis Reveals Sluggish Presales
The AI-generated response painted a concerning picture of the film's initial traction, citing spot-check data from major cinema chains that indicated widespread availability for the opening weekend. According to the text published by Khosla, theatrical tracking for Melania struggled to gain momentum in key metropolitan areas, with presales showing minimal activity across various locations.
Detailed Breakdown of Presale Figures
ChatGPT provided a granular look at the presale numbers, emphasizing that no official total tickets sold figures were publicly available as of January 29, 2026. The analysis focused on venue-level data from specific cinemas in both the UK and the US, highlighting the challenges faced by the film in attracting audiences.
UK Presales: Limited Engagement
In the United Kingdom, the AI chatbot reported presales at select cinemas, revealing low ticket purchases:
- Vue Islington in London, a flagship location, had only 1 ticket sold for the 3:10 PM Friday screening and 2 tickets booked for the 6 PM showing.
- Cineworld Wandsworth recorded 4 tickets sold, while Cineworld Broughton managed 5 seats booked.
- Several other Vue sites, including those in Blackburn, Castleford, and Hamilton, showed all seats still available across multiple screenings at the time of checking.
US Presales: Varied but Generally Low
Across the Atlantic, the situation was similarly lackluster, with Newsweek reviewing AMC listings that displayed wide variation by location:
- In the New York area, multiple AMC locations had seats available across all showings checked, with some screenings selling zero tickets and others recording one or fewer.
- AMC Bellevue in Nashville saw 5 total tickets sold across three Friday listings, with the best-performing showing selling only 3 tickets.
- AMC Marina Marketplace in Marina del Rey, California, reported two Friday showings with 0 tickets sold and one showing with just 2 tickets sold.
Implications for the Film's Commercial Success
This AI-driven analysis underscores the potential hurdles Melania may face in achieving box office success, as presale data often serves as an early indicator of audience interest. Khosla's use of ChatGPT to gather and interpret this information highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in business intelligence and market analysis, allowing for real-time insights into consumer behavior and commercial trends.
The chatbot concluded its response by offering to provide updated country totals once official box office figures are published post-release, demonstrating the dynamic capabilities of AI in tracking ongoing developments. This incident not only sheds light on the film's challenging start but also showcases how technology leaders like Vinod Khosla are leveraging advanced tools to make informed assessments in the entertainment industry.
